Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi- I really hope I can get advice from others who look after these very cool little fellas!! I purchased our first family reptile last week and chose a crested since I've heard only good things! A few questions though... My house is quite cool due to cold winters and very dry - so I have been using a red heat lamp during the day to raise the temp from low 60's at night to mid 70's during the day - but this seems to really play a factor to keep up the level of humidity. My house seems to be at about 40 - so I am misting all day long to keep it in the 70's - worried about mold. He shed his skin on the weekend with no troubles. Can I mist in the a.m. let the humidity drop for the day (lasts a couple of hours) and mist real good at night?? I turn the light off at night and with the cooler temp. it doesn't seem to dry out as fast. I added moss but it doesn't seem to help during the day. Please help - had many different furry pets - but this is all new to me!!

At 7 months of age, he doesn't require misting. Take a glad or ziplock plastic food container, cut a hole in the top, fill it with moistened peat or sphagnum moss and place it in the cage. This will act as a humid hide area and a nesting box if you decide to get a female. Moisten the container whenever it drys out.
Cresteds can be kept at temps in the high 60's - low 70's at night and 73f-80f during the day. If a light is required to reach these temps, go ahead and use it. Be aware, cresteds will stress and possibly die if the cage temps rise above 85f. If using a light at night,I recommend a neomydium bulb.

Geckospot.com

Thanks for your help - this is all so new. So even if the humidity level drops to 40 during the day I shouldn't worry as long as there is a moist area in the aquarium? The light seems to keep it at a steady 76 during the day - I keep an eye on it. Here's another question - I haven't seen him eat since I brought him home last Wed. I've put crickets in and taken them all out the next day. I fed crickets Thurs and last night - none eaten and baby food the alternate days - doesn't seem to have touched that either. Shoudl I worry or is he just getting used to him surroundings?? He will eat baby food/cgd off my finger OK. He shed his skin yesterday - the guy at the pet store said this would affect his appetite - true?? I really apprectiate any advice! He is very cool and I really want to keep him healthy - all my animals are very spoiled!!

Hello there! I am fairly new to cresteds as well, so I won't give you any advice besides this one tidbit. Go to Anthony Caponetto's website and look all over the crested gecko area there. He's got quite alot of information.

OK, wait, I have one more bit of advice - make room for more cresteds! LOL

Toni

Good luck with your new family member!
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1.0.0 Uromastyx - Draco
1.0.0 Ball Python - Vilthrul
1.2.0 Giant African Millipedes - Cocoa, Vanilla, Millie
1.0.0 Crested Gecko - Hoolie
0.0.1 Eastern Milk Snake - Slither
2.1.8 Hissing Cockroaches - Diamond, Emerald, Ruby and kids

I noticed you mentioned worrying about mold as well as him drying out.
If you keep his cage damp all the time mold will most certainly become a problem. As for drying out you actually want the cage to dry out inbetween ..in the wild the climate isnt a steady 75% when people recommend 75% thats a average and one during the winter months I dont come close too. In the real world the sun comes out and drys everything the rain comes and everything gets wet. Mist him in the morning and again at night ,,keep a small cap of water all the time and dont even think about the humidity anymore.

this guy nailed the humidity think In MY Humble Opinion.
i would stress out too much you are already off to a good start as you are trying to learn all u need and more. how long ago did u get the lizard? if it was with in the last two days or so yeah it might not eat at first just getting used to the environment. give it time, and provide the crested gecko diet every night you wont have to worry much. if you notice it losing weight then do take the time to find out what might be going on, but most likely the animal will start eating fine in no time.

As per crickets, i use paper towels OR that reptile turf stuff for the cage bottom because it gives fewer places for them to hide than substrates such as bark or moss etc. the easier it is for the lizard to spot the crickets the easier it is to eat!

this is not to say that you cant have a natural setup and have happy healthy geckos. I also include some fresh vegetables like a "baby" carrot for the crickets to eat anytime they are in the cage. this keeps them from munching on animal feces or the geckos. neither of wich are benificial to the animal.
gl with the gecko. im sure you will find them pleasingly easy to care for.

Andrew Ellis

NP