Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm planning on getting a juvenile (2 months or older)in a few months, and I don't want to run into any health issues. I have a few more questions:

1. I plan on feeding the crested gecko diet, but my local pet store doesn't carry it. Is Pangea Reptile Company a good place to order from, and is the diet offered the correct one?

2. I want to get a juvenile - 2 months old or older. Do I need to supplement the diet with additional calcium and D3 if I'm feeding CGD? How much D3?
- See www.pangeareptile.com for the details on the supplement descriptions

3. Has anyone used chlorhexidine to clean their crested gecko enclosures? If so, have you noticed any adverse effects?

4. I don't plan on breeding the gecko for a while (if at all). What should a healthy juvenile/adult crested's calcium sacs look like?

5. I would like to use small live plants in the enclosure to help maintain the humidity. What plants would you recommend?
- Note: I have a black thumb...

I know it's a lot of questions, but I appreciate everyone's help!
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0.1 Banded California kingsnake - Zorro
1.0 Betta fish - Billy
0.0.3 White Cloud Fish
1.0 RES - Chopstick
0.1 Australian Shepherd - Jet
0.1 Domestic Shorthair Mix Cat - Pirate

1. The diet Pangea offers is Allen Repashy's Crested Gecko Diet. If you ever have any questions about the diet or it's distributors I'd urge you to go take a look at the Repashy forums >http://www.forums.repashy.com/ and ask away there. (It's a really good resource for info on cresteds anyways, not just food.) If you click on the store link there is a list of online retailers, and maybe you'll find one close to you where shipping won't be much.

2. Crested Gecko Diet is a complete diet, meaning you don't need to supplement it with anything. And you really shouldn't. There's a thread a bit farther down on the page about how dangerous overdosing with calcium and D3 can be. Properly dusted and gutloaded crickets can be offered, but should be restricted to once or twice a week, CGD should be the main diet.

3. I normally just use bleach and water, and rinse really well.

4. There are a few other signs than calcium sacs that are easier to look for. If the tail (if it has one) is kinked at all that can be a sign of a calcium problem. Puffy forearms is also a sign you can easily look for, as well as activity level, and how resilient the skin is when moved or pinched can be a sign of hydration. If you really want to look at the calcium sacks, well, they should be there at least.

5. I would only enter the realm of live plants after you've had your gecko a couple months and know you have husbandry down, and that there is no infection that would have gotten to him over the stress of moving. Keeping them on just paper towels also makes it easy to ensure they're eating, by seeing that they're pooping. (Really, a water bowl and damp washcloth or something over half the screen of the cage does great.) With that aside, pathos are usually great low-light and hardy plants that are used. Just make sure you get one where no fertilizer or sprays were used, and clean the leaves really well. Or with them you could just start with a clipping and wash the leaves and have them propagate.

Hope I helped and answered all your questions! Just watch out, cresties are addicting.

I second the Pothos.......my cresties love them and they can thrive placed in nothing but water.
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1.0.0 Lampropeltis getula holbrooki
0.1.0 Lampropeltis getula californae
0.0.1 Lampropeltis getula nigra
1.0.0 Lampropeltis mexicana thayeri
2.3.0 Eublapharis macularius macularius
0.0.2 Rhacodactylus ciliatus
0.1.0 Gerrhosaurus major major

I go against the first two threads on the plant subject. The website http://www.library.okstate.edu/Vetmed/about/ieatplants/plants.htm
gives a good discription of toxic plants to animals as well as pictures of what the plants look like for easy ID.
here is what they say about "Pothos".

Common Name: Devil’s Ivy , Pothos, Golden Pothos
Scientific Name: Epipremnum aureum
Family Name: Araceae
Toxic Principle: Allergic reactions, Oxalic acid, Entire plant, Proteolytic enzymes, Calcium oxalate crystals
Clinical Signs: Vomiting, Diarrhea, Redness and swelling, Dermatitis, Itching and burning of lips, tongue, mouth, also throat

PS they also give non toxic plants, check it out.