Some quickie newbie questions

Hey all,

Wanted to ask some quickie questions since I plan to pick up a Crestie at the Phx expo in November.

~ Will I be able to find CGD at the expo? Should I order a bag beforehand just in case or wait to see if I can find something cheaper at the show?

~ It will be my first gecko, and I would imagine quarantining is just as important for them as for snakes, but can I house it in my established snake room or should I stick it in the quarantining room? Which leads to my next question...

~ ...What diseases can be spread from snakes to crested geckos (if any)?

~ Would you recommend a beginner like myself to start with an adult or would a baby be just as good (with appropriate housing and temperatures or course)?

~ I read that Cresties shouldn't be kept in rooms where the ambient temps rise above 80 degrees (my house is usually around that for the snakes) so would a small portable fan work to cool down the air around/in the tank? How else can I lower the ambient temps for it during the daytime (instead of just upping the air conditioner)?

~ What do you do if their tail drops? I plan to keep whichever one I get on paper towels, but do I need to do any first aid care to the tail/where the tail was if it drops?

Thanks! :)

Heres a care sheet from on this site :)
http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...tylus-ciliatus)

But from your questions you should be able to find CGD at an expo but would be cheaper probably from on Pangea ...

not sure if any diseases can be past but certainly things like mites could be

Air temps need to be lower than 80.... 80 and above for long periods will stress the crestie out I usually keel mine in the low 70s

I got a mix of babies and adults for my first ones... neither care was any different but adults are far less jumpy if you wish to hold them from the start :D

If their tails drop you generally dont need to do anything except watch it and make sure the enclosure is clean to prevent infection.... I keep all mine (juvies and adults) on paper towels for ease of cleaning, hygene and so I can observe that theyre pooping etc ..

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by dragonmoon

Heres a care sheet from on this site :)
http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...tylus-ciliatus)

But from your questions you should be able to find CGD at an expo but would be cheaper probably from on Pangea ...

not sure if any diseases can be past but certainly things like mites could be

Air temps need to be lower than 80.... 80 and above for long periods will stress the crestie out I usually keel mine in the low 70s

I got a mix of babies and adults for my first ones... neither care was any different but adults are far less jumpy if you wish to hold them from the start :D

If their tails drop you generally dont need to do anything except watch it and make sure the enclosure is clean to prevent infection.... I keep all mine (juvies and adults) on paper towels for ease of cleaning, hygene and so I can observe that theyre pooping etc ..

---

All of the above is great information.

I got my first crested at the Phoenix expo you will have plenty of choices and will definitely be able to find food from a vendor. A lot of vendor will give a free 4oz bag of CGD with your purchase.

I wouldn't put a crested gecko in a heated room. It's better to have them too cold than too hot.

If the tail drops it's no big deal, just make sure that the open wound doesn't get infected. You shouldn't have a problem with that since you will be using paper towels.

You will be able to get an unsexed hatchling for a better price than an adult. I personally found it awesome to see the color change from 4 grams to 30. I would go the hatchling route, but both are equal for care requirements.

Here is a link to the progression of color change my first crested gecko made.

http://www.pangeareptile.com/forums/...ad.php?t=53513

Enjoy, crested geckos are an amazing species. They are so easy to care for and have great personalities.

Thanks for the input!

The only thing I'm worried about is the ambient temps: is there a way to lower the temps around/inside the tank without putting the whole house temps down via the air conditioner (since the house is kept warmer for my snakes, not just a specific room)? Would a wet washcloth on the tank lid help to lower the temps? A small fan aimed at the tank during the daytime when the temps are hotter? A frozen water bottle near the tank to maybe cool around it? Suggestions?

Also, do both males and females need lay boxes? Should you put one in for hatchlings or is it only for older Cresties? I read that females can lay infertile eggs: what you do you with these if a female lays?

Thanks!

How hot do your ambient temps get? I wouldn't feel comfortable having a crested gecko if my temps were going to be above the low to mid 80s on a regular basis. I've never had any personal experience with high temps, but from everything I've read that's a big NO NO.

I'm not sure how to cool just one room or area down. Maybe if you make another post in the general herp section more people will see the question and be able to pitch in.

I have had bad luck, no females for me yet. I don't see a reason a male would need a lay box but my male loves his moist hide. For unsexed hatchlings, a ton of fake foliage and paper towel tubes work great to give them places to hide and feel secure.

^ Ambient temps in the room where I would like to keep it in doesn't get over 80, I've had a thermometer in the room so I've been monitoring it for the last few weeks. At most, I've seen it get to an oddball 82, but nothing higher than that. I suppose the air conditioning can be upped a bit to make the whole house cooler to ~75; I don't think this would be detrimental to all my snakes' health as they each have proper hot and cold sides for regulation with appropriate temps inside their tubs?

If it's getting to 80F in the summer I wouldn't worry much, that is pretty much spot on. I would take immediate action if the temps went above 85F. It sounds like you are ready for a a cresty. Good luck hunting for your first one in November!