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housing hatchlings

mmfh Apr 03, 2008 10:06 PM

What is the healthiest, cleanest way to house baby cresteds? Paper towels? wet paper towels? nothing? newspaper? Peat?
Right now my babies are on moist peat. It seemed fine and the humidity is high. However, now that they are moving around more the peat just seems to be sticking to them and getting in their food and water dishes. Plus, if i start feeding them fruit flies i'm afraid they will eat alot more peat then flies. Any advice appreciated. Thank you.

Replies (4)

Severa Apr 04, 2008 10:44 AM

For substrate, it is best to use something like paper towel. I don’t like using newspaper on delicate species like geckos (compared to pythons per say) as they lick a lot and I know nothing about news print inks. Plus it doesn’t exactly represent being sterile or clean.
Crickets or prey tend to hide under the towel if they get a chance as it doesn’t always lay flat. I lightly mist the edges of the towel, which weighs it down. When the water dries, the towel is more formed to the surface and is not as warped.

Until they get a little established, remember to keep their set up small and simplistic. It is very tempting to put in a bunch of plants or decorations. But for the time being it is best that they can easily find and catch their food. For hides I use Bamboo tubes. They absolutely love them and it is quite comical catching them trying to get a peek on what is going on outside the tube. Some folks use PVC or even empty toilet paper tolls. I try to place the tubes where the crickets can’t get to. It is the geckos little place of Zen and I am sure that crickets in the tube with them gets a little annoying.

Hope this helps,
Severa

warnersister Apr 04, 2008 07:04 PM

agreed, paper towels 100%, mist lightly twice a day. do you have a tiny dish to put the CGD in? i use toilet paper rolls as well, and buy the $3 plastic plants from petco, and cut them into 3 pieces to provide cover in 3 critter keepers.
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4.1 snakes, 4.6.1 crested geckos, 0.1 gargoyle gecko, 0.0.2 red-eyed tree frogs, 2.0 devon rex cats, 1.0 betta, 0.1 sun conure, 1.0 lovebird

Severa Apr 05, 2008 12:47 AM

Do you know of a craft superstore called Michael's? I know some states don't have them. Anyhow, they carry this brand of plastic plant that comes in 3 or 4 different varieties. They are 30 inches long and sell for 10 bucks but are always on sale. They are reptile and fish safe (they don't have that powder coat stuff on them). Funny enough, when I was at a big chain pet store, the plastic plant they sold there was the SAME exact one sold at Michael's but in much smaller sizes. They had to be made by the same manufacturer. When I get home on Monday, I will tell you the exact name of the plants. I still have some that are unused that I picked up when they were on sale. I tried to look online but they were not on Michael's site.
I have yet to establish a green thumb.....thank God for plastics!

Severa

warnersister Apr 05, 2008 06:02 AM

>>I have yet to establish a green thumb.....thank God for plastics!

amen! LOL

i have michael's here but i'm not sure which plants you're talking about...can you post a pic of yours when you get the name? thanks.
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4.1 snakes, 4.6.1 crested geckos, 0.1 gargoyle gecko, 0.0.2 red-eyed tree frogs, 2.0 devon rex cats, 1.0 betta, 0.1 sun conure, 1.0 lovebird

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