Vivarium Height for Fimbriatus

[Fumbles]

My 48x18x18 has a crack in the glass so I am going to get a new vivarium for my giant leaf tailed gecko. My choices are that Exo Terra XL Tall 36x36x18 or a generic 48 x 24 x 24 tall.

The gallon difference is marginal - 100 vs 120. However, with 6" of substrate and drainage, that leaves 30" of height vs 42".

Is taller always better for a Fimbriatus? I'm leaning towards the exo terra because it's a turn key setup but I'll get whatever is more suited to the animal.

 

[Fumbles]

2x2x4: http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4046/4329569130_1b6ff9f725_b.jpg

Exo Terra 36x36x18: http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j124/69efan69/newhome.jpg

*Edit - that exo terra is actually the 24x18x36 - here is the 36x36x18: http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a398/DannyMeister/8B38841C-orig.jpg

 

[pakinjak]

While height is important, width is as well. Personally, I'd be ok with the 36x18x36, but really either is fine.

 

[Fumbles]

While height is important, width is as well. Personally, I'd be ok with the 36x18x36, but really either is fine.

Given enough room, will they jump inside the cage? The 18 x 18 x 48 always seemed a little narrow - never enough space to actually jump from one branch to another. He always crawls because everything is within reach.

 

[RuselBro]

I'd go for the 36L x 36H x 18W, that extra width imo make's up for the loss in height. But 6 of substrate? 0.o I use up about 2 or 3 inches for substrate. Which Include's 1 inch Drainage layer, 2 inch substrate layer. Which hold's big heavy plant's and branches fine.

 

[pakinjak]

Oh yeah, they'll jump around if you give them the width. It always confuses me when I see people outfitting uroplatus tanks with so many branches that you can't even see anything inside. Every habitat picture I've seen looks like you or I could walk through it, and I try to recreate that somewhat in my tanks. You also need to keep in mind that there is a functional constraint as well. You need to be able to place a water dish, dig for eggs, place a calcium dish, maybe use a lay box, etc. I like my enclosures nice and open, so I can see what's going on. I don't believe fimbriatus group species benefit at all from extremely cluttered enclosures. 18" is entirely too narrow for fimbriatus, in my opinion. Try to think of any other species you'd keep in an enclosure only 50% wider and deeper than its total length.

 

[MdngtRain]

a word of caution on the exo - the doors suck and my latch fails a lot. Also, the top portion of the doors has no way to secure it, and they can be pushed open enough for someone to fit through (unlikely, but combined with my failing latch at the base of the doors, enough to give mention). I would pick something that is a little better constructed if I were picking now... I use mine for tokays, but figure fimbs are about that weight if not a bit bigger, so could also pop the doors if they jumped onto the front glass.

 

[Fumbles]

I'd go for the 36L x 36H x 18W, that extra width imo make's up for the loss in height. But 6 of substrate? 0.o I use up about 2 or 3 inches for substrate. Which Include's 1 inch Drainage layer, 2 inch substrate layer. Which hold's big heavy plant's and branches fine.

I plant live dracaena trees so they need at least 4" of substrate to take root. Everywhere I've read says 3" of hydroton layer for proper ventilation and drainage. Perhaps I'll try a different approach with this build.

 

[Fumbles]

Oh yeah, they'll jump around if you give them the width. It always confuses me when I see people outfitting uroplatus tanks with so many branches that you can't even see anything inside. Every habitat picture I've seen looks like you or I could walk through it, and I try to recreate that somewhat in my tanks. You also need to keep in mind that there is a functional constraint as well. You need to be able to place a water dish, dig for eggs, place a calcium dish, maybe use a lay box, etc. I like my enclosures nice and open, so I can see what's going on. I don't believe fimbriatus group species benefit at all from extremely cluttered enclosures. 18" is entirely too narrow for fimbriatus, in my opinion. Try to think of any other species you'd keep in an enclosure only 50% wider and deeper than its total length.

That's awesome that they will jump around. I can't wait to see it. I've seen it in nature videos where they almost do leaps of faith between trees in the rainforest.

Regarding what he's in now - There's a lot of misinformation out there about how big a fimbriatus enclosure needs to be. I've read that as small as a 24 tall is ok. After having mine in an 18x18x48 tall I can totally agree with you assertion - 18x18 is too narrow. He's clearly cramped. I can't think of any other species I'd keep in something like this besides an arboreal animal. A trio of sikorae would be perfect in it I'd imagine.

 

[Fumbles]

a word of caution on the exo - the doors suck and my latch fails a lot. Also, the top portion of the doors has no way to secure it, and they can be pushed open enough for someone to fit through (unlikely, but combined with my failing latch at the base of the doors, enough to give mention). I would pick something that is a little better constructed if I were picking now... I use mine for tokays, but figure fimbs are about that weight if not a bit bigger, so could also pop the doors if they jumped onto the front glass.

Thank you for helping with the decision - I ended up going with the big one. I'll post pics soon and probably end up starting a build thread.