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Crested Gecko caves / hides and handling advice

12K views 15 replies 5 participants last post by  db3266  
#1 ·
This is our vivarium



It has loads of climbing stuff in it and also length of cover, both hanging and on the ground.

The Crestie has only been in the viv for 48 hours. It hides all day (as expected) in this large hollow log.



We are waiting for a night light to turn up so we can observe it better at night, but when we turn all the lights out, it does put in an appearance.

When looking at vivs in the shops, none that I have seen have a cave or any form of solid hide (such as the log), the Crestie normally hiding in the corner of the viv under the foliage, this makes for easy access to the Crestie.

But with our viv having this log, it makes it impossible to get access to the Crestie whilst it is in there. Obviously we (more my son than anyone, it is his Gecko) want to handle the Gecko at various times during the day, but this it not going to be possible with it hiding in the log. We have to wait for it to come out, which limits the opportunities to handle it.

What's your take on this? Do you have hides for your Creties or not? should I change the setup? Ie, make a hide that can be easily moved to access the Gecko? Should I do it now before the Crestie is firmly established in the viv? Will this stress it out? Should I wait?

We are confused......
 
#2 ·
That's a good looking set-up.

Shops, usually, have very little cover so customers can see the animals and also so the animals are easy to get to so not something you want to emulate. I don't really do the generic branded decorations/furniture and instead opt for completely naturalistic and bio-active set-ups. I wouldn't bother getting a 'cave' hide for your crestie. It is good for them to have somewhere to hide on the floor of the vivarium but it's best just using rocks or cork bark.

As for the handling side of things - leave the gecko alone until it is active. Setting up the vivarium so it is beneficial to you more than it is to the gecko is the wrong mentality to have. The gecko might not even use the hide as it is more likely to rest higher up in the vivarium, off of the floor. You ask if it will stress the gecko out - what will stress the gecko out is you giving taking away it's safe place to hide; replacing it with something that isn't appropriate and then waking it up several times during the day. These geckos are arboreal, so live off the ground, and crepuscular, so come out later in the day.

I'm sure you done your research and knew these problems would arise so I don't see why you bought a crested gecko. Maybe something like a bearded dragon or a hamster would have been a better choice.



Gavin.
 
#8 ·
It's quite funny how people take offence at such insignificant things. I really don't understand people that buy reptiles as a hands on pet. Yes it is quite cool being able to look at them up close but they don't get anything from it and to be honest neither do we( or at least I don't see how we do ). I could expand on that but I quite like it here.

I treat everyone as an idiot when posting here. Not because I think they are but because you need to. If you respond to everyone thinking they have a great knowledge of everything you will miss out important information and would there really be any point in replying anyway?



Gavin.
can see y people take offence like you but you treat everyone as an idiot if you treat me like a idiot i take offence is this forum not here to help and not to put people down on a simple question?
 
#3 ·
Ok, well, thanks for replying to my post.
Your last comment is pure comedy and takes my post completely out of perspective and is actually quite offensive. Of course I did my research, of course I know these lizards need a safe place to hide during the day and come out at night. You must be assuming I'm an idiot.......

But generally, I think you have answered my question, so thanks anyway.
 
#4 ·
It's quite funny how people take offence at such insignificant things. I really don't understand people that buy reptiles as a hands on pet. Yes it is quite cool being able to look at them up close but they don't get anything from it and to be honest neither do we( or at least I don't see how we do ). I could expand on that but I quite like it here.

I treat everyone as an idiot when posting here. Not because I think they are but because you need to. If you respond to everyone thinking they have a great knowledge of everything you will miss out important information and would there really be any point in replying anyway?



Gavin.
 
#5 ·
Can anyone recommend if removing the log hide and letting the Crestie hide in the foliage is a good or bad idea?

I am thinking of doing so.

I'm also considering clearing some of the floor foliage in the Viv and putting in a nice piece of bark, or building a rock cave for it.
 
#7 ·
: victory:
Was thinking along similar lines. Also going to clear out some base foliage and put some bark chips down instead of the soil. Basically give loads if climbing space, some hides and foliage on the sides and up high to hide. Will give more viewing space for when it is active. : victory:
 
#9 ·
I was going to recommend splitting the cork bark in two as well. What you could do if you like the look of the round cork bark is split it in two and add a hinge to the one side. That way you'd create something that looks fully rounded and natural, but when you take it out, you can actually open it up and still access the gecko!
 
