Baby crested

[Muffins94]

Baby crested tank help please

Hello I have been looking into getting a crested gecko, a baby actually. I have done hours of research and they seem to be a good fit for what I'm looking for. I have a leopard gecko, so I want to have the desert theme and now the tropical theme, and that's where the crested comes in. My boyfriend and I have been looking all over at different tanks and all the supplies. We decided on coco fiber as substrate, lots of vines and plants, using CGD, and as a baby, using a 10 gallon that we have here at home unused. I've heard that height is better than length for cresteds, but as a little baby would a 10 gallon be okay? We were looking at some 18x18x24, but they were so big and the cresteds are so tiny. So we are wondering if we can start it out in a 10 gallon then upgrade once it gets bigger? Whats your opinion on the minimum 1 adult gecko should have? Also, as for temperature, my room doesnt get quite the temps they desire so would a low wattage(15-25) bulb heat it up just enough? Thank you. Also any recommendations or tips would be helpful. :blushing:

 

[Muffins94]

Anyone?? Also I'm confused about feeding a bit. I plan to feed CGD with an occasional fruit bite. Do I add calcium or any supplement to the CGD? I don't want my future baby to get MBD or anything bad. I want it to give a great diet full of everything it needs.

 

[thorrshamri]

Yeah, there are people logged in now, even Frenchies like me for whom it's 4:20 am now :lol:

Most of your questions will find proper answers here: http://www.geckosunlimited.com/comm...t-correlophus-ciliatus-basics.html#post377372

DON'T feed CGD, the reasons are explained in the care sheet.
Tank size: the volume (in gallons) matters much less than the actual dimensions. A 20" high enclosure will do.

 

[Muffins94]

Yeah, there are people logged in now, even Frenchies like me for whom it's 4:20 am now :lol:

Most of your questions will find proper answers here: http://www.geckosunlimited.com/comm...t-correlophus-ciliatus-basics.html#post377372

DON'T feed CGD, the reasons are explained in the care sheet.
Tank size: the volume (in gallons) matters much less than the actual dimensions. A 20" high enclosure will do.

Don't feed CGD? Wow, you're the first person I've heard that. Yes, the caresheet says they can get tired of it, need extras, etc., but is that it? I've heard to feed CGD as a staple along with providing insects and the occasional fruit or baby food. How strange. Care to elaborate on why? Or give me what you suggest? Would the 10 gallon be okay while a baby however, until I purchase a tall tank?

 

[thorrshamri]

Cresteds are arboreal. They NEED height. I wouldn't use the 10 gal.
Just be aware a lot of "advisors" are themselves CGD sellers or people just copying and pasting what they have seen somewhere else. Not so many people have kept cresteds from 2002 on like me. CGD: take a look at the contents. Jon Boone, one of the most famous guys in the hobby, has explained that much better than me. Most of the CGD contents is NOT something cresteds would eat in the wild. CGD keeps them alive if they are given nothing else, but in no way it can be called an optimal diet. Or else, how would you explain that cresteds fed on CGD only tend to be lighter and smaller than their counterparts fed with insects?
If you want to provide them with an optimal diet, browse the feeders section here on how to properly gutload feeder insects, and you will find insects suppliers either in the pet store next door or on the web. Giving CGD from time to time when you run short of insects is fine, it won't kill them. But using only CGD would not be wise. I am telling this after having discussed with many breeders from different countries and after having seen and compared hundreds of specimens.

 

[Muffins94]

Cresteds are arboreal. They NEED height. I wouldn't use the 10 gal.
Just be aware a lot of "advisors" are themselves CGD sellers or people just copying and pasting what they have seen somewhere else. Not so many people have kept cresteds from 2002 on like me. CGD: take a look at the contents. Jon Boone, one of the most famous guys in the hobby, has explained that much better than me. Most of the CGD contents is NOT something cresteds would eat in the wild. CGD keeps them alive if they are given nothing else, but in no way it can be called an optimal diet. Or else, how would you explain that cresteds fed on CGD only tend to be lighter and smaller than their counterparts fed with insects?
If you want to provide them with an optimal diet, browse the feeders section here on how to properly gutload feeder insects, and you will find insects suppliers either in the pet store next door or on the web. Giving CGD from time to time when you run short of insects is fine, it won't kill them. But using only CGD would not be wise. I am telling this after having discussed with many breeders from different countries and after having seen and compared hundreds of specimens.

Okay thank you. So do you think it would be okay for me to feed both CGD and crickets (dusted with calcium ad vitamins)? I'm not against insects, I currently have a leopard gecko. I just heard such good things about this CGD, it's a shame. And I will go with the 18x18x24 tank as well.

 

[thorrshamri]

Yes that would be fine. 75% insects and 25% CGD if you ask me
About dusting insects, I recommend Miner-All I from Sticky Tongue Farms on every feeding. I underline I don't sell this product, I have just used it for years with great success and its formula is just perfect. As for vitamins, if you feed crickets with a variety of greens, fruit and veg, since Miner-All I contains vitamin D3 in an adequate amount, they are not even absolutely necessary IMO. Most vitamin supplements tend to be highly overdosed, as people think "the more, the better" which is completely wrong. Too much vitamins will cause very serious trouble to any gecko or human alike. Also by feeding cresteds with fresh fruit mash, you bring natural fresh vitamins in their diet, you may also try liquid honey which contains a lot of valuable micro-nutrients.

