How to Set Up a Vivarium Starter Pack for a Gecko Lizard

You've brought a new household member into your life and now it's time to set up his habitat. Congratulations on your new family member. Hopefully, you did your homework and know that reptiles in general, and geckos in particular, are very sensitive to their surroundings and have important needs. If you have researched this particular species and still decided to purchase one, you need to make sure the habitat is set up to meet all the needs a gecko has.

  1. Supplies

    • There are over 1,000 species of gecko.

      A vivarium kit typically comes with the following supplies: a terrarium, usually rectangular or square, water pump, water bowl, pebbles, moss, tubing, heat lamp or mat, branch, scooper, hood fixture and bulb. Your kit will have most of these items. Some kits come with a small water pump to create a fountain inside the vivarium, others will simply have a water dish. There is a variety of substrates that may be offered depending upon your particular kit.

    Placement

    • The more you handle your gecko, the faster he will become used to you.

      Select a spot for your vivarium. It should be in a room where people frequent so your gecko will not be forgotten, lonely or bored. Being in a room where there is a great deal of activity will help your gecko become accustomed to people and more amenable to being handled. The vivarium should not be in direct sunlight, nor should it be under an air-conditioning vent.

    Ready the Tank

    • Geckos with round eyes, like this one, are diurnal.

      Clean your vivarium with a solution of white vinegar and water. Use one part vinegar to two parts water. You don̵7;t want to clean your vivarium with soap as the residue will leave the glass prone to dirt and grime. Rinse the vivarium with clear water and allow to air dry or dry with a towel.

    Substrate

    • Geckos are great at camouflage.

      Place the substrate on your vivarium floor. Depending upon your kit, this may be sand or pebbles. Sand is usually the best substrate to use because you can scoop the feces out like you would in a cat litter box. The gecko will choose one spot in his habitat in which to eliminate. It will most likely be across from where he sleeps and eats. You can also use newspaper or reptile carpeting as a substrate.

      Once the layer of substrate is down, place a branch into the vivarium. It is important for geckos to be able to climb, as this is natural for them in the wild. Arrange your food and water bowls inside the vivarium. If your kit comes with a fountain and pump, set this up as well following the manufacturer̵7;s instructions. The moving water is aesthetically pleasing for you, but not entirely necessary for your gecko. If using a water bowl, select a shallow bowl instead of one with high sides. Your gecko could drown in a deep bowl.

    Heating and Lighting

    • Arrange your heating apparatus. If you are using a heat lamp, affix it to the top of the vivarium. Geckos are cold-blooded and therefore need an external heat source for energy. You can meet this need by providing either a heat lamp or mat. Either is fine because in the wild geckos will bask on the top of a heated rock or lie in direct sunlight. Note that some mats are designed to be placed under a glass vivarium. Be sure to use your mat in the manner for which it was designed.

      Arrange any extraneous décor such as little hiding areas, artificial or real plants and other enhancements. Be sure they are solidly in place so they won't fall over atop your gecko and don't have any sharp edges that can injure your pet.