New to it all, how did I do?

[Glove]

I have always wanted a terarrium / vivarium. Never knew much about them and still dont. I am pretty good with plants- dont know alot about them either but I do pretty well with keeping them alive.
So I made a not so spontaineous purchase of a day gecko (P. grandis). The enclosure she came with (12x12x18) was just bit on the small side. I found a 18x18x24 the next day on craigslist. I got a pretty good deal on a complete set-up but I didnt cre for the way it was and I wanted ot completely tear it apart and clean everything.
There were no living things in the system, a couple anoles had been forgotten about and thats what forced the sale.

So... I added some cocofiber mixed with jungle mix bedding, pulled a few plants from the clearance rack @ lowes and went for it. Now I put all these plants into small planters- my thinking was to water them around the potted area bacause I dont have a mist system (yet), I am just spraying by hand right now.

So am I asking for trouble doing it this way?
Lighting is from
(2) PC 13w=65w daylight (for plants)
(1) UVB Zilla 100w
(1) night heat 100w
There is a stick on heat pad across the back (24w) and another smaller one on the bottom rear side.
Temps have been steady in the low 80s, humidity low around 60-70% but these have only been observed for two days now. I also used my temp gun and checked to be sure there were plenty of differences for the geckos needs.

I do plan on designing a more elaborate drip-wall, auto misting system with more natural plants but for now, for a quick throw it together thing, I think I did ok.
Tell me what you guys think, good, bad, or other-wise.

 

[Melissa]

Hello,
Your set-up looks nice.
Though I don't have Day Geckos I have live plants for my Crested Geckos, and
have tried a variety of plants to see which work best. Mine only have natural
lighting.
I'm sure with your careful consideration that you seem to have, you'll do
just fine. Keeping the plants from drying out would be a concern, but you
seem to have that covered.
As you probably know, there is a vivarium forum that might be helpful to you.
Best of luck. Melissa N.

 

[gecko attack!]

wow, thats cool

 

[AlphaGeckos]

Looks awesome to me

 

[Dyesub Dave]

What a great setup!! The only thing that I would add is a nice big cork bark tube for them to climb on and hide in.

I recently got a good deal on a 24x18x24 exo that I'm going to put my trio of Phelsuma Grandis in and hope I get some viable eggs this season! You've given me some good ideas for different plants! ;-)

Dyesub Dave. :biggrin:

 

[Glove]

Update

I had to move the gecko for the holidays. (cheap living has space limitations)
Had to move her to the daughters room so we could have a place for the x-mas tree.
Been letting things settle since i put the gecko onto the larger enclosure. I know she spent many years in the old 12x12x18 and now has 18x18x24.
I did pick up some rather large diameter (but short) cuts of bamboo from petsm*%t to offer some hide locations and she does love to use em too!

Here is a nice shot of her attempting to be hidden...

and here is the over-all condition as of 1-22-2011

I had purchased some bamboo from a local hobby store back in November and I have been meaning to get it cut and placed in some creative mannor.

I finally got the motivation to drag the chopsaw out into the bitter, brutal-cold Indiana weather and made some improvements to the viv...


so we go from this...

to this...

...and this has my gears turning since its setting there empty...

just not sure what to put in such a small enclosure. Maybe some type of insect this spring. Like a praying mantis or walking stick. Maybe a slamander or newt.

*Also, I didnt thing about pictures, but I seen some very tiny shiny white? metalic grey/ silver bugs cruising in the viv today as I was moving the large hides that lay on the soil. these bugs were directly under the bamboo, cruising in the soil more-so than on the wood. They didnt seem to be fruit flys that I have had trouble with since I took grannys plants. These seem to not be able to jump or fly (yet).
I cant imagine where they came from. I literally baked the soils in the oven because I had it a little wet when I set it up.

ALL the plants were soaked in water for 2+ weeks.

Unless it came in on crickets I have no idea how they got in there and I have no clue what they might be.

I thought of (wood) lice when I seen em cause they were tiny and white but the closer i looked they were really white, it was more of a reflection of the lights. they looked like dark silver almost a shiny grey maybe. I dunno even know what a wood louce looks liek anyway.
any help with these- worry or not to worry- would be greatly appreciated.

Glove

 

[Dyesub Dave]

I'm sure that your gecko will be very happy in her new enclosure ... it looks like a day gecko dream home! ;-)

I believe the little bugs that you're seeing are Springtails. I have them in many of my enclosures as well and they pose no threat. They will actually break down decaying material in the enclosure. Here's a link to a basic description of them .... Springtails | University of Kentucky Entomology.

As for the smaller enclosure some of the smaller day geckos would definitely have enough room in it ... or perhaps some little tree frogs or dart frogs!

Dyesub Dave. :biggrin: