[showpro]

We recently acquired a Chinese Cave Gecko. This is our first Gecko. We've had it just over 2 weeks.

The habitat was originally designed for a Leopard, but the pet shop said they couldn't get Leopards for a long time and offered us this cave gecko. I'm thinking this might have been a mistake, but here we are.

The gecko was eating small crickets. It's stopped. It's been about a week since it has eaten. Its stools have changed from white or gray semi-solid masses to mostly water.

So, the habitat is 12" x 24" x 12" terrarium with a screen top. Originally, we had two lamps: 150w Fluker's day lamp and a 75 watt blue night lamp. The pet shop folks said those would be too hot for this gecko, so we went to a 75w day and 25w night. That made the day temp gradient 77-70F and the night temp gradient 72-70F. This seems to coincide with when the gecko stopped eating. He ate fine the first few days home.

Substrate is a reptile carpet. There's a little "cave" hiding place on the warm side, and plastic vines to hide under on the cool side. Also a large wooden branch.

Now, I've switched to a 100w day lamp, which makes for a 84-74F gradient, and a 60w red night lamp, which is keeping the temp around a 75-70F gradient. That change happened 3 days ago.

Originally, we misted the gecko once a day, as advised. Now I have a lump moss in the corner and we spray the terrarium liberally several times a day. I've covered half the top with plastic wrap and the hygrometer now reads 80% most of the time.

It shed its skin once, about a week and a half ago. There are still a couple of little bits of skin on its toe tips.

I put small mealworms in a dish tonight to see if it will eat those. But mostly it's lethargic and sleeps in the corner. I think it has lost weight, as well. I do find it at the water dish from time to time, though. I've watched crickets walk right across its nose and it doesn't eat them.

Any help on how to get this gecko to eat? Is it in trouble?

[Brian]

I'd just put one or two crickets in at a time. Make sure your not making things too hot. 84 is really kind of hot for these. While in summer I let mine go with air temps above 82 they get prepared for it and it doesn't last all day. I'd personally reduce the temps back to what they were.

Mine still eat when the nights are in the high 60's.

Is it sleeping in the open in the corner? If so is it on the high temp end or the cool temp end. The first thing you can do is put a hide when it's sleeping if it's in the open. A 99 cent plastic plant saucer with a hole cut in the side works. Use the animals behavior to help you guess what's wrong. i.e. where is it avioding?

[showpro]

It's sleeping under the plastic vines on the cool end. So that's an indication that it likes the cooler temps?

I pumped it up to 84 because the "expert" at the pet shop told me it isn't eating because its metabolism is too slow and it needs to be warmer to eat. I'm beginning to suspect that they don't really understand these geckos and are used to the leopards.

[Brian]

These guys like it cooler. I would try cooling things down a bit and see if it seems a bit happier. The ones I've seen hide extensively when first put in a new strange enviroment.

The heat/metabolism is a good general rule/idea. It's just what's hot for different species differs. Around 84 my cave geckos would be pressed into the ground or wedgeing themselves deeper in rocks trying to keep cool.

It may not eating because it's a new import. Does the tail look fat,not bone-like? What substrate are you useing?

[showpro]

Well, it was eating, until we cooled it down...

The tail is not fat. The whole gecko looks skinny, to me.

The substrate is a green reptile carpet of some sort.

The hot end of the habitat is now 77F because I put the 75w bulb back. The cool side is around 70. Is that better?

It's still hiding in the corner, sleeping.

[Brian]

It might do better with a moister substrate. I use dirt now. Some people use that coco fiber stuff.

It won't come out until it's absolutely dark most likely. Such as around 1 am ,etc. It should sleep all day/not move.

[showpro]

Brian, thanks for all your help. This has been very educational.

I spoke to the manager at the pet shop. I feel pretty strongly that they did us a disservice selling us a cave gecko when our habitat was for a leopard gecko and the two species have different needs. I also don't think a cave gecko is the right pet for us.

So, they agreed to take back the cave gecko and refund the price. We went to another local shop and got a leopard this evening. So far, so good. A MUCH more interesting pet for my 10 year old boy. Very active lizard, climbs everything, very even-tempered and a lot of fun to watch. The cave geckos are just so shy and docile. But I can see the appeal for gecko afficionados and adults. For kids, I think the leopard is the way to go.

Thanks again, and I'll stay involved reading the GU board.

[ganjaMan28]

I'm glad to hear that everything worked out in the end, and that your son enjoys the leopard gecko as well...The Goniurosaurus species are tricky to satisfy without prior experience and research...it is nice to see people reach out to online communities for help though, as a lot of times the local pet store has generic advice...