New Gehyra Marginata

[Dyesub Dave]

I ended up getting a Gehyra Marginata from the Expo thanks to Holly at Xtreme Exotics. However I haven't seen him/her come out yet after being introduced to the new surroundings. But it's been a stressful couple of days for the little critter so hopefully it will make an appearance soon. The enlcosure is only an 18" cube exo for now ... ( I was supposed to be getting a 24"x18"x24" but it ended up being the smaller size.) But this gecko is about the size of an adult crestie so it should be fine for a bit until I can get a larger setup.

Anyways ... here's a couple pics of the enclosure. I'll post some pics of the gecko when (s)he decides to come out.

And here's the cool looking half-tube of bamboo that I got from Betty at the Expo.

I found a few posts on this forum regarding their care but there's not a lot of info on the net. There are some very conflicting suggestions for temps so I'm keeping this one just slightly warmer than my cresties for now. I put out a dish with some pieces of ripe banana, peach, strawberry and musk melon and threw in 3 crickets last night. While I don't think any of the fruit is missing I don't see any crix running around.

I hope to get some nice shots to share with you soon. I would welcome any advice or suggestions from others that keep this species.

Thanks .... Dyesub Dave. :biggrin:

 

[Riverside Reptiles]

Congrats on the new addition Dave. It'll come out after it settles in. Hilde was talking about these same bamboo tubes. Would you mind pulling it out of the tank and posting some more detailed pics for me? I'd like to see it better as I might try my hand at making something similar. I have access to fresh bamboo around here.
Thanks

 

[Dyesub Dave]

Hey Ethan,

I really don't want to disturb the enclosure for a couple of days until I see this gecko start to eat. I'm not sure if you've seen Hilde's pics but here's a link to her bamboo piece. http://www.geckosunlimited.com/comm...ssissauga-show-anyone-going-2.html#post247611

Once the gecko seems a bit more relaxed in it's new home I'll try to get some pics for you. However here's a pic of the smaller piece I got. It's a little over an inch wide and 18" long and was $5.

Hope the link and the pic help somewhat.

Dyesub Dave. :biggrin:

 

[Riverside Reptiles]

Thanks for the link Dave. I could see more what I needed to see with Hilde's pics. I really like the bamboo.

 

[SeventyThree]

Congrats on finally getting one Dave, glad to see you got a ride up to the expo from RC

As far as temps go, I just checked mine with my fancy schmancy temp gun I just picked up, and his basking is 88-90F, with the cool end being 80F and his dark cold cave hide being 77F. He uses the basking area all the time during the day, and only moves away once every couple hours to cool down. At night all the heat shuts off, and the ambient becomes ~78F. I've been using these temps since I got him, and he's thriving, so I'm sticking to it!

(PS. Holly told me that one was a girl, the last one she had left )

 

[Dyesub Dave]

Thanks Chanel ... and thanks for the info. I've read everything from a hot basking spot to nothing above 85 deg. F. I have one of those 20W halogen puck lights that makes a very localized hot spot that I could place in one corner to give amble room to get away from the heat if desired.

Yes Holly told me female as well but I will hold off on being sure until it's a bit older. I'm not sure of the age but I'm guessing 6-8 months or somewhere thereabouts.

What do you feed yours? I put some fresh fruit and crix in last night but a bit more settling in time may be necessary before feeding starts. Did yours take a bit of time after you got him?

Any other thoughts you may have as to my setup, lighting, feeding, etc. would be appreciated.

Thanks ... Dyesub Dave. :biggrin:

 

[SeventyThree]

Here's my feeding regime:

Repashy CGD: 2-3x a week
Crickets (I throw in about 15) once every two weeks
Homemade Fruit Salad 1x a week dusted with Herptivite and Rep-Cal

The homemade fruit salad is a mixture of small chopped up apricot, mango, papaya, kiwi, peach and a little bit of banana (but watch the banana, too much is bad because it inhibits calcium absorption). I made up a whole bunch and froze it in individual portions in ice-cube trays in the freezer, and I just pop out a cube and de-thaw it when I want to feed it.

I got this super-duper magnetic feeding ledge from Western Gecko at the Expo, so one dish is the CGD/Fruit salad and the other is water.

I put the food in at night just before the lights go out, and he walks over to eat it shortly thereafter.

The only thing I can think about the setup is to add more cover/hides when you upgrade the enclosure. The more secure they feel, the more often they come out. I'm lucky that my boy isn't shy, but he loves the grapevine and basks on it all the time.

 

[SeventyThree]

Also, my guy did take a couple days to settle in and eat consistently when I first got him, but everything was great within a week. I put a black towel over the front of the enclosure when he first came to let him settle in, and I think that really helped even though he's in a low-traffic area.

I have one of those light domes that has a dimmer on the cord, and I think I have a 100W bulb in there, but it's turned down about half way. It's great because I can adjust it based on what I observe. If it's too hot, he will stay on the cool side so I turn it down, and if he won't leave the basking spot all day I turn it up a bit. The temperature reading I had (88-90F) is about 6" away from the light.

When you do start to consider gentle handling in a couple weeks (if you so choose), I found that once you get them on your hand a drop of honey on your finger is greatly appreciated

Any other questions feel free to ask, I'm more than happy to help!

 

[Dyesub Dave]

Well my little halogen light was blown so I'll have to get a new bulb. I ended up using a little clamp lamp that uses a small 15W incandescent bulb as well as the spiral CF bulb. The thermometer is about 4" or so away from the hot spot and is reading 80 deg. F. So I imagine that under the spot it's at least 3-4 degrees warmer. I have the hot spot over the bare section of the cork bark. ( See pics at beginning of thread. )

I'm going to add some 2-part repashy gecko diet tonight and see if that gets eaten. That's a good tip about covering the front and I may do that if I don't see her out and about soon. Although I'll be gone at work all day so there won't be any distractions for her.

Thanks for all the advice and I'll be sure to contact you if I have any more questions!! ;-)

Dyesub Dave. :biggrin:

 

[Dyesub Dave]

I thought that I'd at least post the pics from the vendor. I'll post some of my own once the gecko comes out from hiding!

Dyesub Dave. :biggrin:

 

[Dyesub Dave]

OK ... I'm starting to get a little concerned. I haven't actually SEEN this gecko eat anything since I brought it home. I know it's only been a few days but who knows if it ate for the two days of the expo either.

I have offered Fresh Fruit, 2-Part Repashy (Banana), Crickets, Butterworms, Fruit Smoothie and Bee Pollen. I've covered the front of the enclosure for more privacy but check in periodically in the morning and several times in the evening. Now she may have eaten the butterworms and some of the crickets (the crickets are loose and I threw the butterworms in front of her near the back of the enclosure.) but I have no way of telling for sure.

Just wondering how long I should wait before trying to take her out (which I wanted to wait longer to do) and putting some food on her nose/mouth area for her to lick up? I know these geckos can last for a while without eating but I don't want to wait too long.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks ... Dyesub Dave. :biggrin:

 

[Hilde]

I'm pretty sure mine took quite a while before daring to come out when I was around, probably 3 or 4 weeks IIRC. It's hard to remember back 10+ years, but I do know they took long enough for me to wonder if I should start worrying. They also pick a favourite sleeping spot, go back to it in the morning so it looks like they haven't moved (somewhat like Rhacs do).
If she's sub-adult and in good shape, a couple of weeks without food won't hurt. Their metabolism isn't like ours. Being cold-blooded, they can go weeks without food and not suffer any damage. If they had to burn calories for body heat, they'd be in trouble after a few days. Just make sure there's water and let her settle in.

Feeding bugs would be the best way to go since movement triggers their feeding response. Trying to dab some food on her nose would probably just scare her and set her back. They really don't like handling at all since their skin is so fragile. If picked up, they typically stay motionless, less chance of ripping off a patch of skin, then make a run for it when they see the chance. Picking her up to hand feed her would probably end up with her leaving some skin behind. Some people suggest holding them to force-feed but from what I've seen in G. vorax and marginata, sitting quietly isn't always a sign of tameness. It's not worth the risk. Just give her bugs and let her get settled.

 

[SeventyThree]

Don't even think about handling her for a couple weeks until she becomes established, and don't worry if she hasn't eaten since you got her, it does take them a little while to settle in. My guy didn't start eating noticeably for about a week as well, and I found that trying to offer a variety didn't work. Just stick to the CGD in an easily accessible spot, the best place for her would be behind the corkbark so she can eat in privacy, and throw a couple crickets in for a couple days. Once she begins feeding normally you can start offering other feeders like butterworms and such, but my guy isn't really a fan of many insects besides crickets.

If she still looks the same (I know you barely see her) then don't worry, it only becomes an issue if she begins losing weight which could take a couple weeks.

Also, make sure you're using 1/2" crickets, mine was a lot more accepting of small crickets when I first got him. Don't even bother trying to dab something on her nose at this point, it would just freak her out and possibly scare her off eating for longer..

 

[Dyesub Dave]

OK ... Thanks guys. Yeah I've been keeping the food closer to the front of the enclosure as it's easier access for me but there's not any cover there. I have been keeping the front covered however for more privacy.

I'll throw some crix in tonight and hopefully she'll go for them.

Dyesub Dave. :biggrin:

 

[Dyesub Dave]

Well I'm happy to report that this Marginata now seems to be eating a fair bit. I've removed the covering from the front and don't see her much but at least she's eating. I've been feeding a bit every day as I want her to get a good start. Once I know that she's settled in nicely I'll drop the feedings down to every second or third day.

I've got a red heat lamp above the enclosure as well as the compact fluorescent bulb. It's gets to about 82-85 deg. F in the day and 72-75 deg. F at night. She seems to keep as close to the heat as possible without being seen! ;-)

Thanks again for all the advice and I'll get some pics up as soon as she comes out a bit more often.

Dyesub Dave. :biggrin:

 

[SeventyThree]

That's great to finally hear, they always come around :biggrin: Hopefully she'll start showing herself more often and you can really start to appreciate her!

 

[Dyesub Dave]

Well I saw her on the front glass once. I walked in and noticed her there so I didn't move for a bit. Then I slowly got closer and she didn't bolt away. A very beautiful gecko that I'd certainly like to see more of.

I can't wait to get some pics to share with all of you as well.

Dyesub Dave. :biggrin: