potatoeschicka
New member
he doesnt climb anymore that i notice
Crested Geckos Potatoes/"Tater" & Degas: breeding plans?, toe problems, behavior
- Thread starter potatoeschicka
- Start date
Elizabeth Freer
Well-known member
Hum, :-(, not even on your couch? Can you post a picture of the pads of his toes?
Can you place some thick sticks in his tank, maybe an inch across?
lauraleellbp
New member
Closer examination of the middle picture of him looks to me like he's got stuck shed. Which would be to expected given his current enclosure setup can't hold humidity.
Did you ever try that sauna like I linked a few days ago?
Did you ever try that sauna like I linked a few days ago?
cricket4u
New member
Hello,
Are his ribs always that visible? If so it's possible he is a bit dehydrated. To be honest that is not the ideal setup for a crested gecko. The humidity would be best above 60% and I can only imagine 2 bulbs sucking the humidity dry. He needs a naturalistic type set up and his temperature should not exceed 85. His behavior can be due to stress due to the conditions. Climbing furniture is important as already mentioned. How is his appetite within the past few days?
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Elizabeth Freer
Well-known member
Feeling a bit frustrated about Potatoes
Lizzy ~
Not climbing for a crestie is totally NOT the norm. I don't know how to say this in any other way.
I am feeling a bit frustrated right now. Laura and I have been following this thread closely since you posted on January 26th with the climbing issues Potatoes still has. On Jan 28th you mentioned that you tried Laura's sauna link. That is excellent, but you need to increase the humidity of his tank on a 24/7/365 basis.
I find myself repeating things I said a couple weeks back, for instance my recommendation of the Fluker Farm's digital hygrometer/thermometer on January 27th.
Laura is a breeder of cresties and knows her stuff. All along both of us have mentioned as best we could that for Potatoes to get/stay healthy the humidity within his enclosure needs to change. Humidity fluctuates wildly depending upon temperature and moisture. It is vital for you to get a hygrometer/thermometer to get a handle on this problem.
Yet you post a picture showing that nothing has really changed
. That circular analog thermometer you have can be quite inaccurate; there is no potted plant in the enclosure; and the cage should have more stuff in it so Potatoes can feel secure.
Be sure to repot the sanseveria in fresh soil and gently wash the leaves of the plant. We don't know what kind of fertilizer may have been used.
Lizzy ~
Not climbing for a crestie is totally NOT the norm. I don't know how to say this in any other way.
I am feeling a bit frustrated right now. Laura and I have been following this thread closely since you posted on January 26th with the climbing issues Potatoes still has. On Jan 28th you mentioned that you tried Laura's sauna link. That is excellent, but you need to increase the humidity of his tank on a 24/7/365 basis.
I find myself repeating things I said a couple weeks back, for instance my recommendation of the Fluker Farm's digital hygrometer/thermometer on January 27th.
Laura is a breeder of cresties and knows her stuff. All along both of us have mentioned as best we could that for Potatoes to get/stay healthy the humidity within his enclosure needs to change. Humidity fluctuates wildly depending upon temperature and moisture. It is vital for you to get a hygrometer/thermometer to get a handle on this problem.
Yet you post a picture showing that nothing has really changed
. That circular analog thermometer you have can be quite inaccurate; there is no potted plant in the enclosure; and the cage should have more stuff in it so Potatoes can feel secure.Be sure to repot the sanseveria in fresh soil and gently wash the leaves of the plant. We don't know what kind of fertilizer may have been used.
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Elizabeth Freer
Well-known member
I can view only the same 5 pictures you posted on Feb 2nd. The new pictures do not come through.
lauraleellbp
New member
In most cases, when you're starting off with a healthy gecko, yes. But in this case, from what I'm seeing this gecko has not been on a proper diet at least in the months since you got him, and IDK what he was fed before that... so I'd do what you can to get some proper nutrition into him sooner rather than later.
I wouldn't force feed, but most of my geckos will lick CGD off of my fingers if I smear a bit on their lips (some people say nose, but I try and stay away from nostrils). When that doesn't work, I gloop up some crickets in wet CGD and they'll usually take that.
Handfeed him for a few weeks till he puts on a bit of weight, and then you can try "cold turkey" with just CGD if you want. But I'd want to make sure you get his digestive system running with CGD first.
potatoeschicka
New member
i did not post new pics of his cage only of him and i am trying to get the right stuff fast as i can i have ordered it just waiting for it to come in....... i had him out last night and he was totaly active and jumping and climbing like crazy i was sooooo glad to see that i have the bulb because i have a verry cold leaky house and dont plan on using it in the summer
potatoeschicka
New member
when i got him he was on a staple diet of baby food with crickets and petsmart food so i weaned him off of baby food and got him on the crested gecko diet of petsmart eFluker's® Crested Gecko Food - Food - Reptile - PetSmart
Elizabeth Freer
Well-known member
Lizzy ~
Thanks for your update. Now I feel better knowing that Potatoes will soon get the stuff he needs. Good to hear that he is much more active! Look forward to seeing a picture of his updated habitat
I will check those pics again. Maybe I missed the spot to find the new ones. Just saw the same 5 pics you had posted on Feb 2nd.
