Trouble keeping humitdy/heat in young crested gecko tank (newbie)

Katvela · #1 01-02-2012, 01:49 PM

I have two new crested geckos in a smaller screen top tank. I do plan on moving them as they grow, but for now it seams like the right size. The humitdy drops frequently below 30, I mist almost 10X a day (when ever I walk by). I am using a blue light that came with the tank and red light at night. I also have a small heat pad on side (barely seams warm). The temp goes between 60-65.

I was told at a pet store I should put a towel on top (away from lamp) to keep in the humidity. Is that ok? will it bred bacteria? Any other simple fixes?

Also how many crickets should I feed. I'm not sure how old they are; body is about 2 -2/2 inches.

ohh one more thing, how do I disenfect outside sticks for the tank.

Thanks for any advice!!! Sorry so many questions. I am just in love with them already and I want to do everything perfect

Katvela · #2 01-02-2012, 01:59 PM

My new buddy

lauraleellbp · #3 01-02-2012, 02:15 PM

Welcome to GU!

Yes, a damp towel could help hold in humidity, but you would need to wash it regularly. Some people use saran wrap or I have just a spare piece of acrylic sitting on top of one of mine to help block drafts & hold humidity a bit better.

Misting 10x a day sounds excessive, though- what type of hygrometer are you using? Do you have a water dish, humid hide, and/or live plants in the enclosure as well?

I manually clean off branches from outside (scrub them down with some chlorhexidine and an old washcloth) and then run them through my dishwasher on the "sanitize" cycle. Some people soak branches in water and then bake them at 350F for a half an hour.

I'd offer a few crickets no more than once a week. I wouldn't worry about feeding too few crickets- you want to make sure they're eating plenty of CGD rather than filling up on crickets.

Katvela · #4 01-02-2012, 02:26 PM

Thanks! hopefully the towel helps. Good to know about the crickets, I have been offering the gecko food but I haven't actully seen them eating it. Maybe backing off the crickets will make them eat more.

In the tank I have coconut fiber substrate (I feed them crickets in seperate containter) and four live plants. I'm using the hygrometer that came with the tank (Zilla). The heat in my house is on, so I am guessing that is adding to drying of the air.

I don't have a dishwasher so I will try the chlorhexidine and bake them.

Thanks again!!!

Hannibal · #5 01-02-2012, 02:35 PM

Since you live in an area where you kinda have to have the heat on 24/7 in the winter, a warm mist humidifier may also help keep some moisture in the air for you. We have one in our gecko room & use it when we turn the heat on since our gecko room gets the most heat in the house.

lauraleellbp · #6 01-02-2012, 03:04 PM

Chlorhexidine may be flammable, so if you use that, I'd be sure to rinse really well after- and don't forget to soak the branches for a day or two before baking them as this also helps prevent them from catching fire.

Jedibean · #7 01-09-2012, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Good to know about the crickets, I have been offering the gecko food but I haven't actully seen them eating it. Maybe backing off the crickets will make them eat more.

Mine do the same thing. they don't seem to eat a lot of the GCD they just seem to kinda lick at it, and then when I feed them crickets the juveniles eat like four crickets one after the other. So I would say them not seeming to eat it is normal.