This is a great video, I’m a herpetologist at an AZA Aquarium and I’m getting ready to redo a desert habitat we have. It’s a mixed species exhibit with collared lizards, chuckwalla, baja blue rock lizard, ornate uromastyx, and african pancake tortoise. I’ve been doing research the past few months looking at substrates, rocks, plants, lights, uv, etc. Glad to see other ppl making more naturalist arid/desert systems as well
As someone who lives in the Mojave, I can confirm that I’ve seen many species of isopods out here. The species that I have personally seen are Armadillidium vulgare, Venezillo arizonicus, Oniscus asellus, Porcellionides pruinosis, Porcellio laevis, Porcellio scaber, and possibly Porcellio dilatatus. They generally seem to do well in the desert vivariums that I set up, and I generally find them either under the water dish or near my plants after I mist the entire enclosure. Along with all of the isopods, I find that mealworms and super worms along with their beetles and different kinds of feigning beetles work really well in arid setups. I hope this helps you out!
Interesting, thank you. I used A.vulgare and P. pruinosis when I set up about a month ago - I think the A. vulgare fared better, there are a few sad P. pruinosis under the dish, but the rest either didn't make it or retreated under the substrate. Have you seen these guys out in wilderness areas or mostly around irrigated homes? And I do plan on getting some death feigning beetles at some point in the future. Do they reproduce in your setups or are you limited to what you start with?
Connor Long I’ve found A. vulgare and P. pruinosis in both wilderness areas and around irrigated homes despite both being introduced species. I do however find more around irrigated homes. As for the death feigning beetles, I’ve noticed breeding behavior on quite a few occasions but have never actually noticed any new offspring pop up. I think that this is because of how notoriously difficult death feigning beetles are to raise in captivity due to the extremely specific temperature and humidity requirements of the larvae. If you were looking to attempt to breed them in captivity, I would recommend watching Aquarimax Pets’ series on breeding blue death feigning beetles.
Dont use beetles in Leopard gecko tanks they will bite your leopard gecko and if that bite gets infected that is the death of your leopard gecko unless you can spend the huge amount of money for an exotic pet vet, legit this has happened in the pass to me, dont leave superworms or darkling beetles in your tank for the sake of your animals well being don't do it.
Finally someone actually providing dense information as well as a methodological approach to what it takes to make your desert creature truely comfortable in captivity. Thank you!
Thank you for this great video! I‘m a biologist and just about to build my first desert terrarium. Using just sand seemed wrong as i want it to be natural and also grow my succulents in it. Finding the information i needed was not easy. I love your scientific approach and how you put everything together without beating around the bush. 💜
Thanks for the video! The substrate information was very useful. I am in the process of planning a collared lizard enclosure and being able to see one in the wild at the end after you constructed a substrate mimicking their environment is a gold mine for me.
Thank you, I'm glad you found it helpful. My suggestion for a collared lizard would be as big as possible with lots of climbing space - those guys run around a ton in the wild (like you saw in the video). Shoot me a link when you're done, I'd like to see it!
I can say my gecko has lived on sand for the past like 12 years and she's been 100% ok. Granted it's special protein sand that doesn't clump into rocks but still, she actually prefers it to the more rocky part of her tank.
Thank you! If I ever go to India I hope to see leopard geckos themselves in the wild. There's surprisingly little information about their wild habits that has been published for how ubiquitous they are as pets
You hit the nail on the head, there isn't that much on Arid Setups. Can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to Part 2, you've got me checking in every other day LoL. Also a new sub for the last couple weeks, thanks for the vids.
Really glad I found your channel through this video. What a well-researched piece. Thank you! Just added a bunch of your videos to watch later and I'm looking forward to keeping up with your channel! :)
Man, I am so impressed with this video. Your methodology and attention to detail is wonderful. I hope your channel grows to the point that certain other reptile TH-camrs will have no choice but to put the time in to better understand the needs of the animals they’re producing rather than maximize profit.
The A. vulgare and P. pruinosis have been doing better than I initially thought, they are actually both reproducing in the enclosure. Another commenter who lives in the Mojave says he regularly sees both.
I bet it would work well for desert rattlesnakes. I don't keep any hot species for safety reasons though - if you were to use it for a dangerous animal I would recommend using a different strategy for the hides. Using my buried-burrow hide seems like it would be comically dangerous with a hot species.
giant canyon isopods have reproduced and thrived like crazy in my bearded dragon bio setup. they mostly congregate under the water bowl but come out at night when the dragon is asleep to scavenge. mealworm and superworm beetles have also thrived, as well as some rogue crickets.
Connor Long honestly i’m not sure... one day I lifted the water bowl and there were hundreds. since then i separated into a new colony and they’re taking a while to reproduce.
I have had a similar experience with giant canyon isopods. It seems that one day you lift up something in the enclosure, and there are just hundreds or thousands. I have kept giant canyon isopods in a Bioactive green iguana enclosure, many Bioactive crested gecko enclosures, and a Bioactive leopard gecko enclosure. Each time I have had success. I will say that they tend to over populate the enclosure, and I plan to use a smaller isopod species in my crested gecko enclosures in the future.
