Crested Gecko Diet getting hard?

[TMoore]

I got a crested gecko recently and I have been feeding him/her t-rex cgd. I've noticed that it doesn't stay in gel form very long and starts to get hard. I've been doing the 2:1 water to powder ratio that the bottle suggests. Should I be adding more water, giving him/her a larger amount, or is this just what happens with cgd?

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Terence

[mlededee]

It should stay in liquid/gel form for at least 24 hours. It sounds like you are using enough water but you could try slightly more. How is the humidity in the enclosure? Low humidity will cause it to dry out fairly quickly (but high humidity will cause it to mold quickly).

What kind of dish are you putting it in? Something not too wide but with slight depth is good (not wide enough/deep enough though that the gecko can get into it and drown if it is a hatchling). I use condiment cups for my geckos: http://www.acemart.com/concession/di.../prod5834.html. For hatchlings and young juvies I use the lids as there is much less waste but the food does dry out faster in these since there isn't much depth: http://www.acemart.com/concession/di.../prod5837.html.

[TMoore]

I usually mist the cage in the morning and night bringing the humidity up to around 70-75%. I doesn't drop below 50%. As for a dish I was using the cap of a gallon milk jug. I have a cap from a gatorade bottle. Its about 1/2 inch deep by about 1 3/4 inch wide. Would that be better?

Thanks

[mlededee]

Your humidity sounds fine. Do try the deeper cap--that should help quite a bit.

[TMoore]

I used the bigger/deeper dish last night when I fed him and its still a nice gel consistency (sp?). Thanks for the help.

[mlededee]

No problem!