Tx banded gecko terrarium

[geckocrazy]

Just thought i would share some pics of the 68 gallon terrarium I set up for my texas banded geckos. I know it is overkill for 1.2 but I really like my little guys. I tried to simulate their natural habitat as close as possible. All the rock came from their habitat in West Texas. All the cactus in the tank are Native to Mexico and West Texas. I have added a few more cactus and rock since these pics. Let me know what you think. Thanks for looking.

Chris Drake

 

[Zilla]

That is a great looking terrarium!!

 

[geckocrazy]

Thanks, They seem to like it. I sneek out at night with a flashlight and watch them. One female has eggs. I just hope she uses the nest box.

Chris

 

[John_Woodward]

dang man, that is a wonderful looking tank, i sure hope you can find the eggs as well, these are definately one of the most overlooked gecko species out there.

 

[geckocrazy]

Thanks John. I've kept alot of different geckos in the past and these are the only ones I've gone back to. I love the fact they are native to my state and your are right, they are highly overlooked like most native species. Nathan Hall and I photographed a few 2 weeks ago in West Texas. We have been desperately hoping to photograph reticulatus but haven't had any luck yet.

Chris

 

[Xorac]

I don't think 68 gallons is overkill at all. Awesome geckos deserve the room to move. Sweet looking tank.

 

[aquapimp]

now thats a Coleonyx condo!

 

[MK Geckos]

That looks absolutely amazing! I would love to do something like that for my C.v.variegatus.

 

[geckocrazy]

Well after 1 1/2 months the tank is doing good and the cactus are growing nicely but I have found out that I can't find eggs in this tank until its too late. I had some pill bugs in the soil and have found them eating eggs on 2 occasions. I guess I'm going to have to pull the geckos and set them up a little more simple so I don't miss the chance on a few babies.

Chris

 

[wildvet]

Hi.
it is a great looking terraria, but there are two things I would change: the cactus is a potential danger to the geckos, so only use plants without spines, and second: if you see a female with eggs, why don't you just move her into the smaller vivaria until she laid her eggs, and then back in the larger tank (which I don't regard as overkill myself. Besides, a thick root to give them a possibility to climb and use the space above ground would be nice, too.

regards
berit

 

[desertanimal]

Will she not use a removable moist hide for a laybox? If not, I guess I'd do what wildvet suggests. It really is a beautiful set-up! Such a shame not to let them use it!

 

[geckocrazy]

The females have a laybox in the tank and she just picks odd spots to lay eggs. I found a pair in between 2 rocks and a pair next to the hidebox on top of the substrate. I don't want to move her out every time I notice eggs in her because I don't want to have to chase her around, moving rocks and destroying the tank. As for the cactus I'm not concerned. If you've ever been to West Texas you will notice their habitat is absolutely covered in cactus and they do fine there. They do a good job of avoiding them. I've set up a smaller and much simpler cage to find eggs in. Once I have a nice little colony of CB babies I will move the adults back into the big tank. Thanks for the comments.

Chris

 

[rhachic]

very nice