Curious

[Babylon]

So, my little juvi crested arrived today and he's my first so I have some questions for you Rhacodactylus lovers!

Here's whats in my set up:
-10 gallon tank
-Fake vines
-Paper towel substrate
-Two shallow dishes for water/food
-Digital Thermometer
-Heat lamp shared by all my herps on the shelf to keep it around 80degrees
-Misting bottle
-Repashy CGD

This sound ok? Also, I read that I should be feeding the gecko at night and removing the left over food in the morning, is this accurate? Along with the night feeding, should I put some sort of cover on the gecko tank during the day to keep the little one from feeling too exposed by the heat lamp?

Pictures to come!

 

[dunderpate]

Your little cresty does not need a heat lamp, room temp is fine, they need lots of humidity though, between 70-80 percent. I mist once a day because i have two live plants in there which helps control the humidity. Sounds like you will need to mist twice a day, get a hydrometer to monitor that. I feed both of mine at night and remove the left overs in the morning. I feed them baby food mixed with MRP, and also baby two-week old crickets for the baby, and adult crickets for the adult once or twice a week. I always have a water dish in there, but ive seen them both lick water from the live plants. MAke sure your crickets eat well too, such as a cricket MRP and water gel, or all in one, whatever you can find.. Ive chose a more natural setting but yours sounds fine too. There are lots of useful pointers as far as raising a crested gecko go, i found most of what i need to know in here byt posting questions as well click on search at the top of this window and type in keywords to narrow your search. Post some pics of your new addition when you get a chance, love to see him/her.

 

[Babylon]

Ok, well, since I have Repashy CGD, I don't really plan to use crickets. I do work at an organic market though and will be getting him some fruit to mash/babyfood for a treat about once a week.

I plan on misting both in the morning and at night already so the gecko gets it's own mist bottle separate from my python.

The heat lamp keeps the reptiles in the 80's because my housemate keeps the AC pretty high. I'm just keeping them reasonably warm.

Curious, would a succulent plant help with the humidity? I have one on the window sil that I could give to the Gecko.

 

[Chicagocrestedgeckos]

babies can stress out at over 80 degrees. I suggest a digital thermometer with hydrometer. Mine all do great at room temps. I would not use a heat lamp..

 

[Valley Reptiles]

On the food you can leave it in until it starts to mold or it dries up, usually 2 to 3 days. They eat rotting fruit in the wild so it will not hurt them. Mine actually prefer the older food over freshly made. I would stay as far away from baby food as possible, even for a treat. That is one of the biggest things that causes health problems.
The best diet is cgd only or cgd with crickets/roaches.

80 degrees is fine even for a baby. It's over 85 that you need to try to avoid.

If you are misting twice a day then your humidity should be fine. You want it to be humid when you spray then gradually reduced over the day where the substrate dries out.

Water bowls, i never use anymore. They will get all the water they need from their misting if everything is sprayed down well. Mine usually used it as a place to take a big dump instead of drinking out of it.

 

[dunderpate]

Firecrested says:

I would stay as far away from baby food as possible, even for a treat. That is one of the biggest things that causes health problems.

Not sure where your getting that info firecrested. Baby food, such as gerber is pure fruit and "SAFE" for babies, its also "SAFE" for crested geckos. Everything ive read, including what breeders have said in here, as well as breeders i know have been doing the baby food thing forever. You might want to recheck your info. I agree with everything else you said, except for the baby food.

 

[Valley Reptiles]

No offense but you may want to get some other references on your care sheets, baby food is far from safe for cresteds.

I'm getting the info from my own personal experience along with almost every gecko forum and breeder out there.
Go to the ciliatus or pangea forums and do a search for photos of the kinked up geckos that were fed baby food. They are all over the forums. They are showing up less now because people are starting to realize that it is NOT an acceptable food for geckos. Baby food is safe for babies because it is made for humans not geckos.

I have a 7 year old female here that almost died when I first started because a certail pet store gave me a care sheet that said baby food was good.

I had someone bring me a crested to look at last year because they said their gecko was sick. When it got here it's legs were like jello, it's spine was so kinked that it's head was stuck straight up in the air and couldnt move at all. And the diet was baby food because they got a care sheet that said it was ok to feed.

The first two years I kept cresteds I used baby food with calcium and crickets. Got deformed babies as they started growing, a lot of kinked tails and the almost dead female.
The last 5 years I have been using CGD, not one kink, every baby that hatches has been perfect, and all females are 100% healthy.

 

[Babylon]

Well then, no baby food. Do you think the gecko would go for something like mashed banana every once in a while?

Also, the heat lamp is keeping the gecko at 75.3 ish right now so I think it should be fine... The gecko is not directly under the light, it's off the the side so my snakes are getting the warmest rays. It's not even bright in the gecko tank. The lamp is just for the heating of my small set up of snakes really, the gecko is just getting some ambient heat because of proximity.

I realized I'd probably not need the water dish after I added the succulent and thought it would make a good water collector along with the leaves from the fake vines for the gecko to drink from so only a food dish will be in there. I am curious how long Repashy or any other CGD takes to set up? I tried a test batch today and it still is pretty liquidy.

Also, I heard the baby food would be ok if it was completely organic so maybe it the processed chemicals that do that to the geckos? I still will not be feeding it to my gecko. Pictures to come!

