First Time Gecko Owner...

[bruce267]

So I got everything I need - I think. I have two questions though.

First Question - I have this pretty tall tree in a pretty short and wide tank. Should I cut it down so its a little shorter, because right now I'm afraid it will jump out when I try feeding it or adding water.

Picture of it hiding in the trees - http://www.flickr.com/photos/missingmailathotelsix/4383068243/in/photostream/

Picture of the tank - http://www.flickr.com/photos/missingmailathotelsix/4383071757/in/photostream/

Or should I take it out, let it get used to me and once I am able to handle it put it back in after? Or will it still jump once its used to me?

Question Two - I have a heating pad, but should I even have it on? I know crested geckos don't like it that warm. Its only covering a little bit of one side, but is that to much for it's liking?

Thanks, but if anyone has some other good advice for a new gecko owner I'll be grateful!

 

[mom2twinsplus2]

My Cresteds have never jumped from their trees when I have had the cage open...if I go in late at night after the room light is off, they will sometimes try to climb up the glass and out. I think you just need to be alert but I wouldn't worry about the tree.

I have no advice on the heater situation...I don't have anything for either of my two tanks of Cresteds and they seem to be doing well...they eat well and look healthy as far as I can tell. I have never tried a heat source though.

All of my Cresteds are very handleable and very sweet...I can have them lick food from finger with no issues. All will occasionally jump though if given the chance. You just need to be alert when holding them. The first day I had my first Crested, I held it to show my 6 year old the new pet and it leapt from my hand onto his nose...scared the you know what out of him-LOL-but that was how we learned what to look for if they are going to jump. It hasn't been an issue since. They are wonderful creatures...so much fun to watch and hold..you will love yours I am sure!

Alison

 

[darkridder]

Height is much more important then length with these guys, so a taller tank is recommended. You will want to start them out in a med-large kritter keeper. Once 8-10g you can upgrade them into a 10 gallon tank or larger. If placed in anything to large, babies tend to stress out and have trouble finding food. Here is a pic of one of my enclosures, obviously much larger then yours, but it gives you a good idea on how much decoration is needed.

Also young geckos like yours should be housed on paper towels as geckos under 12g can easily become impacted on particle substrates. It is also much easier to clean and monitor the feces.

You will want to get more plants in there if you do decide to keep it in that tank. When doing decoration, you want 3 of the 4 walls covered with fake plants doesnt need to be completely covered, but you want them to be heavily covered. You also want at least 50% of the enclosure to be plants and hiding places along with at least 1 hide on the bottom. Also is that big red bowl a water dish or the food dish? If it is the food dish I would recomend something much smaller so that you can better monitor feed intake.

Unless your house is 65 degrees, there really is no need to the supplemental heat source, remember they like it cool. But if you wish to offer a little more heat I would use a 15 watt light instead of the under tank heater, these guys do better with a light source above rather then below.

Normally you want to give your gecko a good week to settle in and get used to its new environment. After that handling a few times a week for short periods is fine.