Checking Calcium Sacks

[forensicCrested]

I'm just wondering if anyone else has difficulty trying to look at the calcium sacks on their cresteds. I have heard that rubbing along their mouth or tapping their nose will get them to open but my female usually tries to bite me, or she is too stubborn to open because she doesn't want to. How do you get them to keep their mouth open long enough to look?

 

[bleeding_sarcasm]

Its a total pain to do, and should only really be attempted if you suspect calcium issues. Its really stressful for the gecko. Tapping and rubbing is how you do it. You do it under a light, and basically GET them to open up, and you have to stick your finger in their to KEEP it open. Which means they bite you. But lucky for you crested geckos dont have much in the way of teeth. Lucky for us, gargoyles and leachies dont have calcium reserves, their bites pack alot more of a punch Use your finger instead of something else, because hard objects will cause their teeth to break.

Another option, which sometimes work, is using the folded edge of a piece of paper. but with that you need to be VERY gentle.