Árbol

[seedoubleyou]

Intro
This journal will document the build and journey of my new venture. A bioactive vivarium that will house a Crested Gecko.
The idea of a having a Gecko has sparked some interest from the family, so it’s my hope that they take some involvement too.

Backstory
I’ve kept aquatic animals since I was kid, from tadpoles and newts to pufferfish and corals.
Having recently lost that feel of nature with my reef tank, I wanted to set something up low maintenance but really natural.

Árbol
With the intention of housing a Crested Gecko which is an arboreal creature, I thought it would be apt to name this journal Árbol which translates to tree in Spanish.

Hardware
Like every good journal, I’ll list the equipment and current game plan.

Tomorrow I shall take delivery of an Exo Terra 45x45x60cm vivarium.
This will be lit using a 2.4% UVB light and heated with a ceramic bulb. (I’ll go into more detail as the journal progresses).

Hardscape
To ensure I have a hardscape that suits the arboreal nature of a Crested Gecko, I have opted to build my own “tree” using pvc pipes.
I plan to cover this in pond foam and coco fibre. (More on that in the coming weeks)

For now, an image of my PVC tree.

 

[seedoubleyou]

The vivarium arrived and work has started on the “hardscape”

I present “The Blob”
PVC pipe covered with Oase pond foam. This will then be shaped using a razor blade.

The next steps will be posted once this is cured and shaped up.

 

[seedoubleyou]

I know I haven’t updated this yet. Plans kind of went sideways as the family were pretty set on having a baby gecko rather than an adult.
This meant making the Viv “baby safe”.

So say hello to Sage, our baby Crested Gecko (Daughters choice of name).

 

[Mike Singh]

Cool! What does the Blob look like now?

 

[seedoubleyou]

Cool! What does the Blob look like now?

Still a work in progress. As the gecko ages. I think I’d like to completely remove it and build an actual hardscape using “aquascaping materials” like large wood and stone.

More planting required, but holding off whilst the gecko matures.