 

[Muffins94]

Yes that would be fine. 75% insects and 25% CGD if you ask me
About dusting insects, I recommend Miner-All I from Sticky Tongue Farms on every feeding. I underline I don't sell this product, I have just used it for years with great success and its formula is just perfect. As for vitamins, if you feed crickets with a variety of greens, fruit and veg, since Miner-All I contains vitamin D3 in an adequate amount, they are not even absolutely necessary IMO. Most vitamin supplements tend to be highly overdosed, as people think "the more, the better" which is completely wrong. Too much vitamins will cause very serious trouble to any gecko or human alike. Also by feeding cresteds with fresh fruit mash, you bring natural fresh vitamins in their diet, you may also try liquid honey which contains a lot of valuable micro-nutrients.

Thank you thank you! I'm so excited to get one. So tell me if this sounds a-okay! A 18x18x24 viv with coconut fiber substrate with a layer of moss over, tons of vines and fake plants, a magnetic feeder for up high (for water & CGD), spray it daily as needed to maintain humidity, a low wattage bulb for added heat if necessary, and for feeding. I'll do 1 day CGD, then the next 2 insects, and so on.. And maybe once a week fruit as a treat.

 

[thorrshamri]

Almost perfect. Cresteds won't eat every day though, or they will become weary of food. Feeding adults twice weekly or every 3 days is ok, every other day for younger animals

 

[Muffins94]

Gotcha I'll do the feeding mentioned above but with that schedule.

 

[thorrshamri]

Good. And if any further help is needed, you know GU is the place to ask questions

 

[Muffins94]

Good. And if any further help is needed, you know GU is the place to ask questions

I was looking at Pangeareptile.com and came across this... Complete Crested Gecko Set Up Think this would be a good starter kit? I'd use coco fiber instead, and add more plants and decor. But it seems to be a good price and shipping is only $5 to me, much cheaper than my local pet store.

 

[thorrshamri]

Honestly? Apart from the Exo Terra tank itself, there are a lot of useless products in this "kit". Save money and follow recommendations on the crested care sheet

 

[Muffins94]

Will do. I started a seperate thread devoted to habitat and people's experiences with baby cresties, if you have anything to share I would appreciate it.

 

[LSeelt]

Okay, so I don't want to create an argument here, but I have read a lot of the science of the CGD argument, and for MOST people, it is difficult to get the right balance of nutrients required for a Crestie on their own. I wouldn't completely shy away from feeding CGD but I would definitely supplement with dusted crickets once a week. The crickets are very stimulating for them, once they are used to eating the CGD. Only use Repashy or Clarks complete diet since the other brands really don't provide what they need. ** Backs away from the fire slowly **

If you have B.Dubia roaches available where you are, the juveniles are supposed to be good feeders too (illegal where I am, ugh).

As for the height/enclosure questions, an 18x18x24 is ample enough for an adult. You want to provide as much space as you can afford. However, with babies many owners feel more comfortable keeping them in smaller enclosures since they are concerned that the gecko won't find its food and water or will suffer a fall. Geckos in the wild can handle falls from quite a height given that there is enough foliage, so it's not too big a worry.

If you want to use a 10 gallon, then it would suffice for a few months, but you will need to get a larger enclosure with more height within a year for certain. If you are looking at which to buy, it would be more economical to get an 18x18x24 exo terra.

Hope that helps and you find your perfect crestie!

 

[thorrshamri]

As for the height/enclosure questions, an 18x18x24 is ample enough for an adult. You want to provide as much space as you can afford. However, with babies many owners feel more comfortable keeping them in smaller enclosures since they are concerned that the gecko won't find its food and water or will suffer a fall. Geckos in the wild can handle falls from quite a height given that there is enough foliage, so it's not too big a worry.

If you want to use a 10 gallon, then it would suffice for a few months, but you will need to get a larger enclosure with more height within a year for certain. If you are looking at which to buy, it would be more economical to get an 18x18x24 exo terra.

Hope that helps and you find your perfect crestie!

I would agree if I had not observed myself how clumsy cresteds can be. Just compare with some Uroplatus. The latter will never miss their prey even from a distance, at least in 90% of cases. With cresteds, this comes down to 50%, and wandering insects are not exactly the way to go with all gecko species. I can tell you, having produced many cresteds in the past, that babies housed in a 15 gallons will not notice half of their living food. In a 5"x5"x8" for each hatchling, it works rather well

 

[Muffins94]

Thank you both so much! Turns out since we have a whole seperate setup ready were going to pick up another leopard gecko later this week. My boyfriend wasn't too interested in a crested, but said for my birthday he might get me one if I don't have one by then. So getting one has been delayed however that gives me more time to research and get a perfect set up going!!! Thank you all again! I will be getting out new baby Leo this weekend and will post pics up in the Leo section if you guys care to check it out

 

[thorrshamri]

It's a pity you live so far away. Usually when I produce "cheap" geckos I prefer to give them to people like you rather than selling them $ 50 to the first dummie in a show or on a forum. Breeding gecko is a pleasure for me, not a business unless it deals with expensive, rare species.

 

[Muffins94]

It's a pity you live so far away. Usually when I produce "cheap" geckos I prefer to give them to people like you rather than selling them $ 50 to the first dummie in a show or on a forum. Breeding gecko is a pleasure for me, not a business unless it deals with expensive, rare species.

I know it's too bad. But I'm glad I have you here at least for advice :yahoo: