Getting crested gecko In a couple of months, some questions.

JessJohnson87

JessJohnson87

New member
Just an FYI.....grapewood can mold and decompose quickly in high humidity enclosures. You'll want to stick to more hardwoods; like oak, maple, birch, beech etc. as they will not break down as quickly. Cork bark is wonderful stuff, it can be expensive so check the show for deals, but it takes longer to break down.
 
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logan1234

New member
I certainly am excited! I plan on cleaning everything soon and setting it up. Instead of taking the tank to the bathroom, I used a wet towel with dawn to wipe down the tank, then a towel with just water, then dried it.

My dad picked up some PVC, so all I need now is to buy Pangea w/ insects at the show and buy some Repashy calcium Plus at the pet store tomorrow, if they carry it.

Since you said I could change crickets to any 3 days, I edited the schedule around to this.

Monday (Feeding day):
1. Put pangea in the rock ledge dish in the evening.
2. Change water in water bowl.
3. Heavily spray tank in the evening.

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Tuesday:
1. Take out pangea in the evening.
2. Heavily spray tank in the evening.

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Wednesday (Feeding day):
1. Put crickets in ground food dish in the evening with back legs cut off at their "knees" | Also, every OTHER week that you feed crickets,|
| dust ALL of them with the Repashy Calcium+ |
2. Heavily spray tank in the evening.

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Thursday:
1. Take out crickets in the morning if not eaten the night before.
2. Heavily spray tank in the evening.
3. Change water in the water bowl.
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Friday (Feeding day):
1. Put pangea in the rock ledge dish in the evening
2. Heavily spray tank in the evening.

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Saturday:
1. Take out pangea in the evening.
2. Heavily spray tank in the evening.
3. Change water in the water bowl.
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Sunday:
1. Heavily spray tank in the evening.
 
Elizabeth Freer

Elizabeth Freer

Well-known member
logan1234 said:
I certainly am excited! I plan on cleaning everything soon and setting it up. Instead of taking the tank to the bathroom, I used a wet towel with dawn to wipe down the tank, then a towel with just water, then dried it.
Click to expand...
Your schedule looks good, Logan!

Make sure all the Dawn is gone. You might also spray down the sides with the sprayer and then wipe up the puddles with a towel.
 
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logan1234

New member
1 week away!

Does anyone have any personal experience with "Jumbo Zoo Med Cork Bark Round"s? I may order that tomorrow for use whenever the grapevine starts to go bad. The jumbo is 15-22", so it will be good for the height!

Going to order the Repashy Calcium Plus tonight, then 3 more things to go! The Pangea W/ Insects at the show, probably cork, and the crestie itself!
 
Elizabeth Freer

Elizabeth Freer

Well-known member
logan1234 said:
1 week away!

Does anyone have any personal experience with "Jumbo Zoo Med Cork Bark Round"s? I may order that tomorrow for use whenever the grapevine starts to go bad. The jumbo is 15-22", so it will be good for the height!

Going to order the Repashy Calcium Plus tonight, then 3 more things to go! The Pangea W/ Insects at the show, probably cork, and the crestie itself!
Click to expand...

Check out the show first. My shows have cork tubes and flats in many sizes. I use natural cork bark tubes and flats in many enclosures. They last just about forever!

Avoid cedar, pine, willow, or fir bark in reptile enclosures. Cedar fumes and oils are highly toxic to reptiles; pine fumes and oils are toxic as well!

I'd start out with 8 oz or 16 oz Pangea.

We can't wait for pics! :biggrin:
 
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logan1234

New member
Today I set up the tank and everything, another step until the gecko arrives! The temperatures were 80*F when I first put the temperature probe in, but later after I sprayed the temperature gun read anywhere from 73*F to mid to upper 76*F

Since I have until next Sunday to put the crestie in, should I spray a little every night to make sure that the eco earth doesn't dry out?
Also, like I previously may of stated, I will be keeping the middle log in until it gets moldy and then I will exchange it with a bigger cork piece.

Sorry for bad pictures:

cage 1.jpg

cage 2.jpg

cage 3.jpg
 
Elizabeth Freer

Elizabeth Freer

Well-known member
Looks cool, Logan! Your temps sound ideal. :D

Lengthen the wires that support the PVC just a little, so that there is more room between the PVC and the screen top. Flip the PVC over, so your crestie can sit on top of a "tunnel" rather than in a "valley".

Spray the enclosure every other night or so until your crestie arrives.