#11 ·
TBH I would leave the cork bark as it is, and actually agree fully with gavgav. They are better off being watched and enjoyed being themselves than handled. Mine have low level cork bark tunnels like yours, and a half coconut each on the floor. They also have suspended coconuts with holes cut in for access, and seed pods that they like to curl up in...do they sleep in any of these - not normally! One sleeps on the mesh, one in a seed pod and I have no idea where number 3 sleeps as I can never find him!

I really like how your set up is - I would also leave the soil, add bugs and make it bioactive instead of replacing with bark.

I handle my cresties occasionally for health checks - otherwise I leave them to it :)
 
#13 ·
Mine is a little different to usual... http://www.reptileforums.co.uk/forums/lizards/1053211-unusual-crested-gecko-set-up.html

It is actually different now, I've stripped all the plastic plants out and replaced with live, and made a few other tweaks but it gives you an idea.

Bioactive substrate is basically soil/cocofibre/sedgepeat (I think you can now buy "biolife" which is all that stuff pre mixed) with added spring tails, woodlice, worms etc. the bugs act as your clean up crew so make maintenance much easier.
 
#14 ·
Just been doing some research, 'Dendrosoil' is a pre mixed bioactive substrate, but I have to leave it in a viv for two weeks (it said before adding frogs), would this be the same for a Crestie?

Again, a stupid question about the activities of Crested Geckos's.

I see so many videos of people handling the Cresties, I read so many comments about how great they are for handling, I see loads of pictures of Cresties active in the day (or at least they appear to be). If you are all advising just to leave them be and simply observe, are you all also nocturnal?:Na_Na_Na_Na: or is everything I am seeing / reading false? Or in time, will we see occasional daytime activity?

The Crestie has been in the Viv for 4 days now, it has hunted and eaten some crickets we added, I think it is also eating the Repashy, but can't be 100% sure on this. We are going to put a few mealworms in a bowl next the Repashy tonight to see if they get eaten. We were going to add some more crickets, but the ones we kept in the keeper all died overnight? I put apple and cucumber in the keeper, but they all (bar two or three) died?... What's all that about?

We have the Arcadia night light fitted, we turn it on at about 8pm (we keep the UVB lights on all day, but I can't see the point if it in the log sleeping all day), by 8 or 9pm, we do get some activity from the Crestie.
 
#15 ·
Never heard of Dendrosoil but being for frogs would explain that. In my opinion you will be better off just making up your own. You don't need a mixture of different substrates but it is probably better. I mix together top soil, coir, peat, sand, leaf litter and some bedding compost then add in worms, springtails and woodlice. Adding the leaf litter also adds other bugs that will help the cycle. Saying that all you really need is the soil; add some leaf litter on top and then add the worms, springtails and woodlice. Leaves, woodlice and worms can all come from the garden if it is clean( no pesticides or such ).

These people will, most of the time, disturb the gecko when it is sleeping and handle it purely for their own pleasure and 'likes'. Which I find totally unfair on the gecko's part. It's just like a mother going to get her sleeping baby because her friend wants a bloody 'selfie' with it. They, as I have said, are crepuscular and not nocturnal. This means they are mostly active during the low light of dusk and dawn. They are also one of the most tolerant species for handling but I have said only do it when they are out and about. Also don't force them into it by grabbing them. Slowly build up their trust and let them come to you. In time the gecko will happily climb onto your hand. They will come out during the day, but need to be given time to settle and will revert back to a reclusive nature if you keep trying to pull it out the vivarium as soon as it appears.

Crickets are a pain on the arse. Sometimes they will last for weeks and other times they will die in a day or two. Try to keep the humidity right down and if you can the temperatures up quite high. Too much veg/fruit and not enough ventilation can kill them very quickly.

They will make use of the UV even when hidden. Leaving a small amount of body surface area in the light and making full use of it. In time you will probably see them basking freely during the day for a few minutes at a time. You could use a timer and only have the light on for a few hours in the morning and then again in the evening. This will still be beneficial for them.



Gavin.
 
#16 ·
Ok thanks, I think I may have OD'd the crickets on a quarter of an Apple and a big old chunk of Cucumber :whistling2:

A quick check on my temps in the Viv, I have a multi-meter, thermostat/hygrometer. The temp on the thermostat is about 23degC, the stat sensor is 1/3 the way down the viv and slightly out of direct line of the ceramic (40w). The ceramic is controlled by a thermostat (the sensor of which is 2/3rds the way down the viv directly below the ceramic) set at 27degC. The temp 5 cm below of the ceramic is up around 30ish degC and the top of the bark log is located underneath the ceramic to allow basking.

Does this sound 'about right'?

We are not handling the Gecko at all at the moment, it will be at least another week before we attempt to do so. When handled in the shop, it was a lively little thing.

Thanks for the continued help and answers to my questions :2thumb: