Cresty Question

jemjdragon

Member
Messages
240
Location
California, USA
My boyfriend is looking into getting a few cresties in the future but in his research keeps finding repeating information that they can not be kept in temps higher than 82*F because it can cause stress as well as other problems. The house does get hotter than 82* and has no air conditioning so he is worried that he will not be able to have his favorite gecko. XP

He has sent me here to ask how the tank can be kept cooler for the cresties. I have told him that moist hides may provide a cool enough retreat but I own leos not cresties, so I'm not sure.

Any input would be welcome.
 

sunshinegeckofarm

Obsessed with Leos
Messages
957
Location
New Port Richey/Hudson, FL
i have read temps over 85. I don't the effects on long term at keeping them at higher temps since our room stays between 70-78 sometimes slightly higher on really hot days but thats only during the day. i dont know how you would go about keeping a tank cooler.

hopefully someone with more experience at keeping cresties at varied temps will chime in. I know mine have experienced higher temps of plus 85 but not for extended periods of time only because we have had AC problems in the dead of summer. Good luck
 

darkridder

Melissa the Scientist
Messages
733
Location
Toledo oh
Honestly anything over 80 can be a danger zone, when hitting 84 degrees giant warning flashing lights should be coming on and sirens should be blasting. They simply do not take to warmer temps at all.

Moist hides are an idea, the problem is most cresties prefer to sleep in their plants over places on the ground, you will want to offer a sleeping place on the ground dont get me wrong, but 90% of the time or more they will be sleeping in the plants. Normally durring heat spikes, misting the cage down more often helps. You can even use things like computer fans to circulate cooler air into the tank, but then it dries out faster so you need to mist down even more often.

A very short term spike they can usually handle better then long term, so if in the summer your house averages 80+ degrees on a daily basis, this really isnt the gecko species for you guys until you get an ac unit, even if it is only a small window unit and use it in a bedroom just to keep the room at 78 or below. I think by taking them into your house without one you will really be pushing your luck.
 

Mel&Keith

Mod Squad Member
Messages
7,180
Location
Pasadena, TX
Unfortunately, your only real option is to put in a window air conditioner. When we lost power for 10 days during Hurricane Ike we had to use our generator to power the A/C because it was getting up to 86. A window unit will only run you around $200 but they do use a lot of electricity so you can expect a huge spike in the bill when you use it. Cresties are awesome but there are just some parts of the country where there's a lot of extra cost involved because of the weather.
 

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