It is now 100% sure..

[Iceman]

We have decided to get 1 or 2 cresties..

i read a few care sheets, and got alot of info, but i would like to know from the people who have them, how are they?

like my questions..

1: How is there temperment? are they calm enough that you can hold them and they wont freak or bite?(same question mostly)

2: Do you actually see them during the day?

3: The fact that there tail is able to fall off scares me, what are the chances for it to fall off? and why?

4: Can they be vocal like a leo?

I am getting 1 or 2 within the next few weeks FOR SURE, can someone please answer my questions..

also if anyone in montreal has any for sale please let me know, lol.

edit: 5:(i forgot 1 thing) i always wanted to have a lizard that i can put a waterfall in its cage, are those store bought waterfalls good for a crestie cage?

[babysweet]

I'm relatively new to the crested gecko, but I'll give you some of the basics.

Firstly, if you get more than one cresty, be aware that two males may not co-habitate well, and you may have the added expense of a second tank within six months. Not a big deal, but definitely something you should be aware of.

Second, buy Allen Rapashy's Rhac book if you have any care questions. It is THE crested book. No others come close.

Ok, here's the answers you requested:

1. They don't bite... generally. When they do, it's kinda like being bit by your goldfish. You'll giggle. They are a bit skittish when they are young, and should not be handled too much. This is due to their lack of size and ease of injury. If you want one to handle right away, buy an adult male. They may be cheaper as well.

2. Absolutely. My four don't even use their hides. They will stick to the bottom of leaves sometimes, but they're not too bad about sleeping out in the open. They are not active during the day however.

3. Can't really say what the chances are. Some seem to drop it for no reason, some keep their tail even after it's been pulled on. Generally the concensus is that if you pull the tail itself, or sufficiently startle the gecko, the tail will drop. Please keep in mind that this is not a big deal, and does not make the gecko any less of a gecko! It's been suggested that the crested gecko is supposed to shed it's tail once it reaches maturity, due to the fact that almost no adult geckos in the wild retain their tails.

4. Well, I don't know how vocal a Leo is. But mine definitely bark at me. Mostly when they are woken up. Little teenie squeeky barks... their bark's as bad as their bite... and will also make you giggle. There was a note in the Rhac book however, that mentioned a keeper who had to remove his colony of cresteds from his bedroom, as the noise they made as a group kept him up all night. With a lone gecko, he may not make any noise at all.

5. I don't see any problem with using a waterfall. Cresties require high humidity, and this would definitely benefit the humidity factor. Also, they don't drink from a bowl well, although it's been suggested that moving water will entice them. Even so, I would mist their cage thoroughly once or twice a day to ensure they get enough water off the leaves and sides of their tank.

One final note.. most care sheets do not specify a screen top for the aquarium. But make sure it's a screen top, not glass! Also, if you're planting your aquarium, make sure whatever potting soil you use has no perlite in it (little white styrofoam-type bits) and no fertilizers or chemicals. Organic soil, please. We top ours with coconut coir because the soil held way too much moisture. Oh, and a good layer of gravel at the bottom will help out the drainage of your plants immensely, and will allow the water to go down instead of spreading outwards. Geckos and mud don't mix.

And congrats on your decision! Be aware, they're like Lays Potato Chips... Betcha can't have just one! Or in our case, betcha can't have just one dozen... :p

Ah, well.

[Iceman]

Thanks a ton for the reply,

I have been bitten 4 times by a baby leo, i laughed my head off.

i have 2 extra tanks now, 1 15 gallon(12" high, 12 " deep, 24 inches long)

and another one that is made different (18" high, 24" wide, 10" deep)

But i dont want to use either one, looking at them i dont find there good enough, so i am getting one of those exo terra cages(probably the biggest(18"/18"/24")

And unless someone tells me otherwize, i am for sure gonna get a waterfall! lol..

what really confuses me is the feeding..

some people say feed only cdg, or dcg? whats that?

others say feed baby food and crickets?

some say just crickets!(pet stores tell me all these)

lol, any more opinions are welcome(and answers, O.o)

[Betty Miskie]

Congratulations on your decision about cresties. You might want to buy two exo terra tanks as once you have purchased one or two, you will need/crave buying more cresties!!!
I personally wouldn't use a waterfall with the water as they do need humidity, just not all the time. I spray mine with a light mist in the morning and a heavier mist at night. If you find that the tank is way too dry in between, maybe another squirt in between. They do need time to dry in between spraying hence I think the waterfall would be giving off too much humidity.
I feed mine a mixture of mango, pear, banana and yogourt and crickets. Lots more feed theirs solely cgd and others cgd and crickets.
As for handling: It all depends on if the crestie was used to being handled. We just purchased some cresties and the one male dropped its tail. We have never had that happen to us before. He was very nervous and is older and now tail-less.
If you are free on April 17 and care to go for a drive, the reptile show is on in Toronto. You will find lots of cresties, decorations and cages at great prices.
Betty

