How to setup an EPIC naturalistic BIOACTIVE GECKO tank!!

[@bernadettebarragan6070]

I love the idea of getting a smaller species of lizard so you can create a huge palace with a manageable size terrarium/aquarium. The plants, hardscape, branches, and amount of substrate all look huge compared to him. Wow, very cool.

[@MikeTytula]

Ya the whole sense of scale is really weird with a gecko that small!

[@bartmartens9960]

THAT GECKO IS SO CUTE😍😍😍♥️

[@MikeTytula]

A cutie indeed

[@rhyswerner1748]

Can’t wait till I get my knob tail and use this setup! Oooooooh I’m so exciteddd

[@MikeTytula]

It is truly fantastic!

[@bananafloat27]

I know this video is old but this is such a lovely build! And dune geckos are definitely punks lol, my 3 strut around their 18x18x12 all night and look at me like I'm interrupting something every time I check on them. Awesome little arid species

[@MikeTytula]

Ya they are awesome little geckos that I strongly recommend to people! Since posting this video Dayyan and Adam have made these guys pretty popular little pets!

[@sydneywachtler9327]

If you mix in sand and topsoil, it reduces cracking a lot! Plus it makes the substrate go a lot farther too.

[@MikeTytula]

I will try it for the next build!

[@tabathaholtz8626]

Look who grew so much! Initially I was thinking, "That enclosure is way too small." until you put him in and nope, it's just right! Great build, thanks for bringing us along.

[@MikeTytula]

haha ya I think people over estimated his size, including myself

[@AverytheCubanAmerican]

He’s a cute gecko! I used to keep a colony of isopods and pillbugs. Had them for about two years

[@MikeTytula]

That's awesome

[@rayp4008]

Late to the party, and primarily leaning about scorpions, but with a few modifications (sub straight for burrowing, drainage for the plants) it has a great desert look. You are one of the few who I have seen layer the background to elevate the usable area and planting. Something I was considering also, though not as useful for scorpions, I will try it anyway. Overall very well done video, kudos.

[@MikeTytula]

Thanks for watching! It's definitely worth checking out and consider purchasing because it does so well.

[@francismeowgannou5322]

Another awesome build Mike! I'm getting a ton of inspiration from you to build my leopard gecko a bio active setup. Just a quick question, do the clean up crew do fine without adding leaf litter or bit of moss as biodegradable in your arid setups?

[@MikeTytula]

Honestly I filmed this like a month ago and I think my little dude ate all the microfauna in the tank

[@francismeowgannou5322]

@@MikeTytula huh, thanks for the info. Maybe I should let the tank get established for couple months before putting in my gecko to prevent that.

[@MikeTytula]

You could certainly try that, but still isopods don't reproduce all that quickly

[@olyvia1380]

@@MikeTytula a bit late to the conversation, but from what i’ve heard, powder orange isopods breed very readily and very easily. i’ve never used them myself but i’ve seen a lot of people use them in bioactive enclosures.

[@lindasreef]

Wonderful to see your efforts to rescue Pip have been successful, well done!

[@MikeTytula]

Thanks Linda! He's a pretty cool little dude!

[@Reptiliatus]

Great build!

[@MikeTytula]

Thanks dude! Appreciate it

[@tracys_plants]

Looooove that enclosure. You’ve inspired me to redo my Nephrurus set up. Thank you!!

[@MikeTytula]

Awesome!! Get it done! They are so much fun!

[@tracys_plants]

@@MikeTytula will do. Ordered the desert soil already :) my set up was very “bla”, this is exactly what I need. Now. You come do it for me. ?

[@MikeTytula]

Depending where you are, we do offer custom tanks for people!

[@tracys_plants]

@@MikeTytula amazing! Unfortunately, I’m the the US

[@MikeTytula]

Haha I’m in the US sometimes!

[@lanadeaton5588]

I loved the build pip has grown so much from when you first bought him home. He looked so diddy in the new enclosure I’m sure he will love his new enclosure. Everytime I watch you build a bio active tank it makes me want to get creative and try my hand at making a awesome background. But I’m scared of it looking horrible so I don’t even try. Scared of failure!

