How to create a BioActive Crested Gecko Terrarium
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- Опубліковано 25 вер 2017
- In this video the Dude discusses how to setup a BioActive terrarium for your Crested Geckos. I show what is included in your kit, what you can add, how to set it up and the benefits!
Enjoy!
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Note: We upgraded the HydroGrow - It is no longer white and a different type of drainage layer. You can find the info here:
www.thebiodude.com/collection...
- Website: www.theBioDude.com
- Facebook: / thatbiodude
- UA-cam: / @thebiodudejoshhalter
- Instagram: @TheBioDude
- TheBioDude Location: The Bio Dude Inc Houston 15116 Highway 3 Bldg 4 Webster, TX 77598 Phone: (717) 305-0684 Email: CustomerCare@theBioDude.com
-The Dude Abides - Домашні улюбленці та дикі тварини
Just wanted to give a big thumbs up to Josh! He went out of his way to help me and my son out with a crested gecko set up. We just received the plants and bio kit and set it up...My son had a snow day today, and Star Wars opens tonight, so he's having the best day of his life right now! Thanks Josh! Everything is perfect!
That is awesome to hear! I am glad he is diggin it! Thank you for your business!
This comment made my day
So wholesome 😀
So wholesome
Does he still do this?
Josh I'm always amazed at how you throw things in the enclosures at random and it always ends up looking great when I see others take forever to landscape and it looks a pile of crap. Keep it up dude. I'm inspired.
Thank you so much! I can't wait to get some of my new videos all done!
just throwing this out there: you really should wear a mask to avoid silicosis. even a small amount of silica dust can be harmful. once it is wet and covered it should be fine but i would pour that bag outside with a mask and wash up/change clothes after.
People including myself take ages setting up what you have but take a lot longer doing it, you have a great eye for what's needed and where to put things extremely fast very nice indeed. I've got my bioactive setups on hold because of mite problems and having to remove everything becoming quite costly...mites are a bane of my life at the moment,
RC Dean could be wood lice or termites if you have a lot of wood it also could be fungus gnats I have them in my giant pixie vivarium.
Thank you so much!!
I placed an order for a 12x12x18 tank. Best customer service by far. Excited to get this kit in the mail. Cheers!
Did the tank come with it?
Hi! I might be getting one of your kits for my birthday!!! (Lol) This video is very informational! Thanks!!!
Dude your probably the most enjoyable person to listen to on UA-cam doing bio active setups🤙🏾
Best video I saw on the topic. Going to be buying a kit in the near future, after I get my 18X18X24 tank. You have definitely earned yourself a follower and customer. Keep up the good work!
This looks so good
Just got a Pacman frog and did NOT know they could die from soil ph. I thought as long as you keep the poop out it will be fine. Definitely ordering one of your kits now!
this is amazing!!
I'm so excited about doing this for my cresties. :) thank you for these videos and these kits.
Thank you!
this was relly helpful Thank you so much
Love the bioactive setups! Keep up the good work!
Great setup
Hey Biodude, just purchased this whole kit from your store today for my 2 crested geckos. Would love to see and update to this video + lighting guide.
Can’t wait to get your kit! Im doing a crested gecko 18x18x24 and a gold dust day gecko 12x12x24, would the 29 gallon terra fauna kit be enough for both tanks? Great products as well!
Love your videos! You're so thoughtful about all of your products, and this is very helpful.
Do you ever recommend removing/replacing the original background? I watched a video of a different bioactive setup for this species in which they removed the original backdrop and replaced it with one they made with a pressed layer of gorilla glue, water, cork, and a blend of eco earth, spaghnam moss, and sand. Reason being: the original backdrops (he used a ZooMed tank) he said are prone to mold/mildew, which can be dangerous for your gecko.
Thoughts? Recommendations?
You’re amazing I just got a crested gecko and it was not properly taken care of definitely ordering a kit
Thank you!
It's been a pain having to re establish eco earth substrate in my crestie's tank. Thank you so much for the help, will most definitely use your website when I get the chance (and money)
Thank you so much!
I just picked up all the stuff I need from a reptile expo got so many isopods hopefully I can get a good colony of them going
I just bought a 18x18x24 zoo med how much would it cost to build the same as in this video but in the bigger size? Any special kit you sell for the bigger cages?
Just email me what you need and I can help you
I’m diggin it
Can the hydro grow be pre-rinsed before placing in the enclosure, just to remove some dust?
Great question, and yes it can.
With using the bioactive kit, do you NEED to have micro feeders like spring-tails as well, or can the terrarium thrive without them? What is the main purpose for micro feeders?
