Reptile & Amphibian Forums

my girlfriend and i just started getting into rhacodactylus and our newest additions are some sub-adult cresteds. we set our geckos up in 50 qt. rubbermaids with ample holes drilled for plenty of ventilation. we keep them on a steady diet of crickets (every other day 1-3 depending on how many they eat) and baby foods mixed with calcium powder and mashed apples. mine are all doing great, but i cannot say the same for my girlfriends. she has a female red dalmation that has retained a VERY faded out coloration for the last week or two, and recently started opening her mouth as if she has a respiratory infection. i know these are common for snakes, but does R.I. plague geckos as easily? she seems weak (wont hop around, kind of pitter-patters her feet) and wont chase crickets. the only difference between my regimen and my girlfriends is that she treats her cresteds with meal worms. she is plump, but i dont see any noteable bulges so i dont think she has egg retention. please, any help would be great. thanks.

What is the humidity of your girlfriends crested gecko cage? TOo low humidity levels or too high may cause respiratory infections in geckos. There is another disease they can get that is pretty fatal but for the life of me I cannot remember what it is. For the most part crested geckos are very hardy and resistant to most common reptile ailments.

Personaly I suggest switching both of your geckos to the Crested Gecko Diet by T-Rex. It is much more balanced than crickets and babyfood, lacks the high sugar content of babyfood and isn't missing anything nutrition wise. Nor do you need to suppliment additional calcium with the diet. Though I give a small dish of calcium powder for my egg laying cresteds to lick at their leisure to prevent calcium crash.

Also, is her setup to big? In a high traffic area? Does the gecko get handled alot? Stress can cause weakening of the immune system and make them more suscessible to diseases and parasite infections. If her gecko gets worse or doesn't improve in a few days, take it to a vet for examination.
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PHLdyPayne

1.Mealworms as a staple food is going to cause problems for a crested.They are too hars shelled and do not have the required nutrition.

2. Adequate number of holes is a subjective thing . Proper ventilation is difficult to achive at times by making holes.try replacing a section with screen.

3. is her size and weight close the size and weight of others in the cage?I have found stress from cage mates to be a very big factor in the health of these animals.

4. Not too crazy about the babyfood diet..while animals have been raised on it..it doesnt contain all you need.

5.Once they become visably sick..it may already be too late.remove her to her own sick room ,to reduce stress for her and prevent others from being affected.

6.a good vet is available might be your best bet...