Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello,

I hope this wasnt discussed before, but the new search tool is really bad for finding what you want :/ anyhoo, i started my baby crestie (was 6 weeks old when i got her) on all crickets every night as many as she would eat. as she got bigger, i would feed her CGD every other day, and as many crickets as she wanted every other day. now, i have her on CGD every night, no more crickets (she seems to have lost interest anyways, she loves her CGD!) and it seems like shes really not growing anymore. and she is definately not full grown. she will be a year old in about 2 months, but she could probably double her current size and be as large as the other full grown cresteds i have seen. anyone have any problems with their geckos not growing as quickly on the CGD? I dont mind or anything if it does slow their growth, but i read they reach their full size in a year so i was hoping she is still healthy. she eats great every night and all. or does it take em more than a year? Thanks for any replies
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~Melissa~
1.3.1 Leopard geckos
1.0 Bearded dragon
1.0 Hog Island Boa
0.1 Crested Gecko
0.0.1 Savannah Monitor
1.1 Ferrets
0.1 Chinchilla

1.0 Psycho cat

Melissas Menagerie

my crested was supposedly raised on CGD...however it didn't eat for 3 days *offered it in a gatorade bottle wit no lick marks whatsoever* but took to peach baby food right away...now i just alternate baby food with babyfood mixed with a pinch of calcium and CGD together every other day...my gecko doesn't seem to like crix either..he'll eat the occasionally..but not with vigor like most cresteds go nuts for crix...
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"you won't know success if you haven't failed..."-eric chen
1.1.1 Hi-Yellow Leopard Geckoes-Gecko Party, Town and Country Pets
0.0.2 Blizzards-AAA Reptile Supply
0.1.0 Western (Plains) Hognose Snake-La Habra Pets
1.0.0 Dark-Fire Crested Gecko-Reptile Depot
0.1.0 Boxer Dog-Local Dog Shelter

This is my experience with 200-300 crested and gargoyles over the last year. I have used the crested/gargoyle/leachie diet for over a year now. I have noticed a difference in the growth rate for crested since I started. I was exclusively on gargoyle diet (more protein) for all baby and juve crested, and crested diet for all adult crested. I had slower growth rates and later maturity times, but they still made it to the same size as the adult crested that had been fed crickets their whole lives. Its not because of anything wrong with the diet. I love the stuff and reccommend anyone to get it. I still use it. I am now doing a lot more crickets than I use to. Its alot more money and more mess, but they do grow faster when I use the crickets and diet together. If you put the diet in their even with no success every day for a week they will eventually start to eat it and they will always eat it after that. Anyone that has gotten a gecko from me in the past year has gotten one raised on the diet with supp crickets. Anyway its a great product, but I would not leave out the crickets. I also feed every 2-3 days instead of everyday less mess and less waste. Shawn
WWW.StickyFeetExotics.COM

Thanks a bunch!

and i'm in no hurry or anything for her to grow. Not planning on breeding her or anything (at least not anytime soon ) and shes my only one. so as long as she still WILL grow and I know its ok for them to grow a little slower on the diet, i'm not too worried and about crickets, she seriously just turns her nose up at them now. she used to eat them like a machine but now she just ignores them and waits for me to mix up more diet.

Thanks so much again!
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~Melissa~
1.3.1 Leopard geckos
1.0 Bearded dragon
1.0 Hog Island Boa
0.1 Crested Gecko
0.0.1 Savannah Monitor
1.1 Ferrets
0.1 Chinchilla

1.0 Psycho cat

Melissas Menagerie

I wanted to take a moment and thank you for your informative post. I enjoy learning the things that care sheets dont tell you . The slower growth rate being a genuine thing is very interesting .I am guessing that the lower protein difference is the factor.
Your feeding procedure was also interesting information for different reasons .I had noticed the pair I aquired from you will eat more Crested diet in a single feeding than any of my others and are considerably less interested in crickets. Also about 2 days a week seems to skips eating all together .They have stuck to the pattern even though I offer food everyday.

I am glad I could be of service, and give some of my personal experience. My wife says I should post more to keep our name out there, but I feel that there is alot of people on the forum that is able to answer and they do it well. Im not one for writing or talking on the phone. I let my wife handle most of that, but I did want to say something about the diet. Since I do feel strongly that it is a great "tool". Its not a fix all or a complete never do anything else solution. Yes I do have some geckos that will not touch a cricket. So I do add more calcium to the top of the diet or I will add a little gargoyle diet to add the extra protein. I would not add too much different diet in the mix cause it does cause the runs if they are used to a certain diet. If anyone needs assistance feel free to write us a email and we will do our best to help you out. Oh and as always if you need geckos feel free to give us a shout. Shawn WWW.StickyFeetExotics.COM