How to Build a Tropical Bioactive Terrarium for a Gargoyle Gecko

Hi guys, I have a good old-fashioned build video for you featuring one of my favorite species, the Gargoyle Gecko! I hope you enjoy seeing how I designed this build to replicate their natural environment including my tips and tricks! The Orange Blotch Gargoyle Gecko in this video is one of 3 captive-bred individuals at The Bio Dude store available to go to loving, bioactive homes. As always, drop a comment below if you have any questions or reach out to my awesome Customer Care team at [e-mail]
-THE DUDE ABIDES👍🏻
Website: www.thebiodude...
Facebook: / thatbiodude
KZbin: / @thebiodudejoshhalter
Instagram: / thebiodude
TikTok: / thebiodude
Location: The Bio Dude Inc. Houston
15116 Highway 3 Bldg 4 Webster, TX 77598
Phone: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
BIOACTIVE KITS:
Terra Fauna 12x12 Kit: www.thebiodude...
Gargoyle Gecko Bioactive Kit: www.thebiodude...
PRODUCTS USED IN THIS VIDEO:
.::12x12x18 Exo Terra tank: www.thebiodude...
.::Birch Branches: www.thebiodude...
.::Spag brick: www.thebiodude...
.::Colombian cacao leaf litter: www.thebiodude...
.::6qt Hydrogrow V1 drainage layer: www.thebiodude...
.::12x12 screen: www.thebiodude...
.::6qt Terra Fauna Bioactive Substrate: www.thebiodude...
.::Brom Clips: www.thebiodude...
.::Bioshot 6qt: www.thebiodude...
.::Cork round: www.thebiodude...
.::Small rock water dish: www.thebiodude...
.::Lizard ledge: www.thebiodude...
.::6 in. led w adapter: www.thebiodude...
.::LED Props: www.thebiodude...
.::Brom pups: www.thebiodude...
.::Sponge mushrooms: www.thebiodude...
.::Pink polka dot plant: www.thebiodude...
.::Dieffenbachia Camille: www.thebiodude...
.::Marble queen pothos: www.thebiodude...
.::Pau terra estrela pod: www.thebiodude...
.::Zoo Med Nano Dome Fixture 40W: www.thebiodude...
.::Zoo Med Nano Basking Spot Bulb 40W: www.thebiodude...
.::Arcadia T5 Shade Dweller 2-4% UVB: www.thebiodude...
.::Tropical Springtails www.thebiodude...
.::Dwarf White Isopods www.thebiodude...
TIMESTAMPS:
0:01: intro
0:46 : about Gargoyle Geckos
4:00 : substrate & biodegradables
8:19 : hardscape
9:02 : plants
11:36 : my trick for stabilizing branches
15:17 : adding accents
17:05 : adding the clean up crew
22:17 : lighting
25:54 : feeding schedule
#terrarium #bioactive #gecko #exoticpets #vivarium #enclosure #thebiodude #bioactiveenclosure #gargoylegecko #geckohabitat #bioactivehabitat #tropicalvivarium #tropical #arboreal #isopods #herpetology #petgecko #petgargoylegecko

[@HelloHapa]

How did you know I needed this content right now??? Incredible timing 😂 thanks so much for the info!!

[@Nv73101]

Good to see you back dude, love your videos one of the best examples of how to take care an have passion for reptiles an all animals, really putting on for the community keep doing your thing 🙌🏾

[@aliciadishman]

You really load on plants. Positive comment. I'm really hesitant in my Leopard Gecko habitat re, water/humidity springtail/isopods plants/naturalization. I'll post there but I like watching your builds regardless. This looks fantastic!

[@TheBioDudeJoshHalter]

It takes time and practice to get comfortable understanding what elements will work together. We do offer comprehensive kits for specific species to make that easier! Whenever you're ready to make the leap, our customer care team can also provide guidance.

[@SpidetteGirl23]

A good way to set the glue faster is to spray it with water it sets instantly 👌

[@3goodtimes3]

Love ur so much so knowledgeable.

[@TheBioDudeJoshHalter]

Thank you!

[@lalok9912]

this bioactive terrarium will work for " green crested lizard"?

[@brayangomezcruz4725]

Been watching you for years 🙏

[@jodroboxes]

Hey man, loving your content. Very thorough overviews on all the setups you build. I have a question, how do you deal with gnats in enclosures?

[@MarkGoldsworthy-fg1rp]

hey josh you really inspired me when i first got my leopard gecko but unfortunately at the time i was on a budget. your videos still helped me make sure my husbandry was as good as it could be. but most recently ive been building a 4x2x18 and im going to use your terra sehera and biodegradable system. with the soilcal+ and bishot. i can’t wait to see how it works out!!

[@TheBioDudeJoshHalter]

That means a lot, I hope you and your critter(s) enjoy!

