Crocodile Geckos

So back when I went to the Raleigh Reptile show my wife and I had picked up a croc gecko. When my wife pulled him out in the car he jumped out of her hands and hit the floor board of the car, and ran up under the dash. We looked for him for an hour or so and couldn't find it so we figured the poor little guy would die or find his way out of the car somehow.

Well that was May 6th, it's now June 4th, and yesterday I was going out to my car when I see a little tail hanging out from under the front passenger seat. I figured it was the little guys dead body and so I leaned down to pick it up only to have him turn to bite me! I jerked my hand away and he ran under the seat. I reached under for him as much as I could and almost had him out once. He bit me twice and then finally as I tried to coax him out he disappeared somewhere under the seat.

He lived almost a month so far without food or water, and with the tempatures in the car possibly soaring to 120 or more with how heat has been around here! Now that I see the little guy is still alive I'm thinking of leaving water and/or food under my front seat to feed the little guy!

Also I was thinking, I know that there are traps you can use with some animals (like the reverse-nozzel 2 liter trick to catch rosy boas) is there any trick I could use to try and catch this little guy now that I know he's alive?

I dont know any tricks, but thats pretty bad @$$. I'm surprised that lil guy is still alive with the temps as high as you said.

Yeah, I was shocked too. I mean, it's been mid to high 90's and with the windows rolled up the temps could easy get 120!

Tough little things, If I catch him I gotta figure out what I'm gonna name him...something tough and unkillable, like Chuck Norris or Bruce Willis

try putting the food and water in like a rubbermade (sorta tall) with some carpet ramp around it, so he can climb in but not out once he jumps in for the crickets/food. Just an idea. Or you could tie a fishing line to a cricket then toss it under the seat, when the little guy swallows the cricket the line goes too and ya got em.


~mike

I like Bruce for a name. The whole Chuck thing might work but people might dog on ya for it lol. Good luck catching him. I have no idea as to traping him but if I find anything or think of something I'll let you know.

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Originally Posted by wildlifewarrior

try putting the food and water in like a rubbermade (sorta tall) with some carpet ramp around it, so he can climb in but not out once he jumps in for the crickets/food. Just an idea. Or you could tie a fishing line to a cricket then toss it under the seat, when the little guy swallows the cricket the line goes too and ya got em.


~mike

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Wouldn't the string hurt him?

Also not sure if the rubbermade thing would work due to them having suction pads on their feet.

There's always plan B) rip your car apart, lol.

I've thought about that, and if I see him under the seat again and have the time I'll pull the seat out. But for all I know he's not even near that seat anymore so I'm not gonna pull the seat out. Also I find it hard to justify to my wife, pulling the 16,000 dollar car apart to catch a 5 dollar gecko....lol

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Originally Posted by Holbeird

Wouldn't the string hurt him?

Also not sure if the rubbermade thing would work due to them having suction pads on their feet.

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Nope that is how researchers collect agamas in Fl. when they swallow the line it just sits in their stomach and you can gently pull it out.

Sorry i read that as crocodile SKINK not GECKO, so your right the rubbermade prob wouldn't work. sorry bout that, read a bit too quick.

~mike

Is there any specific type of string I should use? Just like the kind you use to sew things or?

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Originally Posted by Holbeird

Is there any specific type of string I should use? Just like the kind you use to sew things or?

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the guy who does this is in the link below, nice guy talked to him a few times. There is a pic of him holding an agama, a cricket and a fishing pole in the back. I would say it would be best to not use super fine thread in case it got snipped by the teeth, so fishing thread or a larger string like a kite string would work. http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/herpetology/kk/kkresearch.htm

I have another idea to see where he is comming from too (incase he moved). Place a black spray painted plate on the floor of the car near the seat. put talcom powder all over the plate and the food and water in the middle. as he runs to get the food you can see where he comes from and what direction he goes in. Might be a more comfortable first choice for you since i don't think you are crazy about the first idea;) .

hope that helps

~mike

Good Ideas, I'll give it a shot although to make sure it doesn't hurt him if he eats it, I'll use the calcium powder instead of talcom.

We'll see what happens tonight :)

WOOT! Last night I went down to the car to go to wendys because my wife was craving their ceaser side salads.

When i get to my car, sitting on my seat was the Croc Gecko! I took off my shirt off and used it to catch the little guy (almost lost him too!)

So he's inside, getting used to his new home. In a couple of day I'll give you all some pictures.

We decided to name him Norris :) because everyone knows Chuck Norris is the most bad-a$$ tough guy ever! and I'm pretty sure living for 2 days shy of a month with no food, no water, in SUPER high temps and still looking healthy, he's gotta be the toughest gecko ever!

Awesome! Hopefully Norris will stick around in his new home! :D

I know absolutely nothing about skinks but don't they need high temps?

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Originally Posted by tmlowe5704

I know absolutely nothing about skinks but don't they need high temps?

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I made the same mistake, it is a gecko not skink.

Thats great to hear, at least ya saw him b4 you sat down. Good for you!

~mike

P.S. great name

haha yeah, I'm so happy to have the little guy!

Now just to find a way to proof the room so that I can get him used to handling a bit without him jumping/biting every couple of seconds. These guys make cresties look slow!

This is such an amazing story!! Thank you so much for sharing it with us! I'm so very glad you found him alive and well and he's now set up in a proper home. :D What a beautiful testiment to the durability and tenacity of these wonderful critters!

Yeah! I still cant beleive how hardy these little guys are!