New "live" setup

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After chatting on ts last night I thought I'd post about my new live setup for my new crested gecko.
I didn't really know where to post it so feel free to move it. I thought if post it here as it was guildees I was talking too
Also the pics aren't the best quality as taken with my iPhone which has seen better days lol.


First I started with a drainage layer...



Then added a membrane to hold water better and easier for the yearly clean out and then added a layer of compost. Peat and chemical free....





Now time for a coco fibre wrapped tube and an umbrella plant and some cork bark. These geckos are arboreal so they need lots to climb on. Also the coco fibre and cork bark act as a shedding aid.
These type of gecko to have claws yet they climb using "sticky pads" on their feet. When they shed some can retain on their pads and makes it difficult for them to climb, the rough surfaces on the bark and fibre help rub the shed from the toes.



A few more plants added and some bamboo, more climbing area and to just make it look abit more natural....





Some more plants and bamboo and cork bark and its almost complete....





After abit of tweaking and adding more compost where needed and some jungle vines we have the finished enclosure.....



They live in a tropical climate with a range of conditions. I use a compact hood which sits on top of the enclosure which provides a basking spot so he can warm up and has a UVB tube which replicates the uv they would normally get from the sun.
They like it very humid. You have to spray the enclosure twice a day with water. It soaks into the compost and drips from the plants. They also drink the droplets.
They are fed on insects, locust, crickets, mealworms and Dubia roaches. These are just released into the viv and he can pick them off as he pleases. They also eat fruit, you purée up a couple such as strawberry mango and passion fruit and freeze the mixture in an ice cube tray. This then take 1 cube out a day and put in a little dish and they will lick it

What I have created is a mini Eco system... I'm adding springtails and tropical wood lice to the enclosure also.... These eat all the fras (poo) from the bugs in there and the faeces from the gecko. That then goes into the compost which feeds the plants.

Pretty cool huh?

This whole setup, viv, lighting plants etc and the gecko cost about £200. It took me about 2 hours to create the "rainforest".

Time for a pic of the lil dude him self....



I hope you enjoy the read and once he has settled in I will get some more pictures.


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[TeaLeaf]

Nice one Switch, good info on the eco cycle, did not know that.  Similar to the nitrogen cycle cycle in a marine reef tank, it's own little eco system.

[Riggy]

Wow, that's fascinating!!!  He is awesome and looks much less 'bitey' than your others

[Switchback]

Aye he's alot less bitey but he is very jumpy lol


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[Sharpfang]

love the color on that one

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Quick update on "spotty" which my daughter has named him....

He has settled in nicely and is very active already escaping and getting into the kitchen units!

A few pics....

This is his day colour... Doesn't show to well in the picture but he is light creamy brown to blend in as they are nocturnal.



These next couple are when he is "fired up" and ready to go hunting at night....





He is very comfortable to sit in open view of us now. I'm hand feeding him his live food now and this is him nom ing on a cricket.... You can see a leg and head hanging out his mouth lol....




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[Riggy]

Ooooh he is lovely!!  Not sure about hand feeding crickets though................

[jaylen]

Wow he is beautiful...

Makes me want to smack Zteal (again) for not leting me have any reptiles

[xaeven]

I think this gecko should be head of team r33m, he is adorable!

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Couple more pics of him....





He's stalking a locust here.... Will try and get a video of him jumping to catch his food!


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[ztealmax]

Jaylen Wow he is beautiful...

Makes me want to smack Zteal (again) for not leting me have any reptiles

Just shows how much you know me Jaylen my love, reptiles is ok as long as its not snakes, i hate snakes.

[Switchback]

He's getting very confident now and is coming out by himself to jump around.

Almost lost him out the window a few days ago he is so quick!


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Little update...

He's fully matured now and at a nice weight, so I'm trying to find a mate for him...

Couple of pics...






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