Don't leave superworms/darkling beetles in your tank, less of a worry with a dragons skin but leopard geckos dont have the skin of a dragon don't leave superworms or beetles with geckos they can and will bite the gecko when its sleeping A:stressing the animal out, and B: it can get infected and that can kill your lizard, leave feeder insects in as it is eating when its done remove the insects, a cricket or two is not a huge deal but don't leave beetles in your tanks, more often then not seeing beetles in a tank is a red flag that the person isn't really watching their animals wellbeing, if you want to leave beetles in your tank let the beetle bite you first (Then remember you're 100 times the size of a gecko) if you don't want that why would you make your lizard live with it.
Incredible video. I'm not sure if I'm ready to make the leap to bioactive, however I am planning a renovation to my Ocellated uromastyx terrarium to make it more naturalistic. She's an older adult so I really don't think she'll have any issues with sand (her very reputable breeder uses sand too). Thank you for this well put together video and the inspiration Doctor Connor
My rescued elderly leopard gecko died recently from cancer so when I'm done grieving I might get another leopard gecko or a rosy boa and make a setup similar to yours.
I love how respectful you were when you apologized that you might be pronouncing the locations wrong. It a small comment which I'm sure is greatly appreciated
That's a really informative video! liked and subscribed! btw, can I use volcanic rocks/sand instead of DG ? because I think DG is not available anywhere near where I live.
Are you US based? I was under the impression DG was a pretty ubiquitous landscaping material in the US. Using other sand and lava rock is probably fine, but I don't have any information about it so it's sort of a use-at-your-own risk kind of deal. I would make sure to add the other components though, which will make it more compact and prevent the geckos from eating it. DG is pretty dirty already, so you might have to mess around with the proportions if you're using another base material. I have a link in the description to a 'recipe' for desert substrate recommended by Reptiles magazine.
I have a couch's spadefoot toadlet that I just got a few weeks ago due to the monsoon, they're still small, but I'm researching desert vivariums for their adult setup when I make that (the little guy still has a few months of growing to do so I have time to save and research).
Interesting - I'd recommend trying to find information from folks who have kept them before, I am not very familiar with spadefoot toads. I know they are dormant for much of the year, and other frog species (pixies come to mind) that are dormant for much of the year are usually kept in a more conventional amphibian setup. I think trying to replicate this desert setup would likely be far too dry for them, but like I said, I am basing this off of other species I am more familiar with. Good luck!
Thanks for the vid. Where can i buy a small bag of the decomposed granite stuff? The only places i'm seeing sell it in large quantities. Is there an alternative I could use? What about cactus potting soil mix?
Thanks for the comment - I would not advise using cactus potting mix, it basically has none of the qualities we’re discussing here, and generally contains synthetic fertilizer and perlite, neither of which I consider safe to use with animals. Decomposed granite isn’t a product you can buy in bags, it’s sold by landscaping companies and rock yards. You just need to call around and ask if you can buy a bucket or two of it. The alternative is to buy a ready made product from a pet store or vivarium supplier but I’m not the best person to ask about ready made products because I make all my own stuff
@@ConnorLongDVM on a side note it seems like we have some similar interests we should try to collaborate on a video or something. I'm big into animal breeding and naturalistic environments but i had to mostly give that up when i entered my PhD program where i study behavior/neuroscience. I noticed you have brain scans on your channels banner... idk what we could do but id be down.
Is there a specific Compost you used ? Should I use super humus Compost ? And the "Clay Topsoil" that wouldn't be excavator clay would it ? And what website would I go to to obtain the substrates ?
With the exception of the coco-fiber, these aren't products that come pre-packaged. I went to a rock yard that sells materials in large quantities for landscaping and gave them a few bucks to let me fill up a couple of home depot buckets. You probably have an equivalent business locally, it may require some googling/calling around if you're looking to exactly replicate it.
Those are all words that I recognize but in the order they are presented I’m not sure I understand - if the concern is that the discussion is overly technical, there are plenty of less technical tutorials available online, the trade off is many of them are trying to hawk random products that are usually varying degrees of unnecessary garbage
@@ConnorLongDVM Oh its all good, Im just very suprised on how much you know about these things. You have a very wide range of vocab and knowlage. Good job!!!
I am kinda new to the reptile group and am wanting a western hognose but I really want to build a bioactive enclosure. I know that western hognose snakes can live in dessert area but I didn't want it to be full dessert, do you think the same set up would work with lower temperatures and some native isopods? Also, does the enclosure not need a drainage layer simply because it isn't as humid?
Hey Kat, thanks for the comment - I don't know that much about hognose husbandry, so you'll have to talk to a hognose keeper for specifics around their care. In terms of this setup specifically, it could function at any temperature, the heating element is set for the requirement of my gecko. In terms of a drainage layer, the enclosure does have a drainage layer - in part II when I put it all together I put down a hefty layer of leca.
@@martinjackson8184 It will form a crust at the surface as it dries. It shouldn’t be like a brick though or plants won’t grow in it. You just don’t want it so loose and dusty that it could irritate your animals. How long will depend on several variables including ambient humidity and temperature. It should dry within a day or two if you have an above tank heating element
If you wouldn’t mind me asking, where did you source your clay topsoil from? I have been searching for a natural clay topsoil, but as of now my local area seems to not have what I’m looking for.
I got it from a local rock yard. It wasn’t a packaged product or anything, just a giant pile that you can buy buckets or truckbeds of. I think they charged me like 3 bucks for a 5 gallon bucket
@@ConnorLongDVM Awesome, thank you for replying! I have some DG that I want to use for a background of mine. What type of silicone did you use if you don't mind me asking?
One of the geckos I kept as a kid was about 6 or 7 years old when I got him as a rescue, and then I had him for another 6 years before I eventually rehomed him when I went to college. He was on a soil sand mix the entire time, I never had a problem. They can get impacted - but yes, I do suspect it is likely due to underlying causes in most cases
@@ConnorLongDVM yeah I currently have a yellow ackie on a topsoil/play sand/ peat moss mix and perfectly fine and he's a ackie so allways slamming roaches into the ground to stun them and they're covered in his substrate when he gulps them down.
Lol I have been saying this for years . I think most of the leopard gecko community are nuts . I am a vet assistant and in 15 years I have only seen two cases of impaction both from paper towels . I have also served in Afghanistan outside Kabul and saw wild Leo’s . The temps aren’t even close to what’s suggested it gets cold at night . They also said .. Leo’s don’t bask= wrong Leo’s can’t climb= wrong Leo’s are solitary= wrong I saw them basking , I saw them climbing 50 foot cliffs like pros , I saw them pack hunting. They eat ants , Beetles , sand spiders. I question many things supposed experts say. Thank you for actually doing research . Many leopard gecko experts have never seen one in the wild.
Thank you for sharing those experiences - does your clinic see a lot of leopard geckos? Also, do you mind if I pick your brain about your experiences with wild Eublepharis? I've basically read all the peer reviewed stuff, I've been discussing habits with folks who have interacted with them in the wild. My IG is @connorology, my gmail is on my channel.
@@ConnorLongDVM no problem I’ll message you . Our clinic is Avian but we get our fair share of geckos , mainly macularius but angramainu also. We were near Nuristan National reserve just outside there are cliffs and rock outcroppings with many leopard geckos .we would see them in groups of threes mostly it’s funny they were males no females the colors are different also , many blues , greens in with light yellow and gold that blends in with the sparse grass and blueish rocks. It’s funny the first time we saw a group , one went in the termite burrow and the other two grabbed em as they came out which was the first time I saw pack hunting in Leo’s . I think this solitary myth started because they do fight a lot so for safety . The other thing strange was they are out mid day a lot as it gets cold at night . We never saw them at dusk sometimes at dawn. They were fascinating.
@@ConnorLongDVM I didn’t but my friend David did have some videos and was keeping a record . I’ll have to check to see if he still has anything from then . He is currently in Arizona working with USARK .
@@ConnorLongDVM there was an in depth study by a professor that taught at Talimul Islam College in Pakistan named Muhammad Sharif Khan where he took several photos of natural habitats and range sightings of Leo’s in Pakistan that was pretty interesting where he found large populations outside of forests in rock croppings and long dry river beds which is the same as we found . Might be something to search around for .
Mealworm/superworm beetles should not be able to hurt a gecko. I have had no issues and I am not the first to use them as vivarium custodians, they've been used by others on and off TH-cam (Aquarimax Pets and Bio Dude to name two TH-cam channels specifically).
@@jacksp2815 Arid habitats can be dry for isopods and springtails. The species I listed (in the follow up) are working well. The standard springtails used in tropical vivariums will likely die in these conditions, I have a desert strain I collected in the Mojave.
@@ConnorLongDVM Yeah no "should not" sorry man but you don't know what you are talking about don't risk other peoples animals, YES THEY CAN, Superworm beetles (darkling beetle) can and will bite your gecko I have lost a gecko to an infected darkling beetle bite before they can and will bite geckos never trust someone that is okay with leaving them in the tank, you have way more people talking about removing pray insects ASAP if they are not being fed on for a reason just because you never had a problem does not mean its totally safe, some people can put bettas in community tanks and have no problems more often then not you cant, Isopods and Springtails are fine, Springtails are always fine regardless, isopods are fine for basically anything that isn't a tarantula sling or like its size (Yes isopods have been known to kill and eat baby tarantulas.)
I am growing UC Verde Buffalograss, which is working well. I also have used unidentified dry grass I collected from the desert to make cage decor, and I have sprouted some of that desert grass from collected seeds to experiment with.
Hi Karen - I don’t know all that much about tarantulas, so I’d recommend consulting someone who keeps them. I think that a setup like this would be too dry for a rose hair tarantula, though it would likely be suitable for a desert dwelling species.
Soil would be a bit hard for a rose hair tarantula as they like to dig (depending on the spider itself some more then others) but basically the same tank setup otherwise, just know that type of tarantula will dig and can screw up any plants you want to put in with it and again like the gecko DONT leave beetles in the tank at all, if the rose hair tarantula is still a baby you also don't want to put isopods in just springtails are fine.
OMG don't use beetles!!!!!! Anyone watching this DO NOT use darkling beetles in an leopard Gecko tank this is a horrible idea, the darkling beetles can and will bite your leopard gecko at one point and if that bite gets infected that is going to be a lot of money in vet bills or the death of your lizard don't use beetles, I have already lost a pet leopard gecko from this mistake and it was a mistake from not removing feeders if you are actively putting the beetles in a small tank with the gecko its only a matter of time until something happens don't use beetles for the sake of your pet.
I am sorry for your loss. Respectfully, I believe you are mistaken about the cause of the inciting injury. I have been handling superworm beetles (Zophobas morio) for years and often find them in my enclosures if a stray superworm escapes from the dish - I've never had an issue and I don't believe they can bite. This position is supported by Carolina Biological Supply, whose website states "[They cannot bite]... Their only defense is to release a mildly offensive odor." reference: beta-static.fishersci.com/content/dam/fishersci/en_US/documents/programs/education/technical-documents/data-sheets/carolina-biological-darkling-beetle-data-sheet.pdf Superworm beetles are often used with success as enclosure janitors with leopard geckos - offhand I know TH-cam channels Aquarimax Pets and Biodude use them. I have used them as designated cleaners for six months without issue, and I have used them for years with my tarantula without issue. Blue death feigning beetles are also darkling beetles, and they're popular as tank cleaners with hobbyists more interested in invertebrates. Did you feed your gecko crickets, roaches, or another non-mealworm food source? Because those species can bite geckos if one is not eaten and hides in the vivarium. Spiders will also sometimes find their way into vivariums. Alternatively, it could have been an injury or infection caused by something other than a bite.
@@ConnorLongDVM I am fairly sure it was the Darkling Beetle, but I will respect your opinion as you are with mine, they can bite I have been bit before so I know they can and they bite the lizard well they are asleep not as defence same a crickets can, I live in Canada we cant get feeder roaches or basically anything good other then the hand full of feeders bugs its really annoying but never the less, it "could" be a spider but again I am in the city in Canada we don't have very large spiders in general let alone in the city just normal house spiders at best, I strongly believe beetles should not be housed with the pet itself(Nor fed to them but that's more lizards don't seem to like them as food), I will never leave the beetles in my tank, i felt I should say something but if you have had better luck with them then I wish you all the future luck with your tanks man. Also other then that great video, no hate just strongly think beetles should not be with the animal itself.
This is a great video, I’m a herpetologist at an AZA Aquarium and I’m getting ready to redo a desert habitat we have. It’s a mixed species exhibit with collared lizards, chuckwalla, baja blue rock lizard, ornate uromastyx, and african pancake tortoise. I’ve been doing research the past few months looking at substrates, rocks, plants, lights, uv, etc. Glad to see other ppl making more naturalist arid/desert systems as well
As someone who lives in the Mojave, I can confirm that I’ve seen many species of isopods out here. The species that I have personally seen are Armadillidium vulgare, Venezillo arizonicus, Oniscus asellus, Porcellionides pruinosis, Porcellio laevis, Porcellio scaber, and possibly Porcellio dilatatus. They generally seem to do well in the desert vivariums that I set up, and I generally find them either under the water dish or near my plants after I mist the entire enclosure. Along with all of the isopods, I find that mealworms and super worms along with their beetles and different kinds of feigning beetles work really well in arid setups. I hope this helps you out!
Interesting, thank you. I used A.vulgare and P. pruinosis when I set up about a month ago - I think the A. vulgare fared better, there are a few sad P. pruinosis under the dish, but the rest either didn't make it or retreated under the substrate. Have you seen these guys out in wilderness areas or mostly around irrigated homes?
And I do plan on getting some death feigning beetles at some point in the future. Do they reproduce in your setups or are you limited to what you start with?
Connor Long I’ve found A. vulgare and P. pruinosis in both wilderness areas and around irrigated homes despite both being introduced species. I do however find more around irrigated homes.
As for the death feigning beetles, I’ve noticed breeding behavior on quite a few occasions but have never actually noticed any new offspring pop up. I think that this is because of how notoriously difficult death feigning beetles are to raise in captivity due to the extremely specific temperature and humidity requirements of the larvae. If you were looking to attempt to breed them in captivity, I would recommend watching Aquarimax Pets’ series on breeding blue death feigning beetles.
@@Sometallguy Yeah I have bookmarked those videos for later viewing. Maybe it's something I will give a try in the future if I have more space.
