I AM AWARE THE SIZE OF THIS POST, HOWEVER PLEASE BEAR WITH ME. I WOULD BENEFIT FROM ANY COMMENTS FROM MORE ADVANCED HERP OWNERS ASWELL AS THE NEW MORE NOVICE ONES.
Im setting up a vivarium complete with more than several reptile species. I have a 260 gal. mesh Exo Terra Flexarium that I picked up last week. I hope to have it complete with plants and such by the mid of august.
I know that many people reading this will start thinking "Mixing Reptiles? Oh No's!" but I have been assured that if done properly with the correct research and set up that it is entirely possible to provid several species a happy habitat together.
I started with an article in the August 2005 Issue of REPTILES (The one with the Dwarf Monitor on the front). The article was called "The living Vivarium, on page 76, written by Rex Lee Searcey. The author answered the question;
"I'm trying to make my own community vivarium, but when I mention this to most herpers, both novice and expert, they cringe and warn against it. Why? What other herps would be OK with reed Frogs?"
From reading the article and its explanations of different pathogen types and diseases, it concluded with some simple rules and a few examples of what go pretty well with most other reptiles of the same terranium type.
Reed frogs, most dart frogs, many Day Geckos, rainbow tree lizards, rough green tree snakes and Dwarf Stump-Tailed Chameleons make excelent tank mates in a community vivarium. Keep in mind I have a 260 Gallon Flexarium to fill.
It stands upright at 180 CM (72 inches) tall. The sides are 75 CM (30 inches) in width. I have a giant peice of tree (Looks like driftwood that is 2 meters (180 CM/ 72 inches) and is drying out and being treated right now. It will take another few weeks before it is ready to be used. Then I will start building the terrain around this one peice that is just incredibly shaped and formed. Having the tank sitting tall allows it to have variable temperatures and areas which each species will eventually take a liking to best.
I gave this a few days of thinking...
I decided I wanted to have 3 small reed and dart frogs (which need about 10 gallons for all of them), 2 day geckos (several will work great in a 20-25 gallon upright tank) and 3-4 stumped tailed or dwarf leaf chameleons (needing 8-10 gallons each).
All this equals about 75 gallons. The tree does take up a large space and so lets eliminate 50 gallons fo that. Leaving us with 125 gallons.
125 gallons to fill with a pair of larger chamelons maybe? Yes, I hope so.
I have been reasearching and there are two suitable species I think I have determind. Either Jackson's or Fisher's Chameleons need about 30-35 gallons for each adult. I could have a male and a female of one of those two types.
Making it come to about 190 gallons filled in a 260 gallon cage. I figure that would be perfect. Putting in some ficus or other plants of which I have not researched yet...
This subject I found is not well documented on the internet, but and so I need all your help on this.
Help me point out things that I have calculated wrong and tips.
Also, I HAVE NOT found breeders and stores in Southern Ontario and no one from the USA will ship without it being a import order of 2000 US dollars or more.
Please Help!
What are your experiences with mixing day geckos in too...
I just slowly introuduced new species. I made many hiding spaces, many basking spaces and lots of food.