Sandstone spitting?

amazoncat · #1 12-22-2008, 02:04 PM

I just wondered if anybody had ever witnessed their sandstone gecko spitting (it was a nasty black gooey ball).

I moved my sandstone to a new naturalistic viviarium yesterday and since then have witnessed some interested behaviour including drinking large quanities of water from his water bowl (he did always drink a lot when sprayed though) and on one occasion displaying followed by spitting.

Has anybody else ever noticed this? I'm just trying to ascertain how 'normal' it is.

Cat x

BlakeDeffenbaugh · #2 12-22-2008, 11:27 PM

Whats a sandstone gecko? I've never heard any called that.

R.E.F · #3 12-23-2008, 01:43 AM

A sandstone gecko is Gekko petricolus

BlakeDeffenbaugh · #4 12-23-2008, 06:30 AM

Ok I was thinking that but wasn't really sure.

cliff_f · #5 12-24-2008, 05:40 PM

I have never seen or heard of that behavior from them.

**Graham_s** · #6 12-24-2008, 06:08 PM

what substrate have you got in the new setup? it could be that he had ingested the substrate and was trying to wash it down with water or spit it out?

amazoncat · #7 12-26-2008, 06:03 AM

I did wonder that at first Graham, but it was drinking almost as soon as I put it in (I think they just ned more humidity than I was first told). I'd be amazed if he had managed to eat any of the eco-earth as there wasn't any food in the tank at the time so he had no reason to eat the substrate (which was firmly pressed down anyway). He doesn't appear to have done it since so I'm just going to keep an eye on it I think.

He's also got a lovely habit of licking his vent? Any ideas on this one? I wonder if it's because he's wild caught and possibly still harboring nasties. Or could it be territorial - a kind of display or something?

Thoughts?

**Graham_s** · #8 12-26-2008, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amazoncat

I did wonder that at first Graham, but it was drinking almost as soon as I put it in (I think they just ned more humidity than I was first told). I'd be amazed if he had managed to eat any of the eco-earth as there wasn't any food in the tank at the time so he had no reason to eat the substrate (which was firmly pressed down anyway). He doesn't appear to have done it since so I'm just going to keep an eye on it I think.

He's also got a lovely habit of licking his vent? Any ideas on this one? I wonder if it's because he's wild caught and possibly still harboring nasties. Or could it be territorial - a kind of display or something?

Thoughts?

sometimes vent licking is something they do right after they have gone to the toilet. Is it just eco earth on the bottom of the tank? If you could post photos of tha tank and the gecko in the new setup it could help.

amazoncat · #9 12-26-2008, 12:50 PM

Unfortunately I'm not at home so I'm not going to be able to get a set-up photograph for a couple of weeks but I think you could be right about it being an 'after toilet' activity as I've often seen him doing it.

It is just eco-earth on the bottom, pressed down with a small brick.

**Graham_s** · #10 12-26-2008, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amazoncat

Unfortunately I'm not at home so I'm not going to be able to get a set-up photograph for a couple of weeks but I think you could be right about it being an 'after toilet' activity as I've often seen him doing it.

It is just eco-earth on the bottom, pressed down with a small brick.

ok. If he isn't losing weight, is eating fine, stools are ok, and is still active, then I don't think its anything to worry about.