Starting a Viv...

[maxxtrax77]

Hello guys, just wondering if I am on a good path... I want to start my first viv for a crested Gecko. Down the road I might buy a mate. Anyways I am looking at picking up a Exo Terra 18x18x24 Glassed cage, I need a substrate, I've heard of little clay balls or aquarium rocks that have been cleaned. Then nylon mesh, then organic dirt. Should I mix this with something? What are good plants for crested geckos? How long do I need to soak them in clean water before they go in? And can I pick up wood from around my house in and the woods to put in there or is that unsafe for the geckos? THANK YOU!

Matt

[Jason]

If picking decorative items from around the neighbourhood you must make sure thay are free of Hitchhikers either in live or egg form and any other messed up phase mother nature can throw at ya, i normally soak mine in a very high concentration of salt water and white vinegar for a about a week, then i soak it in another bucket of pure water changeing the water daily for about another week just to make sure all the salt/vinegar has been removed.I had a quite large breakout of earwigs and wood mites in one tank and centipedes in another.

[maxxtrax77]

Ah sounds easy enough! What about the plants I'd buy at say Walmart? How would I get the pesticides out of the plant? Thanks for all of your help!

[Royal-City-Reptiles]

for the plants, spray em down with vinegar and water, and then give em a soaking. Knock as much soil as you can off of the roots, without damaging the roots and you are done.

I don't see a need to 'sterilize' things you get from outside. cresties are from New Caledonia (pretty much the other side of the world), and there isn't much around here that can do any sort of damage to it. earwigs, wood mites, springtails, potato bugs, centipedes... all beneficial in an enclosure, IMO and experience. Either way, it's ultimately up to the individual!!!

-Nate

[Jason]

Aye, there may not be a need to sterilize everything you get. it all may depend on what you plan on keeping. and also where you live and where you get your items from. Me, personally, I see a nice piece of wood hanging around in my local ravine or park and the first thing i think of is " how many homeless junkies have pee'd on it. how many animals hopped up on pesticidal goofballs tryed to make love to it, and god knows how many other dirty nasty thing may have happened to it". Then, i think bugs. Im also new at this but i fail to see how any insect would benefit an enclosure outside of a closed system, RCR is also right in that the bugs here may not bother your Crested at all. but the little buggers got to be eating something. then again i could just be paranoid, hell, i even bake the rocks i get in the oven for a few hours after i was them

[Royal-City-Reptiles]

Originally Posted by Jason

Then, i think bugs. Im also new at this but i fail to see how any insect would benefit an enclosure outside of a closed system,

Bugs are very beneficial to a viv, they are natures cleaners!
earwigs, wood mites, springtails and potato bugs all help remove waste (uneaten food, feces, shed skin, dead and dying plants) and in turn are great treats for cresties. the centipedes help stop overpopulation of the 'clean up crew'.

Snails, slugs, jumping spiders, millipedes, silverfish, and even the well placed male cockroach all help with the "naturalization" of your viv.

-Nate

[maxxtrax77]

Those things can't climb the glass to freedom, can they... As I just can't have that lol. That you guys! What do you guys recommend for the substrate, and dirt mix?

[Royal-City-Reptiles]

Originally Posted by maxxtrax77

Those things can't climb the glass to freedom, can they... As I just can't have that lol. That you guys! What do you guys recommend for the substrate, and dirt mix?

If you keep your glass free of mineral deposits it will be fine, but you would be surprised as to how many of those bugs are already inhabiting your house...

I use a layer of 'hydroton' (expanded clay pellets), followed by fiberglass window screening.
for substrate I use a mix of coco fibre/black earth/leaf litter/peat moss/orchid mix (without fertilizer).

I then add a good amount of the bugs mentioned before!!

it works great for me, and I am sure other people have great mixes as well!

-Nate

[Jason]

aye. i totally agree with you dude. but i see my point was lost. in the fact i tottaly forgot to post it lol, A.D.D at its finest . What i was trying to get across is the closer you get to a closed system the more stress and research is involved, you will need to keep the cycle contained. population control on a whole new lvl and not for the beginner.

[Royal-City-Reptiles]

Jason, I get what you are saying, But I think that the extra research you do in the beginning, made the upkeep easier in the long run. I guess I just don't have the same experiences with vivs as you!

My Vivs seemed to just take care of themselves. I found that the tank went through cycles on its own. potato bug population exploded, then the micro-predators population exploded, then both went back down to regular proportions after the food was exploited (a couple days). and then the cycle started again. But that is my experience, and I am sure that others have not had that kind of success. But as I said earlier, I think that a little extra effort in the beginning, pays off in the long run, IMO.

-Nate