When to start substrate w/ cresties?

[FoHGoR]

Hello,
Currently, I have the bottom of my tank lined with paper towels, which is the safest and makes for easy clean up, but doesn't help with humidity. Yesterday, my first full day with the new critter, I sprayed the tank at least five times, but the humidity never rose above 70% for any more than a few minutes. I placed a good bit of moss in one of the corners, but it didn't seem to help.

At what age is it safe to add some sort of moisture retaining substrate to the tank? I was thinking of using the coconut bedding. Any other suggestions, substrate or otherwise?

TIA,
Kris

 

[Zbiz]

Im assuming this is a leo? The whole tank does not have to have high humidity. Actually for leos its actually not good for them. So you need to put a humid hide in the tank. You said you have moss in a corner. Put a tupperware with a hole in it and place it over the moist moss. This will provide a sort of sauna so when your gecko sheds it can have an easier time. Hoped that helped!
Happy Herping!

 

[FoHGoR]

Im assuming this is a leo? The whole tank does not have to have high humidity. Actually for leos its actually not good for them. So you need to put a humid hide in the tank. You said you have moss in a corner. Put a tupperware with a hole in it and place it over the moist moss. This will provide a sort of sauna so when your gecko sheds it can have an easier time. Hoped that helped!
Happy Herping!

Hello Zbiz,
Actually, it's a crested, as mentioned in the title , but thanks for the reply.

Edit: Sorry, I posted this in the "Leopard Gecko Forum"..

Can someone with magical powers please move this to the correct forum? - Thanks!!



-Kris

 

[Scott&Nikki]

I only own a leo and I am new as it is, but I have seen many humidifiers, fog machines, and misters in stores and on websites. Petco and PetSmart I know carry at least the fog machines for around $30. I have even seen decorative plants that create "rain" in the tank for whenever you set them to. If you need, I will help you find out more about these. However, I don't know any cheap, quick solutions for you. Hope I helped!

 

[Zbiz]

Oh I'd put T-Rex Forest bedding/coco bedding, it holds water very well and keep the humidity high. Hm... what do you feed your crested? If you feed it Crested Gecko Diet, the powder with the water mixture, then impaction shouldn't be a problem. If you feed crickets you can cup feed. Put the crickets in a deli cup and if you have the heart you could pop off one of their back legs so they cant jump. I did this for a gecko that had some SERIOUS hunting problems.
Hope this has helped! Sorry for the mistake!

Happy Herping!

 

[FoHGoR]

Hello and thanks for the replies..
I picked up an off-Brand coconut bedding last night and set it up. It was already loose, so I didn't have to soak it prior to putting it in. I gave it a good spraying last night, but I think I need to add more, 'cause it was dry when I went home for lunch today.

So far I've been feeding him(?) small crickets, well I haven't seen him eat any, but I haven't been able to find the couple I put in the cage the day I got him. Sunday, I mixed a little apricot Gerber with some turkey Gerber then added some 'miner-all'. Once I placed it under his nose he started eating it. I placed some more of the baby food mix in his cage last night, but it doesn't look like he ate any.

I think he's still getting used to the knew cage and read, on this site, that this is normal.

Is it normal for Cresties to use a patch of moss as a hide? He was buried in the moss this morning when I left and again when I was home for lunch. I guess it's the darkest place in the tank?? I found that odd for a Crested, but I'm still learning.

Anyway, thanks again and I'll keep you all posted!!

 

[Zbiz]

Well they'll sleep where they're most comfortable. Moss to them is a blanket to us lol.