Bioactive / Naturalistic Crested Gecko Vivarium

[@garden_creature]

Gorgeous tank, and that gecko is a sweetheart!! For other people in the comments, it's recommended to let the viv grow for at least a month prior to adding a gecko so that the tank can cycle and so that you can check the humidity and temps. That way, if something goes wrong at first, you can fix it prior to adding the gecko. This also allows the plants to grow big and strong so it's not as easy for the gecko to trample them. However, this part isn't as important. I'll also caution against using philodendrons because they are poisonous - they have insoluble calcium oxalate crystals. If these plants happened to be eaten by the cleanup crew, the poison could bioaccumulate in your cleanup crew (especially from natural leaf shedding from the toxic plant), which could then be consumed by your gecko. It's a small chance, but a risk nonetheless.

[@jezellecortez6648]

"Literally 99% won't see this but, who ever does I hope you have a good day and stay safe"❤️🙏

[@thebarefootbuilder6349]

Thank you 😊 you as well

[@D-Dog25]

Likewize

[@josecrojas]

You too ❤

[@AquaSloth345]

Swear I found you on another comment on a crested gecko video💀

[@bold-as-the-truth]

Your too sweet thanks for brightening up my smoke brake!

[@jordane2036]

Your builds are my absolute favorite. I look forward to you getting way more recognition! I started my first vivarium build this weekend. Thanks for being an inspiration!

[@chilzky14]

I did the same thing with a 3 inch round cork tube stuck to the walls so the crested has just enough room to get in but not so much i can't get to him if necessary. Best decision I made.. awesome build bud.

[@Braudget]

Definition of trust the process! Looks great!

[@meganables7795]

Such a sweet little guy! Hope they enjoy their gorgeous new home 😍

[@kyleoden3015]

I think more room the better. I used a 40 gallon bow front I got for free and used spray foam and paint for a nice background and bought a bunch of different moss and plants and it was awesome. That is a wonderful tank but it wouldn't work for my gecko as it loved jumping at night and would hit the tank often before the upgrade.

[@DoorsToHideBehind156]

This is a great build though one of my favorites that I've seen. Your crestie looks like mine as well only she has less speckles. Same overall color

[@VicenteGiordano]

art. wish i had this video when i started my current build

[@barbhelle5481]

Thank you for the information. I am getting my first crested gecko's this week.

[@thebarefootbuilder6349]

Good luck!

[@yk05308]

nice vivarium but as a crestie owner i can see him panicking and shutting his nerves off at the end XD, and water shower on him was Lmao. Poor cute guy

[@JACKPOTVR9]

this was very helpfull thanks.... hoping to get one I have a bearded dragon and I love it and a crested gecko would be awesome aswell!

[@jazzzyg19]

How did you take off the glass door without breaking anything? It actually sounds convenient when trying to make a bio active enclosure

[@MikenomeD]

Man thats a sweet looking tank bro. Good job!

[@casperrealov]

Dope video and nice track too. I can relate a bit with my bioactive tank that I made for my crestie too :)

[@mollycromer7159]

Beautiful work.

[@katayaalvarez651]

What did you use for the background?

[@boxofbeasties6075]

Why would you block the bark so the gecko can't hide?

[@_GandalfTheGrey_]

There are other safe places to hide where he can always access the gecko if need be in an emergency

[@Harrysreptarium]

Last thing you want is to have a dead gecko stuck in a log

[@Koedstudios]

You don’t want to have that open as it has no air holes if the gecko gets stuck in it because it’s very small.

[@joshuagoodrich1973]

super pleasing to watch this haha great vid

[@richardsanchez5444]

I heard that great stuff foam doesn't adhere to glass very well it might fall off

[@brzo.]

silicone on the back before adding great stuff might help it adhere or hold

[@ballistic350]

I did it without using silicone. Yes it does slides off but I waited for 30mins it stuck on good, future reference def use silicone before using the foam,

[@ravenemir5208]

i noticed in the fernwood backdrop that alot of small bugs crawling...is this normal and will it affect the gecko?

[@garden_creature]

you mean the springtails he added? they're the cleanup crew, they are beneficial.

[@vergilarceo3131]

Nice work! How long did you wait for the vinegar smell to go away? I’m approaching 3 weeks and I still smell a hint of vinegar. I don’t want to start planting and my plants melt.

[@thebarefootbuilder6349]

Did you use the right type?? The one I use gos away after it’s dry..

[@FoleyDM]

What about the drainage system

[@roundupreptiles]

Beautiful ❤

[@anna84594]

hi do u need isopods and springtails?

[@CrowJoestar]

In a bio active tank, yes. No if it isn’t one.

[@Wall_fam]

What material did you use for the back glass of the enclosure?

[@sandrathompson7789]

Sweet!

[@richardhurst1969]

any issues with mould growing on the side walls. I saw lots of people complaining about the fern wood panels growing mould within a week or two on amazon comments

[@angie-fu7dj]

That’s what the springtails and isopods are for I believe

[@Selenas_wonderland]

Question for the potted plants. What are you suppose to do when the plants out grow the small pots? My mom has plants that started out in little pots and now they are in huge pot for more room to grow. She says its important to change the pot sizes when the plants roots grow really long.

