Making A Reptile Hide From Clay | DIY Rock Cave Tutorial

In today's video I will be making a rock hide for my Leopard Gecko from clay!
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#RockHide #ReptileHide #DIY

[@sophia3454w]

I’ve been wanting a new hide so this is really helpful thanks!!

[@leopardgeckotalk]

Awesome!! :)

[@jonejamendomusicii1141]

@@leopardgeckotalk czcams.com/video/eH1iJLutC5g/video.html

[@jonejamendomusicii1141]

Sophia Hunt czcams.com/video/eH1iJLutC5g/video.html

[@flynnaganfarms8705]

You should sell these
I know I would buy it
Like if you would

[@skyeellison7716]

Why would you buy it... when you could make it. Lol that's the whole point of the video lmao

[@leopardgeckotalk]

Ah they're very heavy, I'd hate to know the shipping costs lol

[@flynnaganfarms8705]

Omg you replied

[@flynnaganfarms8705]

That’s very true thought

[@flynnaganfarms8705]

Skye Ellison I know but she makes them way better than I can

[@pk-tb9nd]

Thank you! I’m getting a leopard gecko very soon and I wanted to DIY most of it!

[@leopardgeckotalk]

Ah nice :D

[@a5hh]

looks great and it’s a pretty good idea that people wouldn’t usually think of! also cool idea using the rock to make texture!

[@leopardgeckotalk]

Thank you :)

[@Teejrocks83]

Dang, great idea. My daughter would LOVE to make a custom hide for her gecko!!!

[@leopardgeckotalk]

awesome :)

[@BlackBackLioness]

A tip so you don't have to mash a rock against your build, rolled up kitchen foil will also apply a nice rock like texture!

[@HPLP-123]

I second this, and you can manipulate the foil to fit into smaller spaces too

[@HPLP-123]

If using for a reptile please make sure any sealant you use is pond/aquarium safe :) if its going in a vivarium you’ve gotta be sure it’s non toxic to the reptile, heat and humidity proof, and that it’s not gonna emit anything toxic to reptiles once it’s hot and humid :) this looks so good, turned out looking like something you’d buy from a pet shop!

[@illyannaturtle6950]

Ah this is so awesome!! I’ll definitely Be making one of these for my ball python

[@leopardgeckotalk]

awesome! thanks :)

[@johndavis742]

Been waiting for a video like this! Hides are so overpriced in pet stores for how fake they look!

[@silverclawgaming2653]

I just got some crayola white air dying clay -haven't used it yet of course- just because of how much hides do cost plus Iwanted to make a couple of my own hides for my soon to be first leopard gecko but yeah hides cost to much

[@thomasschellenberg3818]

Another FANTASTIC video!!!
Interesting topic btw

[@leopardgeckotalk]

Thank you :)

[@seamusbyrne8259]

Last time I was this early, my gecko wasn't sheading.😝

[@weatherkidchannel5288]

My gecko just shaded too

[@leopardgeckotalk]

lol

[@mvgikk1969]

“sheading” “shaded” which one is it now lol

[@itzzravenn4522]

omg!!!! this is a much cheaper way AND you can customise your OWN hide OMG THANK YOU FOR THIS

[@kitastrophey]

This was great! I love diy stuff for my babies. Please, more diys!!!

[@leopardgeckotalk]

thank you :)

[@koralee8135]

You did a great job on the hide!

[@sabine3245]

I would so buy this!!!!!!! You should sell this and I’m sure lots of other people would buy them too!! ❤️❤️❤️

[@pammangan3335]

Loved it!

[@randomperson6087]

You can add mod podge to make it semi waterproof, it also cracks a whole lot less if you use it

[@leopardgeckotalk]

to the clay? or after the paint? As I said in the video, I used to use it before in builds but a tiny bit of humidity and everything was ruined.

[@StrayRatzz]

What an amazing hide there is just no end to how talented you are👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@geckomorphsusa4032]

Wow,Looks awesome!

[@leopardgeckotalk]

thanks :)

[@jessicabella5762]

Super helpful! Love this idea!

[@leopardgeckotalk]

thanks :D

[@ReptiHero]

Good job! 🤘

[@danielarya267]

Really helpful! Thanks

[@wilkieroyall3507]

Wow that looks amazing 😃. Great idea as well.

