First Banded Gecko

[ento890]

Hi everyone

I purchased my first banded gecko (named Bandit... a little cliche?) last week. I have him in a tank, with a heat pad, peat moss, warm hide, cool hide, moist hide with spaghnum, water bowl, calci dish, and some mealies (also give crickets) and I spray the cage down every night. I haven't seen the little guy eat yet, but my scale says he's gained one gram since being here. All I see him do is sit in the cold hide, never on the other side. My temps are right (86 on hot side, 75 on cool). Can anyone comment on my husbandry? Any tips would be great. thanks!

Also would you agree hes a central american banded?

 

[acpart]

I think he's a Central American, but I don't know the subspecies well. I generally try to keep the hot side a bit hotter --low 90's on the ground. If you're measuring 86 in the air then the floor temp is probably much hotter and it's staying on the cool side because the hot side is too hot. I think this species needs some humidity. I have kept Coleonyx variegatus bogerti and have just gotten a pair of C. variegatus variegatus. Even these more deserty species seem to appreciate some humidity.

Enjoy him. They are very cute and active.

ALiza

 

[robin]

he is indeed a central american bnded gecko, you are doing things right but the temps on the hot side are too hot. i would put moist hides on both sides of the hank as well as regular hides. pit in a water bowl. i would have his temps about 80-82 degrees on the warm side and it can be cool (in the low 70's) on the cool side. they can not take high temps like the US species of banded geckos. they are kept very similar to yucatan banded geckos, c. elegans.

 

[ento890]

thanks for the help guys. I will adjust the temps accordingly. I saw many care sheets saying anywhere from 80-90 with the hotspots so I thought 86 was somewhere in between.

thanks again!

 

[robin]

i notice mine do better around 80-82. i have 1.3. they love their humid hides
i use paper towel substrate. they are strictly nocturnal. mine feed mainly on mealies but will also take crickets too
i REALLY love these guys!

 

[acpart]

Sorry for the misinformation about the heat. My species takes it hotter.

Aliza

 

[ento890]

okay thanks again will do.

I'll feel better when I see the little guy eat. I am offering mealies and crickets.

 

[robin]

okay thanks again will do.

I'll feel better when I see the little guy eat. I am offering mealies and crickets.

i never see mine eat but i know they are because they are growing and pooping hehe

 

[ento890]

haha thanks robin.

I'll just continue to weigh him.

 

[Kelentari]

He is very pretty. Is he eating for you yet?