Me and Retrobangs thought it might be a good idea to make this thread to help anyone wanting to know how to create extra floor space in vivs/enrichment/exercise/adventure/exploration areas for leos.
It's not a new concept but you would be surprised at how many people don't consider doing this. It can open up a whole new dimension to your leo's life plus gives you enjoyment observing them explore.
"Leo's aren't the best of climbers....." I heard this again and again when I started keeping them, but I decided to go ahead and make shelves anyway ....Only to find that contrary to popular belief....they were really quite good climbers and didn't fall off or ignore the shelves as I had been warned.
They infact love to climb and explore as they are very inquisitive lizards.
I have loads of leo's, all housed on their own, own vivs....all my vivs have shelves and platforms in...I have a lot of happy leo's!
Have had dozens of people PM me asking how it's done so wrote this how to thread a few months ago to help people ...but never actually got round to putting it up.
Anyways....i'm posting the first lot of ideas and how to's up here and anyone who would like to add to them with your own pictures and ideas...feel free, Also if anyone has any questions on how to do things/where to buy stuff/what products to use....just post!
Will add more of my own pics when i find them or take more :2thumb:
It's not a new concept but you would be surprised at how many people don't consider doing this. It can open up a whole new dimension to your leo's life plus gives you enjoyment observing them explore.
"Leo's aren't the best of climbers....." I heard this again and again when I started keeping them, but I decided to go ahead and make shelves anyway ....Only to find that contrary to popular belief....they were really quite good climbers and didn't fall off or ignore the shelves as I had been warned.
They infact love to climb and explore as they are very inquisitive lizards.
I have loads of leo's, all housed on their own, own vivs....all my vivs have shelves and platforms in...I have a lot of happy leo's!
Have had dozens of people PM me asking how it's done so wrote this how to thread a few months ago to help people ...but never actually got round to putting it up.
Anyways....i'm posting the first lot of ideas and how to's up here and anyone who would like to add to them with your own pictures and ideas...feel free, Also if anyone has any questions on how to do things/where to buy stuff/what products to use....just post!
LEOPARD GECKO ENRICHMENT
These are a few tips on easy simple ways that some of you might find handy if like me...you like to offer your geckos a stimulating enviroment with plenty of things to do/explore and to create extra floor space /dimentions in the way of shelves and platforms.
I use anything from pre-made shelves bought from shops. (i throw away all the fittings and brackets that come with them) to pieces of wood from old cupboards/tv stands/cabinates etc - and i use small L shaped brackets from most DIY places. I use 2 of these for each shelf needed.
I use yacht varnish to coat the pre-made shelves as these are usually made from pine and this is toxic to reptiles.
Two coats usually seals them up a treat!
Then you can either mark up where they are going in your vivarium and fix them in place - or you can cover them in lino or use a nice textured spray paint or normal paint...If using paint, do this BEFORE varnishing.
For platforms i use normal cork backed dinner table place mats, These can be bought cheaply from lots of places if you shop around. Mine cost me £2.99 for 4.
You will also need a good old game of JENGA. The pieces in this game are all uniform size and are to be the legs of our removable platforms.
I have spray painted some of mine with a nice stone effect paint and given them two coats of varnish.
Others i have left plain and just varnished them.
Drill some holes in the corners and screw a leg on each corner using our jenga pieces. You can then varnish the legs.
My geckos LOVE their extra climbing places and exploring them is a boredom breaker/keeps them fit/encourages natural hunting & stalking behaviour as they have fun chasing down their prey.
Will add more of my own pics when i find them or take more :2thumb: