Baby Gargoyle Gecko

[thesquidworm]

Hello! This guy’s name is Therin, I picked him up the day before yesterday at a local reptile & amphibian store. Right when I brought him home, he slept on the top of the cork bark in the open for about 3 hours (until the night when I turned the light off). He is doing really well acclimating to his new tank, he sleeps most of the day in the vines and he is always moved to a new position in the morning XD. I hand feed him Repashy Complete Grubs & Fruit, and he will eat it. Has not eaten from the bowl yet during the day, however I leave a fresh batch overnight in case he eats it then. I am just looking for some advice as to how to help him acclimate to his new tank, I am keeping him in a 5 gallon arboreal Exo Terra. Also, not sure of his age so anyone who might help me with that would be helpful : D

 

[acpart]

Congrats on your new gecko! No way to know his age. He's not eating during the day because he's nocturnal. It's good that he's eating on his own at night. He will best acclimate to his new cage by spending time there, which he is doing. I imagine that when he gets bigger he'll be ready for a bigger cage.

Aliza

 

[thesquidworm]

Congrats on your new gecko! No way to know his age. He's not eating during the day because he's nocturnal. It's good that he's eating on his own at night. He will best acclimate to his new cage by spending time there, which he is doing. I imagine that when he gets bigger he'll be ready for a bigger cage.

Aliza

Yes, ik they’re nocturnal just saying that it is difficult to track his eating, which might be important as to whether he is comfortable in his new home. I have a 12x12x18 that I will likely move his current tank contents into when he gets to be a juvenile, and an 18x18x24 for when he is an adult. Both of the larger setups are at home (we are staying out of state for a couple months) and the bioactive 18x18x24 is thriving and ready for him when he gets bigger. Thanks so much for replying, I do wonder if there’s any kind of lighting that would supply enough heat to raise the temperature a couple degrees? A heat pad might work as well but I do not know whether gargoyles are more suited for a floor or higher heater. I turn the lamp next to his tank on during the day for ambient lighting (was in first photo) and he seems to like that. Do you know how long it might take him to acclimate?

 

[thesquidworm]

Congrats on your new gecko! No way to know his age. He's not eating during the day because he's nocturnal. It's good that he's eating on his own at night. He will best acclimate to his new cage by spending time there, which he is doing. I imagine that when he gets bigger he'll be ready for a bigger cage.

Aliza

Thank you so much for replying, again, will update on his status soon

 

[acpart]

Some people put a heat pad on the side of the enclosure but then you have to be sure he doesn't stay on that wall since he may burn his feet. I have had a lot of experience with crested geckos and gargoyle geckos where it doesn't look as if they're eating anything, yet they are thriving. Another way to raise heat is a ceramic heat emitter but that will decrease the humidity. If the ambient temp is comfortable for humans, and if there's a light at the top so the gecko can get closer to it if it's cold, that's probably sufficient.

Aliza

 

[thesquidworm]

Thank you