New Gold Dust Day Gecko Questions.

[JoshMason17]

I'm trying to get my question answered on this forum because I seems much more active than the others I have been on.
So, I ordered my gold dust day gecko last Wednesday and received it from Snakes at Sunset Thursday morning. I set up his cage according to all the care guides I've read over the past 3 months while I saved to purchase him. I might attach pictures later but for now I will describe. My cage is a 12x12x18 and has a drainage layer of Zoomed Hydroballs topped with Exo Terra mesh followed by eco earth. I have a 5.0 13 watt UVB bulb set up as well. I am using the styrofoam Exo Terra background that came with the tank, I also have an Exo Terra Forest Branch, Flukers Bamboo Bars, and Exo Terra Jungle plants around the cage. I have the Zoomed thermometer/hydrometer in the cage, but that thing proved to be junk (I'll explain more in a little). For a feeding ledge I have the Pangea Small Feeding Ledge. Anyways, after I set up I only ran into two problems. One was heat, I felt like my 25 watt exo terra lamp was not giving off enough heat so I bought a 40 watt version and a temp gun which has proved far more accurate than the zoomed thermometer combo whose temperature gauge is stuck on 73 degrees even though my tank is in the 80's (basking spot of 95 degrees). Only the hydrometer works, and I've been able to keep my cage between 70-80% while I'm home and between 60-70% while I'm at school. I mist 3 times a day and keep the drainage layer wet. But my continuing issue is feeding. I bought 8 oz. of Pangea Gecko Diet with Insects and offer a new bowl every day but my gecko seems to ignore it. I've contacted the seller and he wasn't much help at one point saying to keep offering some everyday until he realizes and another time saying to feed crickets, but I read that geckos need more than crickets. Obtaining crickets is not an issue for me because I have a fire-belly toad, but I'm unsure what to do. Does my gecko need to get more used to his cage? Do I try another flavor? Is it the location of the food bowl? Is he used to crickets only and if so can I teach him to eat CGD? Sorry for the lengthy post, but I'm new to geckos and I'm so worried. Thank you all in advance!

 

[acpart]

I have a gold dust day gecko as well and have had them in the past. I have a number of gecko species that eat CGD including crested geckos, gargoyles, and a leachie. Some of them lick their bowls clean and some barely seem to touch it. They are all doing well. In my opinion, you should keep offering the CGD and the crickets and watch for poops. All my geckos, whether they appear to be eating or not, seem to be fat and happy.

Aliza

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Welcome aboard, Josh!

Here's a link with a couple reputable gold dust care sheets.

Click: http://www.geckosunlimited.com/comm...-gecko-care-sheets-contributed-irisheyes.html

 

[JoshMason17]

Thank you for responding! I will definitely look into that care guide. As of now, is my setup good? Also, I’ve been seeing some slight dents in the cgd, does that mean he’s eating? Also I think I see poop. I will attach a picture so you can confirm if it is or isn’t. Thanks

 

[JoshMason17]

The objects in question are the rice looking things in the water bowl and next to the bowl.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

I have a 5.0 13 watt UVB bulb set up as well.

. . . . . .

I mist 3 times a day and keep the drainage layer wet.

If you have an Exo Terra 5.0 13 watt UVB bulb, exchange it for a Zoo Med Reptisun 5.0 compact fluorescent. I have data that shows Zoo Med bulbs are much better.

Do the care guidelines suggest keeping Eco Earth's coco fiber wet? I think mold will develop. Water the substrate a little a couple times per week. The water should drain into the Hydroballs. That increases humidity.

Your gecko still is settling in. Cover 3 sides of the enclosure with something like brown paper from grocery bags. That helps your gecko feel safe.

Thank you for responding! I will definitely look into that care guide. As of now, is my setup good? Also, I’ve been seeing some slight dents in the cgd, does that mean he’s eating? Also I think I see poop. I will attach a picture so you can confirm if it is or isn’t. ThanksView attachment 46029

You're welcome. Please share a photo of your enclosure -- the whole 12 x 12 x 18 inch vivarium.

Dents in the CGD is a good sign that your gold dust gecko is eating! Alternate small crickets each week (sometimes lightly dusted with Zoo Med's Repti Calcium with D3) with the powdered diet. That way your gold dust gecko gets used to eating both.

The objects in question are the rice looking things in the water bowl and next to the bowl.

Are the "rice looking things" in the water bowl moving? They could be pinworms! If so, please see a vet.

• Click: https://arav.site-ym.com/search/custom.asp?id=3661

 

[JoshMason17]

Thank you for answering again! I will change out the bulb for the Reptisun as soon as this one burns out. About keeping the drainage layer wet, I pour water into the cage twice a week, the water goes straight to the drainage layer of hydroballs and you can see the water there. The actual eco earth is only slightly damp for the rest of the week. I find this helps with humidity a lot. I might try that paper thing you suggested. Finally, this rice looking things have not moved for the past three day, they increase every time my gecko eats, also I looked up pinworms and my "rice looking things" are way to short and fat to be those. Thanks for being concerned for me! Now for the past three days I have been noticing dents in the food as well. I am pretty confident that he is eating. I am attaching pictures of the enclosure.





Sorry all the pictures are sideways. I accidentally took them vertically with my phone.

 

[JoshMason17]

New question, I went to the hardware store today and they had golden pothos on sale. I remember reading that it was good for vivariums. How do you suggest I plant it into my tank?