Glad I've seen this comment , I'm currently looking for species that can survive yellow ackie heat levels.
Dont use beetles in Leopard gecko tanks they will bite your leopard gecko and if that bite gets infected that is the death of your leopard gecko unless you can spend the huge amount of money for an exotic pet vet, legit this has happened in the pass to me, dont leave superworms or darkling beetles in your tank for the sake of your animals well being don't do it.
Finally someone actually providing dense information as well as a methodological approach to what it takes to make your desert creature truely comfortable in captivity. Thank you!
You’re welcome! Thanks for the comment
This video is amazing. It was just very well put together, and I found it very interesting to watch.
Thank you!
Thank you for this great video! I‘m a biologist and just about to build my first desert terrarium. Using just sand seemed wrong as i want it to be natural and also grow my succulents in it. Finding the information i needed was not easy. I love your scientific approach and how you put everything together without beating around the bush. 💜
Great video for those who wants their leopard geckos live in a better place! (including myself)
Can't wait to see part2. thks !!
I have watched like 20 other videos on bioactive vivariums for leopards geckos and this has been the MOST helpful and informational one yet!
Whoa, did not expect to hear actual seguiriya flamenco, nice!
Well all credit goes to the royalty free artists whose work I used
@@ConnorLongDVM Great video btw!
The substrate you made looks the same consistency as what is in my yard here in Sonora where I'm finding them hunt at night. That's neat
Sonora Mexico? Do you ever see them come out before the sun has completely set?
nice video dude, looking forward to part 2
Thanks for the video! The substrate information was very useful. I am in the process of planning a collared lizard enclosure and being able to see one in the wild at the end after you constructed a substrate mimicking their environment is a gold mine for me.
Thank you, I'm glad you found it helpful. My suggestion for a collared lizard would be as big as possible with lots of climbing space - those guys run around a ton in the wild (like you saw in the video). Shoot me a link when you're done, I'd like to see it!
@@ConnorLongDVM Will do!
I can say my gecko has lived on sand for the past like 12 years and she's been 100% ok. Granted it's special protein sand that doesn't clump into rocks but still, she actually prefers it to the more rocky part of her tank.
Awesome video! loved the part where you showed the herps you found in the Mojave and showed the UVB and heat they were in.
Really cool how you actually see lizards in their natural environment 👍
Thank you! If I ever go to India I hope to see leopard geckos themselves in the wild. There's surprisingly little information about their wild habits that has been published for how ubiquitous they are as pets
You hit the nail on the head, there isn't that much on Arid Setups. Can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to Part 2, you've got me checking in every other day LoL. Also a new sub for the last couple weeks, thanks for the vids.
It's coming I swear haha. I have all the footage I just need to edit it.
@@ConnorLongDVM You Sir, are Top Notch!
Really glad I found your channel through this video. What a well-researched piece. Thank you! Just added a bunch of your videos to watch later and I'm looking forward to keeping up with your channel! :)
Wow Conner, you are something my brother! Love you video!
Man, I am so impressed with this video. Your methodology and attention to detail is wonderful. I hope your channel grows to the point that certain other reptile TH-camrs will have no choice but to put the time in to better understand the needs of the animals they’re producing rather than maximize profit.
Thank you! We'll see, I have several projects in the works but haven't had much time for new videos lately.
Laevis isopods do better in drier conditions. Also, they're big, shiny, and attractive in various morphs.
The A. vulgare and P. pruinosis have been doing better than I initially thought, they are actually both reproducing in the enclosure. Another commenter who lives in the Mojave says he regularly sees both.
@@ConnorLongDVM yep. I live in the Sonoran Desert and see both species in moist microclimates.
I absolutely adore this content and hope that you have more to come!
Fascinating.
Gonna keep this in mind for eventual rattlesnake enclosures.
I bet it would work well for desert rattlesnakes. I don't keep any hot species for safety reasons though - if you were to use it for a dangerous animal I would recommend using a different strategy for the hides. Using my buried-burrow hide seems like it would be comically dangerous with a hot species.
Amazing video 🍃
Your videos deserve so much more views ! You’re going to get there with this quality, great and informative as usual
Such a great video! thanks for the soil info!
This was SO inspiring. Thanks!
giant canyon isopods have reproduced and thrived like crazy in my bearded dragon bio setup. they mostly congregate under the water bowl but come out at night when the dragon is asleep to scavenge. mealworm and superworm beetles have also thrived, as well as some rogue crickets.
Good suggestion, how long do canyon isopods take to get established? I’ve read they’re slow growing.
Connor Long honestly i’m not sure... one day I lifted the water bowl and there were hundreds. since then i separated into a new colony and they’re taking a while to reproduce.
I have had a similar experience with giant canyon isopods. It seems that one day you lift up something in the enclosure, and there are just hundreds or thousands. I have kept giant canyon isopods in a Bioactive green iguana enclosure, many Bioactive crested gecko enclosures, and a Bioactive leopard gecko enclosure. Each time I have had success. I will say that they tend to over populate the enclosure, and I plan to use a smaller isopod species in my crested gecko enclosures in the future.
Don't leave superworms/darkling beetles in your tank, less of a worry with a dragons skin but leopard geckos dont have the skin of a dragon don't leave superworms or beetles with geckos they can and will bite the gecko when its sleeping A:stressing the animal out, and B: it can get infected and that can kill your lizard, leave feeder insects in as it is eating when its done remove the insects, a cricket or two is not a huge deal but don't leave beetles in your tanks, more often then not seeing beetles in a tank is a red flag that the person isn't really watching their animals wellbeing, if you want to leave beetles in your tank let the beetle bite you first (Then remember you're 100 times the size of a gecko) if you don't want that why would you make your lizard live with it.
Thank you so much for these videos. I’m planing to build a bio active setup for my leopard.
Happy to have helped! Have fun building your enclosure.
Incredible video. I'm not sure if I'm ready to make the leap to bioactive, however I am planning a renovation to my Ocellated uromastyx terrarium to make it more naturalistic. She's an older adult so I really don't think she'll have any issues with sand (her very reputable breeder uses sand too).
Thank you for this well put together video and the inspiration Doctor Connor
Oh my gosh I love you
My rescued elderly leopard gecko died recently from cancer so when I'm done grieving I might get another leopard gecko or a rosy boa and make a setup similar to yours.
I'm sorry for your loss
Surly FTW! ill subscribe just on that alone!
I love how respectful you were when you apologized that you might be pronouncing the locations wrong. It a small comment which I'm sure is greatly appreciated
That's a really informative video! liked and subscribed! btw, can I use volcanic rocks/sand instead of DG ? because I think DG is not available anywhere near where I live.
Are you US based? I was under the impression DG was a pretty ubiquitous landscaping material in the US.
Using other sand and lava rock is probably fine, but I don't have any information about it so it's sort of a use-at-your-own risk kind of deal. I would make sure to add the other components though, which will make it more compact and prevent the geckos from eating it. DG is pretty dirty already, so you might have to mess around with the proportions if you're using another base material. I have a link in the description to a 'recipe' for desert substrate recommended by Reptiles magazine.
I have a couch's spadefoot toadlet that I just got a few weeks ago due to the monsoon, they're still small, but I'm researching desert vivariums for their adult setup when I make that (the little guy still has a few months of growing to do so I have time to save and research).
Interesting - I'd recommend trying to find information from folks who have kept them before, I am not very familiar with spadefoot toads. I know they are dormant for much of the year, and other frog species (pixies come to mind) that are dormant for much of the year are usually kept in a more conventional amphibian setup. I think trying to replicate this desert setup would likely be far too dry for them, but like I said, I am basing this off of other species I am more familiar with. Good luck!
@@ConnorLongDVM thanks man, in that case I might just have them in a semi-arid setup that'll be misted a few times a week.
Thanks for the vid. Where can i buy a small bag of the decomposed granite stuff? The only places i'm seeing sell it in large quantities. Is there an alternative I could use? What about cactus potting soil mix?
Thanks for the comment - I would not advise using cactus potting mix, it basically has none of the qualities we’re discussing here, and generally contains synthetic fertilizer and perlite, neither of which I consider safe to use with animals. Decomposed granite isn’t a product you can buy in bags, it’s sold by landscaping companies and rock yards. You just need to call around and ask if you can buy a bucket or two of it. The alternative is to buy a ready made product from a pet store or vivarium supplier but I’m not the best person to ask about ready made products because I make all my own stuff
@@ConnorLongDVM thanks yea the cactus mixes i looked at had perilite and ferts in them too. I'll have to look around.
@@ConnorLongDVM on a side note it seems like we have some similar interests we should try to collaborate on a video or something. I'm big into animal breeding and naturalistic environments but i had to mostly give that up when i entered my PhD program where i study behavior/neuroscience. I noticed you have brain scans on your channels banner... idk what we could do but id be down.
@@MisterMiceGuy I was able to find some DG at a home depot near me. It came in a medium sized bag.
Is there a specific Compost you used ?
Should I use super humus Compost ?
And the "Clay Topsoil" that wouldn't be excavator clay would it ?
And what website would I go to to obtain the substrates ?
With the exception of the coco-fiber, these aren't products that come pre-packaged. I went to a rock yard that sells materials in large quantities for landscaping and gave them a few bucks to let me fill up a couple of home depot buckets. You probably have an equivalent business locally, it may require some googling/calling around if you're looking to exactly replicate it.
What's the song at the end? It sounds really good
Don’t remember offhand - I have the music listed in the description on al those videos though
He speakin big brain
Those are all words that I recognize but in the order they are presented I’m not sure I understand - if the concern is that the discussion is overly technical, there are plenty of less technical tutorials available online, the trade off is many of them are trying to hawk random products that are usually varying degrees of unnecessary garbage
@@ConnorLongDVM Oh its all good, Im just very suprised on how much you know about these things. You have a very wide range of vocab and knowlage. Good job!!!
