Need a little crested help

[Talika]

I got a crested adult given to me as the owner couldn't keep him. The owner previous to that said that he didn't need calcium and in fact if he got calcium sacs he would die. She fed him baby food and crickets (not dusted and not gut loaded) everyday. So he has no calcium sacs visible. He never had things to climb on so now in his new house which being the small tall exo terra is twice the size of his old one he has climbing vines and suction cup vines... He doesn't climb. In fact when placed on the vine he slipped and very quickly climbed/fell down to the ground.

We have a juvenile crested that we got from a great breeder so he is in optimal health. I know how to keep them healthy. But can someone give me some pointers to nurse this big guy back to health? I know he needs time to adjust but I would like to have ideas to help him if this doesn't sort out with proper nutrition and time.

 

[acpart]

It's possible he has MBD (metabolic bone disease) from lack of calcium. Feed him Repashy or Pangea complete gecko diet which contains the right amount of calcium (as opposed to baby food). Dust the crickets. You may need to consult a vet to see if he needs additional calcium at first in a liquid or other form.

Aliza

 

[Amanda1]

I remember reading a while back that poor nutrition can affect their ability to climb. The tiny little hairs on their toe pads that help adhesion die and fall off. Once that happens I don't think they will grow back. (Did anyone else see this post or am I imagining it?) Of course it could be something simple, like he has shed stuck on his toes, and if you keep him humid he may be able to climb better after his next shed.

 

[Talika]

He is starting to relax he is able to climb the glass and my arm when he makes a break for it. I think his main problem with the climbing vines is he has never had them... And he is such a fat boy lol. Currently we are searching for a vet to take us in. The guy we thought was an exotic pet vet had no idea what he was looking at. Lol granted my new guy is a funky color but he is just a questionably bred olive dal. Not a completely different animal. His back is straight and his limbs aren't swollen so doctored repashy and close observation until we can get in to a vet. Thanks for the input.

 

[Josh2]

Welcome aboard! Glad to have you here, @Talika ! Sorry your gecko isn't feeling well :-/
There's a list of herp vets on TortoiseForum.org - check it out

 

[xGILGODx]

I heard baby food is actually not good for them I use this crested gecko diet which is all they really ever need. It has everything they need in it so feeding them crickets is an option. I like to feed mine crickets still and I always dust them with calcium but maybe you shouldn't dust yours. Like I said the crested gecko diet is all they will ever really need .

 

[Pugwinkle]

Will your geckos eat that zoo med stuff? Mine won't touch it. I don't really think that is the best food out there. You might want to look into getting some Repashy, Clarks, & Pangea. I have all three with several different flavours. It's always best for any animal to have a varied diet. Sticking to one type of food isn't always the healthiest.

 

[xGILGODx]

I've been looking at the repashy stuff and think I'm gonna get some but yes they love thus zoo med cgd lol

 

[Pugwinkle]

I had to feed the zoo med stuff to the crickets!

 

[xGILGODx]

Lmfao idk man haha I would like mine to have more of a verity so I'll check it out

 

[xGILGODx]

There so expensive though

 

[Pugwinkle]

What is so expensive??

 

[Amanda1]

Repashy is probably more expensive because it's been proven to work. I've never used the ZooMed brand, and wouldn't risk it.

ZooMed ingredients: Potato Protein, Stabilized Rice Bran, Insect Meal, Dried Fig, Fructose, Dried Beet, Dried Banana, Pea Fiber, Dried Papaya, Dried Hibiscus Flower, Dried Honey, Bee Pollen, Paprika, Natural Fruit Flavors, Dicalcium Phosphate, Precipitated Calcium Carbonate, Tagetes (Aztec Marigold) Extract Color, Direct-Fed Microorganisms (Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Enterococcus faecium, and Aspergillus oryzae Fermentation Products), Guar Gum, Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols, Rosemary Extract, Maltodextrins, Salt, Potassium Chloride, Choline Bitartrate, Manganous Oxide, L-Leucine, Manganese Sulfate, Ascorbic Acid, L-Arginine, L-Lysine Monohydrochloride, a-Tocopherol Acetate, L-Valine, L-Isoleucine, L-Threonine, L-Glutamine, L-Alanine, L-Glutamic Acid, d-Calcium Pantothenate, L-Phenylalanine, Dried Kelp, L-Tyrosine, Lecithin, Ferrous Fumarate, L-Cystine, L-Histidine, Glycine, DL-Methionine, L-Serine, L-Aspartic Acid, Niacin, Copper Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Vitamin A Acetate, Riboflavin, Cholecalciferol (Source of Vitamin D3), Thiamine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement.

Repashy ingredients: Rice Protein, Pea Protein, Dried Banana, Dried Honey, Stabilized Rice Bran, Dried Date, Coconut Meal, Dried Fig, Ground Flaxseed, Dried Mango, Alfalfa Meal, Cane Molasses, Lecithin, Dried Kelp, Algae Meal, Calcium Carbonate, Dicalcium Phosphate, Taurine, Dried Watermelon, RoseHips, Hibiscus Flower, Calendula Flower, Marigold Flower, Paprika, Turmeric, Potassium Citrate, Salt, Calcium Propionate and Potassium Sorbate (as preservatives), Magnesium Amino Acid Chelate, Zinc Methionine Hydroxy Analogue Chelate, Manganese Methionine Hydroxy Analogue Chelate, Copper Methionine Hydroxy Analogue Chelate, Selenium Yeast, Choline Chloride. Vitamins: (Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Calcium L-Ascorbyl-2-Monophosphate, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Beta Carotene, Pantothenic Acid, Riboflavin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Thiamine Mononitrate, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex, Folic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin B-12 Supplement).

 

[kayla.h]

I had a crestie guy tell me when Pangea brought out their product, he put out a dish of each in his tanks and his geckos seemed to like Pangea over Repashy. But both products are said to be complete balanced nutrition. And Pangea was slightly cheaper if I remember right.

 

[chrissy.groves.25]

I tried feeding the ZooMed but mine wouldnt touch it so I got Pangea and am now mixing it so I wouldnt have to throw it away..

 

[acpart]

I'm feeding geckos the Pangea and using my left over Repashy for cricket food.

Aliza

 

[Pugwinkle]

Yeah my guys aren't terribly keen on the Repashy, at least the new one. They liked the classic one though. Mine really like Pangea and Clarks diet. I don't find them expensive at all. They don't really eat all that much and I buy the larger packages (which tend to be a better deal) and I keep the powder in the fridge so it has a longer shelf life. I believe you can also freeze it as well which means it will keep even longer that way.

 

[Jetfire]

my geckos prefer the Pangea by far. I've fed it exclusively for the last 6 months,but I let the geckos decide. I put dishes of both when I fed them,and kept track of who ate how much of which. Pangea won in a landslide over the Repashy that I'd been using for years. Pricewise,it's about the same as Repashy,but it's more difficult to find. No stores in my area carry it,so I have to either stock up @ a show,or order online. Personally,I think the Repashy tastes better...