Also, I really think my gecko is eating now.Even more poop (?) has appeared and I'll attach a picture I just took and his belly is much fatter than before.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Thanks for sharing. I don't know what the "rice looking things" are.

I would not depend upon that Exo Terra UVB bulb for D3 production. Lighting is NOT Exo Terra's forte.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Here are some lighting specs from a friend who has bred Phelsuma mad mads and other Phelsuma for years.

Ratio of UVB : UVI (UltraViolet Index)

• Exo Terra compact fluorescent bulbs = 14
• ***Zoo Med Reptisun compact fluorescent bulbs = 31
• ***Zoo Med Reptisun fluorescent tubes (T 8 ) = 34
• ***Arcadia D3 23W E27 - no rating available
• Sunlight = ~40-50

For many Phelsuma she recommends:

• a horizontal basking bar (bamboo is fine) about 6 inches below the bulb
• 29.4-32.2*C (85-90*F) right underneath the bulb
• thermal gradient from top to floor of enclosure
• floor of enclosure: 23.9-26.7*C 75-80*F during the day
• temperatures about 10*F lower at night
• she suggests that Phelsuma might choose their location by temperatures rather than by UVB rays

Melody also shares:
"I have info on reflectors too, which can make quite a difference! Arcadia sells a good reflector, but you can make one yourself by bending cardboard in an arc and covering it with tinfoil. Surprisingly, the dull side of tinfoil reflects UVB better than the shiny side! And white paint reflects light but not UVB!"

There's an awesome FB group called "Reptile Lighting". Fran Baines is one of the admins.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

New question, I went to the hardware store today and they had golden pothos on sale. I remember reading that it was good for vivariums. How do you suggest I plant it into my tank?

Also, I really think my gecko is eating now.Even more poop (?) has appeared and I'll attach a picture I just took and his belly is much fatter than before.

View attachment 46036

Your gold dust gecko is settling in well! Your enclosure looks good!

Plant the golden pothos in its own plastic pot with good soil. Upkeep is simpler that way. Eco Earth's coco fiber is nutrient poor and does not support pothos.

 

[JoshMason17]

Thank you for responding yet again. I'll look into getting a reptisun in that case, since I got this gecko for his colors. My temps match those specs pretty well. About those rice looking things, one more has appeared so at this point I think it has to be poop, but for some reason its a beige-white. Thanks for telling me how to plant the Pothos. The plant I bought is already over a foot in diameter, so how much should I start with? Thanks.

 

[JoshMason17]

Thank you for responding yet again. I'll look into getting a reptisun in that case, since I got this gecko for his colors. My temps match those specs pretty well. About those rice looking things, one more has appeared so at this point I think it has to be poop, but for some reason its a beige-white. Thanks for telling me how to plant the Pothos. The plant I bought is already over a foot in diameter, so how much should I start with? Thanks.

 

[acpart]

I have to say that I have pothos planted directly into my coco fiber enclosures and it fills the enclosure. Probably the poop and the cleanup crew helps it to thrive.

Aliza

 

[JoshMason17]

Do I need to have springtails or something like that, or can I have a bioactive set up without those?

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Thank you for responding yet again. I'll look into getting a reptisun in that case, since I got this gecko for his colors. My temps match those specs pretty well. About those rice looking things, one more has appeared so at this point I think it has to be poop, but for some reason its a beige-white. Thanks for telling me how to plant the Pothos. The plant I bought is already over a foot in diameter, so how much should I start with? Thanks.

Go with the Reptisun! Your Phelsuma should thrive with Reptisun's 5.0 UVB bulb!

Pangea may be turning the poop beige-white. :scratchhead: Something may be "off". You could have a fecal done by a vet.

It sounds like your pothos is too big to use as is. Can you see roots sticking out from the main stems right below the leaves? Start new plants with those root sections. Then group them together and plant in a smaller pot.

Use organic potting soil OR plant your pothos into a pot filled with 100% Wonder Worms brand pure hummus. While a Wonder Worms/coco fiber mix works nicely for snake plants, my first experiment showed the pothos needed something more.

Do I need to have springtails or something like that, or can I have a bioactive set up without those?

You can have a naturalistic setup without adding a CUC (clean up crew).

Springtails could be part of the CUC. They'll eat poop.

 

[JoshMason17]

I'll wait to see if there's a change in his behavior, otherwise it might just be the Pangea. Yes my plant does have root sections coming out of the "mini-stems" attached to the main stem. I also heard you can use cuttings to plant pothos. I'll probably make a plastic pot out of part of a plastic bottle, and use potting soil. I don't think I'll bother with a clean up crew.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

I'll wait to see if there's a change in his behavior, otherwise it might just be the Pangea. Yes my plant does have root sections coming out of the "mini-stems" attached to the main stem. I also heard you can use cuttings to plant pothos. I'll probably make a plastic pot out of part of a plastic bottle, and use potting soil. I don't think I'll bother with a clean up crew.

That's an excellent way to recycle plastic!

 

[JoshMason17]

Great! Thanks for all of your help Elizabeth and Aliza

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Great! Thanks for all of your help Elizabeth and Aliza

You're welcome, Josh.

I'd love to see your vivarium after you've added the pothos.

 

[JoshMason17]

Ok I'll post them here and PM you.