Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Cousin gave me a 'Lizard Lounge Model 70' - it is 36.5" wide x 18.5" deep x 25.25" tall. Will it be suitable for a single giant day gecko or possibly a pair? I'd sure like to get it planted & set up pretty, & I've liked these geckos for a while. Is it a tall enough proportion for the species?

( http://www.elmersaquarium.com/images/105oc_lizardlounge.gif if the picture doesn't show up )

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~kimhotep

Yes it will be suitable for at least one. I would agree upon a pair in this cage but in most cases, especially for successfull breeding, you will require more space. They are an active species. In the pet trade, it is generally regarded as a nice cage for 1, and an adequate cage for 2. With the cages people have out there for these guys, I think it would be a good move to rescue them from a local petshop before somebody puts them into a 20 gallong high.

I disagree.
Overall space may be fine. But grandis are a relatively big arboreal species. So to my opinion (I breed these guys since 19 years), 3 feet are the very least height for adults, 4-5 ft are better.
They are climbers. climbers. climbers...
In your cage you force an arboreal animal to constantly live very close to the ground. Thats against its nature-even though they will stay healthy and breed.
Thats my 2 cts.

Ci@o

Ingo

I was motivated to look into this because we might be taking in a 'rescue' Grandis this coming weekend; owner went to college, his mom hates the lizard. This guy in turn had rescued it 3 yrs ago from some kid who got tired of it & was gonna chuck it out the car window (Massachusetts, Madagascar - close enough???) :-P

So I saw this GECKO - FREE TO GOOD HOME ad in the little weekly paper & called out of curiosity, to ask what species he is ( "Green with red spots, & ugly" ) thinking that Mr Lizard might well be better off with me than whoever else might pick up an interesting free critter. He's been eating undusted crix & living under a 100w incandescent with no UV, from what I understand. I don't know what kind of tank he's in now except that it's 'big'; the tank isn't for sale because the original owner (car window guy) wants the tank back when the gecko stops occupying it :-P

So the spare tank *I* have is 25.5" high. It may not be ideal, but overall for a single lizard, it will prolly be an improvement on his general situation if he comes to live here.

If this Grandis thing doesn't work out, can you recommend a colorful species of a similar care level, for which the tank might provide a more ideal home? Those red cresteds have certainly caught my eye, but I'm not familiar with many gecko species & would happily investigate recommendations.
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~kimhotep

Hi,

I think for a few weeks or months, its OK to house a grandis in such a tank. That may give you time to build or buy sth which fits an arboreal species. But life long housing of grandis in non tall tanks is not , what I think is good.
Other colourful gecko species for that tank?
Again I would exclude arboreal species-with exception for very small ones. So for Phelumsa klemmeri , Phelsuma pusilla and the like, the tank would be very nice.
But these are not among thebest beginner species.
If you want sth colourful and if it has to be a gecko and a well planted setup, go for one of the more established Goniurosaurus or Cyrtodactylus species.
If you alos love desert setups, I would recomemdn A Teratoscincus (and of course Leos).
Just some suggestions

Ci@o

Ingo

Hi all,

just thought i would mention that when i first rescued my adult male giant madagascan day gecko i had to put him in a long tank rather than tall (it was 4ft long by 1.5ft high) i knew this was not ideal as he should be in a tall tank, however due to my circumstances he remained in this tank for approx 1year. Compared to the tank (30cm x 30cm x 30cm) he was being kept in b4 i got him this was luxury to him! he loved it, he was forever exploring on the floor, branches, walls...etc, he also became extremely tame.

However, as i knew this was not ideal for him i built a 3ft tall x 2ft wide x 1ft deep tank for him. i have kitted it out wonderfully with jungle creepers, LOTS of plants, bamboo..etc and he seems so depressed.

At first i put his depression down to stress from moving him but still after approx 4 months in his new tank he is still showing dark colours and is not as active/tame as he used to be.

Could he just be pissed off with me for changing his tanks, or something else? his conditions are the same just the tank is the other way around, feeding conditions are the same too.

Any ideas??

Julie