Questions??

[Elizabeth Freer]

Geckos unlimited is busy with new set ups . Knot take any more time . I rescued this little, 5 gram gal or guy last Friday. Its in ten gallon atm. It's simple. As you can see temp is 91, under his dry hut. I dropped it bit. Little guy or gal end up in tank above, witch will alow me make new one for my boy, Cecil. With less mistakes. Its lucky I grabbed new member , last home went down hill even more. View attachment 42998.

I am carefully with Cecil in play pin. I think I'll raise walls bit with plexiglass. Don't think he cares for sold walls anyway. Feels trape I think.

He's been vet. He's all by himself. Waiting on dna crpto test. And parasites test to. I were gloves feed him, soak hands in straight amonia,rinse then hydro proxid. Haven't blown up yet. Cecil been rechecked for same stuff again to, play it safe.
Sorry should add all that last post.

"Never mix bleach with vinegar, ammonia, or many other products, just with water. Mixing it with vinegar releases toxic chlorine gas which is used in chemical warfare. Even if it's just a weak solution, the gas can still irritate your eyes and lungs, possibly causing long-term health problems." (Hilde)

Don't worry. Geckos Unlimited has time.

91*F under a leo's dry hut is perfect! Keep the temperature right there. Don't decrease the temperature.

Be sure to keep your young rescue far away from Cecil for 90 days. Thanks for getting all those tests! I hope the vet does not find any problems. At about 6 months old a leo can be sexed.

If both leos are male, they'll always need to be housed separately. Even if the young one turns out female, keep her separately.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Seems no on right side up picture idea at moment.
Plenty vent
Holes drilled in back wooden wall just for that. Bigger holes for cords go threw. Plexiglass, hope you can see, has many holes drilled in it. Big hole were plant goes threw. I may drill few more holes in wood bottom , be safe.
The top can vent threw top, it's knot all solid. Have 8.5 in hole in blanket , I just move. Cut pice to side of hole, and vent away.
I removed plastic tile. New floor on that side is tile rock. I will grout tomorrow. It's just cut in place at moment. Plant threw floor is challenging.
I'm extend tile flooring bit more. Give up some carpet. I wash and change out once week.

I'm confused. It's hard for me to see those holes.

Are you continuing with Cecil's enclosure or are you starting all over from the beginning?

• Is Cecil's enclosure sitting on a solid wood shelf?
• Is the enclosure elevated at all above the shelf?
• How are the holes you're drilling in the wooden base exposed to air?

right side up picture fix??
Images sideways? Here's the fix.

• Go to the picture in your gallery, look to the bottom right, under "User Options" in the blue bar, you'll see "Edit Photo".
• That takes you to the edit options. It will display a thumbnail of that picture, and the flip or rotate options are listed below it.
• "Could this option not be available for mobile users? I am not seeing what you are speaking about."
• Click on your photo when you get to that screen. It should go to the one with the options.
• When you're done, save the changes.
• For the actual thread click: http://www.geckosunlimited.com/community/n00b-central/83037-uploading-gallery.html#post472578

 

[Seth9999]

Pictures or right in my galley. I flipped them upside down see if they come out here right. No, still upside down.
I use no bleach. From what I read it's useless in killing crypto diease.
I read here someone got it, had say by to ten year pluse old gecos. Sad store. Luckily I went strategy to vet from pet store. Vet filled me in on it , pounded it into my head how bad it can be. I took best action I could knot spread it, if new one has it. Hopefully knot.
Cecil place sets on stand. His bottom is bottom. I'll drill few more holes in side , above his floor. Upload picture to see.
The other one is 5 grames, so I think he or she can hang out in 10gall for bit. It's small. Give me time put new place up for Cecil and give new one Cecil place. Witch I'll have build new stand hold both. Both stacked with space between, get l8ghting or stuff out.
Still straiging this one out. Today I plane on grouting new tile in. On its own thin piece plexiglass , that allow it be interchangeable when get tired looking at it. Easier move out clean to.
I got vitamin schedule, so that means no bowel for them freely take their own vitamins?