[Iceman]

cool thanks for the reply again,

can someone please tell me what cgd is? and you think i can get it at one of the reptile shops in montreal?

also how do you feed the veggies/fruits? like i can get bananas and peaches easy, my grandfather eats them alot, but do you dice them up really small, or mash them like a paste?

let me know

[tHeGiNo]

And unless someone tells me otherwize, i am for sure gonna get a waterfall! lol..

what really confuses me is the feeding..

some people say feed only cdg, or dcg? whats that?

others say feed baby food and crickets?

some say just crickets!(pet stores tell me all these)

lol, any more opinions are welcome(and answers, O.o)

I would not put a waterfall in the enclosure until they are full grown, or at least an adult. There are lots of holes and crevices, and the last thing you want is to have your crested drown. CGD is Crested Gecko Diet, it is a commercially baught Crested Gecko food which is added to two parts water and offered to your gecko. It was composed by one of the leading Crested Gecko breeders, the farther to the popularity of the species.

I would not feed solely crickets, as your gecko will not get all of its necessary nutrients. I would recommend incorporating CGD into your feeding schedule, whether it be with a mix of baby food, fruit, yogurt and / or crickets.

[Iceman]

Thanks for the reply gino.

I see what you mean about the waterfall, when i was looking at them not long ago, i notice that it is easy for a lizard to get stuck in there, the waterfall is not needed, but i always wanted one :(

I am hoping that they sell cgd in my area, also the thing about baby food sounds good, its cheap also.

Also, i have heard the only heat source needed for cresties is a heat lamp, no heat pad?

[tHeGiNo]

Throughout the winter and colder days, I turn on the heat lamp for my cresteds as it gets too cold for them. During the summer, there is no need for a heat lamp. If anything, you will need something to cool them! A great deal of keepers keep them at room temperature.

CGD is sold in most pet stores, and I am sure you will be able to find some. If the crested has not already been weaned onto CGD, you will likely have to do some by mixing it with baby food, slowly weaning them onto CGD on its own.

[Iceman]

Holy crap, lol, i always thought every reptile needs a source of heat, lol..

you see, its a little cool outside now in my area, but my room is warm because of my snakes, so i am wondering if my room would be to hot for a crestie, or a few :D

Now, this may be asking for too much, but i am wondering if someone who doesnt mind making somewhat of a long post, stating a bunch of do's and don'ts for cresties, like feeding,temps,housing, ect..

i would really like it if someone can do that for me, i read about 4 care sheets, and they all say the same thing, and it seems a crestie is by far the most easy lizard to care for.

[tHeGiNo]

And unless someone tells me otherwize, i am for sure gonna get a waterfall! lol..

what really confuses me is the feeding..

some people say feed only cdg, or dcg? whats that?

others say feed baby food and crickets?

some say just crickets!(pet stores tell me all these)

lol, any more opinions are welcome(and answers, O.o)

I would not put a waterfall in the enclosure until they are full grown, or at least an adult. There are lots of holes and crevices, and the last thing you want is to have your crested drown. CGD is Crested Gecko Diet, it is a commercially baught Crested Gecko food which is added to two parts water and offered to your gecko. It was composed by one of the leading Crested Gecko breeders, the farther to the popularity of the species.

I would not feed solely crickets, as your gecko will not get all of its necessary nutrients. I would recommend incorporating CGD into your feeding schedule, whether it be with a mix of baby food, fruit, yogurt and / or crickets.

[DragnDrop]

I wouldn't use a waterfall with any gecko. Cresties are rather careless poopers, and you can bet they'll be depositing in the water regularly. That means the poop will be ciruclating until you change the water. If you have several cresties, you migh find a really good stew brewing in there, along with a high bacteria load that won't do you nor the cresties any good.
I've often heard and read that arboreal geckos/lizards tend to poop into water if at all possible.... in the wild it means their poop is pretty well gone, nothing left to tip off a predator that there's a potential gecko meal in the trees.
Even if they don't poop in there, it's possible that the current, however small in the water reservoir might be too dangerous for your crestie. And it's a pain to clean the waterfalls... something you'll have to regularly if you want to prevent health problems.

[babysweet]

I'm not sure that I agree that the waterfall is a drowning risk... but I definitely agree with the fecal matter issues. Honestly, it never crossed my mind.

As for the feeding questions, Crested Gecko Diet can be ordered online in bulk to save $$ if you can't grab it at your local pet store.

The recommendation of crickets only is not something I would agree with, however, after speaking with Mr. Kevin Dunne of Dragon's Den Herpeteculture (second only to Mr. Rapashy in Rhac breeding) I've come to learn that it is being put into use.

