Paludarium suitable for a pair of l. williamsi?

wacco · #1 11-24-2010, 03:50 PM

Hi,

Ive been looking into these beautiful geckos.
I just recently built this paludarium. It is an 18x18x18 exoterra.
Let me know what your thoughts are.

Thank You

PassPort · #2 11-24-2010, 04:55 PM

williamsi aren't from a march or stream habitat like that, so I assume the drowning risk would be fairly high.

I wouldn't really recommend any geckos for a set up like that.

Lordoftheswarms · #3 11-24-2010, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PassPort

williamsi aren't from a march or stream habitat like that, so I assume the drowning risk would be fairly high.

I wouldn't really recommend any geckos for a set up like that.

I agree with that. I was caring for L. williamsi at a pet store once, and came in to find him struggling in 2 inches of water that had accumulated in a dish that caught water from a dripper. If they can't handle such an insignificant amount of water, I'd say this set up is completely unsuitable for them. House some amphibians in there instead.

PassPort · #4 11-24-2010, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lordoftheswarms

House some amphibians in there instead.

AGREED! Not many geckos will do well in a semi aquatic set up. Certain Anolis would be a great, fit however. Actually, yes, Anolis would be a great fit. Suck it up and get some Anolis!

Sgvreptiles · #5 11-24-2010, 09:28 PM

Newts would like that tank. Or tree frogs.

I belive Lygodactylus williamsi are from a single gorge/canyon in Tanzania that has a stream running through it. Though that doesn't mean they are great swimmers. (please correct me if I am wrong, but thats what I remember being told)

PassPort · #6 11-24-2010, 11:12 PM

In situ they are found on large palms and grass bunches - entire colonies on a single plant. According to Van Heygen at the 2009 Gekkoni Day Expo they are not found close to water - as in it does not make up part of their environment.

j_izzle8930 · #7 11-25-2010, 12:52 AM

I dont THINK you would have any problems with an adult pair of williamsii. Maybe a couple more branches or something but mine spent a lot of time basking and I think the water would help with humidity. If babies hatched in the tank they would more than likely drown but if you are pulling the eggs you wouldnt have to worry about it. Maybe setup another temporary tank and put the williamsii in there a day when you can watch them throughout the day and move them if you need to.

hexentanz · #8 11-25-2010, 03:31 AM

I would strongly advise against it. With a water level that deep the risk of drowning is too high.

PassPort · #9 11-25-2010, 03:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hexentanz

I would strongly advise against it. With a water level that deep the risk of drowning is too high.

Again, I couldn't agree more. Geckos are terrible swimmers for the most part and are not suited for vivariums with a water feature, let alone a paludarium.

Tropical Anolis or amphibians would be excellent choices, as well as maybe some swamp skink species also juvenile Basiliscus, Physignathus or Hydrosaurus would also work, I would assume.

lickyoureyeballs · #10 11-27-2010, 08:19 PM

I personally have kept Lygo. williamsi in a paludarium -in a Zoo Med front opening cage. We had two-thirds land and one-third water with a small waterfall. We never once had a problem with the geckos in this set up. The only problem we encountered at all with this cage was that they laid all the eggs in the top rim of the tank and we could not cover them to be incubated.