[@MikeTytula]

You'll never succeed if you never try...Who cares if it looks terrible! At least you tried and you learned

[@lanadeaton5588]

Mike Tytula true very true I guess if I built an enclosure I wouldn’t have to post it up if I wasn’t proud of it. I only keep Amphibians and if I was to make them A cool background they wouldn’t really need caves. But I could make Ledges for them to sit on or hang of i guess.

[@MikeTytula]

Ya exactly, theres no pressure. Plus you provide an enriched environment for your animals

[@Stabikachu]

The lil nubbin dudes, light green in clusters, are sedum burrito- they're great and have no problem spreading themselves around

[@MikeTytula]

Perfect! Thanks :)

[@m.brodie8872]

Nice looking setup, you really built it with the needs of the animal in mind. Having hides on cold and hot sides, and height gradient below basking bulb were great touches.

[@MikeTytula]

Try and make the best for my animals :)

[@GuilhermeOliveira-vs7uh]

If you don’t want it to crack you should put a wet towel in the top of the tank and allow it to dry slowly it is the same principle of drying concrete

[@MikeTytula]

Ya I wanted it to dry as fast as possible haha

[@albertosteph1]

Can you think about getting a paceman frog if you don't already!?They are AWSOME!

[@MikeTytula]

They don't do much for me unfortunately

[@albertosteph1]

@@MikeTytula Ok just wondering.

[@finndrennan541]

Is your sand gecko a , Namib sand gecko and are the same as a web footed gecko and also. Do they need a heat pad or are the a gecko that has to bask.

[@MikeTytula]

sthenodactylus stenodactylus, they do require heat

[@maks758]

I’ve just made a dart frog enclosure which is 18x18x18 inches but I made a false background so the space inside is a bit smaller than that. It’s a bio active enclosure and I’m still not 100% of what dart frogs to get, any recommendations?

[@MikeTytula]

What frogs are looking for?

[@maks758]

Mike Tytula I was thinking about D. ventrimaculatus

[@MikeTytula]

Those would work

[@maks758]

Mike Tytula perfect, thanks ,:)

[@bobkob]

Very nice Desert Vivarium, great video.

[@MikeTytula]

Thanks for watching Bob!

[@leeswift2367]

Personally I would have used air plants but it does look very awesome

[@MikeTytula]

Air plants are from a completely different climate so it wouldn’t have made sense.

[@Raf-zk1fw]

Awesome job man! Keep it up!

[@MikeTytula]

Thanks Raf!

[@jacobherr9455]

Hi Mike, great build! Just wondering how well plants root into the exo terra clay? I realize it generally isn't used in humid setups, but wondering if it works more like drylok backgrounds that seem to be plant friendly or the traditional foam/silicone backgrounds that do not seem to encourage plant growth.

[@MikeTytula]

It won't work in a humid setup at all

[@mak3960]

Do you have any videos using the excavator clay or a video comparing the two? This stuff looks great, but I don’t have any experience with either. Trying to figure out what to get to build an arid setup

[@MikeTytula]

This stuff is way better than excavator, trust me haha. I’ve used both and the exoterra is the best

[@trenthobson2756]

Great video and build, Mike! I love the way it turned out. I actually just did a background similar to this for my tokay gecko, and it turned out great. I found that with the high humidity, I was able to grow mosses on the mud background.

[@MikeTytula]

Oh interesting! Send me some shots of it on Instagram!

[@trenthobson2756]

@@MikeTytula I would if I had it. Truth be told, I don't have an Instagram.

[@MikeTytula]

Awww facebook?

[@trenthobson2756]

@@MikeTytula sorry, man. I've just never decided to get into any of the popular social medias. I do have a discord though, not sure did you do as well. @TheProtestantCrusader#7217

[@MikeTytula]

I don't yet... might be changing with a patreon though ;)

[@NaturestoursTV]

Oh buddy thank you for this video helped me with my geckos tank I'm hand making, how many reptiles can use the Terra Clay

[@MikeTytula]

I'm not sure what you mean

[@NaturestoursTV]

What I was trying to ask was the wet Clay u used on your geckos tank...can the clay be used for different reptiles... if so what reptiles ?

[@MikeTytula]

Of course it can be used with many species of reptiles. I would stick to arid setups though, nothing too humid or the clay wont hold.

