Hey reptile-loving friends! After 10 years of waiting, I’m finally ready to get my first reptile! I’m going with a crested gecko in a 24x18x36 bioactive enclosure. I’m still planning to add a feeding ledge on the left and a hanging coconut hide on the right and I’m hopeful that the plants will grow and fill in the tank nicely before I get the little guy. Plus I still need to get lights, UVB, and heat/cooling set up. This is my first build, so any tips would be greatly appreciated!
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Looks great but you should put more foliage in the upper half because your crestie will spend most of its time there. The foliage will create a feeling of security for your little buddy. Go easy on the UVB and heating……
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Thanks! I’ll work on adding some additional plants and climbing opportunities up higher. And planning on going real easy with both heat and UVB - just a 2.4% Arcadia Shade Dweller for 4-6 hours a day and a 50w deep heat projector attached to a dimmable thermostat.
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Sounds like a plan! Didn’t you say in another thread that your temps inside range from 52 to 85 degrees and you guys don’t use heating/cooling very much? I can see where you will need to have supplemental warmth and cooling for your little critter!
Don’t forget that we here charge a “picture” tax for advice given. So pictures are expected! 
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Haha I will definitely post once I get the little guy!
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More vertical climbing space, and more hiding spots would be nice! Also, no need to only have the UV on for a couple of hours. 2.4% will give you the proper levels for a crestie, so you can keep it on during the daytime of your day/night cycle. In an exo terra i believe you’ll get a UVI of 1 at about 5 inches below the lamp, through the mesh. If you only keep it on for a few hours, you might not get any benefit from it at all. As for heating, i would go for a mini halogen or at least an incandescent as their IR profile is generally considered better. Definitely keep it on a dimming thermostat, and preferably don’t let it get above 86f in the basking spot.
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