Okay for Phantasticus?

[Phantasy]

I posted this in the vivarium forum as well--but I was wondering if you guys think this vivarium is suitable for a pair of phants. It's on the small side, which is the main reason I ask, being a 10 gallon cube. It's holding perfect temperature and humidity for the species, but there may just be a lack of space. What do you guys think?? Thanks so much for your input!

Much respect,
-Matt

 

[Gecko_Danny]

Hmm i like your terrarium but from wath i've heard phantasticus prefer smaller branches rather than the ticker ones. So if i was you i would put in some more small branches, but i'm no expert so lets hear some other opinions first.

 

[Scott F]

Agreed, use fine twigs criss crossing in different directions.

Adequate space for one.... a pair max. As a personal rule, I like to give about eight to ten gallons of space per animal.

The bromiliad will probably not do good with lower light intensities (which should be used with this species); I would switch it out for 2 or so minature fern species and a mini vining type plant.

Best of luck!

 

[Phantasy]

Thanks for the replies. I think I'll just set up a 20-30 gallon viv when I have the space in a few months and plant it with some more vining plants and a nice ficus or two for some phants. I don't want to push it in this space, or with the plants I have, I was just curious if it would be acceptable or not...and it sounds like barely, which isn't good enough! I'll throw some more fine sticks in there for climbing and use this for some brevs instead. Scott--in a larger tank would providing a light gradient on one side of the enclosure with a ficus and/or some more high-cover plants and have the other relatively open make keeping the bromeliad alive easy? It has been doing fine so far in it's current situation--and I was trying to provide a mini-gradient with the umbrella plant for the phants, but I think the size restricts doing this effectively. Anywho, thanks again for the feedback!


Much respect,
-Matt

 

[Scott F]

Matt,

For the most part, the type of lighting needed to make bromiliads color up and produce new pups and blooms will have to be provided by power compacts or multiple higher output T-8 or T-5 flourescents. In a small enclosure this will put out way to much heat and light for brevs or phants.
Not to mention the smelly, bacteria ridden mess that I guarantee will occur when crickets drown and rot in the waterfilled axils of the bromiliad.
The plant itself will probably rot from being planted directly in th moist substrate. They naturally grew higher up in trees where the get lots of sun and the base of the plant and root system stay relatively dry while still being able to collect water. They can be used in vivariums, but have to be placed stratigically.

I am glad you have choosen the wellfare of the animals over your own preferences by upgrading to a 20-30 gallon enclosure.

Stick with the ficus, ferns, and viners. These are the best type of plants to use with these guys in my opinion.

One Zoo Med 2.0 bulb will be sufficient to grow these types of plants as well as providing beneficial UV spectrums to your geckos without over doing it....as our research in this area is somewhat limited at this point in time.

Hope this has helped. ;-)

 

[Leafphanatic]

I agree about the branches. Satanics like thin branches about a 1/8 inch in thickness. They are comical when they hang down, and sometimes they get in the wierdiest positions. The neatest position is when they hang like vampires from branches with there front paws tucked in, waiting for crickets to pass by. I have lots of cages and the best plants I feel to use are "coffee plants" they also seem to like the rubber plants, sorry only know them by their common names. They are great plants that can handle the humidity and water requirements. I finally learned over the years, after I spent a small fortune on getting replacement plants all the time.. I am concerned about the cocunut background you have, you might have trouble with the feeders getting into the cracks and not getting eatin. Other than that everything is placed really nice. Im sure they will enjoy there home.

 

[Phantasy]

Yeah, that's a concern I had as well--I'm going to use foam, silicone and coco-bedding to seal all the major spaces where feeders could slip through on that fern background before anything goes into that viv for sure. I should have thought about it before, but I didn't until the background was already made and put in. Again, I really appreciate the comments. I can't wait to have a little more space and cash to burn to set up a nice home for some of these guys.


Much respect,
-Matt

 

[Riverside Reptiles]

That looks like it would be a good set up for a Cat Gecko (A. Felinus) if you're looking for something different to keep in there.

 

[zBrinks]

Ditto on what the others said, except about the bromeliad. That appears to be a variety of Veresia, which is a terrestrial, lower light species. While not serving any real purpose in a U. phantasticus viv, it would do fine planted as is. Just watch out when it pups, as it looks as if it is a "Home Depot" variety, which is gases with Ethyl mercaptan to bloom early, so it never reaches its full size, but it's pups will! I've had pups grow to nearly push off the lid of a 46g Dendrobates leucomelas viv.

 

[crestedtimm]

That does look like a great cat gecko cage.....

I agree with eliminating the bromeliad OR putting a little piece of material in every axis so crickets can climb out, otherwise "smelly, bacteria ridden mess that I guarantee will occur when crickets drown and rot in the waterfilled axils of the bromiliad." I wont discourage using it, just take measures.