Terrarium Setup Take 1

So what you are seeing is take 1 of my setup for my crested gecko terrarium. I love everything so far, although there are a few more items I need or want however you look at it. Sorry for the bright flash, but my room is a little dark. So your asking yourself, what do I have specifically in there. Well I will tell you, first thing you see when looking in there is the long twisted vine. That is actually three different bendable vines twisted together. These are Exo- terra products called jungle vine. There are two small vines with one big vine. I twisted the two smalls ones together first and then wrapped the large one around those. The reason I did this was because the two small vines were to flimsy for a full grown cresty, at least that is what I think. All three have a lot more surface area for a full grown as well. Next thing your eyes fall on is the huge piece of grape wood. Well this big chunk I found at one of my local pet shops. The reason I liked it was because it had a large section and a smaller section, which could allow it to be set upright. For all of the wood , except the bamboo, I use the same cleaning procedure to sterilize. Preheat the oven to 250F and heat for 30 minutes. I walk through my local pet stores often to find really nice pieces of grape, or drift wood. usually you can find some really good ones every once and awhile.
  The next thing is the ledge that is suspended. I have two of these in this cage. The one that is visible from the pic is a Pangea magnetic mushroom ledge cup holder, while the other is a pet tech mag naturals small rock ledge, these things are nice. They are held in place with magnets on the outside of the cage, for those that may not know. Next is the bamboo stick jutting across the middle of the terrarium. Were I live they have an expo twice a month which I regularly attend once a month. Only reason once is because the second date is always on a Sunday. I do not do the anything on Sunday's except church and sleep and study. So about this expo, I am lucky to have this because there are some amazing deals there. I was able to pick up a bunch of things for less than 20 dollars. This bamboo stick is one of the items. I really wish I would have bought another one, but alas I decided against it for purchasing other items. The piece of bamboo is held up by suction cups found at most any pet store, in the fish or aquarium section.
  For all the vegetation you see it is pretty much all the same except for two. These were purchased at both the expo and stores. I would recommend purchasing these at an expo. Reason being that the expo has them for 3 times less than at the store. A large plastic plant as the one I have cost roughly 5 dollars, were as the pet store has it at 17.99. That is a pretty big difference by any means. Now the medium and the smalls are 4.99 and 2.99 were the pet store is 7.99 and 4.99. Also the bendable vines are a good idea to purchase at the expo as well. You can save around 4 to 5 dollars with the large ones and the small ones, at least in my area.
  The next few items are ones that are not visible. In the picture on the right you can see a small cave and another plant. The cave is your normal half wood log found at most any pet stores. The silk plant is a Mac's driftwood creation. The reason I have this is to hide the cave front to allow for more security. Substrate used is Eco Earth. I have an analog Petco temp and humidity gauge as well as a Zilla digital humidty and temp combo gauge. The only thing left is for me to get a heating device, normally you wouldn't need this with a cresty. But I leave my home a litlle cooler than most. So to off set the chill I was going to test a ceramic heat emitter. Just have to see if it is going to be an effective heat source to warm up the interior of the cage.


  Well there you go, this is the setup so far. Now it did take me several attempts to like what I see. Mainly I tried to set it up with the cresty in mind not me. I hope to be getting my cresty soon, but again the wife has a huge part to play in that. So with that said I bid farewell till next time we meet. One last pic for y'all, it is the piece of driftwood in the corner. Don't think I mentioned it but there it is and both pieces I think are pretty friggin sweet. well I'm out peace!!!!!!!

EXO- TERRA 18x18x24 Terrarium

  Well it has been about 3 weeks since my first post, so I figure it is time for another. For this one I am going to review the Exo-Terra 18x18x24 glass terrarium. To start let me say that I love this thing, by my own opinion I must say this thing has a ton of room. I have been looking around my local area for one of these terrariums and was unable to find one that was just the cage only. The ones that I did find were the habitat kits which are awesome I think but the fact that they were $259.99 was something that I would have to wait and save for if I were to purchase it. However I was able to go and visit my family up north this last week. Now this is always a wonderful trip, hanging with my brothers and Mom is something I look forward to every time. On this particular visit though my youngest brother and I went to the local pet stores just looking around and low and behold what do I see the most beautiful thing. 

  TaDa, there it was. Now the funniest part was that they also had the rain forest and Mayan habitat kits. There price was.......... wait for it.......................................... $159.00. One hundred dollars cheaper than back were I live. That is ridonkulous, I mean a hundred bucks is major. Needless to say I bought the normal one.

   So as you can see that is the box pretty simple. Once you open the top you see a beautiful screen top.


  Sorry I was trying not to shake when snapping that pic. It has 4 locks on the screen top that look like half moons and rotate to lock and unlock. Also on the back side it has 2 slides that allow for wiring if you so choose to have electrical decor or equipment inside your

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terrarium. As you can see it has a very nice gloss black finish on the metal and plastic pieces. The mesh is stainless steel fine wire mesh. The standard Exo-terra rock background comes with this cage only package. 



  Now for the body shots and interior shots. Now you are going to see some decor in these pics, but they did not come with the contents of the cage. I purchased these separately. Mind you though I have not finished the inside this is just some of the pieces. To start off the cage is brought together with an adhesive/ sealant that binds the 4 corner together. The front is a dual fold out door system with locking mechanism. This bar that runs along the front is also part of the ventilation system for the cage. With out further ado I give you Exo-terra's 18x18x24 terrarium.

   So as you can see I have a couple of vines and a few fake plants inside with a piece of driftwood. There is also a hide down on the floor in the very back . I plan on getting one large vine to wrap around the two that are wrapped together. The little black things are suction cups stabilizing the vine and driftwood. Those little vines are a little flimsy so the large one is thicker which should make it more rigid. There is also some very thin vine that i am going to use to wrap in random areas on the big vine to make it look more natural. the two hanging plants are mediums and I bought them to see what it would look like. Now that I have a good estimate on the size I am going to be getting one large plant and 3 more medium plants.
    
 The large one is going to go in the right corner with the drift wood to give cover and a place to chill. The mediums are going to be placed under the two already up and up front near the middle on both sides. I also am going to be getting a magnetic mushroom cupholder for the water and food. With that I am going to get the small magnetic rock to hang  up as well. By the time it is finished I hope to have enough hiding and sleeping places for the cresty .    

  well there you have it. I really love this cage. I think if you love to give your creatures space, then this is the right product. Now Exo-Terra makes many different types and sizes of terrariums and breeder tanks. You can visit there website at http://www.exo-terra.com/en/index.php. Just copy and paste and it will take you right to there site. There are other manufactures and fabricators of these cages. Not all are glass though but do just as well. What ever your preference is you can find it out there. If you can't find something you like there is always the options of building your own. I actually wish to do this later on when I acquire more animals. The wife is still hesitant about a snake, but I feel that I can persuade her given the time. It is that time to end and I hope you enjoyed my rantings or at least gained some insight from them. Till next time take care. Peace!

Just Getting Started

 Welcome to my blog. I'm just getting started. Mainly this is going to be about my likes and dislikes or hobbies, and that is about it. First off I am a huge fan of animals and reptiles. The joy in which a pet brings in to ones life is wonderful. I feel for those that have no interest or love for animals. I also hate those who abuse or neglect there's. I have been unable to own a pet for some years because of living and life arrangements. Now that I have a home of my own and am settled in I feel I am finally able to start adding more members to my family. The wife is not so enthusiastic though, only because she comes from a different up bringing. I feel though that i can quickly change her mind if she will but give them a chance.

  So what you see here in these photo's on the right for those that may not know is crested gecko's. These little lizards are so friggin awesome, that i have decided that I am going purchase one of my own. Right now I am just getting ready for the arrival. Meaning that I am purchasing the equipment to house one of my own. I plan to house him or her in an 18x18x24 Eco Terra Terrarium. I have been researching this guy for about a month straight and feel that this would be adequate space for one cresty. I have been looking at breeders and have found one that I like. So I have been looking at his stock just chomping at the bit. Waiting for permission from the Wife to dive head first. Now I assure you that I have been doing my homework.



  There are a few other animals that I can't wait to be able to have in my home apart of my life. For one a dog, but i am unable to own one as of right now.
Due to the fact that my wife and I both work. It would be unfair to the dog to be home alone for that long, 5 days out of the week, let alone the stress it would go through. That is why I am trying to talk the wife into a cat by the middle to the end of this year. Other reptiles that i would love to own are gargoyle gecko's, leopard gecko's, a bearded dragon, a pinstripe or spider ball python, and last but not least a tortoise. These are my wishes as of right now and my wife has no clue that I want to house all of these. Hence the purpose of this blog for me to vent or discuss my passions without hearing the word NO all the time,  hahahahahaha. 

  Well for now this is it. Look here in the next day or two and I will be adding another shortly. Till then take care of yourselves and be safe. Peace!