Escaping from Exo-Terra

[HaikuDan]

I was housing 2 L.lugubris in an Exo-terra 12"x12"x12" but both escaped. I caught both within a short time and put them in different 12"x12"x12" sliding screen topped enclosure that is more secure.

I can't figure out where the squeezed out of the Exo-Terra. Does anyone have experience with these and know where I need to seal it up better?

 

[ryan]

they may have got out where the wire holes are if you havent closed them properly depending on how bigt they are!?! i found crickets escaping from there when i first had the exo terras

 

[alecfeldman]

escapes

I have little lizards escaping from those cages all the time. I cant figure out where they are getting out of either. I do have the holes blocked by the moving sliders in the back, but they still get out. Just yesterday, I was feeding and there was small skink sitting on top of one of the cages. I think some of the smaller animals can actually squeeze between the door and the glass on the side. There is a fairly decent gap there.

Alec Feldman

 

[Silvershark]

There's a few escape routes from those vicariums. The gap at the sides of the doors, the holes where the wires come in, the vents at the front and there bits where the roof clips on and where the lid joins, sometimes this leaves a gap and mourning geckos can squeeze through some very tight spaces! They're not very escape-proof! I've used kitchen towel and tape to seal off my vivariums at all the possible escape points. Black electrical tape blends in fairly well, just have to hope that nothing happens and the reps get stuck to the tape though

 

[thorrshamri]

As for me (Hi Silvershark,nice to see you here mate :wink: )I use foam with tape,the sort of thing you use to isolate windows from the cold:

http://www.mr-bricolage.fr/modules/espproduit/MDD/Md11.htm

I stick it to the sides of the glass doors to cut this escape possibility.Hope it is clear for you in English

 

[Silvershark]

As for me (Hi Silvershark,nice to see you here mate :wink: )I use foam with tape,the sort of thing you use to isolate windows from the cold:

http://www.mr-bricolage.fr/modules/espproduit/MDD/Md11.htm

I stick it to the sides of the glass doors to cut this escape possibility.Hope it is clear for you in English

Hi Thorr!

That's a good idea! I might get some of that to seal off any escape routes, especially when there might be baby mourning geckos running around soon :lol:

 

[HaikuDan]

Yes, that foam tape idea is excellent and has many possible uses!

Thanks all for the input and confirmation on the escapes!

Dan

 

[L.A.C. Herps]

another thing you may try is an adhesive type door sweep. It's made to go on the bottom of a door to reduce drafts etc. It's flexible enough, yet strong enough it should hold in place. I've used this on a few custom wood cages I've made to help reduce cricket escapees.
Here's a link to a very poor photo of what I'm talking about
http://amconservationgroup.com/imag...zer.aspx?width=150&height=200&filename=61.jpg
I believe I've seen it in white, tan/brown, and black.

 

[geckodan]

How big are these geckos?? I have over 80 exoterras set up and have yet to have an escape but I keep the top vent completely closed all of the time (i.e, no wires at all). I have had baby golden tails hatch in the enclosure and not escape.

 

[HaikuDan]

It did cross my mind that you have that collection of Exo-Terra's that is more impressive than my collection of geckos and I wondered if you'd had escapee issues.

The specie I moved out of the Exo-Terra is about 1cm total length as adults. I don't know how big the hatchlings will be, but I will find out soon enough as one of them is gravid.

 

[geckodan]

It did cross my mind that you have that collection of Exo-Terra's that is more impressive than my collection of geckos and I wondered if you'd had escapee issues.

The specie I moved out of the Exo-Terra is about 1cm total length as adults. I don't know how big the hatchlings will be, but I will find out soon enough as one of them is gravid.

At that size, I would generally house them in Reptile One terrestrial enclosures. I haven't been game to keep species like Crenadactylus in Exoterras as they are just too rare to risk. Anything from Diplodactylus upwards I have no dramas.