Questions about using large tubs as enclosures

[Rebekahmcd]

Hi I have some questions about using 40-50 gallon tubs as enclosures for leopard geckos
I saw them and thought it might work
Here are the ones I am looking at:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Sterili...pip_alternatives-_-205597365-_-308820153-_-N&

https://www.homedepot.com/p/HDX-55-Gal-Tough-Storage-Bin-in-Black-HDX55GONLINE-4/205597365

I was thinking I could put screen in the lid.
I am mostly concerned about heating and lights, I want to use A deep heat projector and Arcadia shade dweller. Would Vocs be an issue? I haven’t found any info on how hot plastic has to get before it is a problem.

I am also planning on bioactive. Would that be a problem or would the plastic be ok? Will any bugs I put in there be a problem?

Anything helps thank you

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Welcome to Geckos Unlimited!

Are you thinking about housing your 4 females + 1 male together? Leopard geckos should be housed separately unless you are breeding a pair of them.

I don't recommend totally dark bins at all. All leopard geckos need a wee bit of photoperiod lighting in order to distinguish day from night. I have no idea how a DHP or Arcadia's Shade Dweller would work in a situation like this. How would you stabilize 3 overhead fixtures (per bin)?

Perhaps facebook's Reptile Lighting group can steer you in a better direction.

 

[Rebekahmcd]

Welcome to Geckos Unlimited!

Are you thinking about housing your 4 females + 1 male together? Leopard geckos should be housed separately unless you are breeding a pair of them.

I don't recommend totally dark bins at all. All leopard geckos need a wee bit of photoperiod lighting in order to distinguish day from night. I have no idea how a DHP or Arcadia's Shade Dweller would work in a situation like this. How would you stabilize 3 overhead fixtures (per bin)?

Perhaps facebook's Reptile Lighting group can steer you in a better direction.

Goodness no I will not be housing them together.

Yah I was thinking the black bins weren’t a good idea. And I’ll go check out that group thanks!
Stablizing them I was thinking of putting all the bins on a rack them attaching the lights to the rack

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Goodness no I will not be housing them together.

Yah I was thinking the black bins weren’t a good idea. And I’ll go check out that group thanks!
Stablizing them I was thinking of putting all the bins on a rack them attaching the lights to the rack

You're welcome!

I send good wishes for these projects.

 

[acpart]

I have a few thoughts about some of what's been said already:
--if people are using racks for their geckos, it does seem that the non-black plastic tub would be equivalent.
If you wanted to provide more daylight, there's always the option of cutting holes in the sides and hot gluing some plastic screening there too.
--I know that many people feel strongly that all leopard geckos should be housed individually and that's fine. I'm just a voice letting people know that I've been housing my leopard geckos in small groups for the last 16 years, and during the 13 years I was breeding I would house the male with his females throughout the breeding season. I have extra enclosures in case someone needs to be separated, which does happen very rarely.

I think if you can replace the lid entirely with mesh (think about velcro and vinyl screening) you'll take care of the lights and ventilation problem. I don't see why a bioactive setup wouldn't work in a tub.

Aliza