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02-11-2009, 05:21 PM
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Converting Fish Tank To Viv...Possible?
So, as a few of you may know, Im purchasing a Yemen Chameleon for my partners christmas. ( hes been wanting one for ages so not just an impulse buy).
I was having a think to myself & decided that I too would like a reptile pet. So, Im in the process of trying to sell my Rio 180 fish tank...but no one seems interested and was lying in bed last night & started thinking of ways to make room for yet another cage (as you do) & I thought that instead of selling the tank and then having to buy a new one, why not just convert the tank into a viv.. But as Im a newbie to this side of animals, thought I would ask the reliable members of TFF  I was planning on removing the internal filter which is siliconed to the back of the tank, and thoroughly disinfeting everything (with the reptisafe disinfectant of coarse). Im really leaning towards a Leopard Gecko (gorgeous wee things) but Im not completely convinced this tank would be adequate for her.. A few questions I have to ask you guys, but please remember I am new to reptiles and thought it was best to ask these questions before just jumping in and buying a Gecko. - Would this size of tank be adequate to house one Leopard gecko? - Do they NEED underbelly heating or would the HighLite bulbs I have in the tank do? ( Im sure i have read somewhere that they can be light sensitive?) -Would it be better to keep the tank lid as it is (3 sections) or remove completely including the light unit and make a mesh type lid? Any comments (which arent flaming me to death) will be greatly appreciated.. Thanks
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Crossing over to the 'Reptile' side of things!!!!
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02-11-2009, 10:15 PM
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I can tell you from experience that glass tanks are not ideal for all sorts o reasons. Mainly
- it's very difficult to get ventilation working correctly - glass down't hold hat well - glass can/will crack if you use a heatmat - if the snake/lizard bites you may pull your hand out quick, and chances are you catch yourself on a sharp edge. - glass is fragile - drop something in/on it and it'll break. I could go on. Have you thought about making your own vivarium? dead easy and cheap
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Snickers
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02-11-2009, 10:38 PM
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Glass tanks are fine for Leopard Geckos, I kept mine in one for a while and used a heat mat and didn't have any problems. Heatmats are better than lights as geckos need belly heat. The lid you have will probably be fine as long as there is some ventilation. You didn't say what size the tank was but geckos don't need too much floor space as they sleep nearly all the time being nocturnal.
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03-11-2009, 11:37 AM
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 . where to start. i have used fish tanks for ages as vivs. they dont break when using a heat mat. they can be kept perfect temp with aid of good ceramic and stat. i have kept young CWD's in a 3ft x 1ft x 1.5ft and now have my skinks in there. if i was you i would try and get an exo tera viv then build your own to fit in the space you have. for a yeman it will have to have a good climbing space more high than wide. some people on here think they know everything.  the gecko part, leos are easy to care for and i would get a 2ft wooden viv they are cheap secong hand i keep mine in one. you can use a uv tube just for lighting only to make the viv look good they dont like big spaces. i use in mine a heat mat and then just a normal blue light bulb on a stat. loads of hides they will love you for that. any q's just ask Last edited by waynenoonan1234; 03-11-2009 at 11:45 AM..
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03-11-2009, 11:50 AM
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glass tanks are fine mate! although wooden ones are more commonly used
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x2 Female het hypos x1 Male hypo translecent x1 Turkistan roach colony ____________________________ ginnerone  Super Regular  Geckogirl,i think, reading between the lines, is that what your trying to say is that your dad is harder than both my dad and pete-vtr's dad, well i'll have you know that my dad would kick giant hay stacks ass whilst bench pressing big daddy with one hand whilst doing sit ups so ner
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03-11-2009, 01:59 PM
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Lets make this easier for everyone before it gets out of hand,
1 - what size is the tank? 2- what kind of top has it got? (for ventilation purpose) 3- how thick is the glass and also... YES you can use a heat mat, as long as the heat mat aint up tight against the glass there wont be any issues. like someone said, wooden is better but glass is fine.
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03-11-2009, 03:17 PM
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snakes 1.0.0 Python molurus bivittatus spiders 0.0.1 Heteroscodra maculata 0.0.1 Sericopelma rubronitens 0.1.0 Grammastola rosea 0.0.1 Avicularia avicularia mammals 0.2.0 Felis catus 0.1.0 uxor
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03-11-2009, 05:54 PM
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1. if you use mesh for the top or door depending on the orientation of the tank i think it could be quite easy to get the needed ammount of ventilation 2. i dont think she will be keeping her hat in the tank lol no really i think if you put polystyrene under the tank it should help keep heat and also cushion the tank 3. i think that this is silly as ive used heat mats with exoterras and the likes and never had any bother i think aslong as its toughened glass its fine not sure about normal sheet glass though. 4. i think that this could be the case with any tank mebys not banging you arm into glass but a wooden viv still hurts. 5. i hardly think that she will be playing bowling in the room and this is the same as with glass in a wooden tank
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jrmetcalf@live.co.uk
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03-11-2009, 06:55 PM
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03-11-2009, 09:20 PM
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You obviously enjoyed my post.
None of your points persuade me that glass tanks are suitable. Just that you can do things to make them a bit better. You can lag them, cover the sharp edges, add special lids, and work out he best ways to get access, but a glass tank will never equal the simplicity of a wooden box with sliding doors. A couple of you claimed heatmats don't break glass tanks. I did a quick search just to prove this can and does happens and people post about it. My fish tank converstion
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Snickers
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