Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello....im getting ready to get another crested (i had one a few years back) and i wanted to run my set up idea's past you and also ask a couple of quick questions...

I was thinking of using a 20gallon high with a screen lid, in the summer it stays very warm here, between 75-85 so i was going to not use any supplemental heat until the winter when i would be using a UTH on the back side of the tank, not the bottom. I have plenty of foliage available so the crested will feel safe and secure. His temps and humidity will be monitored by a digital thermometer with a humidity guage as well. Food will consist of crickets, roaches, worms and baby food supplemented with calcium. A water dish will be available and the tank will be misted lightly daily.

Any input on that set up idea? Any suggestions? As i said it has been awhile since i've had a crestie so i may be a bit rusty on some of my knowledge, i am currently re-reading everything i can find on them to prepare, so any input would be greatly appreciated.

And a couple questions:

1. what flavored baby food. I had heard before that peach and apricot are the only flavors that are suitable, is this true?

2. What substrate do you use? Is using a particle substrate dangerous for these lizards? Do they often have problems with impactions? What is the best, safest, substrate for them? I know paper towels or newspaper are by default the safest, and will use them if need be, but i would kind of prefer something that looks nicer.

3. I had also read before that chronic temps in the high 80's will kill these little guys. I live in maine and there are definately days when it gets warmer than 85, what is the best way to keep the temps down on these guys?

Thanks so much!
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0.1 Bearded dragon
0.1 mexican kingsnake
1.0.2 Leopard Gecko's
0.0.1 Rose Hair Tarantula
1.0 BTS
0.0.1 Reverse Okeetee Corn
0.1 Bullmastiff
4.1 Cats

Peach,Bannana and apricot are all good (just don't give your crested citrus)

Peat moss is an ok substrate make sure to turn it daily so it won't mold, other people i've read use ECO Earth which is like a more expensive peat moss. But, I personally use papertowel and newspaper (cheaper and easier to clean)

Derek

i wouldn't really call eco earth a more expensive peat moss.
it is extremely clean, you can run it through your hands, and rub your hands together and nothing will stick to them. also, the particles are a bit larger. the reason i'm saying this is because eco earth will not necessarily stick to your gecko or lizard, or whatever you're using it on. peat moss does, it is very dusty and " clingy" peat moss will make your gecko/lizard/etc. look dirty everytime i've ever used it in an eclosure. it is also very compressed and will expand to about 8times the size it comes in the little brick. it will not mold ( only things that contaminate it such as poop, rotting log etc. will mold)
i highly recommend it and would suggest buying it online in 3 brick packs. preferrably ebay if you're going to go all out and just buy several packs at once to offset the shipping charges.

I have seen posts they eat many different flavors, but the only 4 mine will eat are peach, apricot, Hawaiian Delight and Tuttifrutti.

Potting soil (w/o perlite) or PTs.

I have A/C so cannot comment on temps. Perhaps move to the basement if too warm in the living areas ???

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Rhac 'n Roll Reptiles deadrats.net

I would say skip on the baby food, excapt maybe as a treat. It is like candy, lots of sugar, and not nutritionally compleat. Crested Gecko Diet (CGD) put out by T-Rex is the best and most compleat diet. You could even feed a crested solely CGD and it will be happy and healthy. It can also be hard to switch crested to CGD after they've been eating baby food as a staple. Hope this helps
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- Melanie

2.0.0 cats
0.0.3 crested geckos
1.2.2 leopard geckos
1.0.0 Bernese mountain dog
1.1.1 red ear sliders
0.0.1 emperor scorpion
0.0.1 chilean rose tarantula
1 south american cichlid tank
2 planted tanks with dwarf cichlids and platies

N/T

Hey, the guy asked which ones they will eat, not if it is good for them. I have fed crix and baby food (once a week, fruit) for many years and many Rhacs w/o any problem. Other diets may be better, I do not judge.
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Rhac 'n Roll Reptiles deadrats.net

He did say this:
"Food will consist of crickets, roaches, worms and baby food supplemented with calcium. A water dish will be available and the tank will be misted lightly daily."

I believe feeding only insects and babyfood is not the greatest diet for the gecko nutritionally speaking. By giving info about a more nutrtitional diet I believe we were helping him out.

=)

I don't believe that limiting the diet to only one food item (regardless of what that one miracle item is) is the most nutritionally complete way to feed ANY living creature.

Fact is, we don't *really* know ALL the nutrients Rhacodactylus Ciliatus requires (or, realistically, any other animal on the face of the planet), and by feeding a varied diet (many kinds of baby food, fruit, yogurt, a vitamin supplement, calcium, varied dusted insects, CGD) you're covering ALL the bases.

Not to say I agree with those who say that apricot babyfood and crickets is sufficient... but I have a definite disagreement with anyone who states that a processed, manufactured diet is the best choice because it is "100% nutritionally complete", not because I don't think that person knows what he/she is talking about... but because it's "100% completely impossible" scientifically speaking.

I will give it this... it has shown its ability to sustain Ciliatus, and given a Cresty owner not willing to put in the time, effort and research to make a quality diet, by all means... I would STRONGLY recommend the CGD (INSIST, even). But to say that it's the best choice, above all others...

It's kind of like me saying "no, here... take this PILL that is all you will need to eat... and don't eat anything real or fresh... because it will throw off the NUTRITIONAL BALANCE".

I never implied that the CGD was other than a quality product.
I was also giving emphasis thet the guy asked a specific question, not what should he feed. Giving alternatives is just ducky, I only answered the question asked.

CGD is a bit problematic with a breeder. I have many gex that only take live food, so I always have to stock them. CGD is pricey, considering you may be feeding 50+ Rhachs of various species. So with live food always available, the price of fruit baby food what it is, It makes sense. Plus this diet has been used long before CGD came on the scene, and for me, has been a winner long term. But I do use quality supplements, not just bugs and fruit, makes a difference.

Dealing with calcium, D3 and vitamin supplementation to crashing female breeders (after laying) is something one needs to pay attention to. A maintenance diet, is much more forgiving.

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Rhac 'n Roll Reptiles deadrats.net

Thanks for all the replies guys, I had forgotten about CGD and will be sure to include it as part of a varied diet. I try, with all my animals, to include as many good food sources as possible as we don't know everything there is to know about reptile diets yet i believe that a varied diet gives you the best chance and having a nutritionally complete diet.

Thanks for all the answers!
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0.1 Bearded dragon
0.1 mexican kingsnake
1.0.2 Leopard Gecko's
0.0.1 Rose Hair Tarantula
1.0 BTS
0.0.1 Reverse Okeetee Corn
0.1 Bullmastiff
4.1 Cats

vvv
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Rhac 'n Roll Reptiles deadrats.net