What did someone give me?

[Winter walk]

[/ATTACH=CONFIG]31238[/ATTACH]I've been given a gecko it's brown has vertical zig zag stripes he sometimes gets to a greenish color has no eyelids huge caramel colored eyes about 8 inches long very smooth almost velvety no spikes no bumps his face looks like an alligator is at the sticky feet climbs up the glass makes no noises I have a picture I just don't how to post it. She had it in a cold corner no heat in the air conditioning was feeding it cut up grapes and said it didn't move much. She didn't want it and it was given to her kids. all I know is there was moldy coconut bedding. I have never had a gecko it's very quick it likes to jump don't know if that's common. Does anyone know what this guy might be how to post a picture so that you have a better idea so that I know what's a feed him and how want to make his cage right now I'm keeping about 80 with about 60% humidity because he most closely resembles a common get house gecko but he doesn't have any bumps on his Tail and he's very velvety and makes no noises and he's too big he's 8 inches so I just want to know how to take care of it. I just know he likes crickets and ate one last night climbed up the glass to eat it, is more active now that he is warm and like the heat pad area of the cage? Please please help!

 

[Aimless]

He looks like a very cold Golden Gecko. It's difficult for me to be certain as I'm on my phone.

Yes, warmer is better. I'd try a hot spot somewhere of 90 and see if he lightens up. He's in the Gekko genus, so he would probably appreciate a bugs-only diet of gutloaded crickets, roaches, and occasional larvae.

 

[Winter walk]

He turns a little green and is very active now. When is in basking spot of about 90 he is just a but greener. Does that help? He is about 3-4 years old ? I have gut loaded crickets from our young beaesie and he has eaten one. Is there anything else he should eat? Vegetables or fruit!? His basking area is about 90 where a heat pad is under the cage. He is more active at night but will not go in the cave I gave him. He just stays in glass or comes down to eat. Does it automatically mean a geko is nocturnal when they are a lidless breed? He moves around during day and doesn't avoid the light but is very active at night???

 

[Aimless]

I'm not sure about the eyelid question, but those guys are definitely nocturnal and mostly arboreal. If he's lightened up he's happier

I *think* they are strict bug eaters like the rest of the Gekkos. He will eat better if they are active bugs he can hunt.

I know those a little but have not kept them. I'm going to move this to the Gekko section where hopefully an experienced keeper can help more fully. It's my understanding that you would keep them tropical, arboreal, nocturnal, and carnivorous, but let's be certain as I'm no expert with this species

 

[Aimless]

OK, I also looked here for a care sheet and didn't see one for that species. However, Google coughed up a ton, and I was right: warmer and bugs only. As an arboreal guy, he won't likely use a cave, but live or fake plants and a tall vertical hide made from a slanted piece of tile or cork bark will make him feel secure.

 

[Marauderhex]

That is absolutely a golden gecko (Gekko badeni). I have two of them, one for two years, the other I've had for the past 11 years, maybe 12. As for food, they are omnivorous, eating a mix of insects, fruit, and pretty much anything they can wrap their little jaws around. I use the same Pangea crested gecko diet. It's a little more fruit than they need, but if you have enclosures large enough for them to be active in, it's not that bad.

 

[Winter walk]

Sweet. Thank you both so much. My kids have beardies so I figured what the heck I am already buying 2,000 crickets a month. Lol. It's cage is a two foot tall corner aquarium with the sides being over two foot long. I jope that's adequate. He does have some fake plants hanging that it seems to like. Thank you again. Are any this color or is she/ he unhealthy? Do. Geckos eat the same calcium vitamin d ? Or do they need special or more vitamins?

 

[Marauderhex]

I'd say that this is their dark phase, similar to tokay geckos. They change based on mood, temperature, breeding season, etc. Warning: Golden geckos are extremely flighty. Be cautious any time you open the enclosure, as they are also smart, so be mindful of escapes. As far as dusting, I recommend Repashy Calcium Plus, it's full of vitamins and minerals that are good for geckos and beardies alike. I spent the better part of a year pet sitting a beardie for a friend.

 

[Winter walk]

Well I assume by the name the ideal would be for it to become golden so we will keep tweeking things until it's more golden. When we got it Wednesday it was black so we must be closer! It had NO heat source before so it can't get anything but better! Lol. Thanks you guys for so much help, I dont mind rescues or dumped animals as long as I know what I am doing so their life gets better rather than worse. Are they always so velvety or is that due to neglect?

