Hello!!! New member, new Vivarium build

[Philip Jay Fry]

Hello all! Philip J Fry here, but you can call me Blake. I have recently started a project building a custom Bio Active Vivarium that I plan to house a Flame Crested Gecko in. I'm in early stages of the build but moving along quickly. I don't have any friends that also share this passion. So I am reaching out on this form to make some.

So my project details are as follows;
Tank is a used 36 gal bow front tank aquarium I picked up for free
Main construction materials are PVC pipe and eggcrate for sub-frame and then coated in expanding foam. This is a method I have not seen used before. But I believe it to work much better then just spraying foam around especially if you're making a second layer as I am that will bear true weight.
For background, it will be cork bark pieces and more expanding foam. Okay okay, enough talking let's see some pictures... Fine, but when I first started this project I wasn't intending to share so the first pictures I was taking aren't the most beautiful so no judging.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Welcome to Geckos Unlimited, Blake! It's good to have you on board.

Click right here for solid and proven tips for all things crestie.

• http://www.geckosunlimited.com/comm...-summary-tips-february-2015-a.html#post440148

 

[Philip Jay Fry]

Flora help

I've begun to shop around for Flora, and I've run into a bit of a wall. I don't know what are good plants and what are not. What plants will grow well within an enclosure, a natural tropical environment for a crested, plants that won't fight each other... So many variables and options. Someone please help me.
P.S. I do have a Ficus Elastica Decora, and I special ordered a Purple Wandering Jew from my local Nursery, as these seemed to be some "fan favorites."

 

[GeckoLeen]

Snake plants (sansevieria), pothos, bromeliads are all popular plants for cresties.

 

[Philip Jay Fry]

Update: Placed second layer frame into tank. Turned tank on to backside. Got cork bark and placed it on the background and sprayed expanding foam around it, waited 8 hours to cure and carved the foam out to desired shape

 

[Philip Jay Fry]

Flora!!!

So I bought some plants today! And soon realized why this can be an expensive hobby. I'm not great with Flora so if I am mistaken anywhere feel free to correct me. And if you know the specific species or genus please tell me. Thanks!


Large Dieffenbachia


Small Dieffenbachia


Bromeliad


Ficus Decora/Elastica


Pothos Epipremnum


Croton unknown

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

EDIT: attachments is not working for me so if you view the images below, viewing them from left to right, matching the names with these above from BOTTOM to top. hope this isn't confusing.

Nice plants -- lucky crestie!

Be sure to add a sansevieria somewhere. Sansevieria are tough, resilient plants that tolerate bouncy cresties well.

After you upload a photo, drag that photo to the rectangular box below it. Then click Insert Inline; then click Done. If you only click Insert Inline, your photos end up in the Attached Thumbnails box. It's possible to return to Manage Attachments right now and click Done. See whether that works.

 

[Philip Jay Fry]

Haha it sorta worked. Well people will understand what it says. I do plan on some sansevieria just haven't found any yet, I ordered a Purple Wandering Jew from local Nursery and I just need to go pick it up. I also need some living moss and maybe some vining plants to attach to the background.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Haha it sorta worked. Well people will understand what it says. I do plan on some sansevieria just haven't found any yet, I ordered a Purple Wandering Jew from local Nursery and I just need to go pick it up. I also need some living moss and maybe some vining plants to attach to the background.

OK, Blake -- next step.

You see the attached photos? Press the space bar between each photo. Then Enter/Space each photo on a separate line. Copy & paste the plant ID right underneath (or on top of) the plant. If you move the attachment instead, you'll probably have to re-attach it.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

PS: Don't know whether you're done with the edit.

Right now the names don't match the plants.

 

[Philip Jay Fry]

I did it!!! Thank you thank you!

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

I did it!!! Thank you thank you!

:banana:

 

[Varalidaine]

That yellow spotted plant is so pretty! Never seen that used before! I'll be watching this as it looks like it'll turn out great.

 

[Philip Jay Fry]

It is a Codiaeum Variegatum. My first time dealing with one. I'll let you know how it grows

 

[Hilde]

Your crestie is going to be thrilled in there. I love naturalistic setups, the geckos get a chance to live normal lives, not crunched up in some tiny tank or tub.

I have a thread, in the crested gecko forum, with some pictures and info about plants I use. The jewel orchid in there doesn't need much light, which works with some of the plants you mentioned, and they're hardy, not finicky like the orchids we usually think of.

Here's the link, if you want to check it out:
http://www.geckosunlimited.com/comm...rested-hatchling-tank-naturalistic-setup.html

 

[rtbaum]

I think that you will find that your choices will soon out grow the tank. They will be fine in the short term, but do some research on slow growing plants. Orchids are more expensive, but many will stay smaller and they are tough enough to withstand cresties. I am having the best luck with Bulbophyllum species. Marcgravia is a vine that is slow growing and will work well. African violets are doing well in my enclosures. Gesnariads are another good choice.

 

[Philip Jay Fry]

Can someone please tell me if these are dangerous plants to a Crested Gecko?? These are the only 3 in question, my others are confirmed to be okay. Also I'll be posting a Build update shortly, and I think you will all be very supprised to see the results, as I was.

Croton Variegatum
Ficus Decora
Dieffenbachia

 

[Philip Jay Fry]

Sorta done

Sorry I know it's been awhile. But here's my vivarium. It's my first build and I learned a lot from it. I absolutely love it but I know there's a million things I would do differently next time. It's not entirely done, I need living moss, and more small plants to fill in some areas. And later today I'll be making custom vines to go across from side to side on top, making some naturalistic climbing possibilities for the gecko. Please, feel free to give me constructive criticism!
P.S. sorry for the poor lighting situation. I will be getting a nice full spectrum light soon, but for now it's lighted from a near by window.

 

[GeckoLeen]

That looks AWESOME! Your gecko will love it!

 

[Geecko123]

Awsome tank. its beautifull