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Kaush Shiftylarry Jawstheme Shiftylarry Yavie Shiftylarry Yavie Shiftylarry Kaush Shiftylarry Kaush Repti_Man3 Shiftylarry Ash104 Suicidepill JBryant0046 Dislimbed Jenralee Multireps Dagobert

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#1502065

Kaush
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Custom Built Leo Tank

Here are some pics of the leo set up i made, it has no leos in it at the moment. Pleas feel free to give me feed back. During building:

After:

This area is going to have sand under the rocks:

A climbing area:

With the light on:

11/05/07 10:55am

#1502369

Shiftylarry
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Message To: Kaush In reference to Message Id: 1502065

Custom Built Leo Tank

Because your cage is so low and the bottom is all tile, I worry that it will get too hot on the ground for them. I would toss the tile in favor of a dirt/sand mixture and use a very low wattage bulb. Also, add more hides so that the geckos can cool down if need be. Other than that it looks like a nice cage. What are you going to do for the top?

11/05/07 03:59pm

#1503738

Jawstheme
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Message To: Shiftylarry In reference to Message Id: 1502369

Custom Built Leo Tank

dirt and sand? thats a big no no for leos. lose particle substate causes gut impactation with leos. iv seen it first hand. tile is great, as long as he keeps the heating down. and sand gets very hot too. leos can take hot surfaces of up to 30c surface temp.

11/06/07 02:42pm

#1504065

Shiftylarry
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Message To: Jawstheme In reference to Message Id: 1503738

Custom Built Leo Tank

Jawstheme: "Did you know that thousands of helpless leopard geckos are suffering every day? Alone is the desert with no conscientious reptile owners to provide them with tile? It’s sad but true, and it’s still going on to this day. But amidst the darkness, there is a glimmer of hope. That’s right ladies and gentlemen youcan make a difference. For the low cost of only $1.00 per day, you can contribute to the pave the desert fund. It’s a small sacrifice for such a worthy cause. And after you’ve sent your donation, we’ll send you monthly pictures of your adopted leopard gecko in the tile coated paradise of its dreams. So, don’t delay, call today and make a little leo’s dreams become reality."

Now, after we’ve all had a good chuckle, let me address your concern of impaction. Impaction is not a normal circumstance for a healthy animal, rather it is more often associated with animals kept in sub-optimal conditions. Any healthy animal will not die from ingesting loose substrate, unless it is some jagged shape like bark or wood chippings, which is not what I am suggesting. Another contributing factor to impaction is Calci-Sand. It is a sand substrate often sold at pet stores that is supposed to be digestible, but actually induces consumption (particularly in calcium starve animals), thus gathering up in their systems until they become impacted.

I’m sure you’re going to continue to dispute over my statements, but hopefully you’ll see the ridiculousness of your suggestion. I have been keep reptiles on dirt/sand for over 10 years, guess what, nobody’s died on me yet. In fact, they are all healthy, and I know of several other keepers who’ve had the same quality results. Leopard geckos dig in nature. They also retreat to burrows to avoid predators. What makes you assume that you can exclude this element of their natural habits? I understand you feel you need to make a point because of the loss of your animal, but I think that your particular situation does not relate to everyone’s. I really think it was a husbandry issue, and not the fault of the substrate (that is, if you were using a dirt sand mixture). Furthermore, the leopard geckos feet are not designed to walk on flat surfaces indefinitely. There is a potential for arthritic problems in the future.

Again, sorry about the loss of your gecko and of your ackie, but I don’t think it relate to this situation. Also what substrate did you keep your ackie on, since they are highly terrestrial, burrow dwelling animals? If dirt/sand is the answer, what is the difference for a leopard gecko? And, don’t you think the high mortality rate for leopard geckos due to impaction is partially due to the fact that they are one of the most common pet lizards and often kept by inexperienced herpers?

-Chris

11/06/07 06:23pm

#1504146

Yavie
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Message To: Kaush In reference to Message Id: 1502065

Custom Built Leo Tank

Well, I’d use a top soil/play sand mix for the substrate, but I also don’t want an argument about the issue (:

Also, leo’s need belly heat, not air heat, so an UTH or flexwatt would be better than that bulb.

Leo’s like to climb near horizontal surfaces (light inclines), not vertically. If yours climbed up the thing you have, it’d fall off and possibly break a limb or it’s back.

