Taming a hatchling+a few other hatchling questions

Wind Dancer

Wind Dancer

New member
Hello! I've had my hatchling crested for 3 weeks and i'm thinking it's about time i started to think about taming so i don't end up with a wild child.
my question is, how should i go about doing this?
and also, how ofter should i weigh her? s/he was at 2grams last time and refused to leave her plants for 4+ days after:(

thanks!
 
A

acpart

Well-known member
When I got my crestie a few years ago, I would take him out just about every evening for a few minutes, sit on the couch with him and let him walk from hand to hand. He still clings to the plants when I take him out, but seems interested in his environment.

Aliza
 
zohariels

zohariels

New member
I usually start handling my hatchlings every 1-2 days after they are 3 days old. I put some repashy on my finger and dab it on their nose, that seems to really help stimulate their appetite, as well as make my handling them something positive. All the cresties I've hatched out are ridiculously friendly, and dont do the mad dash for escape I've seen with some adults I've bought. I think just make sure to be calm if he takes a four foot flying leap off you, dont sweat it, to them its nothing.
I'm a wee bit obsessive about weighing my cresties, I usually weigh all of them a couple times per week, you certainly dont need to do that though. It's great to weigh them every couple of weeks to see how they're growing, but you dont even have to that much. Congrats on your cestie and have fun!
 
Wind Dancer

Wind Dancer

New member
thanks guys!
can a hatchling get through 1/4inx1/4in wire? i'm having to do some tank mods after a the lights in the hood pooped out and there's some wire laying around that me and my grandpa thought we might use. it would be a 4inx8in section of the hood that would be covered by it.....
 
Wind Dancer

Wind Dancer

New member
zohariels said:
That should be fine. I have had a hatchling get out of a 1/2 by 1/2 inch space before!
Click to expand...

cool. is syngonium podophyllum nephthytis "maria" safe to put in a crested tank? i had read that it doesn't really matter since they won't be eating it, but i have to wonder.....:?
 
Wind Dancer

Wind Dancer

New member
okay. i decided to wait until the evening to handle her since i thought that would make her happier. no such luck. as soon as s/he sew me coming it was like s/he turned into the speed demon! i thought s/he might feel better if s/he had something other than my hand, so i put a glove on, thinking s/he's like the extra traction. nope. wouldn't let me pick her up and i didn't want to traumatize her by chasing her around the tank, so i gave her fresh CGD and left her alone. what should i do? (the other problem is me-s/he's my first herp, so i'm not terribly confident with handling.)
 
zohariels

zohariels

New member
Some cresties are very attached to their tank, once you get them out they're usually much more calm! It also sounds like you're quite nervous handling the wee one- we usually are in the beginning!- but just relax and enjoy, there's really no reason to worry. IF they bite, and thats very rare, it wont hurt, and they are much tougher then they feel! Maybe try positioning your hands so that s/he jumps onto your hands, and then 'walk' your crestie on your hands once you get him/her out. This is when you place one hand in front of the other, the front hand slightly higher so when your crestie goes to jump it jut moves to your other hand. I dont think I'm explaining it very well, its really quite easy when you see someone do it. And remember, there's probably a good chance they will jump to the floor, so if it makes you more comfortable you can always hold them while you're sitting down. Hope it works out, dont give up trying! Remember some babies stay quite jumpy until they are adults.
 
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