[@leopardgeckotalk]

thank you :)

[@dechala3263]

I made two gecko hides as a ceramics project but I haven’t painted them yet. Thanks for the colour inspiration!!

[@naimarose8839]

That hide looks great!

[@leopardgeckotalk]

thank you :)

[@beckythebeardeddragon59]

I love this! Your geckos are awesome,e and you inspire me every day to teach other beginner reptile owners how to take care of there reptiles! Thank you :D

[@leopardgeckotalk]

aw thank you!!

[@sidneyoneill5072]

Amazing just amazing.xxx

[@kunaal_1928]

Awesome video

[@geoveliz7]

Super cool idea thank you! I'm definitely interested in making one for my geckos!

[@leopardgeckotalk]

awesome! thanks :)

[@jjust.jasmine]

This is so cute!!❤

[@leopardgeckotalk]

Thanks :D

[@taravellaprowindowtintingi7146]

Thats so cool!Very creative!

[@leopardgeckotalk]

thank you :)

[@leahjvr3245]

I'm definitely doing this, thank you so much!

[@leopardgeckotalk]

ah awesome, thanks!

[@karenbroile8156]

Thumbs up everyone

[@wilkieroyall3507]

Great thanks for the video keep up the amazing work and hope you have a great day 😁.

[@leopardgeckotalk]

Thanks!

[@serinitysmith2309]

This was super inspiring! I plan to diy most of what's going into my future leos tank :) going to add a waterproof sealant over it that way there won't be any issues for say the humid hide. I still plan on buying instead of making the water bowl though, just to be safe.

[@avrumfrankel]

Hi Leopard gecko,thanks for some more quality content. Keep up the awesome work!

[@leopardgeckotalk]

Thank you :D

[@avrumfrankel]

:D

[@avrumfrankel]

Oh and thanks for answering all my questions on previous vids

[@tehawesome84]

This is a great project, I'm gonna pick up some today so the kids can make their own hides for their gecko's

[@leopardgeckotalk]

thanks! aw that'll be awesome :)

[@SmiilesAlot]

Maybe some diy decor? Like I saw someone use a rock and glue some fake plants/succulents to it. Maybe something along those lines? I mostly have just hides and I want some ideas to make my tanks look a little prettier but also something that's useful

[@weatherkidchannel5288]

I of course have to deal with Dorian I’m not complaining a lot bc I’m in Florida I hope the Bahamas do good

[@oceanthompson5268]

Same here as well

[@leopardgeckotalk]

oh god just had to google was Dorian was. Hope it doesnt hit too hard :(

[@autumnmaddox4059]

wow this looks awesome!! wanting to make a little pyramid for the hot side tho

[@l.a.1254]

Perfect timing. Ive been wanting to make bigger hides for my bearded dragons.

[@leopardgeckotalk]

ah perfect :)

[@kristenmoore8697]

I literally just bought so many expensive hides.. 😂

[@leopardgeckotalk]

🙈 oops haha

[@avawalker1659]

This sounds fun

[@leopardgeckotalk]

thanks :)

[@catherinedoye9674]

Magnifique 👌👍

[@LizzyTheLizard]

amazing vid such a good idea

[@leopardgeckotalk]

Thank you :)

[@mauricemunnytmsp8051]

I just got my Leo from a foster home!! I met the foster mom and picked her up today!! She’s 8 months old!

[@rcgamer4524]

You know you loved getting your hands dirty playing with that clay :-) brings me back to my school days, might have a bash at this!

[@leopardgeckotalk]

haha it's always fun :)

[@rcgamer4524]

Leopard Gecko haha yep :-)

[@f18e59]

Oooooo, very nice 👌

[@leopardgeckotalk]

thanks :D

[@jadeproductions]

Very nice and original

[@leopardgeckotalk]

thanks :D

[@ceciliaolnes10]

this is dope

[@marissalovejones481]

Omg i love this im definitely ganna try this im sure this would save some money❤

[@leopardgeckotalk]

awesome :) thanks!

[@sophia_0335]

This is awsome I love it thank you❤

[@leopardgeckotalk]

thank you :D

[@fbreedreopa]

Good work

[@leopardgeckotalk]

thanks :D

[@AmberLeeena]

Hello ! Thanks for all the info. How would I clean this ? I would be afraid to make it moist again... I normally steam clean my tank and accessories.