[@jimnegrete9026]

Very great setup for the gecko he is going to love it

[@MikeTytula]

He's been living in it for over a month at this point haha

[@jimnegrete9026]

Dude keep up the good work, love the enclosure BTW

[@MikeTytula]

Thanks Jim, I appreciate it

[@jimnegrete9026]

No problem

[@jimnegrete9026]

I had just started an isopod colony a few days ago and they are doing great

[@marvinbange1216]

when u lifted his hide i was like : wow he has grown a ton

[@MikeTytula]

Ya he has grown a ton!!

[@ArcadiaReptile]

nice little build,

[@MikeTytula]

Thanks John!

[@dakotawoolls1168]

Is there any other isopods or general clean up crew critters you would recommend for a more arid set up? and where would you recommend looking to get them from. Im from alberta so ideally some place close

[@MikeTytula]

A more arid setup? Like what? this is about as arid as it comes?

[@dakotawoolls1168]

@@MikeTytula sorry I wasnt meaning more aird than this. I was meaning more aird than the usual bioactive setups. Basically what other cleaner would you put in a set up like this. Im trying to make one for my leo

[@MikeTytula]

meal worms, death feigning beatles I heard do okay, theres not to many suitable mates

[@codybill3034]

I wonder how it would have turned out with sandless grout compared to that product. What do you think about maybe trying that?

[@MikeTytula]

Considering that this is also a clay,probably not as vertical?

[@ryanolynick30]

Keep it up mike and love the way you get back to your fans so quick from what iv seen in your replyz to your peeps not like most only do 1 or 2live you took the time to reply Love it

[@MikeTytula]

haha I reply to as many comments as I can!

[@brittneymcglynn5474]

Looks so good!!!

[@MikeTytula]

Thanks Brittney, I'm pretty happy with it

[@ositosbonbones251]

You are such a good DAD!!!🐻

[@MikeTytula]

Thanks!

[@Dhshg736]

Thank you for the good idea💡

[@MikeTytula]

Thanks for watching! :)

[@daffysreptiles]

Awesome build bro! love the piece of wood you used. also I gotta try using mealworms as a clean-up crew I hear they're more effective than isopods!

[@MikeTytula]

They do really well!

[@Owlcopettube]

Great video Mike, the set up looks awesome !

[@MikeTytula]

Thank Breanne! I appreciate it :)

[@razormaw6374]

Awesome setup!

[@MikeTytula]

Thanks for watching!

[@JohnSmith-th3db]

Hey mike what do you think about someone making a bioactive Uromastyx enclosure, I know Uros need very low humidity in the 10s and no isopod and spring tail can survive that low of a humidity, do you think that species of beetles, cock roaches, and meal worms can be efficient clean up crews, what’s your opinion? Is there a type of draining system that can help keep the humidity in the top high while helping plants grow and giving the insects a safe place to hide?

[@MikeTytula]

They like lower humidities but I wouldn't say that low. They should have a more humid place to retreat too. I would think it could be done but I don't really have any advice on it because I haven't done it.

[@JohnSmith-th3db]

Mike Tytula thanks for the reply, I want to get the most different opinions possible

[@MikeTytula]

Cheers! Definietly make a video if you did

[@richela8949]

A lot of people with dry setups have a single wet spot or corner, which the clean up crew can live in. They’ll still leave to find food and clean the tank in the process, but the smaller wet area serves as a good home for breeding and such. With a uro, which likely has a sizable enclosure, providing a wet corner shouldn’t cause the overall humidity to spike. It’s best to have it in a spot that’s under a rock or something similar, which protects the moisture in that area from evaporating into the air. Good luck!

[@JakeSmith-nv6dz]

Can they live together or not and what is your opinion on keeping female Lepard geckos together

[@MikeTytula]

Can what live together? There is only one in the tank. I would recommend just keeping leopard geckos separate

[@jaylnhensley]

Where did you get the soil from?

[@MikeTytula]

The place I work, ReptilesRuS

[@DanielleaBella33]

Do you live in the UK? I can’t find anywhere to buy the arcadia earth mix that ships to the US 😩

[@MikeTytula]

I’m in Canada, there are a couple retailers in the states.

[@marcochu8882]

Can i use the zoo med excavator clay like this?

[@MikeTytula]

Honestly I don't think you could because it stays way more grainy and doesn't get as smooth

[@Hamflabagaba]

Awesome 👍 thanks for the detailed setup and the ideas

[@MikeTytula]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@cmcmillan22]

how durable is this stuff? think a monitor could tear it up?

