[Gecko] OT - Outdoor Enclosure? (long)

[Robert Gundy]

My family is just starting to seriously (sorta) think about making an outdoor enclosure on our PATIO. We have several major obstacles. Placement will depend on the specie(s) we choose. We all like U. fimbriatus and Panther Chams. I also want to have a daytime active animal..considering it IS outside in sunny southeast Florida. I was thinking Giant Days (grandis). If we choose the fimbriatus, they must be in the shade and so the Panther chams can't very well go there. The days need some decent light too, but they'd get eaten by the Panthers. This will be mostly dedicated to either the fimbriatus or Panther chams, more likely the fimbriatus because of cost and care. The enclosure would likely be 6 ft high or more and at least 3 feet square. We can add trees, plants, etc. But as for drainage, that is our biggest concern. We have a pool and so there are drainage holes. This drainage holes only go to where the shaded regions are. Since it is on concrete patio, natural drainage is not on our side. We would like to add some sort of substrate, but we do not want that to become saturated and have everything rot and smell and what not. Another point would be misting. With the sunny area of the porch there is no drainage holes within 5 feet and that area holds water best, it does not drain well at all. But that area has access to the sprinklers. The shaded area, however does not. Adding a thing to go 10-20 feet across patio, and however much further from the nearest sprinkler pipe is not easy nor convenient. We have a perfect little area in our back and front yards for either animal. The front yard has access to sprinklers, natural drainage and shade for fimbriatus. The back yard has sprinklers, natural drainage and sun for the Panther chams. I am extremely wary however of putting them outside the protected patio because of dogs and cats (cats especially) getting in, and not to mention the kids around here that would love to screw up someone's day. We have sunlight, shade, nice breezes and decent temperatures here. Does anyone have any ideas to help us out or plans to help us with building the enclosure and worrying about drainage, etc? Any and all help HIGHLY appreciated.

Robert
Robert Gundy Reptiles

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