[@treetzataylor8509]

The paint on my homemade hide is drying right now, great tutorial it turned out great. Thank you for making this video! I tried once before watching this and it wasn't very good.
Edit: I am going to say that it was a slight pain though. It wasn't very hard but it took forever and my table was a mess after I made it.

[@ellien2675]

Wow this looks amazing! Gotta get me some clay!

[@leopardgeckotalk]

thank you :D

[@cl-op1ol]

Thanks for all your vids I am getting a geko for Christmas so thanks

[@bornagainluis]

Very nice

[@leopardgeckotalk]

thanks :)

[@hebebebe139]

This hide looks nicer and more natural than all the hides I've bought over my lifetime

[@thepethouse538]

Hello I have got to try this u are great thanks for the best content on CZcams

[@leopardgeckotalk]

aw thank you :)

[@user-nc1vx3wv5v]

[@plantingwithnat]

This is exactly what I was looking for.

[@emilymidkiff4615]

I have made two hides for my gecko! One is made out of popsicle sticks and fabric (it’s two stories!) and the other is made of clothes pin without the metal piece. Very fun and easy to make. They have lasted two years!

[@leopardgeckotalk]

ah very creative :)

[@jetjazz05]

I've been thinking about doing a low cost frog terrarium lately, I live in Florida and there's lots of invasive species I can catch in my own yard. They're bad for the local native species, but would be well suited for a terrarium! I love the sounds frogs make, and I could definitely make some of my own structures for the terrarium with this method. Thanks for the interesting content!

[@leopardgeckotalk]

Ah yeah i've heard florida in particular have a problem with invasive species. I don't know how safe the clay and paint is in a wet/humid tank, but you can definitely make something using expanding foam, cork, etc - check out josh's frogs' website :)

[@s2unmei223]

Nice 👍🏻

[@leopardgeckotalk]

thanks :D

[@zekephipps]

thank you so much for all the good info you give i've only had a lepard gecko for and month but youve help me so much already.

[@leopardgeckotalk]

aw thank you :)

[@Kim.vd.k]

Woow this video is amazing! I am gonna make it for my hamster 😍

[@legendarygamer3796]

You are an artist👌 At first I was going to get a leopard gecko but my whole life I really wanted a Beardie (bearded dragon) so I got that instead but you still help out a lot keep up the great work.

[@karenbroile8156]

I like this

[@simpletanks2624]

That was awsome cant wait to try my own! Thanks for the idea! Maybe try a 3D background.

[@leopardgeckotalk]

Thanks :) Ah I think it'd be too heavy for a whole background, I'd be terrified of it collapsing lol

[@picnicblanket6428]

Corn snake researching rn. Ty

[@themilkypirateuk7301]

Thank you for all your videos, they are so informative. I’m preparing a vivarium for a Leo so will be trying this today; one question, why is this only recommended for a cool hide? Why not a moist and a hot hide ? With thanks

[@campbellc.4363]

Thanks for this tutorial! I was looking for a way to use up the rest of my clay when I realized my toad needs a new hide. Now I have something to do with my day!

[@alexander6390]

You got any suggestions or alternatives for the dead flat finish, because it's not available for people in the US

[@ghostersnail6975]

This is a amazing idea for people who want to make there own design for there leopard gecko terrarium.

[@ghostersnail6975]

On the cool side of course ^.^

[@leopardgeckotalk]

thank you :)

[@silverseen8300]

Think of the types of hides! I wanna try making one with a column in it, make it really like a cave

[@missoli]

Aw the seller doesn’t ship to the USA for the clay :(
But this is such a cute idea and I’ll definitely try this out when I’m able to get all the supplies! Thanks for the tutorial

[@leopardgeckotalk]

thanks :) Aw well any air drying clay should do :)

[@apeddie3777]

You can get air dry clay at most craft stores

[@pricklypear1704]

@@leopardgeckotalk is it okay to use any type of matte varnish? Are certain types unsafe?

[@moooncellular]

i just went out and bought everything to make new hides💕

[@kaidencethomas4139]

I know it's been a year or so but how did they turn out?

