Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I had 2 of my girls together, both between 1.5 and 2 years old. Brick is smaller than Big Red by probably 15 grams, but chases Big Red around and bites her, especially when I put food in, and don't worry, I offer plenty. Last night I could hear them thumping around until I fell asleep, and was afraid of having nightmares about 1 or both losing their tails! Brick seems always to be the aggressor, if it IS aggression that I'm seeing. I never hear vocalizations; just thumping and the biting that I've wittnessed. This morning I removed Big Red to her own enclosure because I was so worried for her beautiful tail, and the stress her tormentor might be causing her. (There is no male in either cage at present.) Does anyone know whether they might have been playing?
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Terri
4:9:5 crested geckos: Bear, Goldfish, Kermit, Brimstone, Big Red, Olive, Smudge, Belle, Brilliant, Tina, Brick, Toni, Beauty, WildSpatter-Spots-to-Spare, Randi(y), Shine, Squeak, & Bling. (last 2 just hatched)

i know that with leos, the temperature of incubation determines sex and can produce "hot" females, agressive females that act much like a dominant male. i know that most crested eggs are not incubated per se, but is it possible to hatch a "hot" female crested? if so, that might explain your problem.

Interesting, I never knew that. Brick was gotten as a hatchling from Sandfire and according to the BOOK, their incubation temps have quite a range. I did make a special pet out of her, spending inordinate amounts of time stroking her and letting her jump onto my down comforter which she seems to enjoy, and wonder whether I might have "spoiled" her. She has always been quite docile with me; in all the times I've handled her, she's only bitten me once when she'd had enough. I guess I'd better keep an eye on her the next time I put her with a guy!
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Terri
4:9:5 crested geckos: Bear, Goldfish, Kermit, Brimstone, Big Red, Olive, Smudge, Belle, Brilliant, Tina, Brick, Toni, Beauty, WildSpatter-Spots-to-Spare, Randi(y), Shine, Squeak, & Bling. (last 2 just hatched)

I don't know about "playing", but Cresteds certainly chase the hell out of each other at night. The sound of 90-ish geckos running and thumping around nightly has become a sort of music to fall asleep to ever since we moved the collection to the bedroom.

And they're most definitely not chasing feeder insects every night of the week.
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www.neoscales.com

I'm not too sure if "play" is the right word to describe their behavior, but I know some of my cresties will scamper around at various times of the night and one of my females almost struts after I give her crickets. My girlfriend will take them out and let them wander around on the counter while she cleans and preps the food bowls and they seem happy to see what they can climb. They are supervised, but they don't go far. I think to some extent they might play, but I'm not sure. It would be an interesting experiment to see what range of emotions they actually display.
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-Idiotshot
4.2.5 Crested Geckos (Marty, Skitz, Flip, Splash, Houdini, Domino, Tongues, Peep, Chomps, Siren, Boomer)
0.0.1 White Spotted Gecko
2.1.1 Ball Pythons (Oedipus, Achilles, Tempest, Olympus)
0.1 Spotted Python (Echo)

i have a large cardboard tube from an industrial size paper towel roll in my cage and my male consistantly tries to climb it, when he does he just chills out on top for an hr or so. the other two females have not to my knowledge even bothered with the thing... so who knows whats going on there? but i think to an extent these animals do have a level of "curiosity".

another instance..... i had a small gap in the lid of my cage, my largest female figured out how to squeez through, and i found her. at the time i figured i hadnt secured the cage lid and she had just pushed it open. well.... in a cage with three animals, only she figured it out, and a SECOND escape happend, this time with the lid securely attatched. the escapes happened w/in a day or so of eachother. i feel that some sense of memory might be involved. who knows.... oh yeah and i did find her and secure the gap in the cage btw.

just some more interesting observations.

keep your guys coming too!

Andrew Ellis