Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was looking for someone who would have experience with the smaller terrestrial geckos (Viper geckos and Stenos is what I'm looking at).

I'm looking at both of these species for sometime in the future and was wondering about a couple things housing-wise.

I've read about varying sizes for both of these species which are about the same size. Can a pair of either or these fit into a 5-gallon? if not, a 10 gallon?
I most likely won't use the 5 gals because the 10-gals already have undertank heaters attached which leads me to my next question.
I know both species need about a hot spot of 90-95 degrees F, but I have also read that undertank heaters can be bad for digging species. Should I be worried about this and use lamps for their heat? Which type of heating do you have better experience with?
Also any advice with these species is welcome, I'm not planning to breed right away with them, and hoping to get one or 2 females of each, then go from there. Also pictures of setups are welcome.
Thank you for replies!

I have also read that undertank heaters can be bad for digging species. Should I be worried about this and use lamps for their heat?

I'm using UTH on my rosy boa, who sometimes burrows--the concern in the info you've read is most likely due to the UTH being too hot--something you can remedy with a rheostat (or getting a cooler-running UTH).

I also use UTH (pad-type on some, cord on others) on my banded geckos. They don't burrow in the enclosures because I use paper towels, but they get under the paper towels right against the UTH sometimes. No big deal.

I'm not planning to breed right away with them

That's good, because it's illegal to do so in most states.

Also pictures of setups are welcome.

Small Rubbermaid shoebox-size containers hold my banded geckos (total length under 4" ), but I'm hoping to whip up some enclosures out of some scrap Plexiglas I have from previous projects--4 sides and a floor, held together with clear packing tape, and see what happens.
-----
Chris McMartin
www.mcmartinville.com
I'm Not a Herpetologist, but I Play One on the Internet

That's good, because it's illegal to do so in most states.

O.O
For Stenodactylus Sthenodactylus and Viper geckos (Teratolepis fasciata), really? I did not know that, do you know why?

I'm hoping to whip up some enclosures out of some scrap Plexiglas I have from previous projects--4 sides and a floor, held together with clear packing tape, and see what happens.
Good luck with that, ;D

really? I did not know that, do you know why?

It was a joke, based on saying you wanted to breed WITH them.

>>I'm hoping to whip up some enclosures out of some scrap Plexiglas I have from previous projects--4 sides and a floor, held together with clear packing tape, and see what happens.

>>Good luck with that, ;D

'twill work just fine, simply a matter of getting around to doing it. The Plexiglas is 1/16 inch and the packing tape a)is more than strong enough to hold it all together and b)provides a perfect seal against escape, as well as c)allows for easily disassembly for storage/transportation. I want to move the geckos into caging with perfectly transparent sides (as opposed to the "hazy" Rubbermaid boxes) for better viewing/photography.

Basically the toughest part will be maximizing the use of the Plexiglas (least amount of scrap left over).
-----
Chris McMartin
www.mcmartinville.com
I'm Not a Herpetologist, but I Play One on the Internet