Nicole, great question! You do not Need the bugs. Their main purpose is to break down organic waste like leaf litter and poop to provide macro-nutrients to your soil and plants as well as aerate the soil with their tunnels. We have a product called The BioShot that does the same thing as far as waste break down, aeration can be achieved by digging in pieces of cork and palm bark.
That dust doesn’t seem very safe to inhale. I mean it’s made of glass right
I thought it was made of plastic...🤨
Lord of All Dino's he said glass
You are stupid, watch the channel Leopard gecko her crested gecko is just like The bio dude and shes has great info too.
@@pablomigueldiaz6920 not just like the bio dude she is mainly leopard geckos and some crested geckos bio dude has his own bio shop and all kinds of different animals bio stuff but i get what u r saying she is very good at what she does.
Tbh you should rinse out your drainage outside layer before putting it in the tank. That way the dust isnt inside the tank
Thank you so much because I asked you when I bought from you
Great video, ordered a 12” x 12” x18” sized terra fauna kit,will get it tommorow, im going to use it for a new 20 gallon vertical tank vivarium im seting up.
Thank you Bob! You are the MAN.
Does this kit also work for Gargoyle Geckos?
This seems to be the best bioactive kit out there, and the bioshot replacement for the isopods is something that will really help with my budget
Did the compact uvbs get fixed? I thought they where bad
I’m thinking about doing something like this and was wondering how long should the lights typically stay on for? Also, do you do anything else for the plants that you have in there for watering, or do you just mist the tank twice a day?
I usually do 12 on 12 off, I have my MK automatically mist twice daily for 40 or 20 seconds
love your videos and website, but is there any way a 'night mode' can be implemented on the site? The bright green against white makes it hard to see the wording when looking through the tabs :
I don't think so, sorry.
Do you need to use live plants to make the bioactive setup work? I'm new to cresties and bioactive setups so sorry if this is a dumb question
Hi Pimama92. You do not have to have live plants in your cage. It does help the system, but we have just substrate kits available as well.
Hi Biodude, I recently purchased some of your products.
As I was finishing I realized that I forgot the background though I had everything all set up already, I managed to put the background back in place but I got some dirt on the bottom layer, and some hydrogrow on the substrate I managed to remove the hydrogrow out from substrate but not the dirt from the hydrogrow, will this affect anything?
Please REPLY! (Also asking the community feel free to reply please.)
Thanks!
Hi Gabriel. Thank you very much for your business! It should not cause an issue at all, especially if it's just little bit.
Can I do this and then put my gecko in straight after?
And I don’t want a mist system can I still spray with my bottle 2 times a day?
Please reply
I do it, you can also let it cycle, it is 100% up to you.
You can hand mist twice daily, absolutely. Just make sure you are not over misting and you are set!
Yo Bio Dude! You should do a Day Gecko viv setup using your day gecko kit!
ItsJayCross I agree
I have ALWAYS wanted a Day Gecko!
I've noticed that you seem to bring your substrates up to the top level of the plastic aerating holes at the bottom of the tank. Doesn't that block the holes preventing aeration from the bottom (defeating its purpose)?. Also, wouldn't some of the springtails crawl out of the tank if the substrate covers the holes? I am going to setup a 12 x12x18 Zoomed tank.
Hi igregsmart. It doesn't make much difference with aeration to have the holes covered as most of the ventilation comes from the screen top. There may be a few rouge springtails, which are not invasive, but for the most part they prefer to stay where it damp and buried in the soil.
What was the first plant to be put in the tank?
What sort of lighting do I need?
Will this bioshock mixture replace the jobs of the isopods and springtails to the same equivalence?
Gavin, Excellent question. Short answer - yes,
The Bio Dude Josh Halter Thank you! Love the videos. Been wanting to convert my crestie to bioactive but I’ve been hesitant about the springtails and isopods.
@@TheBioDudeJoshHalter what's the long answer though dude. Science, please?
Im dying to see a bioactive setup for day geckos!
It's coming! By the end of the 1st quarter. Doing Klemmeri, Grandis and Lineata.
I'm absolutely loving the increase in uploaded videos!
think he recorded a few videos and are uploading them all now =)
You guys are going to love my video for my Ackies Monitors
John Vazquez hi
Dominick Turano hello there
WOW Josh I'm in awe of your habitats they look amazing , I wish I was good at decorating my habitats and especially my aquariums because I love aquariums but I'm terrible at decorating hahaha, I see how so many people decorate their habitats and it makes me so jealous. I am a proud owner of a Murphy's patternless leopard gecko / crested gecko / and several Tropical Aquariums.
