hi im new and just found a banded gecko... i think

gecko girl · #1 08-17-2008, 12:06 AM

hi there, my son and i just found what i think is a baby western banded gecko in my bathroom... by the bath mat, so we named him MAt. it's too late to go to the pet store so i made him a little home. we are excited about our find and i was just wondering, how do i know if its a baby or what? im trying to read other posts so i dont have to ask questions that have already been asked... but anyways, i just wanted to say hi, i'll be checking in quite a lot im sure, i've never had a gecko before!

gecko girl · #2 08-17-2008, 12:47 AM

well, i found a baby cricket and put it in his box... he came right out and looked straight at me like he wasnt scared at all. i noticed his left eye doesnt open. is that normal?- for them to just open one eye at a time?

gecko girl · #3 08-17-2008, 11:12 AM

he didnt eat the cricket i gave him last night, anyone know why not? think he's ok? anyone?

Kelentari · #4 08-17-2008, 12:51 PM

He probably didn't eat because he's scared! That whole running out at you was probably just a front--haha. And even if he isn't scared, he's definitely nervous now being in the new surroundings you've provided for him. Just keep him some water and some places to hide for now. He'll eventually eat for you. It might even take a week or so, so don't worry! I'd like to suggest feeding crickets sold at a petstore or online shop vs. caught at home ones, though. You don't know what those wild ones have been eating! You can control what goes into your gecko via gutloading and dusting your little captive crickets. Hmm, a pic would help for us to determine whether or not it's a baby! If it indeed is a banded, you need to be sure to eventually provide belly heat via an under-the-tank heater (commonly referred to as a UTH), heat tape, or heat cord. Not sure about the only opening one eye thing--it's certainly not normal--an injury, perhaps? It also could be attributed to a bad shed. If you'll provide a moist hide for the little guy, that might could help him out if that's the case. A moist hide is a must, anyway, so you may as well set one up if you haven't already! I use little tupperware containers set upside down with a hole cut in the side with damp papertowel in the bottom. Oh, and CD spindles work well, too! Sorry if I've repeated some things you've already found out about, but since you said you were new I thought I'd share some basics. Good luck, and enjoy your new pet!

gecko girl · #5 08-17-2008, 01:07 PM

thank you so much, i took some pics last night really quick, i can take more now... i am new to this forum, how do i upload pics? i usually use photobucket will that work? i'll give it a try.

gecko girl · #6 08-17-2008, 01:14 PM

sorry they are sooo big lol... to give you an idea on his size, he is the length of my pinky from head to tail... he has never lost his tail. he is very smooth, no bumps. the box next to him with the square cut out is the cardboard box that a velvet ring box comes in. i have paper towel on the bottom , a small bit of water and a random baby cricket. we plan on going to the pet store this morning when my youngest baby wakes from his nap.

Lizardman · #7 08-17-2008, 01:25 PM

Hi gecko girl!
I will say that gecko is a Coleonyx variegatus juvenile.
Good luck with the gecko!

/Niclas

Kelentari · #8 08-17-2008, 01:34 PM

Aye, I agree with Nic--it's a young'un, and pretty one at that!

How's his eye?

gecko girl · #9 08-17-2008, 01:51 PM

here are some better pics from just now. he is very active. i think that lil cricket is too big for him, he still wont open his left eye.

i have no idea what happened to him before i found him. we do have a cat, but when i found him he was in the bathroom, and the door was closed. i dont even know how he got in the house. we are in az, and we have only lived here for 8 mo. everything is new. lol.

Kelentari · #10 08-17-2008, 02:25 PM

He is so cool--I like how that third band branches off into two, like a fork in the road!

I agree that that cricket is a bit big for him. I would go ahead and take it out since it might be stressing him out.

As for his little eye, you can try to put an itty bitty drop of water off of your finger onto his head close to the eye to try to moisten it, but that prolly won't work atm since he's so little and prolly doesn't want to hold still when your hand gets close! I really think all you can do right now is provide him with a moist hide. He'll prolly use it to his benefit on his own if a stuck shed is his problem. I like to try to help my babies with the beforementioned method, but they are a bit more used to me than Mat is to you!

Wow, you've only been there 8 mos. and you got a new pet wandering in already! Just think...you might just have your own little colony if you stick around long enough!