Automatic mister for my new enclosure?

[JacobW]

Hi,

I would like to get some of your guys's thoughts on automatic misters. Right now I have a Green Day gecko in a very small tank and I mist it daily with a hand sprayer. It is hard to keep the humidity constant. Even when I try it varies from 80% to 20% sometimes. I don't think that is good for them.

My dad and I built a new big enclosure out of scrap plexiglass he had in his shop. Its like 18d x 22w x 30h or something. Im trying to make it without much money. Im using fake plants from my grandma and building the other surroundings out of foam and things we have.

We noticed that foggers are a lot cheaper than misters. but do they work good for geckos? I also have read some people say they have hydro balls but I don't know what they are. Do they work good? I have the money for a mister and thought if it is that important to do a better job of keeping a more constant humidity, then I should just buy it since we've got the rest pretty cheep.

What do you guys do and use to keep good humidity for Green Day geckos? Do you think I should try to go cheep or go ahead and spend the money to do something right?

Thanks.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Welcome to Geckos Unlimited, Jacob! Which species of day gecko did you get?

Hydroballs/hydroton will probably be your answer to increasing ambient humidity round-the-clock. Hydroballs are watered periodically just like plants. Hydroballs beat frequent misting by miles! They are marble-sized and made of clay. They are sold by pet stores and hydroponics stores.

​

Establish a layered substrate:

• Top layer = sphagnum moss, Eco Earth's coco fiber, or a bioactive soil
• Middle layer = weedblocker cloth
  
  ​
• Bottom layer = ~2 inches of hydroballs

 

[JacobW]

Thank you for your thoughts Elizabeth!

I thought they were like one or two balls you put in and kept them wet. But a two inch layer sounds like that would work better than what I was thinking. we were just in process of making the layered bottom so the timing for trying this out is great. we were using gravel then a screen and then the coco fiber.

so my sister has a potter wheel and a 25 pound box of pottery clay. I think I could just roll up a bunch of little balls from that. Do you think that work?

The pet store just said he was a Green Day Gecko. But on the paper we got when buying him, the species was called phelsuma dubia. we don't think he looks like other internet pictures of dubias though. We'er going with a
madagascar or giant.

Thank you so much for your thoughts. I like hearing from other people better than just trying to search and read articles.

Here are a couple of pictures of Gibon on his hammock, his little tank, and the big one we've built.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Thank you for your thoughts Elizabeth!

I thought they were like one or two balls you put in and kept them wet. But a two inch layer sounds like that would work better than what I was thinking. we were just in process of making the layered bottom so the timing for trying this out is great. we were using gravel then a screen and then the coco fiber.

so my sister has a potter wheel and a 25 pound box of pottery clay. I think I could just roll up a bunch of little balls from that. Do you think that work?

The pet store just said he was a Green Day Gecko. But on the paper we got when buying him, the species was called phelsuma dubia. we don't think he looks like other internet pictures of dubias though. We'er going with a
madagascar or giant.

Thank you so much for your thoughts. I like hearing from other people better than just trying to search and read articles.

Here are a couple of pictures of Gibon on his hammock, his little tank, and the big one we've built.

View attachment 49571View attachment 49570View attachment 49572

You're most welcome, Jacob! Thanks for sharing pics of Gibon and his new home!!! I hope Gibon will love it!

I recall Gibon's species ID discussion from your former thread.

I highly recommend buying a digital thermometer & a digital hygrometer both with probes. Analog thermometers & hygrometers like you have only show "ballpark" numbers.

Would your sister fire your homemade clay marbles as described here? It's important to get that part correct. It will probably still be necessary to mist 1x per day in the evening to get a daily humidity variation like rains bring in the wild.

I boil my Hydroton for 20 minutes, even when I reuse it for the same setup. After it cools, spread it out on a cloth towel to dry (unless you use it right away).

What is Hydroton (LECA)?

"Clay pebbles or hydroton (sometimes referred to as LECA—light expanded clay aggregate) are a hydroponic substrate with units about the size of marbles or peanuts. ... Clay pebbles can be used in both hydroponic and aquaponic systems. (Aug 24, 2016)"

"Expanded clay pellets (Hydroton) are made by heating the clay to over 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit. The process is done in a rotary kiln. As the balls heat up, they fill with bubbles and form into small marble-sized units."

"GROW! T horticultural clay pebbles are made from 100% natural clay. They are clean, pH stable, and offer great aeration and drainage in hydroponics, especially in flood and drain, deep water culture, and drip feed systems."

Please continue on this thread for all husbandry issues. That's much better than chasing multiple threads.

 

[JacobW]

I got Gibon moved into his new enclosure. he seems to like it much better than his tiny one. Its fun to see him move around more. he didn't have a lot of room to move before. We measured him and he is 6 inches long.

We saw him shed his skin the day before we moved him over. It only took him an hour or so to do it completely. we saw it come off but then it was nowhere to be found in the cage. Do they eat it or something?

My last question for now is that I have a screen top and thought I read somewhere that the screen can make the UBV now work as well. I have an ego terra 13W UBV 100. his basking log is about 5 inches under the light. He seems to like it. Its a double fixture and I also have a 75W heat lamp too. He can move along the log to be more under the heat or UBV. Think thats good?

We had fun making his cage. He's got a rock wall with a cave. you can see in the cave from the side wall. I made some treasure chests with my 3d pen. I made temple ruins and a treehouse. I tried to give him lots of leaves to hide in behind the tree and lots of leaves in the trees. He's got the cave and a log to hide in on the ground. Then two smooth sticks for climbing on and basking. he seems to like it. He looks healthy and bright green. I found him exploring his cave and it looks like he is checking out his treasure chests. Hope I don't bore you all but I'll attach some pictures too.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

My last question for now is that I have a screen top and thought I read somewhere that the screen can make the UBV now work as well. I have an ego terra 13W UBV 100. his basking log is about 5 inches under the light. He seems to like it. Its a double fixture and I also have a 75W heat lamp too. He can move along the log to be more under the heat or UBV. Think thats good?

Excellent news, Jacob! You look quite happy; Gibon looks "satisfied" too.

You're correct. Many geckos eat their sheds. I mean, they gotta cover their tracks from predators, you know. Mesh does reduce the effectiveness of whatever UVB you use.

PS: What does the inside of your double-dome fixture look like: white paint or aluminum-type coating? For proper UVB reflecting, the inside of the domes should be aluminum-like.

If your humidity needs additional help, misters are much better than foggers. I would NOT trust the readings on the "circle" thermometer and hygrometer that you have. By your reports, Gibon is a happy camper.

Important factors:

1. Phelsuma mad mads or giants require Ferguson Zone 2 strength UVB
2. Pair heat and UVB together in the same vicinity as you've done.
3. Aim UVB straight downward
4. Even when using appropriate UVB, also dust your gecko's feeders @ 1-2 feedings per month with a good calcium + D3 supplement like Zoo Med's Repti Calcium with D3.

For Ferguson Zone information click: https://zoomed.com/wp-content/uploads/Powersun_Instrct_U.S_5-18.pdf

I strongly recommend joining Facebook group's Reptile Lighting to sort out the appropriate UVB bulb for your gecko's situation. There you'll find 5 admins who are UVB and heating experts!

On your initial Reptile Lighting group message share these things.

1. Species of Phelsuma
2. Dimensions of your enclosure
3. Type of mesh grid: 1/8 inch or whatever
4. Measure the exact distance from the tip of your UVB bulb to the probable basking site
5. Type and strength of your Exo Terra UVB bulb

Please share what you discover on this Geckos Unlimited thread.

 

[ranger519]

Nice job and very creative. Enjoy your gecko