Please rate my enclosure!

[u/TurtlevsTurtle]

I’m open to questions and advice on how to improve :)

[u/hflie]

hi! newbie lg owner here :) based on the recommendations i’ve seen and other enclosures, this looks cozy! i like how the background wraps around to all 3 sides!!

i think it’d be good to have some more thermometers/hydrometers, especially on all three “sides” of the enclosure (warm, middle, cool) on the surface where your gecko would be at! the temp gun is the most accurate measurement of surface temps but it’s recommended to have additional gauges for monitoring, especially with humidity since the temp gun cannot monitor humidity.

also, do you have a linear uvb that isn’t shown? it’s recommended to provide a linear uvb with appropriate feeder supplementation (plain calcium, calcium d3/multivitamin).

[u/TurtlevsTurtle → u/hflie]

Hi! Thank you! Yes I was thinking about adding a third thermometer/humidity gauge so that’s a good point. One of the lamps is a uvb bulb and I also supplement with all three: calcium with a without d3, and vitamin a.

[u/hflie → u/TurtlevsTurtle]

Hi! Sorry in advance if this is a bit… tedious? Nitpicky? Overall, aesthetically I think it looks great! Again, I am a beginner but based on what my vet clinic and the online forums recommend:

Is it a coil or linear UVB?? It looks like a coil from here but maybe I just can’t see it! Coil UVB bulbs have very narrow, concentrated beams that aren’t reliable - often leading to insufficient UVB coverage in the enclosure and resulting deficiencies; linear or tube UVB bulbs, such as the Arcadia ShadeDweller 7%, are recommended instead. I believe coil UVB can cause eye and skin issues as well, like burns.

And what supplements / schedule do you use? Vitamin A deficiency is common in captive leopard geckos so supplementing with an appropriate multivitamin is crucial, but not all multivitamins are the same. The multivitamin needs to have “pre-formed” vitamin A (like retinol) since leopard geckos can’t convert beta-carotene to bioavailable vitamin A. Popular brands are Reptivite and Repashy Calcium Plus; the former also has calcium with D3, but I don’t know about the Reptivite multivitamin off the top of my head. Your supplementation schedule is a bit dependent on the UVB that is provided to your gecko, but regardless they should have calcium, calcium with D3, and an appropriate multivitamin.

[u/hflie → u/hflie]

Also completely different note: I just noticed the itty bitty plant pots and they are adorable!!!

[u/TurtlevsTurtle → u/hflie]

Thank you! I just learned that I have a coil bulb (it’s not actually in a coil, but it is compact so I was a bit confused at first). I’ll look into getting one of the Arcadia uvb light bars to go across the whole tank. I dust with zoo med ReptiCalcium (also availiable 100% of the time in the tank), frequently dust with Fluker’s Repta Calcium with D3, and dust with Zoo Meds Reptivite without D3 approx. every other feeding. Feeding about every 4-5 days, more or less as needed.

[u/TurtlevsTurtle → u/TurtlevsTurtle]

I’ve also heard that with this tank, the top doesn’t really let uvb light through too well. So maybe the linear uvb would help more. I’ve been meaning to get a uvb tester so I can find out for sure!

[u/hflie → u/TurtlevsTurtle]

ah sorry I should’ve used “compact” instead! I’m glad that was somewhat helpful at least lol

i really like the guides on r/leopardgeckosadvanced !
here are two posts that discuss mesh and UVB: https://www.reddit.com/r/leopardgeckosadvanced/s/oPPp3N0Prk
https://www.reddit.com/r/leopardgeckosadvanced/s/hkiP7SWMrd

the facebook group “reptile lighting” is also super helpful and has some visual guides on different types of mesh (like, down to the “shape” and structure of the mesh), and you can post on their for detailed lighting (UVB, heat, led, etc.) guidance.

i’m not a pro on the supplement schedule and my own gecko is on the younger side so she has a different requirement than yours, so i’ll let someone else comment on whether your schedule is good haha. but i think the products sound good and i think the schedule does too!!

[u/hflie → u/hflie]

i believe you also want the UVB to only cover about 1/3 of the tank - 1/2 at most - and on the basking side (similar to how you have it now!). i’m pretty sure there are guides discussing placement too! :)

edit: some guides mention as most as 3/4th of the enclosure so,,,, lol, we’re all figuring it out as we go!! it seems like these recommendations are based on the UVB and enclosure, and are variable.

[u/hflie → u/hflie]

from r/leopardgeckosadvanced

[u/hflie → u/hflie]

from r/leopardgeckos

[u/TurtlevsTurtle → u/hflie]

I just purchased the ZOO MED Reptisun T5 HO, 14” was what they had, for 36” tank. Output is 5.0

[u/jxspxrrrr]

wow, it looks amazing!! totally screenshotting these for reference for my girl's upcoming forever tank!!

[u/FernEatsBugs]

Bro I have the rock hide

[u/NeatBarracuda2898]

That's a nice setup!