Cresties vs Gargoyle geckos...

[shadowdragon619]

So i just got back from a reptile show in valpo. and i'm torn. i was hoping to find a breeder for leopard geckos, but i talked to this lady about gargoyle and crested geckos. she breeds both. and wow....they are so cool!!! i have two leopards, and i think i want to expand to other species of geckos.

both the gargoyle and the crested are cool. i'm torn on which one to get. i'm doing research right now on how to take care of them. they seem very easy to take care of...no extra heat or lighting!

So...Gargoyle or Crested Gecko? or one of each? lol

 

[spykerherps]

They are both great geckos. I started with crested geckos and then got a gargoyle have had both for a wile now and the gargoyles have slowly crept in as my favorite. I don't now what it is about them but I just like them a little more. Especially the striped gargoyles. also I like that they have the capability of regrowing their tails if the drop them.

They have more of a devilish look

Horns or Lashed ?

 

[darkridder]

def one of each! Their care is exactly the same except gargs dont need quite as much height as they do not climb as well. THey also prefer vines and branches over just a ton of plants. Plants are needed, but you will notice gargs prefer to chill on their vines and branches more. Gargs also prefer slightly larger prey, and there has been some tank that they require a little more protein then crested geckos, but honestly Repashy used to make a garg diet (along with a leachie diet) and found that there was not enough significent difference in the diets and growth on the three species, so he just kept with the CGD formula.

Crestes are very der, gargs not so much. But gargs are much faster, they prefer to run over jump. They are also more apt to poop on you too! But I truely do love both species.

 

[thegeckoguy23]

for me i like the cresties its just prefernce

 

[shadowdragon619]

so two questions then...

what size tank for a garg and what size tank for a crested?

and...how do i feed them? i know the care sheets say to mix like 1 part crested powered stuff with two parts water...do i just put this in a small cup and stick it in the tank overnight or what?

 

[ReptileNinja101]

I believe the minimum size tank for a crestie or a gargoyle is a 10 gallon tank. The Exo-Terra 12x12x18 Vivarium is a good size for one and is roughly about 11 or so gallons.
Yes you just put it in a disposible cup and leave it in there over night. Disposible cups/bowls are good because if it drys up its kinda hard to clean, so you can just throw it away. You can also feed them crickets and mealworms.

 

[SnakeKeeper]

Both for sure! All Rhacs are amazing!!

But personally, if I had to choose, I'd say gargoyle. They're more exotic-looking, imo. But I love cresties too.

I guess people do keep Rhacs in 10gals, but personally, I think adults should be in at least a 20. My garg's in a 18x18x24" screen cage which seems just about perfect. She always finds her food and water, but has plenty of room to run around and try to hide from me. :main_rolleyes: As cresties are a bit smaller than gargs, a 20gal tall or something along those lines should be great. And yes, height is preferred over floorspace, though they are not strictly arboreal.

My girlie. How can you resist that adorable face??

And here's her enclosure (that light, a low-wattage halogen, was only on for an hour or so to boost the temps a bit mid-winter; they're fine in the upper 60's and mid 70's).

 

[shadowdragon619]

nice! and no...i cant resisit that face! the breeder i met at the show let me hold her 4 year old garg first....from the first moment he sat on my arm...i was like...I WANT! and then she let me hold a 6 month old crestie...and then i was like...I WANT BOTH! lmao

 

[darkridder]

lol I just got another garg yesterday! I got a 20g male yesterday from a college herp lab that breeds these geckos (well alot of species actually!). Here is He-man
Unfired
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m292/playnwifsnot/Verdes progression/IMG_1974.jpg
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m292/playnwifsnot/Verdes progression/IMG_1975.jpg

almost fully fired
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m292/playnwifsnot/Verdes progression/IMG_1976.jpg
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m292/playnwifsnot/Verdes progression/IMG_1977.jpg

He is so freaking sweet! Since he was raised in a college herp lab, all of this womans reptiles were really laid back and used to handling. So I cant wait for him to be large enough for breeding, I have been wanting to work with gargs breeding for about 3 years now!

 

[SnakeKeeper]

lol I just got another garg yesterday! I got a 20g male yesterday from a college herp lab that breeds these geckos (well alot of species actually!). Here is He-man
Unfired
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m292/playnwifsnot/Verdes progression/IMG_1974.jpg
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m292/playnwifsnot/Verdes progression/IMG_1975.jpg

almost fully fired
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m292/playnwifsnot/Verdes progression/IMG_1976.jpg
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m292/playnwifsnot/Verdes progression/IMG_1977.jpg

He is so freaking sweet! Since he was raised in a college herp lab, all of this womans reptiles were really laid back and used to handling. So I cant wait for him to be large enough for breeding, I have been wanting to work with gargs breeding for about 3 years now!

Niiice! The retics are my favorites!

 

[shadowdragon619]

oh wow! i didnt know they could fire up in color like that...i knew the cresties could, but not the gargs! awesome!

 

[darkridder]

Yep gargs can too! The major difference in the coloring of the two is that cresties can really change their color when they go from baby to adult, most times a gargs color will not change that much unless it is from a red line as red tends to start out brown then go red (but this doesnt mean all browns go red!) Here are some pics of some of my other gargs fired and unfired

This is Squee unfired

Halfway fired

Fully fired (although the pic is a little older)

This is Sherah my adult female unfired(she peed on that paper...ewwww!)

Fired

Unnamed juvie 1 unfired

fired

Unnamed juvie 2 unfired

fired

 

[shadowdragon619]

that is awesome! thank you for showing the pics!

 

[darkridder]

quite welcome! BTW...i love my new garg to pieces!

 

[rubym]

I have cresties and they are awesome....not that I eventually wouldnt like to have a garg too,lol. My single cresteds live in 10 gals turned on the side. My husband made doors for mine. I put their CGD in those mini terra cotta dishes. They are easy to care for and soooo cute,lol.

 

[shadowdragon619]

I have cresties and they are awesome....not that I eventually wouldnt like to have a garg too,lol. My single cresteds live in 10 gals turned on the side. My husband made doors for mine. I put their CGD in those mini terra cotta dishes. They are easy to care for and soooo cute,lol.

may i ask how your hubby made doors for the tanks? i need to put my leo's tanks on sides so they'll fit on my bookshelf, and i'm not quite sure how to go about putting doors/screens on the sides.

 

[goReptiles]

I have always been under the impression 15 gallon tall minimum for one crested.

Both are exceptional. I have both. I prefer my cresteds though. There seems to be more variety in crested geckos than gargoyles. Plus, my crested geckos tend to have more personality.

 

[darkridder]

10 gallons is really min, but IMO a 15 gallon is better. It is all about what you feel is most comfortable in your own eyes.

Here is some instructions on how to make a door for a vertical tank
http://www.rapturereptiles.com/Reptiles/cage_construction/vertical_door/index.htm

 

[jpiverson]

was the college herp lab you mentioned the one at Bowling Green? they are awesome there!

 

[shadowdragon619]

i'm still torn...i think i will get one of each. i have the crested's tank set up, i still need to find another tank tho....the petstore only had one 20 gal high at the time, and they've discontinued the 15 gal and wont get any in for another month. So i just need another 20 gal high for the garg! i cant wait!

i've seen bamboo branches with suction cups on them in some peoples tanks...where would i find those? or just would it just be easier for me to make them myself? i've already made all the vines myself for the crestie.