Mr. Dunne keeps a colony of cresties on dusted crickets alone. In his email to me, he suggested that there was no notable differences in growth rate, clutch rate, or hatch numbers, compared with his cresties that get a mix of babyfood, CGD and crickets. His reasoning? Less food to make/measure/clean up after. Add another mystery to the list of Rhac nutrition... :confused:

Kim

[Iceman]

well, some part of me wants to get a small waterfall, there so cool, lol.

i am gonna look at the waterfalls really good after, and see if there is anyway a crestie can hurt it self, i probably wont take a chance though, cause if i get a small crestie, it seems there is more of a chance of a small crestie to get stuck indside then a bigger one..

about the food, i may just get all 3, lol. i have heard people say that a good diet for a crestie is a mix of crickets, cgd, and baby food.

i dont know, i still have 3 weeks before i get it/them, so i'll wait to find out more opinions about the food and the waterfall.

[Asian Jon]

Getting a waterfall would not only be unneseccary but it would be quite troublesome as well. As Betty stated, cresties don't need humidty all the time! To me it seems that YOU want a waterfall for yourself :D:D, if that's the case get yourself a nice display one and put it in your living room. I wouldn't mind one in my living room as well :)

Buying Philippe de Vosjoli, Frank Fast, and Allen REpashy's rhac book as suggested by Kim is a good idea. It would be a great tool for many years.

Oh yea, good luck with getting your first crestie(s)! Must be exciting.

[babysweet]

Regarding the waterfall, I would seriously be concerned about the poo issues. DragNDrop made a fantastically good point about cresty poop in the water. Now this is not so much a problem in the base of the waterfall itself (snakes go in their water too... you just empty it, clean it out, and fill it up again!) but the fact that the pump is going to be circulating the fecal matter and bacteria throughout the inner workings of the waterfall, making it impossible to properly disinfect it. Essentially you're giving them 24/7 access to their very own waterbowl/sewage tank. Ewwww....

:( I was quite excited for your cresties, getting their own water fall... but after the points made here I would avoid it completely.

As for the diet, I personally use a bit of everything. We feed dusted crickets, and a 50/50 mix of CGD and babyfood. We also offer tiny bits of minced/grated/mushed fresh fruit when it's available (as in- when we're eating some) and I think we may offer them mealworms tonight, just for a change of pace. I've been told they won't eat them, and that they love them, so we're going to see for ourselves. :)

One more note about your enclosure -- start simple. We built an entire vivarium for our guys before we ever brought them home, and they really didn't like what we had done. I've redone it four or five times since then, and now they really like about 1/4 of it (one little end) and pretty much ignore the rest still. It's a work in progress. But it would have been a heck of a lot easier if we had done it one piece at a time, to learn what they preferred. Who knew I'd get the only four cresties who don't like corkbark? Mine prefer driftwood to corkbark, and bushy plants to broad-leafed plants. <sigh> Crazy geckos...

Above all... Have FUN with it!

[Iceman]

lol thanks for the replys..

well about the waterfall, it doesnt seem like a good idea, it would look cool and all, but you guys are right, i would probably have to clean it alot, and there would be a risk of a crestie getting stuck..

people used to tell me the best lizards to use a waterfall with is water dragons and basilisks( i had a water dragon once :( )

so no waterfall, maybe i'll do what jon said and get a big one for my living room, lol, our dog would love that.

now about the cage set up.

i am planning to get one of the exo terra cages, the biggest one(18"x18"x24") i think that would be perfect for a crestie, i was thinking not to set it up too crouded, like full of logs and trees, just a few fake plants, long thick branches to climb(store bought only) and a fake rock water bowl(shalow(sp?) even though i hear they mostly drink off of the plants and glass..

more ideas welcome, you guys are awesome, lol i wish people were this nice to me when i said i wanted a savannah moniter, lol..

thanks alot again.

[Iceman]

I thought of more questions!

1: How does breeding work for cresties? i mean like can they breed any time of year? or only a certain month?

2: all the pet stores near me seem to have only cresties with missing tails, does that mean i shouldnt get one at a pet store?

3: Ok, i hear from like everyone that if my room temps are good, that i need no source of heat for cresties, but what about a very low watt red light? so i can watch them at night? would the cage get to hot?

4: How good is repti bark for substrate? i use it with my snakes and it seems to work well(i'll also be using moss for inside hides and so on)

thats all for now, please let me know.

oh wait 1 more thing, anyone know of breeders in montreal for cresties? i really dont wanna get it at a pet store.

[michel]

hello,
I'm from Bromont Qc and if you want a crestie I can have one or two for you. Just leave me a email and if I don't have the morph you want I can find it. Michel

[Iceman]

Sent you an email, thanks.