Whats the best kind of vivarium for a pair of giant madagasc

[Lisa]

I've just bought a pair of baby day geckos. At the moment they are temporarily in a small plastic cage but I don't want to keep them there, I'm planning on getting them a nice big vivarium. Trouble is I've looked all over and I can't find any that are the right size and shape. I've got a book on the day gecko's and it recomends an enclosure that is about 3ft tall, and I was thinking of having it 2ft wide and about 20" deep.

Anyway like I said I can't find anything with this sort of measurement and I was wondering if theres any reason for this. Is it a bad size for heating etc?

I was also considering to try and make one myself but I have no idea where to begin. I'm not sure whether I should make one out of wood with sliding glass door front, or an all glass one.

If there is anyone out there who keeps or breeds the giant madagascar day gecko's I'd love to have a bit of advice or a chat or even to see some pics of your gecko enclosures to give me some ideas.
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[morti]

It sounds like an enclosure designed for arborial snakes would be perfect. Perhaps something like this?



This is one of the new Boaphile Plastics cages. They will be available soon in the following sizes:

Length (Left to right) X Depth (Front to back) X Height

23 1/2" X 18" X 18"
23 1/2" X 18" X 24"
35 1/2" X 18" X 18"
35 1/2" X 18" X 24"

We don't have pricing yet, but it will also be coming soon. Probably at the Daytona show. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img]

-Your Sick Uncle Morti,
National Sales Manager, Boaphile Plastics.
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[Heather]

Well my papa had 3 day geckos . He kep them in a 30 gallon tank with a tree frog. The tank had a 40 watt on one side it has lots & lots of plants in the tank. It had wood chips & soil in the tank. A big water bolw was in it for the frog. they were happy in that tank than one day my papa sold them to a man for $150 plus the tank.
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[bensnacks]

I would think an all glass would be easier to put
together but more expensive .
I not real sure about the humidity for gecko's
wooden cages will hold less humidity.
Just a couple of thoughts.
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[eddie]

Just bumping over to the Housing forums!
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[Lisa]

That boaphille plastic enclosure looks fine for arborial snakes but I'm not so sure about a front opening door for the day gecko's because they are very delicate and fast.

I haven't really gotten used to them yet but one things for sure, you cannot really pick them up with your hands, at least I know I can't with my babies....it might be different when they are adults, I don't know yet.

I think with a front door opening type enclosure I would risk the gecko's jumping out and I've been all over the place looking for a suitable enclosure and found nothing. I asked for the price to have one made up especially and it would have cost over £150.00 so my fella and I have decided to make our own, and its almost done now, I'm so excited about it because its brilliant.

It is 3ft tall, 2ft wide and 18" deep. I've designed the top so that half of the lid opens for access to the top half of the vivarium for cleaning and access to the lights etc.
Then I've divided the top and bottom of the glass front in half with a strip of wood so that the top half is just a pane of glass and the bottom half is sliding glass doors. This design means that I should be able to clean the substrate and bottom of the enclosure out easily without disturbing the gecko's and minimising the risk of them jumping out.

Below the sliding doors I've included a few inches of wood so that I can put plenty substrate in, and above the top pane I've also put a few inches of wood so that you dont get dazzled by the UV light thingy.

I'm going to fix a shelf inside it too I think, its almost done, just got to get the glass made up and then get a thermostat and test the humidity and temperatures, then I can move my little babies in............its so big though I'll not be able to spot them in there while they are so tiny, they are only about 5cm long atm........cute [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img]
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[Seany]

Hi. Sorry it took me so long to find this post. I'm afraid morti's encolsure wouldn't be that good for you Lisa. you'll find the gecko's ON the front door glass most of the time and will not be able to open the tank.
If you only have 2 geckos, a regular glass tank will be all you need. I'd recomend going to your local fish store and getting a 30 X-H (extra high) tank. just add a screen on top and a combo light for your heat and UV.
Hope this helped and didn't come to late.
Seany.
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