potatoeschicka
New member
well there are only five i had the 2 old ones and the three new ones of him
cricket4u
New member
Hi,
I am glad to hear he was active
I know you have lots to work on, but definately keep the switch of food brand in mind as mentioned. It has healthier ingredients and mixes with water which is a plus for your crested gecko. 5.3 oz Jar Repashy Gecko Diet MRP
Elizabeth Freer
Well-known member
Hi,
I am glad to hear he was active
5.3 oz Jar Repashy Gecko Diet MRP
cricket4u ~
What do you think about feeding cresteds Repashy's Day Gecko Diet which is supposed to be a bit sweeter? They are also listed on the package.
cricket4u
New member
The products are made to fit individual needs per gecko and so it's safer to use the recommended product for the particular gecko. The amounts of certain vitamins have a slightly different%. If he refuses the kind made for him than I think it's safe to use the Day gecko's diet.
potatoeschicka
New member
Ok because he doesnt really like to eat fruity things..... i know when he was liking the babyfood he wouldnt touch the fruit type but he loved the meats. by what i understand the cgd is pretty fruit based so he will prob have to adjust...
KolbyJack
New member
What wattage is the bulb used in your lamp? If the lamp is necessary I would suggest a lower watt bulb (50) it also states the temps per inches on the side of the bulb's box so you know how hot the bulb will actually make it.
I agree with everyone on the cgd, hygrometer, thermometer, and more plants. You can also add in some vines, those can be purchased at petsmart. They are flexible so you can shape the vine to different heights in the enclosure. I have mine set up starting with a circular platform on one end underneath the substrate to be sturdy starting off, then winding throughout the enclosure at different levels leaning off the glass and secured with a little twist tie midvine at the top of the cage and ending wrapped around a suction-cupped branch decoration. They come in 6ft lengths, which is what I got, by the time you bend it all up it doesn't seem so long. And I also have 2-3 fake plants suctions on the sides of the tank and draping along the vine. My guy likes to hang out in the plants, I find him sleeping in them during the day.
Lots of plant-ey hiding/climbing decorum, cgd, hygrometer, thermometer, spray bottle.
If you decide against substrate for now, I would also suggest the humid hide as Laura suggested.
Generally, the taller enclosures the better. Some people set up tanks like what you have on their side. I actually have one of my tanks set up that way with paper towel lining the bottom.
I agree with everyone on the cgd, hygrometer, thermometer, and more plants. You can also add in some vines, those can be purchased at petsmart. They are flexible so you can shape the vine to different heights in the enclosure. I have mine set up starting with a circular platform on one end underneath the substrate to be sturdy starting off, then winding throughout the enclosure at different levels leaning off the glass and secured with a little twist tie midvine at the top of the cage and ending wrapped around a suction-cupped branch decoration. They come in 6ft lengths, which is what I got, by the time you bend it all up it doesn't seem so long. And I also have 2-3 fake plants suctions on the sides of the tank and draping along the vine. My guy likes to hang out in the plants, I find him sleeping in them during the day.
Lots of plant-ey hiding/climbing decorum, cgd, hygrometer, thermometer, spray bottle.
If you decide against substrate for now, I would also suggest the humid hide as Laura suggested.
Generally, the taller enclosures the better. Some people set up tanks like what you have on their side. I actually have one of my tanks set up that way with paper towel lining the bottom.
lauraleellbp
New member
I'm sorry, but the stuff you bought is NOT a proper diet for a crested gecko. I cannot stress strongly enough, PLEASE pick up either some Repashy or Clarks brands of Crested Gecko Diet, these are the only two brands available in the USA at the moment that are actually PROPERLY formulated for a Crested Gecko.
I get Repashy from Pangea Reptile Supplies Home Page, but there are plenty of other places that sell it as well. You can sometimes find it branded under TRexx at some PetCos (it's the same stuff). But NONE of the foods sold by Flukers, ZooMed, and I've seen one or two others that are targeted at cresties, are at ALL formulated properly. I suspect they're really just relabelled iguana food or something? Your gecko will just continue to look worse and worse if you rely on those foods for your crestie.
potatoeschicka
New member
i did do that last night i got him the repashy from pangea and some stuff that is also repashy that says it helps picky geckos switch over. i got a hygro/thermometer too so when it comes in a couple 2 or 3 days he should be great. we are going to get a humid hide in there for him also and definately more stuff to climb on. just want to get him started on the food before we start adding a bunch of stuff dont want to stress him out too much you know what they say stress kills
potatoeschicka
New member
I want to know how you cut the hole in the plastic tupperwear without making it so they cut themselfs when they try to get in or out?
potatoeschicka
New member
OK so i found a scale that i had around the house no idea if it measures to the .10 or not. it said he was 11.5 grams