Goliath59nph
New Member
- Messages
- 12
- Location
- Champaign, IL
For starters, sorry if this is in the wrong spot. I didn't see any sections that the Malaysian Golden Gecko would fit in, but I may have missed it due to classifications or scientific naming that I didn't recognize.
If you don't feel like reading a lot, here's a quick summary.
Summary: Mid-size gecko (most likely Malaysian Golden Gecko) in 20G newly setup vivarium, temp 85 degrees, humidity 50-70%, eating crickets (5-6 in a week)
Story and Background Information: I need some advice on caring for a Malaysian Golden Gecko. (or at least I think that's what it is) I work at Petsmart and some of the guys found a 5-7" gecko (including tail)(estimate) while moving some boxes out of storage. How it survived in the back rooms of Petsmart I have no idea. The last time our particular store sold this type of gecko was over a year and a half ago. They put it in a cage in one of the back rooms, and being in the petcare department I started taking care of it. After about a week I decided to adopt it and house it in my extra 20 gallon terrarium.
For about a week I kept the setup very simple; some basic wood substrate, water dish, and two hides. Towards the end I also added some fake plants to the sides to try and encourage my little friend to climb on the walls. For food I initially put 5-6 crickets in with it and Im not sure if they died or if he ate them. (I saw him eat 1 or 2 and I haven't seen any dead ones laying around so I assume the latter)
I have always been interested in having a vivarium, and being a proud new gecko owner I thought this would be the perfect opportunity. I spent a few days researching and gathering materials, then yesterday got to work constructing a simple vivarium. (clay drainage substrate, screen, topsoil/moss substrate, 2 plants) I also got a light that will help the plants grow and provides a good amount of heat, keeping the temperature around 85 degrees. Once I was finished I added the two hides back to either side of the vivarium, as well as a large rock, decorative statue thing, and water dish.
A few quick comments on the gecko itself and then I'll get to my questions. It is relatively inactive, often hiding under my warm side hide during the day. If I turn all the lights off for an hour or two I can sometimes catch it out, but thats pretty rare. (only once or twice since Ive had it) I've also noticed that it seems to struggle with climbing. When I put it in a plastic container while setting up the vivarium it tried climbing the sides but often slipped. It looked to me almost like its feet were only kinda sticky, similar to tape that has gotten dirty. It has been changing colors like crazy, with combos such as grayish blue/brownish orange, pale white/golden yellow, and bright white/orangish red. (first color being the base color and second color being the faded stripes) Finally, like I said earlier its eating habits have been spotty. I know it has eaten some crickets, but every time I try to feed it mealworms it refuses, and it has to be hungry because 5-6 crickets in a week is not that much.
Hopefully this is enough background information so you have an idea of my current situation. Now down to some questions.
Questions:
1. Does its activity level suggest illness, stress, or any other negative condition?
2. Is there anything wrong with its eating habits? Should it be eating more? Should there be more to its diet?
3. Are consistent color changes a sign of stress?
4. Is my enclosure set up correctly?
5. How can I encourage it to climb around more rather than just hide?
6. Is there anything wrong with its feet?
Thanks for all the help guys it really means a lot! I am a first time gecko owner so I don't really know that much, trying to learn though. Any tips and tricks you have would be greatly appreciated! I'll try to post pictures within the next couple of days so you can get a better look at my enclosure as well as the gecko. (maybe help me confirm that it is indeed a Malaysian Golden Gecko?)
Noah
If you don't feel like reading a lot, here's a quick summary.
Summary: Mid-size gecko (most likely Malaysian Golden Gecko) in 20G newly setup vivarium, temp 85 degrees, humidity 50-70%, eating crickets (5-6 in a week)
Story and Background Information: I need some advice on caring for a Malaysian Golden Gecko. (or at least I think that's what it is) I work at Petsmart and some of the guys found a 5-7" gecko (including tail)(estimate) while moving some boxes out of storage. How it survived in the back rooms of Petsmart I have no idea. The last time our particular store sold this type of gecko was over a year and a half ago. They put it in a cage in one of the back rooms, and being in the petcare department I started taking care of it. After about a week I decided to adopt it and house it in my extra 20 gallon terrarium.
For about a week I kept the setup very simple; some basic wood substrate, water dish, and two hides. Towards the end I also added some fake plants to the sides to try and encourage my little friend to climb on the walls. For food I initially put 5-6 crickets in with it and Im not sure if they died or if he ate them. (I saw him eat 1 or 2 and I haven't seen any dead ones laying around so I assume the latter)
I have always been interested in having a vivarium, and being a proud new gecko owner I thought this would be the perfect opportunity. I spent a few days researching and gathering materials, then yesterday got to work constructing a simple vivarium. (clay drainage substrate, screen, topsoil/moss substrate, 2 plants) I also got a light that will help the plants grow and provides a good amount of heat, keeping the temperature around 85 degrees. Once I was finished I added the two hides back to either side of the vivarium, as well as a large rock, decorative statue thing, and water dish.
A few quick comments on the gecko itself and then I'll get to my questions. It is relatively inactive, often hiding under my warm side hide during the day. If I turn all the lights off for an hour or two I can sometimes catch it out, but thats pretty rare. (only once or twice since Ive had it) I've also noticed that it seems to struggle with climbing. When I put it in a plastic container while setting up the vivarium it tried climbing the sides but often slipped. It looked to me almost like its feet were only kinda sticky, similar to tape that has gotten dirty. It has been changing colors like crazy, with combos such as grayish blue/brownish orange, pale white/golden yellow, and bright white/orangish red. (first color being the base color and second color being the faded stripes) Finally, like I said earlier its eating habits have been spotty. I know it has eaten some crickets, but every time I try to feed it mealworms it refuses, and it has to be hungry because 5-6 crickets in a week is not that much.
Hopefully this is enough background information so you have an idea of my current situation. Now down to some questions.
Questions:
1. Does its activity level suggest illness, stress, or any other negative condition?
2. Is there anything wrong with its eating habits? Should it be eating more? Should there be more to its diet?
3. Are consistent color changes a sign of stress?
4. Is my enclosure set up correctly?
5. How can I encourage it to climb around more rather than just hide?
6. Is there anything wrong with its feet?
Thanks for all the help guys it really means a lot! I am a first time gecko owner so I don't really know that much, trying to learn though. Any tips and tricks you have would be greatly appreciated! I'll try to post pictures within the next couple of days so you can get a better look at my enclosure as well as the gecko. (maybe help me confirm that it is indeed a Malaysian Golden Gecko?)
Noah
