water drama

[coldbloodedtruth]

so i am setting up a large terrarium (80 gal) with live plants and several types of reptiles and amphibians. i was looking around at care sheets and it seemed to indicate that large bodies of water were not good for CGs as there is a drowning danger. i am worried because i plan on having a water feature with plants, frogs and salamanders. it would be 3 to 4 inches deep and the water would not be standing as i am incorporating a largish waterfall. there will be plenty of land and climbing limbs, but i want to have a safe space for the geckos. any advice?

[musicalKeyes]

A lot of people will tell you multiple species is a horrible idea, and it can be. But if you do it very carefully, it can work. What type of salamanders and frogs? Nothing can be too big, or they will eat everything else. Anoles seem to be okay with my frogs and salamanders, but they need a basking spot with lots of branches to climb on up in one of the corners. House geckos also seem good. I used to have blue spotted salamanders, anoles, a house gecko, and a few grey tree frogs together, but I've had to separate a few since they started growing too big. Another good idea is to keep everything very well fed, so there aren't any mishaps. Make sure you pick animals that have similar needs, and even ones from similar places. A crested gecko would do badly for exactly the reason you stated. Make sure everything has lots of places to hide. I have live plants, pothos are really good, and a few fern species do well too.

Do lots of research on species before you put anything together. Good luck!

[mlededee]

I'm going to be one of those people that says mixing species in one enclosure is usually not a good idea. For the most part, the husbandry needs and requirements of multiple species do not match closely enough for it to be a good idea to keep them together. Then there are risks with one species eating another, dominating another causing it to fail to thrive, and one species passing parasites on to another species that is not able to withstand the affects of the parasite (certain species can live with a particular parasite, while that same parasite will quickly kill another). Those are just a few reasons not to mix species.

Large bodies of water that are deeper than the gecko is off of the ground are generally not a good idea for cresteds. They pose a definite risk to young cresteds--you shouldn't even have a deep water dish in the enclosure if your gecko is young. I don't use anything bigger than a 3/4 oz deli cup for hatchlings and juvies--that way there is no risk at all that they might get in it and risk drowning.

The only things that I know of that have been successfully kept with cresteds (and it has been documented that this has been successful) are Australian pink tongue skinks and African giant black millipedes. Cresteds will eat baby skinks though, so you would want to get adults or skinks that are close in size to the cresteds.

[BigBlue56]

Sounds risky, although I love the idea of a large tank with multiple species mimicking a naturalistic ecosystem of sorts.

But I am new to reptiles so certainly wont be attempting that. If you continue with this, but very mindful of EVERYTHING you put in the tank. You would be sick to your stomach after spending all that money on a tank and beautiful creatures just to come home one day and notice missing creatures and one very bloated reptile.

[cinderbird]

what kind of frogs were you thinking about? Tropical dart frogs need basking temps in the 80s.. I wouldn't put crested geckos anywhere above 78 and that would only be for adults. :/

Are you dead set on having cresteds in there? Im sure there are other animals that would cohabitate much better. I don't know of any other compatible species that have the same requirements as cresteds.

[coldbloodedtruth]

alright. so i bailed out of the deep water idea. i really want a couple crested geckos!
i will put up some pics of what i did put together. i am going to a reptile show in central PA on sat to get some geckos and probably a red eyed tree frog or two.