Question regarding perches for Lygodactylus williamsi

VivaNFLD

New member
Just a quick question, are round branches like bamboo a must have in a Lw tank? The reason I ask is I am having a hard time finding the right size bamboo and have been thinking of using small square balsam sticks from a local craft shop. Anyone know if they are safe to use? They are cheap and pretty handy and provide what would seem a perfect network of perches for these little dudes.

I have my eye on a little captive bred male, he is very plump, active, alert and is a pig for MRP. I have a exo terra 12 12 18 started but still have some work to do before I bring him home. Any advice regarding the branches would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers!
 

Riverside Reptiles

Administrator (HMFIC)
I think that you'll find balsm wood to be very porous and thus it will mold and rot very quickly. Bamboo is naturally rot resistant and it holds up for a long time even in very humid condition.
I sell bamboo in any size you need it. See my ad in the classifieds or PM me.
 

VivaNFLD

New member
Hey man thanks for the reply. Yea I never thought about that, it is extremely soft so it will rot for sure. I'm going to have a look around my city, a friend of mine suggested a few places just haven't had the time to get to them yet. If I end up empty handed I will be in touch.

Thanks again
 

Ingo

New member
Williamsii in the wild do normally do not come across bamboo or bamboo like things. They inhabit Pandanus trees and prefer sitting on the leaves of these. Dracaena specise with broad and sturdy leaves, Yucca, Sanseveria and smaller Pandanus are thus useful perches in a williamsi enclsoure. They do not need bamboo.
 

Alvaro345

New member
I went to Petsmart and bought some All Living Things™ Bend-a-Branch. I recommend you to bend them together, so they are thicker than your gecko and he can climb better.
 

Aimless

Super Moderator
I kept an L williamsi for almost 2 years before I gave him to a friend in hopes that he would be bred. I had a pothos which he hid in sometimes, especially if was getting ready to shed, and also gave him branches in a few different orientations.

his favorite spot was to bask on the horizontal branch under the light. it was a maple branch, bark on, that I had gotten from my yard, about 1" in diameter.
 

Harvey

New member
Hello VivaNFLD!

Where are you located exactly? St. Johns NL... Newfoundland? If so, that is quite up there but I'm not exactly sure what sort of trees you have... I assume you have conifers but those will not do. Do you have any hardwoods in your area? Oaks are the best to use, after washing and heating.
 

VivaNFLD

New member
Hi Harvey,

Yes I live in Newfoundland. Our forests are primarily boreal so yes you're right it is mostly coniferous trees which are predominately Balsam Fir or Var as it is known locally. Also white and black spruce, with a few Eastern White Pine (these are protected now, the forest here years ago was mostly white pine but the majority were cut for use as jibs on schooners, the big main mast that holds the topsail). We also have white, yellow birch, various maples, Aspen, black cherry, and crab apple to name a few. I am considering taking advantage of some of these beautiful local species. I have acquired some bamboo however and have installed it into the L. williamsi tank, she is certainly appreciative of it, spending a good part of her day.

We have some Oak here in the city, mostly in the parks and in the old sections of town. I think they were brought here from England and Ireland way back when the settlers came here as they are not native. I plan on getting some leaf litter to cover the substrate layer in the tank. I have also located some CB springtails to add so I definitely need the leaf litter.

Any insight on how to properly clean the leaves? I have talked to the city with regards to chemicals used in the parks and there is a by-law which states no chemicals can be used on parks in the city which is great news.

Cheers and Thanks!
 

Harvey

New member
Hello VivaNFLD!

This forum is becoming somewhat of a ghost town these days… so sorry for the late reply!

Dendroboard.com

The link above is a dart frog forum. It has helped me and countless others immensely and is a lot more active than here. To clean leaves, just boil for 15 or so minutes. Then lay them out on a cookie plater and bake them for only 5 or so minutes. After this, leave them out to dry and once they get all nice and crunchy, go ahead and throw them in the tank or crunch them up. I would also defiantly take advantage of that oak.
 
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