my cresties...some help please

[tony_16]

Hi there...im new to this hobby and did lots of research before i bought my cresties about 2 months ago for my birthday.my current setup is a 46 gallon bow aquarim (thinkin about dividing it in half with screen mesh) with a screen mesh, with wood substrate a Tillandsia plant and a plastic mandarin leaf plant and a huge coral rock in the middle and a Zoo Med Repti Fogger Terrarium Humidifier.they feed on CGD and occasionally crickets and fresh fruit..With a temp from 65 to 75 and humidity at average of 70...is this a good setup?

I have 3 cresties I bought said to be red flamed cresties...but im not sure if they are.could u tell me if they are??

Also one more question...how do i know if theyre sick o have parasites??As they sort of got spots on their bellies witch I don’t remember if they had when I bought them or not...


the pics of my geckos here arent when theyre really fired up and the pics are a bit blurry..

 

[Soul Eater]

A couple of the pics look like red bi-colors but they're also really blurry. Definately some flame pics there.

I was told not to use any wood substrate (or at least ones where the wood is small enough to eat) to avoid them from eating.
Sounds like you have a good set up though and as long as the sub. is non-lethal, welcome to the site

 

[Scarlet.Escapist]

Hey welcome to the forum and congratz on getting in to Crested geckos!

So far the set-up sounds great in terms of proper decor...I would agree with your idea of dividing your 46 gallon in half as it may be "too big" for 3 juvies. The temps sound good but I would be a bit weary of the humidity especially if you are not using a digital hygrometer to monitor (the dial type hygrometers can be +/- 10% off). Although 70% isn't bad, it would not be a bad idea to let it drop to 50% on some days (in a sense to let the enclosure dry out) and just use misting as a supplement for the fogger. Misting regularly is still required with or without a fogger, just make sure the enclosure doesn't get overly saturated.

As soul-eater said, wood substrate is generally not recommended for younger cresteds as it can lead to impaction. At least the smaller types...Imho, I think its best to use paper towel and then switch to which ever substrate you wish when they are older. Though, technically you can keep the substrate if you cup/bowl feed your geckos the live prey. Hopefully, you are dusting and gutloading your crickets and supplementing your fresh fruit too.

As for the morphs...
I would say 1. Flame (what color I'm not sure, you'd have to wait till it grows more or fires up).
2. Tiger (color same as above).
3. Red or Red bicolor [I like this one ;D]

As for general signs of parasites...
-Eating lots but not gaining weight / losing weight
-Worms in feces if you can see them...
-caked feces on the vent opening

Most geckos have a dotty/spotty/speckling patterning to their tummy.

 

[Soul Eater]

supplementing your fresh fruit too.

I've been wanting to do this for a while, but can you really feed them actual fresh fruits? And which kinds and what do you supplement with?

 

[Scarlet.Escapist]

I've been wanting to do this for a while, but can you really feed them actual fresh fruits? And which kinds and what do you supplement with?

Yes, you can feed them freshly blended fruits (non-citrus types). Fruits like bananas, berries, mangos, pears, papaya, passion fruit, figs, etc. You can even stir in some low/non-fat yogurt for added protein, although not all keepers would suggest or endorse adding "dairy" to their diet...there are keepers who have used these fruit smoothies for years to raise their geckos (b4 CGD was made) with no negative consequences, in fact most of their stock are bigger (not fat) and healthy. These "fruit smoothies" can be dispensed in to ice-cube trays and frozen. Just defrost, add some ca+d3 or vitamin powders, mix, and serve. Besides if your crested geckos don't eat it you can drink it too (without the supplements of course) ;P.

 

[Soul Eater]

Wow! Very interesting!! Yogurt? I never knew
Maybe I'll try that as a little thing. How often would you say to do this though? Maybe on their "food break day" as an optional treat?

 

[Scarlet.Escapist]

Wow! Very interesting!! Yogurt? I never knew
Maybe I'll try that as a little thing. How often would you say to do this though? Maybe on their "food break day" as an optional treat?

Yes, it can be fed as a treat . It'll provide variety in their diet which I'm sure they'll greatly appreciate. Just remember, same rule with the whole no citrus idea with the yogurt.

 

[Soul Eater]

Yes, it can be fed as a treat . It'll provide variety in their diet which I'm sure they'll greatly appreciate. Just remember, same rule with the whole no citrus idea with the yogurt.

Ah yes, citrusness. lol
I will look out for that
Thank you so much!

 

[tony_16]

thx for the help!!
ill make sure to divide the tank in half..

and ill make sure to let the tank dry out every now n then...n i do mist occasionaly wen i dnt wana turn the fogger on..

and yes..when i feed my geckos live prey i take them oout of the tank and place them in a critter keeper after dusting the crickes with calcium powder with D3

thx for the help with the morphs and parasite question...

the only fresh fruit ive given them are mango and bananas with a littel bit of calcium powder in it...and i tried strawberry yogurt once..they seemed to like it..

 

[Soul Eater]

If you don't use the fogger, mist at least once daily, but like it was said before, don't let it get TOO wet and such in there too. Use your good judgement and you and your cresties will be fine