Hi Josep, thank you for the support and don't worry. It takes some practice to get the decorating down, but just go with what feels right to you. Nature is crowded, so don't feel bad about putting a bunch of stuff in there.
@@TheBioDudeJoshHalter thanks Josh my crested gecko is my newest pet and I don't have many decorations for the habitat yet currently I have two hanging plants , two bamboo bars ,one ground plant and also a Jungle vine which is not yet in the habitat because I don't know how to put it in, my habitat size is 12 L× 12 W × 18 H and it's made by Zilla.
Last thing I wanted to know since I don't have a food ledge yet is it fine to have the food dish on the ground of the habitat, im not able to purchase online so I have to find a store that has then or can order for one for me.
Hi Joseph. It's fine to use the food dish on the ground, just ensure your baby knows where it is and is eating.
@@TheBioDudeJoshHalter ok thanks again Josh I was a bit worried that it wasn't going to be able to find the food but I think it eventually knew where the food was after watching me put the dish in , two nights ago I saw it sitting at the dish so I'm sure it won't be a problem now. Talk to you soon.
This might be a dumb question but I am still learning. Do you need to replenish the leaf litter and sphagnum moss as it degrades over time? Thank you for your time and great video! New subscriber 😊
Hi Zahyachan. You are correct. You should add biodegradables to your enclosure as they are "fuel" for your biome.
Thanks for the reply! How often do you suggest adding both?
My crested gecko loves to eat spangna moss can I just use leaf litter. Also can I mix the terra with reptibark
Is the HydroGrow perlite? I like how you do things but I don't want perlite in my systems, so I would like to know before I buy because I can't find any information on your website.
It is specially processed perlite, yes. It is much larger and not as dusty compared to your normal perlite. It is processed and made exactly the same (and out of the same material) as growstone and all of the other lighter drainage mediums, but the HG does not create that uneven surface which helps tremendously with drainage.
Will the plants still thrive if I just use an Arcadia Shade Dweller 7% UVB? Or do you truly recommend using both the UVB and the Solar Grow LED?
You can try it, and see how it works! I will always recommend supplemental lighting for your plants if they want to thrive.
Hey the bio dude I just bought one of kits for my crested gecko and was wondering do I water the plants or is the misting everyday enough?
Hi Spaceman. Depending on how heavily I'm misting and how the tank is looking I average a light water 1-2 times per week with my tropical plants
The Bio Dude Josh Halter My plants would be dried to the bone only misting that often.
Hi. In from the UK so I can't get any of your products. What other soil do you recommend that is available in the Uk???
Would activated charcoal be of any assistance in between the drainage layer and the substrate for water filtration? Or would that not even be necessary?
I have never tried it. I would see it being quite beneficial actually. Not really for filtration, as it loses the efficacy in about 30 days, but the springtails (if used) will love it!
Can you make some more crested gecko kits?
If you put a mating pair in there how would you find the eggs in a natural vivarium?
Add a lay box so hopefully they only use it.
Josh what is the tank you have going behind the crested tank? A Riparium?
That is one of my tadpole growout tanks.
Ok thanks because I’m adopting my 3rd crested gecko
Hi! I don't know if you will read this, since this video is old, but I'm a new crestie owner and this is going to be my first time replacing everything, and was doing research and found this. So I was wondering, do you mix the substrate, moss, and leaf litter together? or just layer? Also, what leaf litter did you use? because there are multiple types on your website. What plant kit do you think is the best choice on your website for cresties? Thank you!
Hey Sara! They are somewhat layered in this set up, You can use any of the leaf litter choices available, they will all break down and be part of the Biome :) We also have a crested gecko plant pack i will link - www.thebiodude.com/collections/species-specific-terrarium-plant-kits/products/crested-gecko-starter-plant-pack Hope this helps! Let us know if you have any further questions!
Wouldn't it be good to pre rince the base layer to get rid of thr dust?
You can do that, sure. I usually just mist the sides to get the residuals off.
Looks like perlite
@@kencross25 It is.
@@TheBioDudeJoshHalter you're inhaling silica powder that's awful for you I won't even put that s*** in my lizard tank it's not a better product if it's terrible for your health lava stone always
Do the crested gecko kits include the terrariums?
