crested gecko weight

potatoeschicka

New member
i got this gecko its name is potatoes and he or she looks under weight to me i have no idea how old it is i know its still fairly young due to its size and the face that he or she is unsexed i want to know what a healthy weight would be i think i can faintly see his back bone and hes ribs are visible im going to ge his weight soon but i just got him last october and he doesnt seem to have gained any weight
 

Spyral

New member
Pics would help, they can look thin at certain angles. A scale that measures in tenths (.10) of a gram will help monitor growth or weight loss.
 

potatoeschicka

New member
I just took some pics of him to show you what i mean and then my camera died and i cant find any batteries! will post them as soon as i get some batteries!
 

potatoeschicka

New member
lizzy2l
this is what he looks like i think he looks thin
 

lauraleellbp

New member
Yes that gecko looks pretty thin, and it may be his enclosure setup?

You need many many more plants (I shoot for around 50% full of plants in my enclosures) and lots of branches/sticks/vines to climb on. Here's an example of a 10gal I had set up for one of my juvies:

IMG_6002.jpg


I also would get rid of the reptile carpet (toenails and teeth are very prone to snagging in it and it's VERY hard to actually get clean- breeding ground for nasty bacteria and parasites) and I'd go with paper towel instead. You may switch to something like Eco Earth down the road if you want something more natural looking, but I would not at this point since we aren't yet sure what's going on with your gecko. Paper towels are easiest to keep clean and monitor for poop to be sure he's eating regularly.

Also, is that a heat lamp? You probably do not need a heat lamp. Room temperature (in the 70s F) is ideal for crested geckos, and I would not add any heat at all unless the tank drops under 60 F (some people go down to 55F, but I personally would add a bit of heat at that point).

I also would recommend picking up a digital hygrometer and thermometer, as they are much more reliable than dial types.

Last but not least, what are you feeding, how often, and how often are you misting his enclosure?


If he continues to lose weight, I'd encourage you to take him and a fresh fecal sample into a herp vet to check for parasites.
 
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Aimless

Super Moderator
I agree with everything Laura said. your setup looks like a basic Leo tank, and is not ideal for an arboreal gecko species that needs lots of cover and things to climb on. if you can always see your crestie, chances are very good that he feels exposed and is stressed about it.
 

potatoeschicka

New member
Hey all it's been a while but I wanted to tell you guys he is now climbing all the time even during daylight and guess what he now weighs.................19.2grams
 
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