Gargoyle Gecko help! First timer!

[gargoyleman]

Today I got my first reptile, it is a young gargoyle gecko. I have several questions. First the guy told me to use repti-bark it that ok? I have reptile carpet too I can use. Also when can i attempt handling? How often do I need to clean the tank? Are crickets and meal worms a good diet?

Any help would be much appreciated.

 

[Holly12]

Well frist off welcome to the GF and you really should be useing papper towels it is safer and it also will hold humidity. And you just got him so it takes 2 weeks for them to get use to there new home. So you should not hold it until the 2 weeks are up as far as cleaning the cage you should always check to see if it needs it if so clean it out. And crickets and meal worms are okay but you should get it on the crested gecko diet. See Gargoles and crested geckos have the same care take so yes the Gargoles need fruit and all of the good things to stay helathy. So maybe you should look into geting the CGD and try giving that to him.

 

[fuzzylogix]

gargs need pretty much the exact same care as crested geckos. you need to feed them primarily a meal replacement powder such as Repashy CGD. you should offer crickets or mealies as a meal supplement, but not as a main diet. i offered my gargs crix and supers once a week. as far as substrate, some people use eco earth or something similar, but i just use paper towels and put a moist hide with sphagnum moss in the enclosure. they need to be kept at room temperature and below 80 degrees. mist their enclosure nightly and you should have a happy, healthy garg.

 

[acpart]

All of the advice above has been good. I prefer to keep my geckos that need humidity, including the gargoyle, in planted tanks with eco earth. The thing I like best about it is not needing to clean the cage. Ever. I have 7 planted tanks which range from 6 months to 6 years and lal the geckos are healthy and happy. Paper towel is fine too if you prefer that.

Aliza

 

[gargoyleman]

If I can't handle the gecko how can I change the flooring?

 

[Holly12]

Well you can get some kind of critter keeper or a dell cup and scoop him in there but I be very easy and try not to scare him. Or you can work around him just make sure that you get all of the poop up and dead crickets.

 

[gargoyleman]

Thanks guys 3 more questions 1. Can I feed him the crickets/meal worms/ baby food this week and get the other food later? 2. What % humidity should it be at? 3. Is the cup he came in ok to use when I change the floor and how long should I wait to change to reptile carpet/paper towel

 

[Holly12]

Thanks guys 3 more questions 1. Can I feed him the crickets/meal worms/ baby food this week and get the other food later? 2. What % humidity should it be at? 3. Is the cup he came in ok to use when I change the floor and how long should I wait to change to reptile carpet/paper towel

Yes you can feed him what you are giving him but just until you get that crested geckko diet. The humidity should be around 75 to 80% And yes you can use the cup he came in thats beter then you trying to pick him up and really streesing him out. I wish you luck and you should post some pictures of him when he had time to settle down.

 

[gargoyleman]

Actually he seems fairly calm so far he has been drinking water and snapped T one of the two crickets already! How do I raise humidity? he's a dark brownish grey color with black spots and kinda bigger orange spots and a lighter grey on bottom he looks amazing! ill post pics sometime! I wanna know his morph!

 

[Holly12]

Do you have a humidity gage in there for him? if so then look to see what it says you should mist his cage like 2 times a day. That will bring up his humidity for him and as far as what is his morph is we will have to see a picture of him. Someone on here that knows about Gargoyle morphs will help you out on that one. Sorry if I could not be more help on that.

 

[fl_orchidslave]

Mist in the morning and heavily at night for humidity. In order to provide proper nutrient levels, you really should order some crested gecko diet sooner rather than later. It won't be much of an adjustment for either. Baby food doesn't give them any of the nutrients they need to be healthy. Check out the crested/gargoyle sections on this forum for more detailed information. Good luck with your new guy. Look forward to seeing photos

 

[gargoyleman]

Last question I promise is a 20"L 10"w 12"h big enough tank?

 

[fl_orchidslave]

That would be too big to start out a youngster. I have a 15gm in a 12" cube tank, and 2 25 gm in a 10 gal, both turned on end so it is screen front. They all hang out in the mid regions of their tanks and I can easily mist thru the front.

 

[gargoyleman]

Well he's using the whole place up. I change the flooring just a minute ago. I actually don't know how old he or she is. The guy at the pet shop seemed like a noob. I'm having a hard time keeping humidity up.

 

[acpart]

If the top of the tank is screen, cover as much as possible with plexiglass or something like that. Since it's not a planted tank, put some small potted plants in there. All this will increase humidity.

Aliza

 

[gargoyleman]

Ok I just put a bandana I folded in half over the top and left a little gap for air.

 

[Holly12]

You are asking all of the right questions and thats what is so important I can not tell you that alot of people that don't ask the right questions. And they wonder why there gecko is not doing well yes it will be stress out my crested gecko I just got on friday morning is still stress out. If you are doing all of the right things you will make it with your new one so keep on doing a great job you are well on your way to becoming a great gecko keeper.

 

[gargoyleman]

Thanks, I've really wanted one for a long time. It sucks to have to wait 2 weeks to handle him, but its worth it. How will I know when he's not so stressed?

 

[Holly12]

LOL you sometimes won't know but to be on the safe side wait for 2 weeks then you can hold him. That way you will not make him even more stress then he already is give it time like you said it will be worth the wait.

 

[gargoyleman]

My gecko hasn't moved all day! I hope he is ok...