[@MikeTytula]

Big monitors probably would

[@heatherbecnel985]

Where do you buy isopods? I've been looking into it for one of my tanks and have no idea where to find them.

[@MikeTytula]

Depends where you live!

[@wakefieldwildlife]

What a great setup!

[@MikeTytula]

Thanks! :) Glad you enjoyed!

[@MamaNikita]

Where did you get the substrate from? I can’t find it anywhere in Canada?

[@MikeTytula]

Where are you in canada? It's everywhere here haha (Im in calgary)

[@MamaNikita]

Mike Tytula in Ontario. I’ve even tried ordering it but can’t find an online store who has it!

[@MikeTytula]

@@MamaNikita Send an email to Reptilesrus.ca and he should be able to get it in for you.

[@MamaNikita]

Mike Tytula I order from them every month so I always look to see if it’s in stock lol I’ll email them, thanks!

[@MikeTytula]

Send him an email and ask him about it.

[@Terrarium3D]

How long did it take you ?

[@MikeTytula]

From start to finish with filming and stuff, about 5-6 hours

[@amberbrooks1180]

Where do you get the Arid mix here in America? I can't find it.

[@MikeTytula]

I'm in canada. But you can buy it from lightyourreptiles.com

[@amberbrooks1180]

@@MikeTytula thank you!! Love your builds by the way!

[@MikeTytula]

No problem haha

[@JayBay813]

How do you perform the brumation period

[@MikeTytula]

For what species?

[@JayBay813]

@@MikeTytula d fart dune geckos the s.s. Soecies

[@ethanhughes-west7781]

How are you heating him ?

[@MikeTytula]

Basking bulb

[@ethanhughes-west7781]

Mike Tytula thanks

[@sasquatchdonut2674]

That small succulent is a type of kalanchoe

[@MikeTytula]

AWesome! Thanks!

[@sasquatchdonut2674]

@@MikeTytula yeah they look super different from the normal ones you see in stores, but I actually grow that kalanchoe as well. Very hardy little plant

[@MikeTytula]

@@sasquatchdonut2674 Ya they are super resilient little plants!

[@trentonreptiles2468]

ake sure your not wearing any watches or bracelets as you wear a watch and a wrist bracelet. Thanks for the tutorial it was great.

[@MikeTytula]

Do as I say, not as I do haha

[@trentonreptiles2468]

@@MikeTytula LOL

[@benshaw3891]

Hi Mike, this video gave me a lot of inspiration, thank you 👍. Also, can I ask does it matter which colour Of Exo terra stone desert I use? The other colours look intriguing, but who knows if they’ll hold up the same? 🧐

[@MikeTytula]

Awesome! I hope you use some of this inspiration. No it doesn't matter they are basically the same thing!

[@benshaw3891]

Mike Tytula Thanks so much, I’ll definitely be building something like this in the future. I have a bunch of leftover aquascaping rock and this seems like a fun way to use it up. I’ll be sure to use all your stone desert videos as inspiration. ❤️

[@urielmesenja1040]

I can't give you constructive criticism when you and others gather in a group to bully somebody, I can only defend them. Even if that person is deserving of wrath, you yourself are guilty. I do not hate you, a wound created to extract poison is love.

[@MikeTytula]

jesus

[@urielmesenja1040]

@@MikeTytula Jesus Christ is the key to all things, including your attitude.

[@MikeTytula]

@@urielmesenja1040 Not getting into a religious debate with you lol.

[@urielmesenja1040]

​@@MikeTytula Before you blink your life will be over, see how far your debate gets you when you learn whats waiting on the other side. I tried to protect you

[@MikeTytula]

I don't need a debate, I'm not worried.

[@Dhshg736]

The like ratings are to low

[@MikeTytula]

Feel free to leave a like

[@nikkitaylor6459]

M

[@MikeTytula]

Thanks for watching!

[@reptilesrodents]

Blind hate lol well sorry non hear. It looks good and he has so much exploring to do. I think he's going to be happy. Sorry I'm no help with the plants man. Have a good one.

[@MikeTytula]

No one has said anything about the plants, it's okay! Glad you enjoy the video :)

[@insertcrudenamehere6341]

Primero

[@MikeTytula]

nailed it haha