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Pictures or right in my galley. I flipped them upside down see if they come out here right. No, still upside down.
I use no bleach. From what I read it's useless in killing crypto diease.
I read here someone got it, had say by to ten year pluse old gecos. Sad store. Luckily I went strategy to vet from pet store. Vet filled me in on it , pounded it into my head how bad it can be. I took best action I could knot spread it, if new one has it. Hopefully knot.
Cecil place sets on stand. His bottom is bottom. I'll drill few more holes in side , above his floor. Upload picture to see.
The other one is 5 grames, so I think he or she can hang out in 10gall for bit. It's small. Give me time put new place up for Cecil and give new one Cecil place. Witch I'll have build new stand hold both. Both stacked with space between, get l8ghting or stuff out.
Still straiging this one out. Today I plane on grouting new tile in. On its own thin piece plexiglass , that allow it be interchangeable when get tired looking at it. Easier move out clean to.
I got vitamin schedule, so that means no bowel for them freely take their own vitamins?

I recommend lightly dusting the crickets twice a week as the schedule states.

I don't recommend a bowl of vitamins or calcium with D3 so that they "freely take their own vitamins or calcium". There is too much chance of an overdose if one lets them regulate their own vitamins.

I'm still worried about ventilation for your heat mats. As far as I know ventilation must be provided underneath the heat mat, so that the heat mat does not overheat. That's why some companies provide little "feet" to elevate enclosures at the corners.

Since Cecil's enclosure is 4 feet long,

• Maybe a 1 inch high wood strip all along the base could elevate the enclosure's base from the stand.
• Another method is to support the enclosure with an "open" stand that has maybe a 2 inch wide rim all around???

 

[Seth9999]

There's stripe wood along floor wall all around incloser. Strip wood is 1/4 thick or tad better. Then 1/4 sheet plexiglass sets on stripes wood. That allows a gap . We're heat pad goes. More than those little plastic feet , u stick bottom of tank. The plexiglass has many holes drilled threw it for air pass threw. His carpet and soon be tile floor sets on top warm plexiglass. Under the plexiglass is wood bottom that sides set on . I drilled few holes in that. We now have vent bellow uth and above. Uth has its own space 1/4 or tad better.
I'll upload picture of it all finished this evening.
I got this in. Moss ball. Thinking of letting vines grow out and down. Hang it in center of his dirt pile, that's in corner. Vines grown down, would give him little privacy, while lounging in his dirt pile. He likes rest there. Idea.
I jump around a lot. Loose what I was doing. Like grout tile floor. I'm still playing with heat. It takes time for herp2 adjust.

 

[Seth9999]

 

[Seth9999]

Many many more holes in bottom and top of plexiglass

This little devil. Hungry, hungry

Gloves at all times. Wash with amonia. Waiting on test

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

You are quite handy and very resourceful!

What do you think about shortening this enclosure to only 12 inches high? Then it will be much easier to heat.

 

[Seth9999]

Your giving me more to do.
The front is 11 high. I reworked all heat. Wasn't right enough for me.
I moved one ceramic heat bulb in at 8.5 dimming flukers fixur all way to right side, basking area. 90 in that area. One of exact same fixtures in middle, keeps 4"air, from middle on to cold side, 85 on down 80. As you move to cold. I have herp2 working big uth, and middle ceramic bulb. One independent thermostat working cool side uth. Keeps floor 80ish. He was spending lot x over there. Little feet were purple, to cold. With new uth on that side, keeps floor little warm for him. He likes rest in dirt pile. Dry hide is 90, moist warm hide is 88. That's one caused me problems. 3in 1 with that bad bottom. Think I'm fill it in myself. But it all coming togther a lot better. Heat from floor, knot to much overhead. Basking area needs overhead. Heat rock platform up. He's outgrown. Hoping with heat coming manly from floor, his vines take. Re planted them in that basket on back wall you see. Did get do most ball to . If takes , privacy will be nice.
He's been exploring new set up.
Rock tile works good for conducting heat. Much better. He's at door now, wanting out.

 

[Seth9999]

We've come along way. He was in ten gallon.
He was handfull, never seting still. Don't touch me, knot at all.
Let's explore inside sofa. Witch I had cut back open. He now sets still. Doesn't mind me touching him. Figures just me doing what I do. That why I put play pin togther, had do something. Thank you for suggestions and help.
I'll get proper lighting. I did like red thou. New vitamins be here tomorrow, with black larvae worms. Both love there horn worms. I'm improving crickt food to. Mine grew up on spinach , special kind clearly, flukers stuff. I read your stuff on care, so I'm following that. Thank you. Boy out and bought, got keep an eye on him.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

View attachment 43037
View attachment 43038
We've come along way. He was in ten gallon.
He was handfull, never seting still. Don't touch me, knot at all.
Let's explore inside sofa. Witch I had cut back open. He now sets still. Doesn't mind me touching him. Figures just me doing what I do. That why I put play pin togther, had do something. Thank you for suggestions and help.
I'll get proper lighting. I did like red thou. New vitamins be here tomorrow, with black larvae worms. Both love there horn worms. I'm improving crickt food to. Mine grew up on spinach , special kind clearly, flukers stuff. I read your stuff on care, so I'm following that. Thank you. Boy out and bought, got keep an eye on him.

