gargoyle or crested gecko

[charmando]

Hey everybody. So I can't decide if i'd rather have a gargoyle or crested. I'm going to choose based on the cage setup i already have so can you aid me with this. Right now I have a 16x16x30 repti breed screen cage. I'm guessing this would be a better fit for Gargoyles since they require less moisture and can probably climb the screen with their longer nails. Exo-terra silk terrarium plant 25x8. Sphagnum moss for bedding, a medium feeding dish, exo terra small jungle vines, and a small java wood hide/ bask. I'm also in the process of growing some hawaiian baby woodrose but i'm not sure if this would be an alright addition. Do you think a 60 watt zoo med blue daylight would be fine with a deep dome holder. Would this setup be better for a gargoyle and am i missing anything? - Armand


Also this looks pretty sweet Amazon.com: Pangea Magnetic Mushroom Ledge Cup Holder: Kitchen & Dining

 

[terradas]

Honestly, that setup could work just fine for either one. It comes down to personal preference. Cresteds tend to be more arboreal, but I have my gargs in a 39g hex and they make good use of all the vertical space as well. Price range is close to the same so I'd say pick your favorite. I'm mroe of a gargoyle guy myself, but that's just me.

 

[charmando]

Ye i'm leaning towards a gargoyle as of now. Probably going to order off big apple pet supply unless you know any more reputable online vendors.

 

[Hannibal]

I agree with Tony, either would work well in a screened enclosure. The main differences in housing care is: 1) gargoyles can go a little lower in humidity, and 2) they can tolerate temperatures around 85 where cresties start to stress at low 80s.

I say keep your options open and go see a few of each, then go with the one that grabs your attention the most.

 

[Lunar Gecko]

See and I have had better experience over the last year with higher humidity with gargs than with cresties. Around 75% for cresties and 80-85% for gargs and letting it drop to about 50-60% for each. I think its because gargs are lower to the ground in the wild so humidity is a little higher. Also just giving them a humid area (like a nest box) work well too. It all comes down to what you want to do. Personally I prefer gargs.

 

[charmando]

do you think a ceramic 100 watt bulb would be too hot if a keep it on for a few hours a day. Also i'm planning on buying two so would it be okay to start them right off in the 16x16x30 or should i do separate tupperware housing for a while? thanks for the help.

 

[pakinjak]

If you buy them together it might be ok to quarantine them together, but you won't know who is eating, pooping etc. if they're together. I'd keep them apart at first in a minimal enclosure with paper towel substrate for a little while, that way you can see the poop and know how much they're eating, etc.

A ceramic bulb sounds too hot, but you could just increase the distance from cage until you got it to where you want it. I just use a regular bulb for a basking spot, and get plenty of heat from that.

BTW- I vote Gargoyles all the way!!

 

[charmando]

Alright thanks everyone ill keep you updated and post pictures of my vivarium and gargs probably sometime around next week.

 

[Hannibal]

A heat bulb or any heat source for that matter really isn't necessary unless your temps get very cold. In the winter time we cool them before the next breeding season. During cool down their temps are kept in the low 60s. Therefore, for cresties your temp ranges are between 60-80 degrees and for gargoyles between 60-85 degrees.

The 16x16x30 is great for a single crestie or gargoyle, you could even have 2 cresties do fine in that size. However, you do NOT want to keep 2 gargoyles together as they can be very aggressive towards each other.

 

[charmando]

okay hannibal i bought the heat lamp because i'm not allowed to have animals at my apartment and when I bring them home from school they must stay in my storage room. So how do people typically breed gargoyles; do they monitor them outside their cages in a controlled environment?

 

[Hannibal]

Gargoyles need to be at least 45+ grams for breeding. You have to be cautious when breeding them; it's best to know the individual gargoyles personality so you can watch for changes like stress or aggression. If you notice either, then you need to separate them immediately. We usually keep them together for 3-7 days in our bedroom so we can listen for any fights. We haven't had to separate any due to aggression or stress sofar.

We have 3 adult females that we have bred without any trouble sofar, but we do have 1 female that we have not breed yet due to her aggressive behavior. She will try to go after another gargoyle who's in an enclosure next to her's. Once she decides to calm down, if ever, then we will put her in with a larger male for breeding.

 

[charmando]

Are gargoyles as easy going as crested geckos or would you say they're more skittish when you initially handle them. I won't be touching mine for the first week or so just wanna know what to expect.

 

[charmando]

Just bought Vriesea 'Christiane' and Peperomia-Panama for the vivarium. I', kind of upset because I decided I wanted to do all natural plants last night, but already prematurely ordered from a site that will only refund certain products. wtf? It's all good though i'm going to do half natural half man-made. Does anyone have experience ordering from black jungle, the monkey pods look awesome. http://mgonline.com/media/Images/V/Vriesea_Christiane01.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2081/2240080251_67854bf3ed.jpg

 

[Hannibal]

Are gargoyles as easy going as crested geckos or would you say they're more skittish when you initially handle them. I won't be touching mine for the first week or so just wanna know what to expect.

In my experience gargoyles are much less skittish and enjoy either sitting on you or climbing up and down your arms. We do have 1 that likes to jump every once in a while, but he didn't start that until after we started calling him danger gecko (because when he was a baby he had a neon orange stripe that looked like a construction worker's orange vest). But you can usually tell when they are getting ready to jump, they will do a little butt wiggle then push off with their hind legs....it's so cute!

 

[charmando]

it all seems too good to be true. hahaha

 

[charmando]

Are branches I clipped from a bush outside ok for my terrarium if i washed them and they haven't been treated with any chemicals?

 

[pakinjak]

Are branches I clipped from a bush outside ok for my terrarium if i washed them and they haven't been treated with any chemicals?

Most people would say no, I think. As a precaution, boil them or pour boiling water over them, let them soak for a bit, and then bake them for 250 for 30 minutes.

(Just between you and me though, I have some furnishings in my enclosures that haven't been treated in any way. They are too large to treat, really. Just be prepared for unusual critters to pop up randomly in your tank.)

 

[charmando]

I got my gargoyle yesterday and he/she is a lot more awesome looking than i was expecting. I put him right near the cgd dish and he slurped some up immediately. Is it normal for gargoyles to stay in the same spot all day, its just weird because I can't tell if hes sleeping. I have him in the 16x16x30 right now, but should have a large critter keeper by sunday. Yesterday he climbed to the very top of the cage and just hung there all day then moved to the fake vines before I fell asleep. This morning he was at the bottom left hand corner of the cage behind one of the potted plants and has been there since. Should i move him into something smaller immediately or will this be okay till sunday? YouTube - Gargoyle gecko setup

 

[Hannibal]

Gorgeous gargoyle, Congrats! He should be fine until Sunday, but yeah, he should probably stay in the large critter keeper until he's about 12grams or so. Gargoyles will pretty much stay in the same spot all day long, sometimes mine move some, but not much. If you look very closely at their eyes, they kinda sink in a little when they sleep. It's much easier to see this as they get older.

 

[crested_human]

I have never had a gargoyle, but i too was in the same place. I went with a crested and couldnt be happier. he is super playful and curious, but you cant go wrong either way.