[Lordoftheswarms]

Hey,
I'm wanting to make a vivarium for day geckos, but this is my first vivarium build, and my first time keeping phelsuma, so I'm wanting to make sure my ideas will work before irreversibly screwing up, or killing the phelsuma.

I like the idea of having a couple phelsuma species in the same enclosure, but I know that mixing is species is a bad idea because some (ex. gold dust) will eat others, or it will stress them out. Are there any species that are compatible with each other? Or are there any other geckos (ex. P. picta) that are compatible with any of the day geckos?
Having two different species active in separate areas of the vivarium at different times of the day seems like it might minimize stress.

I have a roughly 4 foot long by 2 foot by 2 foot (inside measurements) old wooden TV that I have gutted, and lined with plexiglass which I glued down with contact cement. There are not doors on it yet, but there is a half assed track which I want to modify such that the front is like an exoterra enclosure. I'm considering plexiglass, or a combination of plexiglass and metal screen. A few inches of the bottom would be plexiglass, and the sliding doors could be screen.

I've seen a couple vivarium builds where the air circulation was improved by adding a computer fan. If that would be beneficial, I could put on into the top back corner, and hide it from view.

For lights, I was thinking of using exoterra compact fixture, and 2 UV, 2 low wattage heat bulbs, and I would hide the fixture and lights from view using expanding foam, etc.

Here's the temps and humidity that I am aiming for.
"Day geckos require daytime temperatures of 81 to 89 degrees Fahrenheit (27 to 31 degrees Celsius) and a nighttime 10 degrees F. (5 degrees C.) temperature drop to around 70 to 80 degrees F (21 to 27 degrees C.). Most species of day geckos require a relative humidity of 50 to 85 percent."
from Phelsuma Care Sheet

I intend to build a fake tree from styrofoam, expanding foam, and a concrete mixture. I'd like a water feature, but I haven't come up with how to do it yet.

What live plants would you guys suggest?
I'm liking the epiphytes (that includes ferns and orchids right?) and bromeliads that I have seen in a lot of the vivarium builds.

Thanks for reading!

[Douwe]

Pff you had a big TV

I wouldn't use the plexiglass, i used it in the past and it warps when there is a temperature change leaving unwanted gaps for the geckos to get away and it will easily get scratched. I still use it as a top cover in one tank, because of the measurements of the tank i couldn't use glass, but only with screen mesh beneath it.

I can recommend the use of a computerfan, plants and animals need fresh air and you can direct the heat of the lamps into the tank with it. You can regulate them by adapting the power 3-6-9-12 volts or even put them on a thermostate or timer.

For plants i like the bromelia's and tillandsia's too. Just remember: the greyer they are the more light and less water they need. Orchids are fine but it can be difficult to get them in bloom again or even give them the right spot that they will survive.

I wish you a lot of succes, and keep us posted. I know a nice tank easily beats looking at a TV but in your case .......(the two combined)

Grts, Douwe

[Lordoftheswarms]

I've already installed 5 of the sides with plexi. The doors need to get on a track at the very least, and I thought it would be nice to have the doors not in close proximity to the substrate, or if a water feature is included, having doors that cover the entire front instead of only the top 2/3 would be bad.

Thanks for recommending the computer fan. I was thinking of putting it on a dimmer.

Having that little hint about the plants will make a huge difference, thank you!

It doesn't look much like a TV anymore, more like an old fashioned wood box with plexi on the inside.\
It was from the 60's

[Day Gecko]

Any Updates, I know this thread is old I was just wondering if you ever completed this.

[gdaygecko]

If the other reptile is small enough then the day gecko will eat it. (Assuming you have a giant day gecko)