Possible New Crested owner soon, need advice please

CWilson13

CWilson13

New member
Long story short, I am new to Geckos (all types) but not Herps in general. However, I have a friend who can not keep her Cresteds any longer and needs to re-home them with full set-ups. If anybody could give me general tips on the needs of these little guys I would be most appreciative.
Also, this may end up being a temporary home for them as I do not want to over stretch myself on animals and already have a Leopard Gecko and a Brazilian Rainbow Boa to care for. Mostly I just want these guys to be well taken care of no matter what.

Thanks in advance!
 
CWilson13

CWilson13

New member
Thanks CrestedL, I had already found and read that a few times. I was looking more for others opinions and suggestions as Thorr suggested I should do. Much appreciated on the easier access to it though! :)
 
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CrestedRick

Active member
There really isn't any "General tips" it's more or less follow the care sheets and you'll be fine and so will the cresteds you've temporarily adopted :) if you're looking for "tips" be more specific to the area you want them in.
 
CWilson13

CWilson13

New member
Ok, how about heating tips? Thorr says to turn off all heating and lighting at night, yet if the temp drops below the 60s what should I use to keep them warm enough, CHE like my Leo?
Along the same lines, if the temp gets too warm, what is a good method of keeping them in the proper range? Are fans or AC units ok to use?
 
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CrestedRick

Active member
I use leds for lighting, that doesn't make it too hot. Mine have dropped down to mid 50s here in CT and they're fine, they're really hearty geckos. Too warm I'd say keep the lights off during the day, I've done that on multiple occasions this summer here.
 
CWilson13

CWilson13

New member
LED dont really give off any heat worth mentioning so that would be easy. I have trouble keeping the upstairs cool during Summer, thats why i asked about ACs/fans.
Nice, that actually is really helpful since I am in MA and our general Temperature range isn't much different.
Again, for now this is all hypothetical though, not sure if I will even end up with the boys.
 
CWilson13

CWilson13

New member
Well, if I think we can handle them, we may end up doing some business with you one day :) These boys just need a home and I have a soft heart for Reptiles in need. That is what brought me to the site after all.
 
CWilson13

CWilson13

New member
Does anybody know where I could purchase a kit to transition a normal 10 gallon tank into a Vertical setup? The one link I found lead to an expired page.

Not quite the right place for this, I know and apologize, but I hate opening new threads :?
 
Elizabeth Freer

Elizabeth Freer

Well-known member
CWilson13 said:
LED dont really give off any heat worth mentioning so that would be easy. I have trouble keeping the upstairs cool during Summer, thats why i asked about ACs/fans.
Nice, that actually is really helpful since I am in MA and our general Temperature range isn't much different.
Again, for now this is all hypothetical though, not sure if I will even end up with the boys.
Click to expand...

Anything like A/C which will keep the room about 82*F and below will be good. My crestie sometimes gets into the mid 80s. However, one summer it reached nearly 100 F in my Seattle bedroom. I had no other place to take him. George survived. He hunkered down in a potted plant.

Some keepers fashion swamp coolers in such heat situations. Is a window A/C an option?

Here's a set of tips I wrote up in February. You may have already found them. The posts following the first post also contain useful info.

Click: http://www.geckosunlimited.com/comm...ted-gecko-caresheet-tips-february-2015-a.html

CWilson13 said:
Does anybody know where I could purchase a kit to transition a normal 10 gallon tank into a Vertical setup? The one link I found lead to an expired page.

Not quite the right place for this, I know and apologize, but I hate opening new threads :?
Click to expand...

A friend of mine converts standard 10s.
  • Remove the glass on one end...carefully.
  • Create a screen top from 1/4 inch hardware cloth and spray it white (optional).
  • The hardware cloth has slightly bent-over edges along both sides.
  • Stick a strip of velcro along the front and the back edges of the vivarium's top.
  • Then lay the hardware cloth on top.
  • Secure both the front and back edges with other the other part of the velcro.
  • She then has custom plexiglass panels made to fill the normal opening of the 10 gallon.
  • In the center of each plexiglass panel there is a hinged door.
 
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CrestedRick

Active member
If you Google "vertical conversation aquarium kits" or something g similar you'll get a ton of pages to other forums with how-to guides
 
CWilson13

CWilson13

New member
Hmm unless I find a link (that actually works) to a kit I don't think I will try converting the way you described Elizabeth. Glass is too fragile and I don't want to make a mistake that will render the tank useless. I may end up just buying an Exo-Terra from somewhere. Again, all hypothetical because I still don't know for sure when or if I will be getting into Cresteds.
 
Elizabeth Freer

Elizabeth Freer

Well-known member
CWilson13 said:
Hmm unless I find a link (that actually works) to a kit I don't think I will try converting the way you described Elizabeth. Glass is too fragile and I don't want to make a mistake that will render the tank useless. I may end up just buying an Exo-Terra from somewhere. Again, all hypothetical because I still don't know for sure when or if I will be getting into Cresteds.
Click to expand...

I emailed my friend for specifics on removing the glass. She's converted a houseful of 10s. I have two of them.
 
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CWilson13

CWilson13

New member
Not sure what you mean Rick, there is no door on my 10 gallon. Though after thinking about it, I am starting to feel that a pre-made enclosure would be better for any Cresteds I may get.
Any size recommendations for more than a single Crestie would be helpful. Unless they are better solitary.
 
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CrestedRick

Active member
I have a 18x18x24 zoo Med. What I mean is when you turn a tank vertical you need to make a door for it. The door doesn't run from the top to the bottom. There is a piece of glass on the bottom and a screen section to help circulation. Google some images and you'll see what I mean.
 
CWilson13

CWilson13

New member
Oh like the front opening ones. I understand now.
Seems either way I would be messing with the glass. Either removing a piece, or adding and affixing one permanently.
How many do you have in the 18x18x24 Rick?
 
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CrestedRick

Active member
I have one per enclosure. Adding is much easier. My friends who own NeHerp are working on a design for a kit that has everything you need for your size tanks. Waiting to get my hands on one for my 20g.
 
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