Interested in getting a Crested for the first time

[woodar]

Hello,

I currently have 3 Leos and am interested in figuring out what would be the best setup for a first-time Crested owner...? A friend of mine has a Crested and I've absolutely fallen in LOVE with their little guy!!! :biggrin:

I am also interested in finding out if anyone knows of a good breeder in Minnesota (U.S.) because I'd prefer not to take the risk of getting one from a pet store. :?

Please give me your best suggestions as to what items would be the best value and best for a first-time Crested owner.

Any advice/tips/recommendations are appreciated!!!


Thanks!!!


Ashlei

 

[mambo]

Well it all depends on what age you want to get. If you want an adult, I would just go ahead with the 18x18x24 exo terra, sometimes you can find them with kit-deals where you get (along with the enclosure) a water dish, a few plants/vines, compact top (sometimes bulb is included as well), simple care-guide and a brick of substrate (if you choose to use it, some people just use paper towels) for around 180 . Also, if you check the papers and/or craigslist, you may be able to find a setup for a lot cheaper.
Juvies may be able to be housed in the 18x18x24, but some can become stressed if they aren't able to find their food (so you might want to downgrade to a 12x12x18 ). A hatchling will do well in the largest size kritter keeper with plenty of hiding spots. Again, if the cage is to big, it may not eat. Then you just upgrade its cage as your crestie grows. There are other brands of terrariums available, so a rule of thumb when looking at them is vertical space is more important than horizontal.

A cheaper option would be to make your own, using a sterilite tub tilted on its side (for vertical space) with a mesh glued onto the top for ventilation. Assuming you have the tools to make it, depending on the size of the tub, and the additional supplies you'd need (plants/vines/dish) it may run you about 30-45 dollars.

As for breeders in MN, I'm not sure but you could always look around for expos in or around your area, here's a link to one - (Minnesota Reptile Show and Sale | Cold Blooded Expos) (googling MN reptile expos will bring up a lot more) You also could consider ordering online from a breeder and having your gecko shipped to your home.

Hope it helps

 

[woodar]

Well it all depends on what age you want to get. If you want an adult, I would just go ahead with the 18x18x24 exo terra, sometimes you can find them with kit-deals where you get (along with the enclosure) a water dish, a few plants/vines, compact top (sometimes bulb is included as well), simple care-guide and a brick of substrate (if you choose to use it, some people just use paper towels) for around 180 . Also, if you check the papers and/or craigslist, you may be able to find a setup for a lot cheaper.
Juvies may be able to be housed in the 18x18x24, but some can become stressed if they aren't able to find their food (so you might want to downgrade to a 12x12x18 ). A hatchling will do well in the largest size kritter keeper with plenty of hiding spots. Again, if the cage is to big, it may not eat. Then you just upgrade its cage as your crestie grows. There are other brands of terrariums available, so a rule of thumb when looking at them is vertical space is more important than horizontal.

A cheaper option would be to make your own, using a sterilite tub tilted on its side (for vertical space) with a mesh glued onto the top for ventilation. Assuming you have the tools to make it, depending on the size of the tub, and the additional supplies you'd need (plants/vines/dish) it may run you about 30-45 dollars.

As for breeders in MN, I'm not sure but you could always look around for expos in or around your area, here's a link to one - (Minnesota Reptile Show and Sale | Cold Blooded Expos) (googling MN reptile expos will bring up a lot more) You also could consider ordering online from a breeder and having your gecko shipped to your home.

Hope it helps

Thank you!

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated!

I am looking to get a juvenile one and was hoping someone could recommend a breeder they use/have used that provided a healthy young Crested.

: D

 

[woodar]

So I think I found a breeder I feel comfortable with now...but does anyone have any suggestions for a place that sells the decor at a reasonable price? I got most of my stuff for my leos on ebay or at petco, but I am having a hard time finding a hollow log/branch to put in the terrarium for a sweet little crested.

Any suggestions??? Where do you find/buy your decor for your Crested???

