How to Make a Bioactive Terrarium for Leopard Gecko?
A leopard gecko’s bioactive terrarium is a realistic cage that replicates the animal’s natural habitat and has live plants and other components that support a healthy ecosystem. You’ll need the following supplies to make a leopard gecko’s bioactive terrarium:
- A terrarium: This can be an enclosure made of glass or plastic that is suitable for your leopard gecko’s size.
- Substrate: Somewhere at bottom of the enclosure, a bioactive terrarium needs to have a layer of substrate. This may include topsoil, sphagnum moss, coconut fiber, and/or extra layers of sand and/or leaf litter.
- Leopard geckos require UVB illumination and a heat source to metabolize calcium and be healthy. A heat lamp, a UVB lamp, or a lamp that emits both types of light can be used.
- Live plants: You should put live plants in your terrarium to make a more naturalistic setting. Pothos, Ficus pumila, and other ferns are suitable plants for leopard geckos.
- Leopard geckos require places to hide, so the terrarium should have at least two hides, one on each warm and cool side.
- For your leopard gecko’s terrarium to be more intriguing, you may also add extra decorations like branches and rocks.
- Dishes for food and water are also required, as you will see in the last section.
Make careful to do your study on the leopard gecko’s unique requirements before you put up the terrarium. It’s possible that various animals have distinct needs. In order to properly set up the terrarium, it is crucial to comprehend the humidity, temperatures, UVB, and other requirements of the gecko.
How to clean a gecko terrarium?
Maintaining a clean gecko terrarium is essential to keeping your pet’s surroundings healthy. This is a basic cleaning procedure for a gecko aquarium:
#STEP 1
Remove the gecko: Be mindful to remove your gecko from the terrarium and put it in a secure spot before you start cleaning.
#STEP 2
Take away all the decorations, including the rocks, branches, and hides, and place them in a separate location.
#STEP 3
Remove the substrate: To remove the substrate, use a small scoop or your hands, taking care not to damage the live plants. Delete the previous substrate.
#STEP 4
Terrarium cleaning: To clean the terrarium’s interior, use a moderate, non-toxic cleanser like a combination of water and white vinegar. Clean the enclosure’s walls and bottom using a cloth or paper towel. Thoroughly wet the terrarium with water, then pat it dry with a soft cloth.
#STEP 5
Clean the ornaments: Use a mild, non-toxic disinfectant to clean the decorations you took out of the terrarium. Before putting them back in the terrarium, properly wash and dry them with water.
#STEP 6
Substratum replacement: Add a fresh layer of substrate to the bottom of the container once the terrarium has been cleaned and dried.
#STEP 7
Remove the living plants carefully from their containers and replant it in the new substrate before adding the live plants back.
#STEP 8
Restore the embellishments: Reinstall the cleaned ornaments in the terrarium.
#STEP 9
Reintroduce the gecko: At last, put your gecko back in the terrarium.
At minimum once a month should be set aside for terrarium cleaning. Regular spot cleaning of the terrarium is advised, including the removal of waste and uneaten food. Don’t forget to wash, replace, and dry the water and food dishes as well. It’s crucial to remember that geckos are hypersensitive to chemical smells, so before putting the gecko back in its cage, carefully rinse the terrarium and any decorations and let them dry completely.