PS:
Are you getting more twisty vines?

I'd place something leading up to your feeding ledge.
 
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Yoshi'smom

Yoshi'smom

New member
I would also recommend adding a few more plants.
With Cresties, they really enjoy having a ton of places to hide and foliage as well as vines/branches are their favorite.
 
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logan1234

New member
Tomorrow I will make sure to get longer wires, and to put in one of the extra vines I have leading to the feeding ledge.
 
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logan1234

New member
I added the extra vine today, and I figured out I could run a wire through it. I used this to my advantage and hooked the vine to the top screen.

newcage 1.jpg
newcage 2.jpg
newcage 3.jpg



I was wondering, would this vine as seen in the picture work as a chill bar? Or should I put in the PVC also?

I've been spraying the tank for a while, and I got a few (hopefully) final questions.

1. If I spot clean poo, every how often should I have to take everything out, clean everything, and change the eco earth?

2. Precisely how much should I spray the tank if I'm doing it once a day? Like how many seconds should I be spraying nonstop, or any other way to keep track of good levels of spraying.

3. Lastly, anything I should change to the tank?


EDIT: Would it be okay to spray in the morning lightly additionally?
 
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logan1234

New member
I went ahead and put in the chill bar. It took many pokes to the screen lid to fit, but I finally found a place to put it. It seemed a bit wobbly, but I don't think there is anything I could do.

chill barrr.jpg


As I am getting my crestie tomorrow!!!!!!, I hopefully will get my final questions answered.

I looked onto previously mentioned things, and saw that I wouldn't need to change the Eco earth for a while. Thinking every 3 to 3 1/2 months I should change the eco earth out, and completely wash all of the decor with dawn again. Also with weekly turning moving around the eco earth, and spot cleaning when I see it.

Also, I decided I will spray heavily during the evenings and lighter during the mornings. This way seems safer than sorry humidity-wise.

So, I guess my only question now is, anything I should know of and/or change to the tank? Thanks!!
 
Elizabeth Freer

Elizabeth Freer

Well-known member
0. Your crestie won't mind if you make changes after you get him or her. :)
1. Add some shorter silk plants underneath the feeding ledge.
2. Does your feeding ledge attach to the glass with magnets or with a clamp-down lever? The lever ones are more secure.
3. If the PVC wire holes are drilled lower down, the chill bar will not as wobbly. See what your crestie thinks! :)
4. Some people feed crickets free range. I like feeding dishes. Either a 10 ounce bar glass or a Lee's hexagonal betta container works well. They are deep enough to contain crickets even without amputating the back legs.
5. Check out mossy twisty vines! I saw these on GU recently. They look like your twisty vines, but covered with moss.
6. Is your tap water hard or soft? That has to do with the mineral content of the water. Hard water = permanent spotting :(

Spraying
Spray "heavily" ONLY in the evenings (1x daily). It's important for the environment to dry out during the day. That prevents mold!

Water Spotting on the Glass
  • Direct the spraying towards the substrate, back wall, and plants on the right wall or wherever they may be. That should lessen water droplets on the glass.
  • My tap water is particularly "hard". The water spots are permanent.
 
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logan1234

New member
In corresponding order to your helpful recommendations.

0. Thanks, I'm glad that I can change things, as there are more to add and remove once mold happens.
1. I will try to pick up a medium exo-terra hanging plant at the show.
2. I have a magnet one, I've seen many people use this, so hopefully it will work! If anything happens I will change it. It seems like it is secure if we don't put too much pressure, so I'll see down the road.
3. If he doesn't use it much, I'll try to change it so its not wobbly. Never know though, he may think its fun to jump on a wobbly bar!
4. Since amazon prime has that betta keeper, I'll order it on Monday. Then it will be here on Wednesday, the cricket feeding day.
5. Instead of mossy twisty vines, on reptile supply co they have mossy sticks, 24" long and 1/4" diameter. I may get either of these down the road.
6. I will use bottled water so there will be no issues.

:)

Thanks!
 
Elizabeth Freer

Elizabeth Freer

Well-known member
You're welcome, Logan.

1. I'd get 2 medium Exo Terra hanging plants or something similar. These plants provide "cover" and will make your crestie feel safe.

3. Ha ha ha! :biggrin:

4. I ordered a supply of those 24 ounce Betta Keepers several years ago. I picked up eight cool 10 ounce bar glasses from the Goodwill for really cheap.

5. Thanks! I'll check out the Reptile Supply Company for those mossy sticks.
 
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