[@aliciadishman]

Q Will the mushrooms dry out and crumble or grow (again)? Q. I swear I heard, "grow back" after placing a bit of moss where you weren't going to, and l add any. It was the last bit you placed. It wasn't wrapped around the Bromeliad base as you did before attaching others. (Didn't want to scroll back to find the timing, sorry)

[@TheBioDudeJoshHalter]

The mushrooms will break down over time, as for the bromeliads, they're epiphytes, or plants that don't need soil to grow. Wrapping the roots with sphagnum helps them get established but isn't necessary.

[@aliciadishman]

@TheBioDudeJoshHalter thank you for responding. I knew about bromeliad not requiring soil. If you've the time: the hot glue doesn't prevent their growth in that area?

[@amber7636handle]

What kind of mushrooms are those? Where do i find those for my terrarium?

[@TheBioDudeJoshHalter]

these are www.thebiodude.com/products/sponge-mushroom

[@Murph-King]

You’re the man Josh, the reptile room at That Pet Place is great but doesn’t live up!

[@TheBioDudeJoshHalter]

Appreciate it!

[@TheBioDudeJoshHalter]

(josh here). I am happy to hear they are still in business. It is not easy having a retail pet store, especially a reptile centric niche and finding the appropriate staff to ensure proper care and client interaction. I worked in that room for almost 4 years back in 2002-2006 I believe : ) Lots of good people i met there : )

[@Murph-King]

@@TheBioDudeJoshHalter yea man, heard about that on the episode of animals at home that you were on so I knew you would get the reference.

[@peanutbutter4657]

I have leftover Terra Sahara substrate and was wondering if I could incorporate it into a gargoyle geckos setup. Is it possible or are the substrates too different for its purposes?

[@clairesmith2273]

How big was the tank u used there ??

[@amberchapman2578]

Thank you for this very informative question: in a lot of these set ups I see people pt a mesh screen between the drainage layer and substrate I noticed you didn't? Or did I miss it. Do you find it better not to use that mesh layer?

[@amberchapman2578]

Ignore me i just missed it you did use a mesh layer 😂

[@thedriftmc]

This is pretty much what I'd planned verbatim, except I wouldn't use a screen lid to keep humidity levels up. I was going to opt for a hood with UVB and misting system. Does the screen lid not impact humidity levels? Is this not that important?

[@SpaceChondrichthyes]

I have a bioactive setup in an ExoTerra enclosure (18x18x24") for my garg, and the screen top is probably the only thing I'd change about the setup. Even after a thorough spray of water, lots of plants, and dampened substrate, the combination of the large open mesh top and the light hood just dries everything out too quickly. I had lots of crispy edges on the tank's few pothos and bromeliads. I ended up covering the exposed mesh areas with pieces of rigid plastic, making sure to keep the hood area open and unobstructed, which helped immensely. The only other thing that could help is a whole bunch of plants to slow the loss of moisture from the substrate, but I also don't want to overcrowd my gecko. The little guy loves climbing upside down on the top mesh though, so that's a plus. 😂

[@gorila1958]

Do you also do stuff with Treegrogs ??

[@BriannaLopez-q1w]

Bro my Gargoyle looks exactly like 😂

[@tamosaur]

The bromeliads don’t need to be in soil?

[@TheBioDudeJoshHalter]

Correct, bromeliads are epiphytes and can grow without soil. We usually wrap the root area with sphagnum moss kept wet, and tuck the broms into holes in the branch.

[@Cne1312]

Man I was trying to figure out what to get next now I know

[@Billbeaux]

Awesome setup! Where did you get the birch wood?

[@TheBioDudeJoshHalter]

Everything I used in the video is linked in the caption, you can find birch wood on my site at www.thebiodude.com/products/birch-branch or in our store!

[@Marxnchill]

What if you need to open the top?

[@TheBioDudeJoshHalter]

Take off your lights, Unscrew (hope they stay with the roots established in the soil around them. Do your stuff and repeat : )

[@101stTank]

When is this distributed to europe. I wanted to order pack of ur Spider soil and the cost was 175$

[@alvaferjoe2117]

Nice. But that dieffenbachia is to big.

[@Rammgirl]

Hate the Exo Terra tanks. Don't like the swinging doors or the screen tops that let all the humidity out.

[@JessieMcConkey-v8d]

There’s this thing called modifications whoa magical

[@noaholiverlopes9548]

​@@JessieMcConkey-v8d What kind of modifications can you use to keep the humidity in the tank?

[@__tadpole__8195]

@noaholiverlopes9548putting something on top of the mesh. Wet towel or plastic wrap or a piece of pvc or something of that sort.

[@josephperea-naranjo6299]

@noaholiverlopes9548 I think exo terra or zoo med sells a plastic cover for the lid of the terrarium. Also adding places for your animal to find high humidity spots by adding moss and such to places and keeping it moist will allow them to find places that have the right humidity temperatures they need. The screen does some good by adding good air flow to the plants and cage keep it fresh inside but yes there is little modifications to do to allow your cage to operate properly. How the dude sets them up it allows the reptiles to find those micro biomes of humidity to suit its needs

[@richardsanchez5444]

I have both exo terra and zoomed for now and I never had problems with humidity. I have lights and heat on top and that kind of covers the mesh a bit