Would a 12x12x18 be big enough for a singe crested geck
Could the Matala be used as a filter layer in this build? Or in every build for that matter. Or are there instances where it can’t be used.
masala works best with water set ups not really land, too much air pockets
Thinking about getting crested gecko kit
Thanks
That's awesome
I just bought 2 of your crested gecko kits. You are not currently shipping isopods and spring tails. Is this sustainable without them or at least until the bugs are able to be shipped again?
Absolutely. We do offer springtails at the moment, but wont have Isopods until the September or October months.
Would building a bioactive tank help keep in humidity? I just recently adopted a crested gecko and I live in a very dry state and I struggle to keep his humidity up. He lives in a 12 x 12 x 30 terrarium with mainly fake plants and I spray down his home 4 times a day and have a humidifier pointed at his screen.
It does help significantly with humidity retention.
can you buy the crested gecko kit without the tank?
Im curious about the background in the tank. What is it?
Can this setup also work for the Leachianus?
DrGilgamesh you’ll need a bigger cage
do you only need to buy one, or do you have to constantly replace it
Hi Julian. As long as your soil is healthy and thriving there is no need to replace it ever again.
Would this work for a gargoyle gecko
Ok so newb question but if I don’t have the bugs to begin with do I still have to change the substrate? Also can I add the bugs at anytime. Annddd should I leave the set up for a few days or weeks before adding my crestie?
Hi Brittany,
Thank you for following - My kits include the Bio Shot, which essentially puts in all your organic processes to encourage "bioactive" in your terrarium. With my kits you do not need to use the bugs to go bio, but I still recommend adding them whenever. Your terrarium with function without them, but the more drivers you have in there, the better.
Hope this helps!
Josh
The Bio Dude Josh Halter awesome!! Thank you so much
This guys loves the basketball shorts... just came from a pickup game
If you ever get the chance could you do tokay gecko bio?
I have a question how would you water the plants? Would you get a watering can and soak the soil? Or how would that work.
Daily misting the enclosure will help, but I usually lightly water the root base of each plant with small cup once a week or so. When your biome is established and the roots have grown down to the drainage layer, daily misting will suffice with a heavier mist once or twice a week.
The Bio Dude Josh Halter ah ok thank you for the reply
does the light that you provide add heat to the tank?
Hi Julian. The LED does not give off heat or UVB. It's a plant growth light.
Hi quick question.. the led light.. does that have uvb or just uva? Do the plants need the led light to grow or do they need the hood light in the back to grow? I’m confused on what the led light does for the set up. Thank you
The LEDs do not emit any UVB at this time. The LED provides the spectrum needed to grow the live plants in your terrarium. The UVB light does not have the strength to grow your plants correctly.
I am going to be buying one or 2 of your kits for each of my leopard geckos.. I have 1 in a 55 gallon tank and the other in a 75 gallon tank, should I get the shade dweller uvb in the 14% because of the height of my tanks? Thank you so much for your help with this
Is that background a sticker that you can peel off? If you keep it on will it go moldy?
You are going to want to remove it completely.
Ok thanks 👌
I visited your store today, and it was awesome! I was just looking around, as I'm interested in getting a crested gecko for my first reptile. The lady who helped me was very kind and helpful! I was wondering though, would it be absolutely necessary to get an 18x18x36 terrarium, or could I get something smaller? I'm on a bit of a budget, since I only recently got my first job (I probably won't have the money needed to properly care for the gecko for a couple months). If you could get back to me on that, you'd really be helping me out!
They do best with more space so the 181836 is best yes.
My ghost wood is molding along with my monapi wood? Also my bamboo molded also. What am I doing wrong? I mist twice a day, once in the morning and once at night. I have isopods, spring tails and also earth worms. I added the bio shot I believe 18qt. I have plants. Please help!!! Any advice would be great. I was thinking of getting a fan blowing downward or upward. I have a 36 by 24 by 18 exo terra. Any advice would be great! I think the would Is salvageable but the bamboo looks horrible. Thanks in advance.
Alex, email us at customercare@thebiodude.com or give us a buzz M-F 8-4 CST @ 7173050684 so we can get more info and help you solve your problem : )
So I looked on your website and these kits come without the tank? Or with
They are tankless
Will both of those light's make the tank pretty hot are will they kept the temperature in the 70's?
Hi BFCubes. The lights do not emit enough heat to drastically change the temperature. My gecko tank never goes over 76 degrees :)
Thank you so much. Have a good day!
hey bio dude, I heard that all that light is bad for the crests because they do not have eyelids, are your lights on a timer?
HI Juan, a natural photo-period is necessary. Granted you should stay away from red and blue heat lights as reptiles have an extra cone within their ocular structure that intensifies light. I recommend using a timer or dimmer to allow a specific 12 hour daytime/12 hour nighttime cycle.
