Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm considering a natural type set-up for my 4 Gilas as I've done with my dart frogs. Does anyone have any photos to post or suggestions to make? Considering these guys typically dig constantly what are some suggestions for substrate that appers somewhat natural but can easily be replaced knowing that they can be messy. I've considered peat moss thinking this would be absorbent but might be dusty. Other questions--lighting, background etc. Any photos and suggestions appreciated.

I'm using peat moss for my gilas cage. It works very well for the most part. The only thing I don't like about it, is that it doesn't seem to hold borrows at all.

Walmart carries a product in the garden dept called sandy loam soil. It works great.
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Greg Holland
G&M HERPS
www.imageevent.com/gmherps
gmherps@sbcglobal.net

For my gila display I use fine crushed granite for substrate, about 4 inches deep. After adding the substrate use a spray bottle to lightly mist the granite with water. This should control any dust problems. For a hide area I use a large slab of flagstone (roughly 20 inches x 20 inches wide and about 1 inch thick) carefully propped up on top of several rocks. Do this all the way on one end of the terrarium. Make sure that the rocks are placed deep in the substrate so that it will not fall if your gila digs around that area. There are many natural looking backgrounds available at most pet supply retailers, just choose one that closely resembles the granite etc.. You can place rocks, water dishes, fake cacti and any other desert-like decorations afterwards. Mist the substrate and especially inside the hide every other day, this should keep the humidity levels correct. For lighting I use 2 100 watt uva/uvb bulbs set only on the opposite side of the terrarium away from the hide area (this allows for a cool area and a warm basking area) Timers can be used to control light cycles. The crushed granite and flagstones are available at most cement/construction centers. good luck.

Here's a picture of the background that I use for a desert scenery.

Thanks for the replies. That's the second time I've heard of using crushed granite I'll give it a try. What size terrarium are you using? Thanks TDK

The measurements are 4ft x 2ft x 2ft. I constructed it with the sides, back and bottom made of 1/2 inch thick medium density particle board and the front made of 1/4 inch plexiglass. When completed, it can be covered with textured paint, wall-paper or many other items to give it a more pleasing look. Also, decorative moldings are available at most hardware stores for an even nicer appearance. Send me an e-mail at snakenbake1@yahoo.com and I can send detailed pictures of some terrariums to help give you some ideas. Thanks.

I took this yesterday in situ. Enjoy FR

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one more. I have been watching these fellas for 25 years. Lots of breeding, pairing, nesting and such. Good luck with yours. FR

is the ultimate "enclosure"! Keep the pics comming Frank...

I wish I could do something like Frank's set up, but I live in Chicago....we have a beautiful pair of gilas that reside at my wildlife center. They are kept together and the cage is constructed out of cherry wood and the interior is laminate. Our dimensions are 6' x 3' which affords lots of space and allows us to create a variety of thermal gradients. The cage is heated by a pro product radiant heat panel attached to a thermostat and the cage is lighted by two full spectrum fluorescents. We use a substrate of: torpedo sand/dirt/and leaf litter for a nice natural look while also allowing these lizards to dig and burrow. We also provide some low lying driftwood and natural rockwork that serves as a denning area....we have been real pleased by this set up (cage constructed by Crescent Moon Creations). In fact, our gilas just bred for the first time last week so we hope to have some success this year.

Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center at Elawa Farm
City of Lake Forest Parks & Recreation (IL)

Rob - what was your brumation procedure, and when did you start to warm them up? I'm wondering, I took mine out March 1, and no breeding yet. Mark Hauge

I'll be honest, this year we didn't do any sort of temp variation as these animals were on display. The winter temps were a bit cooler but nothing near to where you would normally want them if you are breeding heloderms. What stimulated breeding was a distinct wet/dry season...after several days fo heavy misting of their cage, we noticed daily mating. What I am interested in seeing is whether or not we will have fertile eggs; that could shed a lot of light in working with this species. Rob

Well, I'm pretty darn inexperienced with reptiles (though I read everything I can) and I'm posting in this thread pretty late, but there's a book called "The Art of Keeping Snakes" by Philippe de Vosjoli
Now it's about snakes, not Gilas, but seems to have a wonderful amount of information about setting up naturalistic display vivariums, and may help some.