 

[Marauderhex]

Always velvety. Remember, this dark phase might last a few days due to the stress of moving and a new enclosure, etc.

 

[Winter walk]

One of the care sheets said they are the third bardest to take care of and tat I could use garden soil- in fertilized and sterilized for substrate? Is that ok by what you have experienced. She has coconut fiber now but it's what was I. There to begin so I need to change it as it is moldy under the water dishes from old grapes and crickets. Also can it be wormed with panacure like beardies? I am sure it never has but mainly the fact she had her kids catch those black house crickets has me a bit worried. That is what I found in bottom of tank - not feeder crickets so I wonder if it won't help. I live in the middle if no where four hours from a pet store and the vets here know nothing about reptiles- or most anything exotic. She will look things up and try to help but she always asks me if I know anyone to ask. We are in strict horse and cattle country so dogs and cats are the smallest usually. Ha ha I will take out the rocks and add vines and some more hanging greenery but wondered about the substrate for sure And the wormer since I found those nasties in the bottom with the grapes. And last but not least she doesn't want to eat daily. Is that ok How much should she ( under normal conditions) get to eating? Does she eat two or so. Crickets every other or so or five + every? The different care sheets contradict themselves u have found and would rather hear from someone who has one. And what exactly makes them hard to keep- or are the other breeds so easy ? Lol. Thank you in advance - I know I am a nagging pain but I truly appreciate your help and knowledge for this baby.

 

[Aimless]

Can you post a pic of the cage you have? This is always helpful. And yes, moldy substrate is not good.

Before worming him, you might want to keep him on paper towels for a few weeks to keep an eye on his poop. Despite his neglect, he looks pretty good, and I'd be reluctant to medicate without a positive fecal. Antiparasitics like panacur can mess with normal flora too.

My tropical arboreal guys are in planted tanks using organic potting soil, fertilizer free. I don't bother to sterilize the dirt and I've never had issues from this.

 

[Winter walk]

It's not clean yet as I was waiting on substrate answers and I have to go to town to get things. But I took out the rocks and sea shells.

 

[Marauderhex]

Needs more vegetation, and I've found they also like PVC tubes leaning against the sides of the enclosure for hides. Other than that, that has the potential to be a pretty badass badeni enclosure.

 

[Winter walk]

Is there something I can plant in the tank that is ok? I know. It anything poisonous but anything in particular? I have many plants and don't mind a few more. Like collard greens ?

 

[Marauderhex]

Pothos is a great plant that's hard to kill and will keep the humidity up in the enclosure. Also things like Bromeliads, some ferns and mosses, etc work out good in tropical enclosures.

 

[Aimless]

here is a viv I set up recently for a gecko that has very similar care requirements (a juvie B boivini ~6" long). the pothos will fill in more over time, and will eventually need to be cut back.

you don't have to use bamboo or the cork bark, although I like the way it looks and watch for sales. PVC is great...and in my Tokay viv, they like to hide in vertical crevices; there are standing-up tiles offset with bark toward the back that my girl wedges into.

more cover = more secure, "happier" gecko.

and I agree; that could be a very cool viv without too much work!

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Is there something I can plant in the tank that is ok? I know. It anything poisonous but anything in particular? I have many plants and don't mind a few more. Like collard greens ?

Hi Winter walk ~

A warm welcome to Geckos Unlimted! Seems like you're off and running.

I use sanseveria (snake plant) in some of my enclosures. It is hardy so it withstands climbing geckos; it grows well in subdued light. It comes in different varieties for tall and sort enclosures. Consider mixing the heights as you landscape your vivarium.

Sanseveria thrive in this potting mix: 2/3 earthworm castings and 1/3 cocopeat fiber (Eco Earth). I use that mix because it works and because it is perlite-free. ;-)

I plant sanseveria in terra cotta or plastic pots.

 

[CrestedRick]

I planted my plants in cork round planters when I had a natural terrarium. I had pothos, pepperomia, snake plants in mine and still do, they help keep,the humidity up and grow at a good clip. Here's a link to the cork round planters I made.
http://www.geckosunlimited.com/community/do-yourself-diy/74965-cork-round-planters.html