new and clueless...

[yospike4]

im going to the breeders house tmw to pick out my first crested gecko. is there anything I should know beforehand?

I've heard so many differing opinions on the cage setup that its hard to make sense of it all. bark, soil, or peat moss? fake or real plants? etc. what would be the optimal setup for my baby crested and once its fully grown?

oh, and i live in southern california, and being that its almost summer AND i live in a house with no central air, I will soon be looking at 95 degree weather and happen to live upstairs. what can i do about the heat?

 

[Haroldo]

im going to the breeders house tmw to pick out my first crested gecko. is there anything I should know beforehand?

I've heard so many differing opinions on the cage setup that its hard to make sense of it all. bark, soil, or peat moss? fake or real plants? etc. what would be the optimal setup for my baby crested and once its fully grown?

oh, and i live in southern california, and being that its almost summer AND i live in a house with no central air, I will soon be looking at 95 degree weather and happen to live upstairs. what can i do about the heat?

Honestly, I'd recommend not getting the gecko at this time. There are ways to fend off temporary heat spells, but your situation in particular seems unsuitable for keeping this species. After about 80*F, mine start stressing, 85*F and over for extended periods is a recipe for death. Some may feel I'm being a bit harsh, but it doesn't appear that any Rhacodactylus species is for you given your constraints...

 

[KiKi]

i agree with harold unless you can keep it in a cool room with ac around 72-74degrees i wouldnt subject a crestie to extreme heat,this is not being harsh just pure facts over 80 degrees is very harmful and dangerous to cresties

 

[plecoperson]

I'm a real novice, but I did a lot of research and quizzing before I got my crestie. When it gets to 79 degrees we turn the air on whether or not we are uncomfortable, mostly for the gecko (and a little for the fish and the cats and the rabbit and the humans!)

Maybe look at a leopard gecko instead?

 

[Jennie]

We live in cali as well and with the weather getting easliy in the 100's we keep reusable icepacks on top of the critter keeper to keep our crestie cool. It stays in the low-mid 70's in the tank when the room is 80+ degrees in the room, misting also drops the temp a couple degrees aswell.

 

[yospike4]

I was having second thoughts abotu getting one as well. But my breeder told me its no problem as long as i take certain precautions. Thanks for your suggestion too jennie sounds like a good idea. My house is finally getting central AC now thank god so it shouldnt be a problem.