I am kinda new to the reptile group and am wanting a western hognose but I really want to build a bioactive enclosure. I know that western hognose snakes can live in dessert area but I didn't want it to be full dessert, do you think the same set up would work with lower temperatures and some native isopods? Also, does the enclosure not need a drainage layer simply because it isn't as humid?
Hey Kat, thanks for the comment - I don't know that much about hognose husbandry, so you'll have to talk to a hognose keeper for specifics around their care. In terms of this setup specifically, it could function at any temperature, the heating element is set for the requirement of my gecko. In terms of a drainage layer, the enclosure does have a drainage layer - in part II when I put it all together I put down a hefty layer of leca.
@@ConnorLongDVM awesome, thank you for responding
did you wet it in a container then wait for it to dry then install substrate or did you place it in then wet it.
When I mixed it up it was not bone dry, but I was not adding a lot of water to it. You don’t want it to be sopping wet.
@@ConnorLongDVM the soil was damp and coco fiber was damp i haven't add any water though. How long did it take to harden?
I love the videos
@@martinjackson8184 It will form a crust at the surface as it dries. It shouldn’t be like a brick though or plants won’t grow in it. You just don’t want it so loose and dusty that it could irritate your animals.
How long will depend on several variables including ambient humidity and temperature. It should dry within a day or two if you have an above tank heating element
If you wouldn’t mind me asking, where did you source your clay topsoil from?
I have been searching for a natural clay topsoil, but as of now my local area seems to not have what I’m looking for.
I got it from a local rock yard. It wasn’t a packaged product or anything, just a giant pile that you can buy buckets or truckbeds of. I think they charged me like 3 bucks for a 5 gallon bucket
Great video! Did you wash the DG before you used it? or did you use it without washing/sterilizing it?
I did not wash it
@@ConnorLongDVM Awesome, thank you for replying! I have some DG that I want to use for a background of mine. What type of silicone did you use if you don't mind me asking?
Yeah the whole impaction thing is hilarious. Think the only time loose substrate poses a risk is if all other factors in care are wrong.
One of the geckos I kept as a kid was about 6 or 7 years old when I got him as a rescue, and then I had him for another 6 years before I eventually rehomed him when I went to college. He was on a soil sand mix the entire time, I never had a problem.
They can get impacted - but yes, I do suspect it is likely due to underlying causes in most cases
@@ConnorLongDVM yeah I currently have a yellow ackie on a topsoil/play sand/ peat moss mix and perfectly fine and he's a ackie so allways slamming roaches into the ground to stun them and they're covered in his substrate when he gulps them down.
Lol I have been saying this for years . I think most of the leopard gecko community are nuts .
I am a vet assistant and in 15 years I have only seen two cases of impaction both from paper towels .
I have also served in Afghanistan outside Kabul and saw wild Leo’s . The temps aren’t even close to what’s suggested it gets cold at night .
They also said ..
Leo’s don’t bask= wrong
Leo’s can’t climb= wrong
Leo’s are solitary= wrong
I saw them basking , I saw them climbing 50 foot cliffs like pros , I saw them pack hunting.
They eat ants , Beetles , sand spiders.
I question many things supposed experts say.
Thank you for actually doing research . Many leopard gecko experts have never seen one in the wild.
Thank you for sharing those experiences - does your clinic see a lot of leopard geckos?
Also, do you mind if I pick your brain about your experiences with wild Eublepharis? I've basically read all the peer reviewed stuff, I've been discussing habits with folks who have interacted with them in the wild. My IG is @connorology, my gmail is on my channel.
@@ConnorLongDVM no problem I’ll message you . Our clinic is Avian but we get our fair share of geckos , mainly macularius but angramainu also. We were near Nuristan National reserve just outside there are cliffs and rock outcroppings with many leopard geckos .we would see them in groups of threes mostly it’s funny they were males no females the colors are different also , many blues , greens in with light yellow and gold that blends in with the sparse grass and blueish rocks.
It’s funny the first time we saw a group , one went in the termite burrow and the other two grabbed em as they came out which was the first time I saw pack hunting in Leo’s .
I think this solitary myth started because they do fight a lot so for safety .
The other thing strange was they are out mid day a lot as it gets cold at night . We never saw them at dusk sometimes at dawn.
They were fascinating.
@@spencerjohnson7185 Did you take any notes or pictures at the time?
@@ConnorLongDVM I didn’t but my friend David did have some videos and was keeping a record . I’ll have to check to see if he still has anything from then . He is currently in Arizona working with USARK .
