Keeping Phelsuma outside

[Bamma]

I have kicking around the ideal of keeping some of Phelsuma outside for a few years. I live in SW Florida and the climate is just right it only get's cold (frost or freeze) a few nights a year. So a friend and I built this!
Tim Adams

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As you can see all doors to rooms open in a hall so there is only one door to the outside

This is the inside of one room I put 10 sub-adult Phelsuma mad. grandis in, I not sure if I can keep that many in one room. Each room is 4X7X7 and I'm using drip irirgation to water the plant and water the animals. I'm sure ants will be a problem but I'll have to spray outside the cage.
Tim Adams

 

[Sgvreptiles]

Amazing looking set up.That is to me the best way to keep them.Though I dont here in So Cal.To dry for them here.Wish I lived in Florida

 

[brandon f.]

thats a sweet set-up. the single door to the outside was a good idea. very nice.

 

[Geitje]

Hey,

Looks like something I'm mauling over, but I'll have to go with a greenhouse, as our winters are too cold here.

One question - what will you do during hurricane season??? I guess run out with deli cups and styro's? Or, is it a threat in your area?

Jon

 

[Palex134]

gorgeous set ups! I am quite jealous of your cages, as well as your weather!

 

[mrow1109]

Those are incredible enclosures!!!

keep us posted on how the geckos do and if they respond better to that climate.

 

[nycherper]

I'm with jon, everyhtign looks great but what about upcoming hurricane seasons?

 

[Bamma]

The cage was built to withstand a hurricane, its way OVER build. I had wanted to double screen the whole cage but that would have been to much work. So we used super screen, it's about 3 time thicker than regular screen use in pool cages. I have plenty of room inside if there is a storm coming my way. We missed most of the storms in 2004/2005 hope our luck stays good!
Tim Adams

 

[Tom Martensson]

proffessional work

 

[jaysommers]

well, Tim, those are a little nicer than I was expecting.I see you were paying attention at last weekends home depot workshop.

 

[Bamma]

Jay
@ell no, if I went to HD workshops my wife would want me to hang wallpaper or such! I need my time for my geckos!
:twisted:
Tim

 

[DDReptiles]

I'm sure ants will be a problem but I'll have to spray outside the cage.
Tim Adams

You could try to buils a small mote around your cages, when we were in the rainforest the cabins we stayed in had a small mote (like 3 inches deep by 3 inches or so wide) to keep the ants out and it worked great. They just turned on the water 2-3 times a day for circulation/and to keep bacteria at bay.

Just an idea, and beautiful cages

Thanks Derek

 

[Reptiluvr]

That is fantastic. I live in southeast Florida and have wanted to do the same thing for years. Can you tell me how much did it cost you and how much labor time?

 

[Joe Farah]

Sure you don't want to raise Panther Chameleons in there? Just kidding, they look perfect for Phelsuma too. I day dream about outdoor enclosures all the time and I wish the climate around here lent itself to keeping herps outdoors.

Those look really really nice! I'd like to see what species you put in there and how they do.

Thanks,

 

[camo]

wow that is awsome!

 

[Bamma]

I had about $1500 in the cage but we used alot of scrap aluminum (used or short) that could not be used in someone pool cage. If we had built it for someone it would have cost over $6000 retail. I had plan to keep phelsuma species outside that are had to get males such as the P.borbonica, P. gumibeaui and P. ornata. I'm also keeping P.laticauda and P mad grandis in there too.
Tim Adams

 

[Tariq Stark]

That are some very nice enclosures! I'm exploring the possibillity to keep Eurydactylodes spp and Rhacodactylus spp outside for a few months a year outside. Keep us updated please!

Tariq

 

[Ken Bartenfeld]

Looks great. Good ol' Florida!

Take Care,
Ken

 

[Bamma]

Thought I would give you a update, it's been close to 2 months since I started putting animals outside.

Grandis- Just as I suspected they are fighting, not to bad but enought that I'll have to move them.

Laticauda- Look great but no eggs that I found.... I don't know.

guimbeaui- These have only been out about 1 month and I found the first eggs yesterday.

borbonica borbonica- They like it! 9 eggs so far from 1.4 and more on the way.

I'll keep you updated from time to time.

Tim Adams

 

[DCReptiles]

congratulations on the guimbeaui and borbonicas, how many granddis are you keeping together?