Reptile & Amphibian Forums

greetings,

Here's my situation: I have an empty 38 gal mesh cage cage waiting for an occupant. Ive been researching crested geckos and I am thinking about picking up a breeding pair at the next show in philly on Nov 15-16. I have a few questions, During the day is heat lamps the only way to heat their cage since they are aboreal? Also If I provide suplementary diets in a food dish is that fine? Id also offer mealies since I always have them around for my leopards. Should calcium be offered in a small dish so they can lick it? will they lick it if they need it? Will plastic plants and sticks be exceptable tank decor. If I put in a hide hut would they be satisfied with that or do I have to rig some kind of crevice higher in the cage. Should I keep their cage horizontal or verticle? Horizontal is easier but that means they'd only have a foot and half of area from the ground but about 2.5 feet X 1.5 ground area. What other things should I have for them?

I really want to get them to breed. Besides a little egg laying box should I offer anything else to my shelia? Do the females eat less when gravid? Should I load her gut before they breed?

Here's my situation: I have an empty 38 gal mesh cage cage waiting for an occupant. Ive been researching crested geckos and I am thinking about picking up a breeding pair at the next show in philly on Nov 15-16. I have a few questions...

During the day is heat lamps the only way to heat their cage since they are aboreal?
- Room temperature is usually acceptable for cresteds as long as its mid 70's or so.

Also If I provide suplementary diets in a food dish is that fine?
- The CGD (Crested Gecko Diet) works fine a stable food, crickets and mealies can also be offered. Some people also use a meat/fruit baby food mixture. Both the CGD and baby food mix can be offered from a food dish, and crickets and mealies can also be offered in a bowl.

Should calcium be offered in a small dish so they can lick it? will they lick it if they need it?
-I dont offer calcium in a dish, just the GCD and I dust the crickets i offer with the Leopard Gecko Dust.

Will plastic plants and sticks be exceptable tank decor. If I put in a hide hut would they be satisfied with that or do I have to rig some kind of crevice higher in the cage. Should I keep their cage horizontal or verticle?
- A vertically oriented cage would suit them much better, sticks and silk plants would be fine. The hide hut wouldnt get used, not if its on the bottom of the tank anyways. My male sleeps out in the open, and my female likes to sleep in the middle of one of my bushier plants. Providing a hide area is a good idea though, possibly a hollow log or something along those lines.

I really want to get them to breed. Besides a little egg laying box should I offer anything else to my shelia? Do the females eat less when gravid? Should I load her gut before they breed?
- Breeding them is easy providing the correct temps and humidity are maintained, make sure the female and male both are getting a good diet. My female acted normal while she was gravid, the male was the one who acted a bit different. He spent more time near her, usually laying beside her.

what is the best way to incubate eggs? We use a hand made water heated thinger. Like the comercial hovabater for the leopards... I know crested's eggs are usually incubated in lower temps like 75-80. Does the sex differ when eggs are incubated at diff temps?

I have a little wire shelf in my tank and I have the food on it. That way they don't have to go all the way to the ground to eat. I also have a rock cave under that shelf with a small under tank heater. I've found both of mine in there at different times. They don't need the UTH but since we like it cool in our place it is just there for the if they need or want it. There are silk vines around the tank with a couple of the plastic branches and a couple of silk plants.
They spend most of their time handing out in the vines. It allows them to make their way across the tank without having to go all the way around.
I also have a container of dirt in one corner where both my male and female play in and dig. My first baby hatched the other day. OMG are they absolutely gorgeous. I've changed providers recently so once I figure out how to post pictures I'll put one of little Frodo up.

Randi

Will plastic plants and sticks be exceptable tank decor. If I put in a hide hut would they be satisfied with that or do I have to rig some kind of crevice higher in the cage. Should I keep their cage horizontal or verticle?
- A vertically oriented cage would suit them much better, sticks and silk plants would be fine. The hide hut wouldnt get used, not if its on the bottom of the tank anyways. My male sleeps out in the open, and my female likes to sleep in the middle of one of my bushier plants. Providing a hide area is a good idea though, possibly a hollow log or something along those lines.

.

a

a

,

Yes he is. I had just spelled Gandalf wrong. They are both still little Frodo's parents.

.
-----
Bill DiFabio
Azteclizard.com
Email Me