You are very welcome, Seth!!!

WOW! I'm super impressed! :biggrin:

IF your leos do not like the taste of black soldier fly larvae, try this:

• Rinse off the BSF larvae in a fine mesh strainer.
• Let them walk around on a paper towel to dry off.
• Sometimes that makes them more palatable.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

View attachment 43026 View attachment 43027
View attachment 43028

Is the front upper section of Cecil's enclosure totally open for 4-6 inches or is that just the photo? Is there NO plexiglass there at all?

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

More info:

Click: #6---Gutload Ingredients for Bugs & Worms.....contributed by Olimpia -- August 2013

"Lettuce (except dark, leafy greens) is just water and nutritionally irrelevant. People don't even give lettuce to tortoises and iguanas because it's worthless as food. The same could be said for potatoes. Fish flakes are very high in protein and this can lead to a build-up of uric acid in feeders/reptiles and end up causing gout. A little now and then is fine but this should never be the bulk of any gutload.

"A commercial gutloading food like Bug Burger or Superload (both by Repashy), Cricket Crack, Dinofuel, etc. is going to make your life easier AND provide a nutritious diet to your crickets at the same time. Avoid Fluker's gutloads, as they are super feeble in their formulas.

"If you opt for making your own gutload at home, here is a list of great ingredients to use:
Best: mustard greens, turnip greens, dandelion leaves, collard greens, escarole lettuce, papaya, watercress, and alfalfa.
Good: sweet potato, carrots, oranges, mango, butternut squash, kale, apples, beet greens, blackberries, bok choy, and green beans.
Dry food: bee pollen, organic non-salted sunflower seeds, spirulina, dried seaweed, flax seed, and organic non-salted almonds.
Avoid as much as possible: potatoes, cabbage, iceberg lettuce, romaine lettuce, spinach, broccoli, tomatoes, corn, grains, beans, oats, bread, cereal, meat, eggs, dog food, cat food, fish food, canned or dead insects, vertebrates.

------>"As far as how to keep crickets, a large plastic storage container will work well, but really anything with smooth sides. On a large plastic container you can cut out a panel on two sides and glue on aluminum screening (and do the same on the lid) and this will provide plenty of air flow. Bad air is the #1 killer of crickets, along with poor hydration, so having good airflow will make the difference if you start getting into bulk orders of crickets.

------>"And I just dust mine using a large plastic cup. You don't need to coat crickets in a thick layer of calcium. Just put a pinch of calcium into the cup, get some crickets into the cup, swirl, and dump. The crickets end up evenly but lightly coated and there isn't any excess calcium left over."

"Hope that helps!"

(Last edited by Olimpia; 08-21-2013 at 02:03 PM.)

 

[Seth9999]

Yes the front is 6inchs open. Blanket on top folds down cover hole. For most part.
The boy driving me nuts. I come home to him sleeping in that cold ,wet vine basket , way up there.
Today he moved, knot to floor, of course. Spent all day on that branch. Came down eat blw, back up here went.
Maybe he's just trying new stuff out. Knot much heat up there 77 . I lowered his air temperature this evening. I watching him, see what he does. He did fan out on tile, so he doesn't mind it.
My crickets or eating good greens now. They strive in South. Over thousand hatched and is living , in big tub wear. I have new batch of little ones hatched.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Superfoods are available from the Reptile Supply Company in Sacramento, California. In particular: alfalfa meal, bee pollen, chlorella powder, spirulina powder, and strawberry powder.

Click: Reptile Supply Company - Sacramento, CA 800-750-9065 --"Wholesale Reptile Supplies & Feeders" Cricket Crack, Zoo Med Natural Adult Bearded Dragon Food, Superfoods ABCss: alfalfa meal, bee pollen, chlorella powder, spirulina powder, & strawberry powder


Click on this Feeder Insect Nutrition Chart to enlarge. It's a combo of research done by Mark Finke, PhD and DubiaRoaches.com:

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Yes the front is 6inchs open. Blanket on top folds down cover hole. For most part.
The boy driving me nuts. I come home to him sleeping in that cold ,wet vine basket , way up there. View attachment 43057
Today he moved, knot to floor, of course. Spent all day on that branch. Came down eat blw, back up here went.View attachment 43058
Maybe he's just trying new stuff out. Knot much heat up there 77 . I lowered his air temperature this evening. I watching him, see what he does. He did fan out on tile, so he doesn't mind it.
My crickets or eating good greens now. They strive in South. Over thousand hatched and is living , in big tub wear. I have new batch of little ones hatched.