The Bio Dude Josh Halter it’s actually a 14 hour day and 10 hour night.
So you don’t need the isopods and springtails for the bioactive setup??
Hi Dysfunctional Bat. If you are utilizing my BioShot, the bugs are not a necessity. The BioShot does everything the bugs do aside from soil aeration, on a microscopic level. I still recommend having both in certain biomes like larger snakes, bearded dragon, monitors, tegus, etc. Anything with a large fecal deposit, as the break down time is a little faster with the bugs.
What size enclosure are you using?
Does the package have an option for a larger tank pls reply
Yes we do, you can find the kits here: www.thebiodude.com/collections/gecko-bioactive-kit/products/crested-gecko-bioactive-kit
Hey bio dude is the bioshot a alternative to the isopods and springtails I'm getting a crested gecko soon and I'm sold on your product just wanna know if I need the bugs or if the bioshot is all I need
Hi Spaceman. The BioShot does replace the bugs as far as the self cleaning benefits.
The Bio Dude Josh Halter thx for such the speedy reply blew my mind wit that one lol and thx I will be ordering is there anything else I need to know? Like tips
My pleasure Spaceman. For a crested gecko I see, all too often, sparsely decorated enclosure. These arboreal geckos like a densely decorated tank. It's important to their muscle growth especially in their prehensile tail. I would keep that in mind when ordering. The kits do come with cork, but they are meant to be a starter kit so it won't have everything I would use. I would check out the Ghostwood or grapevine, plant packs, and the LED props. The wood for more climbing, plants for more nature, and the props for better light distribution. I hope this helps!
-Amber
I know next to nothing about plants. What happens if the plants you have in there outgrow the tank? I assume if it's width-wise you could uproot it and separate it out into like a cutting? If they get too tall can you cut them without killing the plant?
Also if eventually you want to revamp the tank is it going to totally screw up your mini ecosystem to change out or move around plants?
Zayden, you can simply trim them as necessary. You could even take a cutting from one tank and transfer it into another if you please. Just make sure you disinfect it first so you don't spread nasties!
@@TheBioDudeJoshHalter oh right on!
Where do you get the tanks that open like that?
check Zoomed or Exoterra vivariums
What size ghost wood is that ? 18?
This looks cool. Is this setup ment to leave for ever or do you have to clean and redo it evry time? (I dont own any repitles Just curious)
Hi Tiemo. As long as your biome is healthy and thriving it will last indefinitely, and it will be self maintaining.
The Bio Dude Josh Halter thats so cool thnx for answering.
Josh how much is that set up you just made everything included???
Will you do a video on Madagascar Velvet Geckos ?
Hi Deb. More videos will be coming soon!
That hydrogrow stuff. Is that just perlite?
It was overcooked Perlite but the HG has since been switched to an all new alternative that is even better.
Are they the same setups for Gargoyle Geckos?
Hey Michael Frasca. You can absolutely use a set up like this for a gargoyle.
Would you be able to feed crickets without impaction issues for crested gecko?
Hey there! impaction is more closely related to temperatures and the reptile not being able to thermoregulate properly to pass things through its stomach. As long as all husbandry parameters are met, with a varied diet and crickets being a treat item, impaction should not be a worry for crested geckos! Hope this helps!
Very nice build! Are you not a fan of the whole spray foam background thing people like to do? Just curious.
I do it...sometimes.... My tanks just don't need it ;)
Thanks Jeff, you are totally right.
I will eventually, but there are so many ways to do it, so many different materials that you can use, that I would rather let people find the materials themselves instead of charing people so much money for it due to the amount of variables you can do with a background ; )
You have to completely replace all the dirt stuff every 3 weeks?
If I’m getting an 18 cube tank what size kit do I need?
Hi Carrie. You would want a floor print of 18x18. There is a premed kit available with those dimensions here:
www.thebiodude.com/collections/gecko-bioactive-kit/products/crested-gecko-bioactive-kit
It’s best for adult cresties to have at least two feet of height.
Can you use the terra fauna with hydroponic clay or hydro balls as your drainage layer?
Hi Mia. You can! As long as you have a screen layer it will do great. I use the Hydrogrow instead because it adds less weight to my tanks.
What type of palm did he say? Somebody please say I really want to know
Sampyphillips, It's a pony tail palm.
When I mist my terrarium, do I need to mist it with water that has reptisafe in it or can I use normal water?
You can use either or. ReptiSafe helps prevent calcium stains on the glass.
Just use distilled water