So I rescued a Giant Day gecko

[OliviaThegecko]

So today I added a Giant day gecko to my awesome collection.

This poor thing was in a pet store that was closing and was the last thing to go, and it definitely shows. This poor thing is in bad shape, the guy claims that it is just coming out of a shed, be that as it may..I can see its SPINE!!!...mother of G-d.

So this is its tank so far...

The people had it on absolutely gross moss which was pooped all over and it was in a ten gallon.

Now it is much better...

It is in an exoterra tank ( around 30 gallons) Screen top
It has a uvb and a 75 watt heat lamp on it
It has a waterfall and fogger in the tank
It has 2 hides, plastic leaves,branches..
I am choosing to use reptile carpet, I chose this because it is cleaner, and I clean my tanks on a tight schedule, so this will work nice.

SO I have bananas and a little apple sauce with some calcium and D3 powder, I also have a large dubia roach colony and some crix...

Any other things? I wanna save her so bad. as i took apart her tank i found a few old eggs, so it would seem like she was laying ..so its clear she needs extra love, because eggs are expensive for girls to make...

Ideas are appreciated!! show me whatcha got!

Juli

 

[Aimless]

it sounds like you have a good start! what are the actual temps inside the tank? have you been able to measure them?

and, can you post a picture? how are her calcium sacs?

 

[OliviaThegecko]

Her calcium sacs are just awful, I have never seen something so pittiful, I already see improvement, considering she was black when i got her

I just got her today, and set her up ..I am currently out of thermometers and hydrometers, But I will get one..probably tomorrow

 

[OliviaThegecko]

My guess would be its about 80 F in there, since my incubator is 86 F

 

[OliviaThegecko]

as you can see humidity is not a problem..

 

[Aimless]

the humidity will definitely help with that stuck shed. she's pretty cute and perky. I suspect nutrition is going to be the only real challenge, along with some patience. I'm not sure what else you keep, but I assume you're using well-gutloaded bugs? if so she should fill out with some time.

and yes, her color looks great

 

[OliviaThegecko]

I have a large roach colony....

I have
3 beardies ( 20 more eggs on the way due in Jan)
2 large frogs( pixie,budgetts)
2 tarantulas (rosie, green bottle)
lots of shrimp and a crayfish
1 hog nose snake....
1 day gecko
3 cats
1 dog
.....and a partridge in a pear tree

plus millions of roaches...I feel like i missed something

Oh yea lots of guppies...and a husband His name is dave.

 

[RChristianson]

So cute!

 

[OliviaThegecko]

got my thermometer ...85 degrees f in the middle

 

[OliviaThegecko]

Now she doesnt seem to want any food, I have waxies, roaches and some organic baby food ( dusted with calcium and D3) ..I will be getting repashy, but its been so long since i had a soft gecko that I just ran out.

I remember my poor mans used to eat at night, yet i see these guys are active during the day...When can i expect her to eat, should i change her food everyday? Do they take time to chill out? I know its tough moving and it can be very stressful..but I'm hoping she turns it around..

 

[OliviaThegecko]

She ate a roach!!!

 

[Aimless]

lol! I'm glad she ate. I'd go a little slow and not stress if it takes her a little time. reptiles do almost everything more slowly than mammals, and recovery from rotten care will be no exception.

I would set up a schedule alternating bugs and diet. if you put several types of food into her cage every day you can sort of overwhelm her. just make sure the bugs have a really good, robust gutload since her nutrition has probably been pretty inadequate.

one other thing...D3 isn't necessary if you have a good UV bulb. overdusting will be as harmful as underdusting so please use care with this!

 

[OliviaThegecko]

I will go slow for sure, as a human its hard not to get that gratification of seeing things start working..but I will definitely take it easy, I'm just happy to see her eat a little something...and I'll go from there, but as soon as that thing moved it was gone so ..Im happy

 

[OliviaThegecko]

I will build her into my schedule of feedings, as you can imagine its intense

 

[OliviaThegecko]

There we go!! once she realized what I had she grabbed them off the tweezers, I only let her have three? I figured her tummy is probably shrunken now..