Leopard Gecko Large Natural Cage

[Libby]

Hi,

After spending the last few weeks looking at other amazing posts and seeking inspiration for a new cage for my two leopard geckos, this is what I came up with.

The tank is four feet by about 14 inches. I'm having trouble finding a lid that actually fits so I'm improvising, but the bottom is slate tile, and there are lots of hiding spots and a humidity rock on the warm side. I took out the plastic Tupperware humidity box on the cool side for aesthetic reasons, but am looking for some other easy and aesthetically pleasing option.

(Large UTH pad on the warm side and the heating lamp goes on when it gets cold in my room. The temps are good.)

Thanks to everyone who posts cool pics. Feel free to let me know what you think.

 

[PassPort]

the tile floor really authenticates it!

 

[OffshoreMetal]

Nice enclosure. For the Humidity hide , The hide in the third picture is specially made to be a humid hide. Just put paper towel in there and put water. Thats what i am using for My leo and when she sheds she sleeps in it

 

[OffshoreMetal]

Personally I let the UTH on 24/7 and have a Ceramic heat Emmiter ( CHE ) on a thermostat to control the temps. Since youhave both on a thermostat the tanks sometimes doesnt have heat coming from the bottom. And since leos need it to digest is is better to leave it on.

 

[sajane]

I have also gotten a glad container to fit under my decorative hides for the moist hide. Looks nice

 

[Libby]

Thanks for tips

Thanks for the feedback.

I do already use the gray rock thing for humidity with moss in it, and the UTH is on all the time. It's just the heat lamp that comes on when temperatures drop.
I'm gonna try hiding a plastic humidity container under some fake plants/ other hides on the cool side, and keep the gray one on the warm side.

 

[Sinosauropteryx]

Woodland set-up for leopard gecko?

That seems more like a forest or woodland set-up than an arid rocky set-up to me... Do your geckos mind all the plants? And how do you keep humidity down?

 

[OffshoreMetal]

That seems more like a forest or woodland set-up than an arid rocky set-up to me... Do your geckos mind all the plants? And how do you keep humidity down?

I'm pretty sure those are Fake plants

 

[Sinosauropteryx]

Fake plants

Fake plants help, but they still retain humidity by aiding in the accumulation of liquid water and water vapour inside the tank. And for reference, I knew they were fake plants when I made that earlier post.

 

[Libby]

Fake plants help, but they still retain humidity by aiding in the accumulation of liquid water and water vapour inside the tank. And for reference, I knew they were fake plants when I made that earlier post.

They seem to really like hanging out under the leaves of the fake plant in the right corner. Mainly I put it there to give them something to use when they decide to climb down from their elevated rock. You're right, it does make it look a bit foresty though. I just didn't want them diving straight onto the hard tiles. I know they're not really very good at climbing, and they think they can climb better than they can, but now they can kind of climb down and use the fake plant to help them, plus it's fun watching them try to be super heroes.

There are still plants in rocky arid regions and dry grasslands where they are from. The one on the left was an attempt at something like that. The other ones are just part of the background I stuck on the outside of the the glass.

For some reason the plastic plants don't seem to have changed the humidity, probably not any more than any of the other decorations. It's super dry here right now too, so that could be something to think about when it becomes more humid. I'd never really thought about fake plants accumulating water and how that might impact humidity in a captive situation.

 

[Sinosauropteryx]

Plants for an arid set-up

Thanks for clarifying. My concern wasn't as much for the scenery part as it was for the actual function of the plants themselves. I was told by someone else in another thread not to put very many plants into an arid desert or rocky set-up because of humidity issues, but if the plants do little to increase humidity in the tank, then I would say put as many in there as you want to. However, I might suggest putting in succulents instead of herbaceous plants because they wouldn't retain as much humidity and they would look more natural. If you want some good ideas on something that resembles what you already have in there but also looks and functions better in anarid set-up, look up "sclerophyll" in Wikipedia or Google and you will find a bunch of interesting ideas.

Leopard geckos must be good climbers if the wild ones can successfully survive in rocky terrain so having all those rocks in your tank probably won't phase your leos very much. Their confidence is pretty well-placed so I wouldn't worry about it Just don't let them climb any trees :shock:

 

[gizmo143]

That looks AWESOME!!!!
If i had a tank that size, i would love to do something like that!
I'm planning on adding one or two fake of real plants, and want to make some fake boulders with syrophome and grout. i have the same humid hide as you and little Gizmo Adores it!