 

[dunderpate]

well until an "Expert" (no offence) posts there thoughts about this issue i will continue as breeders here have to feed a "mix" of baby food and MRP. Bone issues and kinked tail sounds like a lack of calcium, or lack of changing the water, or cleaning the aquarium which "WILL" lead to those problems, like the slime that builds up in the water if you havent changed it in two days, that "slime" will cause major problems with crested, or bearded, or leopard, in any reptile (forget the name of the disease) starts with an "S". I can see if your breeding that many cresteds how you would get the problems youve described. Basically Its fruit, plain and simple. Check the ingredients, there is nothing in a jar of babyfood(fruit) that can harm geckos or babies. Check books, check other websites research more. Again, no offence to you, its just what your describing isnt in relation to "baby fruit".

 

[Valley Reptiles]

Mashed banana would be safer than baby food. I just do cgd with crickets for babies and juvies, and cgd only for adults, so that I know they are getting everything they need to stay healthy.
Repashy also has a flavored powder to add to the cgd if you want something as a treat. They have rose, banana, strawberry, mango and a bunch of other flavors.

The CGD you get in stores and the Repashy are both the same, just a different label.
It will look watery and usually stays that way for a long time. The next day it should be thick.

 

[dunderpate]

Babylon, make sure that plant is tropical and safe for geckos. There are some plants out there that even if a gecko licks the plant it can be very toxic. Dont just throw in any plant. Fresh fruit, or expired fruit is upto you and your geckos preference. I feed mine bananna, bruised bananna, the kind you use for bannana bread and they love it. They dont need direct heat either, but as firecrested suggested if you have your air conditioning blasting in your place you will need some sort of heat. One more thing in relation to firecresteds comments. I dont buy my reptiles from petstores either, i buy supplies, decorations that sort of thing. Most of the people at petstores are still in junior high and high school, no offence, but they are just employees, not experts. Im not an expert either, i dont claim to be. But i know some breeders who have been in the reptile trade with 20+ years of experience, so i trust what theyre saying.

 

[Valley Reptiles]

well until an "Expert" (no offence) posts there thoughts about this issue i will continue as breeders here have to feed a "mix" of baby food and MRP.

In December I will have been breeding these geckos for 8 years, you DO learn a few things as you keep them.

Send Mr. Repashy or Anthony an email asking about baby food. They're about as big as you can get as far as being an expert. Anthony even has a page written up on his forum talking about the problems of baby food.

Kinks do not come from lack of cleaning or changing the water:main_no: . It is a calcium issue. When feeding baby food you do not know how much calcium and supplements to mix in to make it safe. And yes you HAVE TO have it right to make baby food safe. If it's off then they can and will eventually start having problems.

 

[dunderpate]

Send Mr. Repashy or Anthony an email asking about baby food. They're about as big as you can get as far as being an expert. Anthony even has a page written up on his forum talking about the problems of baby food.

Why would i do that? They will say what they will so you buy there product, thats a no brainer. Firecrested, you do have more experience when it comes to Crested Geckos, im not doubting that. And your basing your questions on your experience and the issues youve had in your part of the world.

One part MRP, Two Parts water or baby fruit. Pretty simple. Also, dusting the crickets, and even putting a dish with calcium in it. There are plenty of ways to make sure your gecko is getting enough calcium. when it comes to twisted spines, or kinked tails, sounds like lack of calcium to me. I dont want to argue with you anymore, ive posted a thread in the "Site Suggestions section" you should read it.

 

[Babylon]

Where could I find a list of safe plants for geckos? Also, if I don't intend to use crickets for my little guy, should I add a calcium bowl? I can't wait to see it eat a smooshed banana!

Today when I was putting water in the dish and was trying to hold the gecko it sqeaked and tried to bite me... Won't be holding him for the rest of the week I think.

 

[Babylon]

Looked it up online, the plant I have is a little Jade and it's safe for reptile housing

 

[Valley Reptiles]

And your basing your questions on your experience and the issues youve had in your part of the world.

I am basing my answers on my experience.....and the many others that have posted the same probles on the crested forums from feeding baby food.

I wasnt arguing with you. I'm just trying to prevent a new or future crested gecko owner from taken advice that is well known to be bad for them and keep them from having a bad experience with Cresteds because it will happen. It may take a year, two or maybe three but it will happen.

 

[dunderpate]

Firecrested(Eric) i retract my earlier comments about baby food and its purpose. I feel like a tool. I read more, which is what i should have done before commenting like I knew what i was entirely talking about. Sorry about that. It seems the concensus is to stick with a MRP of sorts , a fully balanced diet. Ive always found crickets to be a pain, but i like to watch my cresties hunt. So i will continue with those. I have been disatisfied with the $10-50gram bottle of t-rex mrp which is all that is available where i live mainly because of the pathetic amount i get for my dollar. Well i just finished my purchase with paypal and the Pangea repashy superfood 1lbs bag, it should be here next week so i ll see how that goes, hopefully they like it. If anything we kept the post alive. Hopefully Babylon your questions have been answered.

 

[Babylon]

lol They have! Glad to know I started off with the right food though. The breeder actually worked with me getting the whole set up done before the little one was even shipped. They're so darn cute when they jump.

 

[tap1974]

I have been disatisfied with the $10-50gram bottle of t-rex mrp which is all that is available where i live mainly because of the pathetic amount i get for my dollar. Well i just finished my purchase with paypal and the Pangea repashy superfood 1lbs bag, it should be here next week so i ll see how that goes, hopefully they like it.

If you are not happy with the Rapashy food you can try Clark's complete gecko diet. It seems fresher and most of mine like it better, and i have tried both. Clark's is also about the some price as the Rapashy. Clark's can be bought at www.pmpreptiles.com. Anyway have a good one.:main_cool3:

 

[Babylon]

And the makers of Clark's are offering a free 1 oz sample with only $1 shipping so I'll be trying that out too. Nifty.