Crested Gecko Tank Accessories and DIY Decor Instructions!
In our previous post, we have discussed the best safe plants and branches to use in a crested gecko’s vivarium. And in this post, you will find a list and ideas for crested gecko tank accessories. These will include hideouts, food and water bowls as well as other accessories that can create a complex naturalistic vivarium for your gecko. You will then find instructions on how to make DIY decor for your crested gecko’s tank – a coconut hideout!
Hideouts for a crested gecko
Hideous are very important for crested geckos. This is because crested geckos are crepuscular, and often hide during the daytime hours. The need for hides is especially high if there are lights in gecko’s vivarium. You will need lights in the vivarium if temperatures drop lower than normal, or for keeping live plants.
But bright light will most probably make your crested gecko uncomfortable, and it will want to hide. But even if there are no lights in the vivarium, you still need to place various plants and hides for your gecko to hide when it feels the need to do so. Make sure there is at least one hide per each gecko that you have in the vivarium.
Hides can be different in shapes and sizes. But also, you can either buy a hide, or make your own DIY hides for a crested gecko.
DIY crested gecko decor and hides
To make a DIY hide, you can use a plastic containers that will be the right size for your crested gecko to enter and lay in. Make sure that the entrance hole is big enough for your gecko. You can place moss on top of the containers to make them look more appealing.
Another idea for a DIY hide is to use a PVC pipe that is wide enough for your gecko. You can also use paper roll tubes, but these might become wet if you place them on the moist substrate.
You can also use a glass jar, and fill as well as cover it with moss. Glass will not rot and is not likely to break if you fix it in one place.
What is more, you can bring home cork bark in a shape of a tube, and it will make an amazing hideout for your crested gecko. But these can also be branches that are hollow.
But if you bring home any wood from outside, make sure to disinfect it by soaking in a bleach solution (8 parts water with 1 part bleach) and washing it well after 40-60 minutes. You can also bake any wood pieces in the oven at 220 degrees for 45-60 minutes.
How to make DIY crested gecko decor – coconut shell hides
If you don’t have much money to spend but want a naturalistic hide for cheap, you can create a DIY coconut shell hides. Coconut shell hides are natural, non-toxic and look appealing. There are few ways to make a coconut hideout, and you can find the best 3 ways to make them.
Design # 1 – a vertical ‘standing’ hide
Use a saw to remove the top part of a coconut. After this, use a knife to remove coconut insides. Wash the coconut and remove excess hairs. This type of a hide can be hard to position on the floor, so you might use an aquarium sealant to fix it on the ground.
Design #2 – two small horizontal floor hides
There is another way to make a coconut hide. Here, you will also need to remove the top part of the coconut and its insides. Then, you will need to use a saw to divide the coconut in half – resulting in two equally sized hides. You will need to use a knife to remove coconut insides. Then, wash the hide and remove hairs that are sticking out.
Design #3 – a hanging hide
You can also make a hanging coconut hide. For this, draw a circle in the middle section of the coconut (you can use a cap or something similar to draw a circle).
Use a drill to make the holes around the circle and then use a knife to cut the hole. After this, empty the water and insides with a knife. Then, use something sharp to make a hole on top of the coconut, for example a metal skewer.
After making a hole, use a skewer to push a string/thread through the hole. Make few knots on a string. Make sure that the string is strong enough to hold your gecko and the coconut.
Hang it somewhere so that your gecko can reach it and come out of it easily.
After making any type of coconut hides, it is a good idea to boil them in hot water for 15-20 minutes for disinfecting.
Crested gecko hides
If you prefer to buy more appealing hideouts for your crested gecko, there are plenty of options. Some of them are:
Gecko cave like this – hide in a shape of a cave with a small opening. Medium to large sized hides are most suitable for adult crested geckos.
Before you place any purchased or collected hideout in crested gecko’s vivarium, make sure it is disinfected (if made of wood). What is more, you need to check its edges and inside – making sure there are no rough or sharp edges. If you find any sharp edges, use a metal file to smooth them out.
Food and water bowls
Choosing right food and water bowls is very important for a crested gecko’s vivarium.
Crested gecko’s water bowl should be very shallow. Water bowl should not be deeper than gecko’s body thickness, so it can stand in it comfortably if it falls in. This is crucial because your crested gecko will have trouble reaching water and can even drown.
When buying a water dish, make sure to choose a small size, such as this small rock water dish. For younger crested geckos and hatchlings, you can use water bottle caps. But the better idea is to use a feeder ledge for both water and food bowls.
For the food bowls and water bowls, you can use disposable round dishes that will fit inside a feeder ledge. This feeder ledge can have suction cups or be magnetic and is attached to the side of the vivarium.
A hammock/lounger for your crested gecko
Another interesting habitat decor for your crested gecko can be a hammock, or lounger like this one. A hammock has suction cups which you attach to the sides of the vivarium. Your crested gecko can use the hammock for perching, climbing and relaxing. You can attach this hammock as low or as high as you want.
Before you attach the lounger permanently, make sure to clean the glass and test suction cups first. Attach it lower and place moss or something else soft in case your gecko falls. Make sure there are branches or something else that your crested gecko can use to get on and out of the hammock.
