Could Someone Give me Advice on Setting Up a Bioactive Terrarium for My First Crested Gecko?

[arfina]

Hello there,

I am new to the world of geckos and excited to start my journey with a crested gecko as my first reptile. I have been doing a lot of research; but I wanted to reach out to the community here for advice and guidance. I am especially interested in creating a bioactive terrarium for my gecko; as I have read it can help mimic their natural habitat and make care a bit easier in the long run.

I am considering a 12x12x18 Exo Terra tank to start. Would this be sufficient for a young gecko, or should I go bigger from the get go? I have read about using a mix of coconut fiber; organic soil; and sand for the substrate. Does this work well for a bioactive setup?

I am planning to add pothos and maybe a bromeliad or two. Are there other hardy; gecko safe plants I should consider? I am looking into springtails and isopods, but I am not sure how many to introduce or how to maintain them.

Also, I have gone through this post; https://www.geckosunlimited.com/community/devops/53459/ which definitely helped me out a lot.

I have read that crested geckos do not need UVB lighting; but I would like to hear opinions on whether it might be beneficial. I am also wondering about the best way to maintain proper humidity levels in a bioactive setup.

Thanks so much for your help and assistance.

 

[acpart]

Here's some basic information: a 12x12x18 is fine for a juvenile, but when it gets to be adult size, 18x18x18 or 24 would be better. Check out https://joshsfrogs.com/ and read info about their terrariums. They deal with geckos as well as frogs. They have a great substrate that doesn't require the "false bottom" for drainage and will make life much easier for you: https://joshsfrogs.com/sp/josh-s-frogs-tropical-biobedding-bioactive-substrate-4-quarts-jfc81548
I use this without the drainage layer and it works great. I use LED lights to make sure the plants will grow. I primarily use pothos and include a fake vine for the pothos to climb up.

Aliza

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Welcome aboard, arfina!

Please don't buy a 12 x 12 x 18 inch ExoTerra enclosure for your crestie! That's much too small even for a hatchling. Let's go bigger from the get go! Let your crestie grow into an 18 x 18 x 18 inch or an 18 x 18 x 24 inch enclosure!

Here's how I recommend increasing ambient humidity:
1. Use Hydroton Clay Culture Balls/Marbles which you can find in a hydroponic store. Fill a plastic pot that has drainage with hydroton. Cover that pot with weedblocker cloth (a porous black fabric that can be found at some hardware stores). Secure weedblocker cloth with tough string or large rubber band. Sit this plastic pot upon a plastic lid. Water hydroton now & then. If you wish, cut a slit in the weedblocker cloth where you can insert a fake plant.

Then place a 2 inch diameter ceramic feeding dish directly on top of the weedblocker cloth for your crestie's meals.

2. OR Establish 2-3 inches of Hydroton at the bottom of your crestie's enclosure. Cover Hydroton with a single layer of weedblocker cloth. Then add your substrate with or withOUT a clean up crew on top of the weedblocker cloth.

You could just use only a Zoo Med or an Arcadia UVB linear tube light + a low wattage halogen heat bulb that's centered upon the UVB tube light & save the clean up crew till later. Your UVB tube light should equal 1/3 to 1/2 this enclosure's length. IF you don't wish to use UVB, feed Pangea's Diet with Insects at every feeding to supply appropriate levels of calcium with vitamin D3 which prevents metabolic bone disease. That's a dry diet one mixes with water. Be sure to watch the expiration date!!! With that diet one needs NO other supplements.

Consider joining Facebook's Crested Geckos - Advancing Husbandry for the latest recommendations! I'm checking out that group as we speak. For crested geckos I recommend low level UVB from a Zoo Med or Arcaida linear tube light with fixture NEVER a compact fluorescent bulb.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Please click the following Link 181---ABG Mix - The Classic Terrarium Substrate (+ Recipe) . . . . . . by Terrarium Tribe's Dan & Rae -- May 2023 for significant substrate advice!

100% Leopard Gecko Care Sheet - Geckos Unlimited

#179---Guide to Reptile UVB Lamp Selection Without a Solar Meter . . . . . . Ayana Evans -- 18 September 2023 Published: 18 September 2023 PS: "For the typical cages used for leopard geckos and bearded dragons, especially from Facebook's Advancing Husbandry group's recommendations for cage...

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