Thanks for everything! :biggrin: Cecil is among the lucky leos in our hobby. He has sooooooo many enrichment opportunities.

:idea:: When you have to change the back due to moisture leaking into the wood from Cecil's favorite hangout, please continue right here. Would a plastic liner prevent that from happening too soon?

I'm off to add your thread right here to keep it at my fingertips.

• Click: Temporary Home for Links

 

[Seth9999]

That awfull stain in background from that basket. At first it didn't have liner. I realized that's knot going work. I put liner in ,filled it with reptile dirt. Moss ball has liner to.
My plan was let vines grow, use back board as trellis. Hole board would get covered. I have bag cork bark ,I was going glue in spots for vines rest on . Weave it around. Knot sure if there going live. Expecially if he naps on top them. Think was just one time try it out thing.
There is company 3d backgrounds, makes some really nice slim 3d backgrounds . I got few estimates from thim. That's another option. But vines would be more natrual is way trying go. Sand and stuff is out, I don't want him on that 24/7.
We have time play with it. Gecos in captivity live long time. Reason for seize of tank. He just looked unhappy at being. So I began to build this.
I would be in great shape. I now haf build new one for little runt, who's growing fast. Bites anything that moves. Seen him or she hauling it's bowl around last night. Like it had something good. I feed it snack in morning, cricket or horn worm. Then dinner in evening. It eats and eats. Going bathroom good to. Both or. Since ditched mealyworms. Mealyworms I believe we're stopping them up. If they molting, I throw it in bowl. I have plenty crickets, I'll soon get dry food, with Bee Polen and good stuff in it.
They both ate black larva worms last night. Had few dark ones to.
I should have polyurethane that pice wood, let set for while to defuem. I belive I will . I'll just swap back boards out. After while of defuem.
I plan on picking few items up for next terruiam. I will knot go so high. Thinking of hexagon terrarium. I'd like keep both togther. Like one on bottom , space then other on top . One big stand, it has set in my place for many years, . You have idea on shape of terruiam? Other one still needs be faced off with nicer qualityof wood. Slowly it's coming together. If boy would stay on floor, I'd be happy. He spent night in his dirt pile in corner. Few times I looked. He moves around . I'm still waiting on crpto test on both of them. I'm call today. I think I should do another test on them. Make sure we're negative. She assured me it was good test, dna. But I don't know.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

I plan on picking few items up for next terruiam. I will knot go so high. Thinking of hexagon terrarium. I'd like keep both togther. Like one on bottom , space then other on top . One big stand, it has set in my place for many years, . You have idea on shape of terruiam? Other one still needs be faced off with nicer qualityof wood. Slowly it's coming together. If boy would stay on floor, I'd be happy. He spent night in his dirt pile in corner. Few times I looked. He moves around . I'm still waiting on crpto test on both of them. I'm call today. I think I should do another test on them. Make sure we're negative. She assured me it was good test, dna. But I don't know.

Have you some news about your leos' crypto tests?

Are you working on the 2nd terrarium now?

I had a hexagon tank and still have it's wonderful wrought iron stand. :biggrin: The tank was too tall for geckos because it opened at the top. A couple months ago I took it to Goodwill. My neighbor made a 1/2 inch thick plywood top for the stand!!! I'm using it for a lamp table. This stand has upside down and right side up large hearts on three sides. Some day I'll maybe stain it black.

 

[Seth9999]

Think this is picture of Cecilsome place with 12inch walls. I took your suggestion, replaced walls with 12inch plexiglass from 18inch. It works much better. The floor contributes most of heat now. I did install his 42inch led lighting. I turn on at end day few hours. That area has plenty of being natrual light.
I did put togther a small wooden place for little one. The glass tank had no front door. I didneed think it was good go over head. This has front door. Little more than half has uth and one che working togther.
The new place hasn't taken off yet. I got redo bottom. It will be completed by x little one has grown. Witch whatever it's is , growing fast. Boy , girl?

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

WOW! Cecil's house rocks! :yahoo:

The smaller terrarium is nice too, especially with the sliding front doors.