[@neverweakagain]

Soo cute :)

[@leopardgeckotalk]

thanks :)

[@nickwilliamson5023]

I did this in art class at school last year because we were told to make anything so I decided it make aside for my gecko

[@kiravr1232]

To make it waterproof, you could use epoxy, which is used to make boats waterproof, so it has to be safe for the animals in the water. It is also used for aquarium backgrounds and stuff like that. Hope this was helpful.
Ps: sorry for my bad english, i am not really good at it

[@felixmakesart]

Kiwi van Rijn Your English is great!

[@kiravr1232]

@@felixmakesart thank you

[@leopardgeckotalk]

ah nice, didn't think of that :)

[@cillamomio9148]

Thanks for tips! Love ur vids bc you only who makes gecko videos and takes care of them well. I feel live every gecko youtubers have a lot of geckos (too much) and having too small terrauriums like 45cm and im very choked about it but world is world.. anyway YOU BEST!❤️

[@leopardgeckotalk]

aw thanks so much :D

[@CodeCio]

Thanks! I have 2 leopard geckos and I wanted to buy some Exo Terra's hide but they were too expensive to my country's cash (TL) then my dad gave me this idea of yours and I love what you did there! you are a genius :)

[@joe-tt3lp]

Although I don’t have any thing to make a personal hide I still love watching your videos. BTW GREAT VIDEO!

[@leopardgeckotalk]

thank you :D :D

[@romchek41]

Hey, you should try and make video about styro+concrete backgrounds and hides. You can do whatever you want, actually. I already did a lot of stuff that look like stones, wood, planks.. And guys, please paint all your pets stuff with acrylic paints only. It is most the safe and not toxic

[@FreddyA85]

I'm waiting on my moist hide to come in the mail..I've always wondered if its possible to over crowd my Leo's tank?

[@arrestonettemerilan1200]

2 hours 0 dislikes
*This does put a smile on my face*

[@leopardgeckotalk]

ah we almost made it a day, but there's always one 🙈😅

[@susanna_wolfe]

Does any sealer and acrylic paint work? I'm wondering because I have some air dry clay I've never used and I have acrylic paints and sealer and you gave me a great idea but I don't know if it would be safe for them.

[@TrennythingiSARMable]

One of my 2 geckos just shed today I'm so happy 😀 also great video🤗

[@fionashepley478]

Just wondering, are they housed together?

[@abigailkerr3354]

I'd love to make a version of this for my Axololtl! Real clay of course and it'd have to be fired properly but itd be awesome!

[@leopardgeckotalk]

ah that could be interesting :)

[@jstuff9270]

Hi

[@lindseykay4022]

Early love your videos!!

[@leopardgeckotalk]

Thank you :)

[@ToxicBologna]

I would try black silicon on the inside maybe it would work for humidity

[@x.jeanna]

great idea! I wonder if this would absorb and/or emit heat from the deep heat projector?

[@leopardgeckotalk]

Thanks :) yeah i'm not sure how i'd react, if it'd get too hot and crack :/

[@bobietiner4422]

Can this also be used to make a moist hide?

[@rheasaburrell6093]

That looks really good! Can you make a tank size (tallish) tree with a hole for the gecko? ☺️❤️

[@jakehewitt1302]

Thank you so much ur channel is so inspiring to me ive always loved reptiles and i finnaly got one a few months ago his name is jumanji and hes around 4 months old hes was very timid when i got him but after handling he was has slowly become less timid. I will definetly be building this for a cold hide thank you so much you were very helpful when i was getting my gecko 😂 sorry this is so long

[@bilalhussain-mg9vq]

Great video I'm looking to make aquarium pleco caves, any idea on clay and any tips that would help thank you

[@annnagel9741]

Thanks need to make 2 caves for my friends snake

[@blueoceania]

Super cute!! Love this, I got so excited thinking omg I’m gonna make these for my cresties, but I realized it’s far too humid (wet really lol) to do that in their tank :(

[@leopardgeckotalk]

Thanks :) Yeah that's the thing that sucks a bit :/ but I know expanding foam + driftwood and cork, can be awesome when building backgrounds and ledges in crestie tanks :)

[@blueoceania]

Awesome idea!!

[@makaylakuss520]

Are these products safe tor all reptiles? Like crested geckos and such?