Crested Gecko Advice

[ChrisJWalker1994]

Hello,
I recently decided to buy myself two crested geckos. We followed the pet shops instructions as exactly stated but everywhere I look there just seems to be conflict between what is right and wrong when it comes to looking after cresties. I really only want to know I am looking after mine correctly and if anyone has advice or tips in making there life better.


I have attached a picture of my current viv set-up. Its 30cmx30cmx45cm in size, I just bought the exact one they where housed in within the pet shop. They are still small so planning on buying a bigger one to set up ready.
Currently they are on a natural bedding of Hydro Drain then Hydro Fleece topped with 70% Eco Earth and 30% Bark Chip. I have also put a nice large leaved live plant in there. For heating I use a 100watt ceramic heater and lighting a 6 led day and night light.
Current Day Temps: 30C and 22C
Current Night Temps: 19C and 17C
Humidity: 55% to 90%

Currently I am feeding them the jelly pots and repashy, and every 3 days a few crickets dusted with calci dust and nutrobol. They dont seem to eat the jelly pots or the repashy unless I place it on my hand while holding them.

I just want to iron out any things I may be doing wrong now before I start creating my larger setup. I am new to cresties so dont really have any experience, and even though I trust the pet shop I bought them from I would just like a second opinion.

Any help and advice would be great. Also if anyone knows of anywhere good in Teesside for reptile help and advice that would also be great. Thanks in advance.

My gorgeous cresties.

 

[Ruvik]

I have been looking into crested geckos myself and in doing so I ran into someone on youtube who gives out the best advice I have seen and I adore all her video, here are some to check out that can help with your crested issues.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lDeOwos-VM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jJmqnEiCdk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXNAKFdxSL4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyfFYDuXj58

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZ4FVj7Y5dw

 

[indyana]

Congrats on your cresties! Here are my comments on the setup, and let me know if you have any questions.

• 30 C is a bit too much heat. Temperatures over 27-28 C can put stress on crested geckos. They are a cool climate species. I've heard of some people providing a small basking area on the high end of the temperature range, but overall, the enclosure should be more in the 22-24 C range during the day.
• Ditch the jelly pots (useless nutritionally) and cut back the bugs to once a week. This will encourage them to eat more Repashy, which is the best staple diet for them. Also, you may have to stop babying them with hand feeding if you want them to eat on their own. I can't imagine they are having trouble finding the food in their current, smaller cage. They will eat when they get hungry.
• If you're doing a planted tank, I highly recommend going fully bioactive and adding cleaner bugs like springtails and isopods to help eat waste and keep the tank clean. A few links on that:
  • Naturalistic Terrariums - Moon Valley Reptiles
  • Reptile and Amphibian Bioactive Setups on Facebook

I'll also recommend the following website if you prefer reading. The articles on here are excellent, and there are a bunch of different topics covered.
Crested Geckos - Moon Valley Reptiles

 

[ChrisJWalker1994]

@Ruvik
Thank you for your help, will have to have a good luck tonight at these.
I'm going to start buying all my stuff for my new set up (even though I have had this one less than a week) and make it the best environment for them.

@indyana
I was worried it was too high but we are currently going through a heat wave in the UK so having difficultly trying to get the correct temperature. I have my basking area which is around 30C but the rest tends to be around the 22C/23C mark.
Right, so the jelly pots are no good. I'll throw them away. I will also cut the back to bugs to once a week. I am using the Repashy at the moment but have heard great things about Pangea Complete Gecko Diet so going to try that out. I was only putting abit on my hand just to get them used to me handling them and try to stop them from running wild.
The bioactive style was the path we where trying to go down. Is my current setup okay for that or do you have to buy the cleaning bugs?
Thanks for the info going to have to give it all a good look over later.

Just one more question, I went to just buy the one crestie but it turn out there was two in the tank when we got them out. They are too young to sex, I'm just worried if this will cause any problems down the line? I don't even know if they could be brother and sister. They seem happy currently with no issues, but could this change?

 

[indyana]

You have to add custodians, either by purchasing or collecting them. Otherwise, waste and mold can build up in the substrate and cause the enclosure to become unhealthy. You can also introduce beneficial microbes by either adding collected leaf litter or adding a bit of organic compost to the mix. You're essentially trying to seed the substrate with organisms that eat things like poop and fungus to keep the substrate healthy. I've also heard that people have good luck with worms in cooler, moister tanks.

I highly recommend the RABS Facebook group if you are at all on Facebook. They have a collection of files on the topic, plus there are a lot of inspiring enclosures posted on there. They also have a website, although the material there isn't as extensive:
Bioactive Setups - Homepage

Having two crested geckos can cause problems if they both do not turn out to be female. If they are a male-male pair, they will probably end up fighting as they get to maturity, and if they are a male-female pair, they will breed, which is a lot of stress on the female over time. You may have to consider a second setup if it turns out they are not a compatible pair.