 

[Aimless]

for really little cresties, it's hard to find something that will work. you can use lots of viny foliage (fake or real). you can also give TP or paper towel cardboard tubes. these need to be replaced fairly often but also are easy and free.

once your gecko gets a bit bigger, I'd recommend a combo of foliage and a cork tube: Bedding and Cage - Cork - The Bean Farm

the "small" will fit an adult crestie. it's $10, but they last for a very long time. The Beanfarm is a great company and I usually get my supplies from them.

 

[woodar]

for really little cresties, it's hard to find something that will work. you can use lots of viny foliage (fake or real). you can also give TP or paper towel cardboard tubes. these need to be replaced fairly often but also are easy and free.

once your gecko gets a bit bigger, I'd recommend a combo of foliage and a cork tube: Bedding and Cage - Cork - The Bean Farm

the "small" will fit an adult crestie. it's $10, but they last for a very long time. The Beanfarm is a great company and I usually get my supplies from them.

Thank you Aimless!!! I will just save up my paper towel/tp rolls for now and I already have viny foliage...I appreciate the suggestions! :biggrin:

 

[brooksylc]

You can also get bamboo shoots at a craft store and cut them to size to make diagonal branches or if you want you can attach them to the sides and they can be horizontal branches. You can also get fake foliage and flowers at a dollar store. Just be sure to clean everything as you don't know if anything got onto these items, but you need to do that even if you buy from a pet store. Some people also get rocks or branches from outside, but you have to be sure they are sterilized and not have bugs coming in with them.

 

[mambo]

You can also make vines for very cheap too. If you go to the floral section in a craft store you can grab the heavy-duty tubing covered wire (its about $5 for a 30ft roll) and also some bark-covered wiring (anywhere from $3-5 for a 70ft roll, can also find this stuff online). You twist the bark wire together so it kind of looks braided and then twist that again around the tube-covered wire (so it gives it some sturdiness). Then you have your natural-looking vine! You can make 7-8 of these vines (around 6ft/vine) for around $2/vine. And, as stated above, make sure you clean them before placing them in your set-up.

 

[woodar]

You can also make vines for very cheap too. If you go to the floral section in a craft store you can grab the heavy-duty tubing covered wire (its about $5 for a 30ft roll) and also some bark-covered wiring (anywhere from $3-5 for a 70ft roll, can also find this stuff online). You twist the bark wire together so it kind of looks braided and then twist that again around the tube-covered wire (so it gives it some sturdiness). Then you have your natural-looking vine! You can make 7-8 of these vines (around 6ft/vine) for around $2/vine. And, as stated above, make sure you clean them before placing them in your set-up.

That's a really cool idea!!! I know my leos like climbing too so maybe I will try out something like that for them to see how it works out...
(obviously I will make it really thick/wide and lower to the ground so the leos don't fall off or anything...)
I always knew there were LOGICAL and PRACTICAL reasons for going to the dollar store!!!

 

[Aimless]

in terms of washing - consider also flame-retardants, pesticides, etc. as well as germs.

 

[woodar]

This is the new baby I will be getting next week once everything is ready to go.

Isn't he/she adorable!?!?!?!

 

[mambo]

Very nice! Can't wait to see him in your set-up!

 

[woodar]

Very nice! Can't wait to see him in your set-up!

Thanks! :yahoo: I'm anxious to get him/her and figure out the personality and such...

I will post up pics of my setup once I get everything together.
That way people can give feedback on it before I put that little cutie in there.

 

[woodar]

Anyone have any suggestions for names for the little one???

Obviously I don't know the gender yet (too little) and I don't really know his/her personality, but suggestions based on the pictures would be helpful!!!

Also, if you could help me figure out the morph that would be cool too!!!

 

[mambo]

He/she looks like a flame to me (don't take my word on it, new to the hobby as well), but if you want to look over different morphs and decide for yourself, there are a lot of great guides out there:
Crested Gecko Morph Guide
This one is my favorite, just click on whatever thread you think your crestie is and compare the pics to your cresties traits.
Have fun

 

[woodar]

So the deal fell through on that little cutie in the pictures...but I'm taking in a crestie today with full enclosure from a family that just doesn't have time anymore I'll post pics when I get everything set up!

 

[mambo]

Congrats on the addition! Can't wait to see pics