@@ConnorLongDVM there was an in depth study by a professor that taught at Talimul Islam College in Pakistan named Muhammad Sharif Khan where he took several photos of natural habitats and range sightings of Leo’s in Pakistan that was pretty interesting where he found large populations outside of forests in rock croppings and long dry river beds which is the same as we found . Might be something to search around for .
very nice vid about arid enclosure i was thinking to do the same..i don t know about the beetles if they can hurt a gecko
Mealworm/superworm beetles should not be able to hurt a gecko. I have had no issues and I am not the first to use them as vivarium custodians, they've been used by others on and off TH-cam (Aquarimax Pets and Bio Dude to name two TH-cam channels specifically).
@@ConnorLongDVM OK I try it with springtails and isopods
@@jacksp2815 Arid habitats can be dry for isopods and springtails. The species I listed (in the follow up) are working well. The standard springtails used in tropical vivariums will likely die in these conditions, I have a desert strain I collected in the Mojave.
@@ConnorLongDVM sorry i want write isopods and beetles!!!now i separate some morio worms ;)
@@ConnorLongDVM Yeah no "should not" sorry man but you don't know what you are talking about don't risk other peoples animals, YES THEY CAN, Superworm beetles (darkling beetle) can and will bite your gecko I have lost a gecko to an infected darkling beetle bite before they can and will bite geckos never trust someone that is okay with leaving them in the tank, you have way more people talking about removing pray insects ASAP if they are not being fed on for a reason just because you never had a problem does not mean its totally safe, some people can put bettas in community tanks and have no problems more often then not you cant, Isopods and Springtails are fine, Springtails are always fine regardless, isopods are fine for basically anything that isn't a tarantula sling or like its size (Yes isopods have been known to kill and eat baby tarantulas.)
what is the name of the grasses you use?
I am growing UC Verde Buffalograss, which is working well. I also have used unidentified dry grass I collected from the desert to make cage decor, and I have sprouted some of that desert grass from collected seeds to experiment with.
Would this set up work for a rose hair tarantula
Hi Karen - I don’t know all that much about tarantulas, so I’d recommend consulting someone who keeps them. I think that a setup like this would be too dry for a rose hair tarantula, though it would likely be suitable for a desert dwelling species.
Soil would be a bit hard for a rose hair tarantula as they like to dig (depending on the spider itself some more then others) but basically the same tank setup otherwise, just know that type of tarantula will dig and can screw up any plants you want to put in with it and again like the gecko DONT leave beetles in the tank at all, if the rose hair tarantula is still a baby you also don't want to put isopods in just springtails are fine.
OMG don't use beetles!!!!!!
Anyone watching this DO NOT use darkling beetles in an leopard Gecko tank this is a horrible idea, the darkling beetles can and will bite your leopard gecko at one point and if that bite gets infected that is going to be a lot of money in vet bills or the death of your lizard don't use beetles, I have already lost a pet leopard gecko from this mistake and it was a mistake from not removing feeders if you are actively putting the beetles in a small tank with the gecko its only a matter of time until something happens don't use beetles for the sake of your pet.
I am sorry for your loss. Respectfully, I believe you are mistaken about the cause of the inciting injury. I have been handling superworm beetles (Zophobas morio) for years and often find them in my enclosures if a stray superworm escapes from the dish - I've never had an issue and I don't believe they can bite. This position is supported by Carolina Biological Supply, whose website states "[They cannot bite]... Their only defense is to release a mildly offensive odor." reference: beta-static.fishersci.com/content/dam/fishersci/en_US/documents/programs/education/technical-documents/data-sheets/carolina-biological-darkling-beetle-data-sheet.pdf
Superworm beetles are often used with success as enclosure janitors with leopard geckos - offhand I know TH-cam channels Aquarimax Pets and Biodude use them. I have used them as designated cleaners for six months without issue, and I have used them for years with my tarantula without issue. Blue death feigning beetles are also darkling beetles, and they're popular as tank cleaners with hobbyists more interested in invertebrates.
Did you feed your gecko crickets, roaches, or another non-mealworm food source? Because those species can bite geckos if one is not eaten and hides in the vivarium. Spiders will also sometimes find their way into vivariums. Alternatively, it could have been an injury or infection caused by something other than a bite.
@@ConnorLongDVM I am fairly sure it was the Darkling Beetle, but I will respect your opinion as you are with mine, they can bite I have been bit before so I know they can and they bite the lizard well they are asleep not as defence same a crickets can, I live in Canada we cant get feeder roaches or basically anything good other then the hand full of feeders bugs its really annoying but never the less, it "could" be a spider but again I am in the city in Canada we don't have very large spiders in general let alone in the city just normal house spiders at best, I strongly believe beetles should not be housed with the pet itself(Nor fed to them but that's more lizards don't seem to like them as food), I will never leave the beetles in my tank, i felt I should say something but if you have had better luck with them then I wish you all the future luck with your tanks man.
Also other then that great video, no hate just strongly think beetles should not be with the animal itself.
@@ParaDyce Thanks for the reply, I'm not sure I totally follow - were you feeding crickets?
@@ConnorLongDVM No just using them as an example most people would be able to know and have used
@@ParaDyce Why do you think your gecko was bitten by a beetle? What led you to that conclusion?