[@thebarefootbuilder6349]

The bottom of the pots is open it’s a net pot so the roots can grow right through it

[@jayrecords9353]

no other way then glue stuff? so not ruin the terrarium'?

[@AliNCaraman]

You can clean that silicon if u want to redecorate?

[@Elle111L]

You can

[@JxBx80]

can regular rollie-pollie's be used instead of purchased isopods?

[@graciecrawford4785]

Pretty late reply but not usually; however it is possible. You would have to breed multiple generations in captivity to insure there are no parasites or anything before putting the babies from captive gen 2 or 3 in the enclosure.

[@ballistic350]

Foam works better than clay balls?

[@Red-357]

That came out amazing. I wish I had a creative side to me. 🤣 I have no imagination

[@davidpryor8603]

What bioactive substrates do you recommend or do you always make your own?

[@thebarefootbuilder6349]

I’ve always just made my own because it’s cheaper

[@davidpryor8603]

@@thebarefootbuilder6349 could we ever get a how to for a bioactive substrate?

[@StLMikie]

Is the Bio Sponge like the filter foam for fish tanks and ponds?

[@thebarefootbuilder6349]

Yes

[@appelsapjes]

what foam would u recommend? anthing aquaria save?

[@leslieguzman5784]

How do you clean it?

[@drivernephi-s1l]

You don’t need to clean them. Natural vivariums are packed with spring tails and isopods which are small bugs that act as a cleanup crew. The only real maintenance you would have to do is trip back plants, and clean off any glass that has waste on it.

[@garden_creature]

@@drivernephi-s1l Adding onto this, spot cleaning large amounts of waste is recommended; even a large cleanup crew can only do so much. Occasional glass cleaning and daily/near-daily cleaning of food and water dishes is also recommended.

[@marneycohen5272]

Did you use a hygro-thermometer? I am deciding wether I should purchase one. Thanks!

[@garden_creature]

You absolutely need to have a hydrometer and thermometer in your tank. Why not combine the two for convenience?

[@Braudget]

Are the fumes of that black stuff harmful?

[@joshanteli9148]

no dont think so

[@garden_creature]

if it worries you, you can always wear a mask of some kind! =)

[@ornithowlogist]

it’s silicone, it’s a great glue to use, just be sure to do it in a ventilated space, i go outside when i mess with it.

[@DoorsToHideBehind156]

I always wonder why people use designer isolods for their reptile enclosures. Dalmatians are like 20 bucks for 10. Lol.

[@randomperson1934]

personally I do it because the more expensive isopods are cuter lmao

[@alyssamasserant4857]

What lighting and heating do you recommend?

[@rrome.]

For crested gecko you don’t need heating, you need it to be room temp! but, you can add a UVB, so it’ll be a bit warmer at the top, and cooler at the bottom

[@dm2836]

What happens to these builds if something bad happens like an animal gets sick or dies? How do you disinfect the whole build to make it safe for a new animal or do you have to throw the whole tank out?

[@Appy_music]

Unfortunately the safest thing to do in these situations is scrap the build entirely. The tank itself can be sterilized and reused but with parasite/mite related issues it’s very hard to completely eliminate those things without taking everything out of the enclosure and doing bleach soaks/baking. There’s a lot of places for things to hide in a bioactive setting, so prevention is the best policy for bioactive, no outside things added in, cleaning plants before introducing, boiling/baking wood, all that stuff

[@boxofbeasties6075]

There are cleanup crew they will deal with this.

[@dm2836]

@@boxofbeasties6075 Clean up crew won’t disinfect. They will get rid of the mess but not the infectious organisms left behind…And in a habitat with a lot of small porous areas it’s virtually impossible to thoroughly disinfect everything entirely. You don’t want a trace of crypto hanging around to infect your next inhabitant.

[@cesarecastellotti1280]

Can you make a tut how to Clean it.

[@skipnshine]

It’s bioactive you don’t have to

[@StLMikie]

Very cool. How do you like that battery powered caulk gun? Have you used it to caulk trim or anything outside of enclosures?

[@thebarefootbuilder6349]

I love it. I haven’t used it for anything other then this tho

[@353Studios]

These rocky background is just for rich people .... good God... they're expensive.

[@cesarecastellotti1280]

How do you? Clean the environment

[@LiberalTears6969]

My guess is he has isopods or springtails to go around and eat the waste in the tank

[@braydenroberts7297]

you dont

[@jlrs2512]

bio active means it cleans itself with isopods that clean decaying plant and animal matter

[@FelixFoxwell]

Where do I buy cheep tanks

[@aydan3870]

you dont

[@brandonwells5236]

@@aydan3870 🗣️

[@bjsmith3940]

You don’t unless you cool with a breeder

[@braydenmunoz3923]

craigslist

[@brzo.]

you dont because if you cant afford a $150-200 tank you most definitely cannot afford all that is needed for a gecko

[@qem_boxing]

9:22

[@Golden-dog88]

so really ANY sharp knife or scissors will cut the universal rock!!!