- Yav

11/06/07 07:05pm

#1504289

Shiftylarry
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Message To: Yavie In reference to Message Id: 1504146

Custom Built Leo Tank

Yavie, yes I agree that leos often absorb heat from their bellies, but Normally this is achieved by placing a piece of stone or slate under the basking light. Look at the dimensions of the cage, if he put in a UTH (Under tank heater) the whole cage would be roasting. A light is the best, and most natural, way to replicate temperature gradients in the wide. The only time I use UTH’s is when ground temperatures are insufficient even with proper lighting, and I usually just solve the problem by propping the tank up on stilts or adding insulation. UTH also mean that the leo cannot retreat to a burrow to escape the heat as the would in the wild.

Oh, and I also do not want this to turn into an argument. I have argued for substrate so many times before and it can become irritating after a while.
-Chris

11/06/07 09:05pm

#1504393

Yavie
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Message To: Shiftylarry In reference to Message Id: 1504289

Custom Built Leo Tank

Quote:
Oh, and I also do not want this to turn into an argument. I have argued for substrate so many times before and it can become irritating after a while.

Me too, so I just state my opinion and then stay out of it now hehe. Kinda hit-and-run but oh well! I’m glad you’re around to explain why it works, because I’m usually too lazy to!

I can’t tell the dimensions on his build, but I still prefer UTH to overhead lights for something like a leo, because it heats that area and leaves lots of room to get cool if my Charlie needs to. The other reason I prefer UTH for leo’s (and my corn) is because they’re nocturnal and while the sun shines on them in the wild, I just don’t want such intense light (intense because it’s an enclosure, not the wild open, I mean) in my guys enclosure. He’s near a window so he gets a normal photo period.

IF it’s set up properly, unlike this build, then I think it’s a matter of opinion on the lighting/heating issue, though.

I also thought of something else I don’t like about the OP’s build. The open top! I know I said leo’s climb shallow inclines, but they WILL go up up up if they can, and they will escape if they don’t fall on their backs first.

- Yav

11/06/07 10:06pm

#1504413

Shiftylarry
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Message To: Yavie In reference to Message Id: 1504393

Custom Built Leo Tank

Yeah, it looks like it’s about 8 inches tall which doesn’t provide a good temperature gradient. I assume this person intends to slap a piece of wire mesh on top or something, leaving the cage far too dry. I also noticed, and I may be wrong, that the wood does not appear to be treated with anything.

I hear you on the exhaustion of typing so much. I spend the time doing it, because I love the animals and I assume everyone here does, they may just be misinformed or led to believe husbandry myths that have become "fact" as they are regurgitated over and over. Sometime people are very stubborn to listen to my advice, because they assume I’m trying to criticize them as a person. I’m not, I’m here for the animals, and whatever advice I offer is intended to help the owner.

-Chris

11/06/07 10:20pm

#1504926

Kaush
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Message To: Shiftylarry In reference to Message Id: 1504413

Custom Built Leo Tank

it is 12"tall 29"length 26"width
it has a glass top

11/07/07 11:37am

#1505087

Shiftylarry
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Message To: Kaush In reference to Message Id: 1504926

Custom Built Leo Tank

What are you going to do for heating? Also, could you tell us how you’ve treated/sealed the wood. It looks like you may have something, but I can’t tell if you’ve caulked the corners or not.

11/07/07 02:33pm

#1505101

Kaush
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Message To: Shiftylarry In reference to Message Id: 1505087

Custom Built Leo Tank

its silicon

11/07/07 02:47pm

#1505775

Repti_Man3
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Message To: Kaush In reference to Message Id: 1505101

Custom Built Leo Tank

Hey i wouldnt suggest tile, i would use repticarpet, its great and dirt cheap, and my leos love the stuff. and when you have to clean the tank all you do is just grab the ends lift, place in garbage and replace, you dont have to tape/staple or anything with it to the ground. And it stays warm and doesnt get too warm. It also doesnt stay wet for long, but anyways gratz on trying to make tank. Hope it works out :).

11/07/07 11:03pm

#1505843

Shiftylarry
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Message To: Repti_Man3 In reference to Message Id: 1505775

Custom Built Leo Tank

Reptile carpet is something I would suggest for babies, but adults make burrows and need dirt/sand mixture. The only advantage to reptile carpet is the ease of cleaning, and I have never been a proponent of anything that benefits the owner, but detracts from the animal’s quality of life.

-Chris

11/07/07 11:56pm

#1528227

Ash104
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Message To: Shiftylarry In reference to Message Id: 1504065

Custom Built Leo Tank

My leo is happy and healthy, and i use kid’s play sand! he likes 2 dig a lot, and last time i checked, u can’t borrow into a tile! And i have been using play-sand for 5 years with this leo. i have seen many leos die because they ate sand or something, but they r always in a poor habitat or they have that calci-sand stuff. i do not want 2 argue, but i agree with Chris. sand is pretty good, espetialy when mixed with dirt.

11/27/07 08:37pm