Crested gecko weight and growth discussion

[JMims]

I haven't really seen too much on this topic, and I thought a nice discussion on it might be beneficial. I have had my crested gecko for a few months, and got it when it was a few weeks maybe a month old. I haven't really seen much growth... still only about 1.4-1.8g, not sure how accurate my scale is but thats the reading I get. Has anyone noticed a peak age where they have a spike in their growth? I have so far only fed CGD as I haven't been able to find small enough crickets, has anyone experienced faster growth when they feed crickets/ feeder insects in addition to CGD? Does feeding a specific kind of feeder insect increase growth? If anyone has preformed a study on some of these questions then share the data, I would love to see it. Also, this thread isn't to argue about whats best to feed crested geckos, i'm simply asking people to share what growth patterns they have noticed based on feeding, environment, etc.
Thanks,
Jarod

 

[CrestedRick]

Weight gain has a lot to do to with diet. Just CGD alone is beneficial but add in a dubia roach every so often and itll help add weight.

 

[Replv4ev]

I feed mainly CGD and occasionally crickets. Make sure to feed a good amount of CGD every night as 1.8 grams is still hatchling weight (as in right out of egg).

 

[CrestedRick]

I disagree with feeding every night. I fed mine this evening and will remove it Saturday morning and add new CGD on tuesday evening. Their stomachs are only the size of one of their eyes so feeding every night is excessive in my opinion.

 

[Aimless]

I just find that they don't eat it if you feed every day.

 

[Replv4ev]

For babies feeding every day is good because they will eat more often than an adult, I feed my adults and juvies every other day but I find babies will eat everyday and it will help with growth as it will ensure they have access to food whenever they are hungry. Especially when they are still at newly hatched size for months, that usually means the gecko isn't eating or isn't being fed enough.

 

[JMims]

I do have new food available every night. I don't notice eating every night but I do know my crested is eating. I have no idea if that 1.8g is totally correct, I just now that he/she is pretty small still. Ok I got a better age, about 1.5 months old I think, and also the weight I just got was 2.0g. The 1.8g was from around 2 weeks ago so I think there is growth. I have noticed that he/she only eats about every other day, even if I change the food every day.

 

[Replv4ev]

I dont know what your temps are but I find increasing the temps to around 75 with like a 30 or 40watt bulb, but it all depends on your house temps if a bulb will help.

 

[JensChaos]

I feed mostly crickets (also dust with multi vit and calcium) and supplement with Repashy ( which she didn't start to eat until she was 6mo ). I have had my one crested gecko since she was 2-3 months old, not sure of her weight when I got her but she is now 10-11 months old and 34grams. I have offered her other feeder insects but she seems to have no interest in them as well as no interest in fruit. I also got a hatchling who weighed 1.2 grms when I got her I feed her crickets daily and she eats daily. I offer her repashy but she hasn't eaten it yet. Now at 6 weeks old she weighs 5grams.

 

[big tom]

Feeding gut loaded crickets combined with the right temps (as mentioned already), is great for growth. I don't feed the diets until they are 4-6 months old. The crickets seem to condition them to have a better feed response. I just saw the release of the PFMC (Pangea Fruit Mix Complete) diet. It will be great to have that option now. The feed response to the PFM was always really good, and put weight on my geckos quickly when I used it with intermittent cricket feedings. I'm looking forward to trying it.

 

[badgsx]

Anthony Capponetto (AcReptiles.com) says that growth rate of young geckos is cut in half without frequent insect feedings because they just don't eat enough of the cgd. I'm almost positive that Philippe de Vosjoli says something similar in his Rhacodactylus book.