Hi guys,

Just got 2 cresties and have set one of them (the larger male) up a new viv, we are going for a self contained eco-system but wanted some advice before he moves into his new home.

Are self contained eco-systems definately ok for them? Ive seen loads done for frogs but noe geckos?

any tips on cleaning i.e how, and how often?

We have a humus brick for substrate, do we need to add anything else to allow it to decompose waste matter?

what plants are best?


Please note: Gecko is about a year old and around 7inches so is big enough for the set up- I'm aware you cant put juvi's is set ups like this!

Any advice much appreciated- I have done lots of research but there is very little with reference to gecko's

Thank you!

I believe they are, there is someone i know of who has a self contained Eco-system which has earth worms living in the substrates and they clean it out fully once a year.

The best plants are Pothos, also known as Silver Vine, Money Plant, Centipede tongavine, Devil's Ivy and Solomon Islands' Ivy. I currently use 3 cuttings from a Devil's Ivy (pothos). The gecko i have loves to hide under the big broad leaves and often comes out and climbs them at night. They love broad leaved plants such as Pothos and similar plants. I also believe some kind of Ficus is safe too.

[Ned]

You have any links/further info on these setups? I'd like to learn a little more.

I dont currently. Sorry

I have most of mine in natural set ups. I did get springtails in one of mine due to the humidity, but i didn't like them , so cleaned the viv out, i wasn't sure if they would irritate my crestie, lol, so they had to go.

As for cleaning, really simple, when i take them out to feed live food, i spot clean, and wipe the glass, if they have decided to walk on their food and smear it everywhere, the little darlings! Then every so often i mix the soil round a bit, very straight forward.

[PsYcHoTiC_MaDmAn]

currently keeping my 3 juvis in the large faunarium.

it is only short term, and they will get a proper vivarium at some point (60by45by60 minimum, probably a 3foot wide on though)

I'm using a mixture of orchid bark and coconut fiber for substrate, and have bamboo root as well as some fake plants.



when I set up their proper vivarium I hope to have it with only live plants, but I'll have to see how that goes

[Olivine]

Originally Posted by crestiesue

currently keeping my 3 juvis in the large faunarium.

it is only short term, and they will get a proper vivarium at some point (60by45by60 minimum, probably a 3foot wide on though)

Please bear in mind that you'll need more than one larger viv. Even if you get an 'ideal' combination (1.2 cresties), you would need to separate the male from the females until they are large / old enough to breed (35g+ and more than 18 months old). There could be severe implications for their health (including egg binding in females, prolapse in the males) if they mate before they've reached optimum breeding age / weight. Personally, I wouldn't house males and females together on a permanent basis (the females can become stressed if pestered by the males all the time), but would only introduce them for mating, if that's what you intend to do. If you have more than one male in the group, they will definitely need to be housed separately on a permanent basis, to prevent fighting. Even among females fighting might even occur, so you might have to split them if necessary.

[PsYcHoTiC_MaDmAn]

will bear that in mind