Care for older golden?

[jaydee]

I've had a (supposedly) captive-bred golden gecko for almost 12 years and he is starting to show what I assume are signs of aging. He's a little slower than he used to be (although he has always been very mellow) and seems to be having more trouble clinging to the glass and the smaller branches or when he's upside down. He also has kinks in his tail that he didn't have before. He has always been a reasonably good eater although lately he has refused crickets in favor of mealworms and some peach baby food. I took him off waxworms when he seemed to be gaining too much weight. He loves summer cutworms from my organic garden (which I know some people frown on, but he loves them so much).

He lives alone in a 75-gallon fish tank in a vertical position with under-tank heating and a heat lamp on top plus various hidey holes, although most of the time he hangs out where he can be seen. He's not particularly shy.

I've done some searches on the care of aging herps and haven't found much. I'm wondering if you all have any suggestions. Should I be changing his food? Should I make the tank horizontal instead of vertical so he's less likely to fall? Should I widen all his climbing apparatus, maybe make everything more ramp-like rather than natural?

He's been a great companion. I'm at my computer most nights and his tank is on the desk next to me, so we hang out a lot. I'd like to make his "golden years" as safe and pleasant and long as possible. Thanks in advance.

 

[marauderhex]

I also have a golden gecko that's about that age. She has no trouble clinging, but she is definitely slower than she used to be. I keep everything the same for my gecko, and would recommend the same to you. The change in environment could adversely affect the gecko. As for food, I feed my girl CGD 3.0. Now that Repashy has upped the amount of protein in the CGD, it is pretty spot on nutritionally for golden geckos.

 

[jaydee]

The change in environment could adversely affect the gecko. As for food, I feed my girl CGD 3.0. Now that Repashy has upped the amount of protein in the CGD, it is pretty spot on nutritionally for golden geckos.

Yeah, I was worried about stressing him with such a big change, even though he is very mellow. I hesitated on the Repashy since it sounds mango-y, and mine hasn't shown much interest in fruity flavors other than peach, but if the mix is optimal, I think I should try it. Thanks for the suggestion!

 

[marauderhex]

The 3.0 stuff only comes in 'Original' flavor right now. I don't think it's too mango-y, seems more banana-y to me.

 

[Hannibal]

I know Pangea carries the new 3.0 in original (strawberry/banana), peach, & mango. Each one does has a hint of mango to it, but you really can't tell (hubby did a taste test & only detected the strawberry & banana in it). The new original does smells really really good. I plan on trying the new peach within next couple of weeks.

The wholesaler has to order a hugh volume in order for Allen to make the other flavors.

 

[jaydee]

I know Pangea carries the new 3.0 in original (strawberry/banana), peach, & mango.

I hope I can find the peach. A semi-local-to-me reptile place carries some Repashy. I'll have to find out if they have a choice on flavors. Even if all they have is the banana-y version, though, it'll be worth the trip. Thanks!

 

[jaydee]

Woo-hoo! I found a place not 10 minutes from me that has the peach! I'm excited, although hopefully not as excited as my gecko He's rather uninterested in fruit most of the time, so I'm not sure how he'll feel about it, but I like the idea of more variety for him, especially now that he's gotten standoffish about the crickets.

He's gotten a little chubby on the mealworms with his lowered activity level in the last year or so, which I feel guilty about, because I'm good about monitoring my dog's weight. I don't want to change anything too drastically considering his age, but maybe he'll appreciate some new grub.

I read elsewhere on this forum about moving the food around and making him hunt a little for it. I think I'll try that too, for more exercise. He has always had the eerie ability to lure his prey directly to him. I cultivate cutworm larvae for him in the summer and hatch out some of the moths, and he can get the moths to fly directly into his mouth. It's his super power

 

[Hannibal]

Another thought, if he likes the sweetness of peach babyhood, you can always add a little honey to the peach CGD. Then ween him off the honey once he's established on the CGD. I sure hopes he like it.

 

[Northstar Herp]

If the 3.0 comes in different flavors other than original and Day Gecko, it's news to me and I'm a dealer. Maybe things have changed, but my understanding when they changed the diet original stayed strawberry/banana and got some mango as well. They day gecko is cherry/fig. All other flavors were cut out entirely. Again though, maybe things have changed. I made an order in August and there was no option for flavors, so the changed has been made since then.

 

[Northstar Herp]

Just checked the website again... the only flavors besides original and day gecko are the older version.


...and yet, I see both mango and peach 3.0 for sale on pangea. I don't know what to say about that.

 

[Hannibal]

I remember reading either on the Rapashy forum or the Pangea forum that Allen said he'd make the 3.0 in the other flavors only for certain distributors who ordered the specific flavor in bulk, like 200# worth of product in a single order. Since Pangea does have the customer base to sale it, Matt is able to order these special batches of 3.0 in Peach & Mango.

 

[Northstar Herp]

Now that makes sense. Pangea is a huge supplier of the diet.

 

[touch 13]

Husbandry;

s/he should be able to stick. Keep up on your humidity, checking daily, ensuring proper readings.

Cleanliness;

Make sure your tank is clear, and clean. Industrial paint scrappers save me 15hours weekly

The tail issues Could be but not restricted to one or the other;

Diet - all insects must be gutloaded and dusted to ensure proper nutrition
- early signs of low calcium, start in the tail. Kinks will turn to bends.
- Rep/Clarks is great for goldies as well