New cresties at work

[Sunnieskys]

Ok we got 4 new cresties at work. They are tiny at 2g each. So I have them in the back until they gain some weight. Problem is....I know nothing about them. I need help to make sure they eat and grow. Thanks everyone!

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[zina10]

Do you work at Petco or Petsmart?

Petco sells Repashy, that is the ONLY food I would consider from the stuff the petstores sell.

If your store doesn't sell it, would they be willing to buy some Repashy or Pangea from somewhere else?

They need to be kept at room temperature, not below 65 and definitely not above 80. Mist once or twice the day so the humidity goes high, but then let it dry out some in between.

Smaller enclosures are better at first, so they find their food. Having 4 together, make sure they don't fuss at each other over food. Offer several dishes, also a tiny water dish.

Aside from that, I would private message Mleedee or Deborah, they know so much more then me. Those Cresties are so tiny, better you talk to experts to make sure all goes well.

Bet they are cute

[Sunnieskys]

I have them in a 10 gallon with a screen lid. I took off the big heat lamp tonight since I th ought it was way to hot for them. I'll take a pic tomorrow. They do have small crickets in there as well.



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[zina10]

I have them in a 10 gallon with a screen lid. I took off the big heat lamp tonight since I th ought it was way to hot for them. I'll take a pic tomorrow. They do have small crickets in there as well.



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Heat can kill the little ones quickly. So that is one thing that needs to be monitored carefully...

However, to cold and they may not eat nor thrive.

Don't crickets actually chew on animals? Perhaps not the little ones...I would for sure put up those tiny dishes (bottle caps work great) of repashy or panera up. Several ones.

I hope mleedee or Deborah will pop in..


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[Sunnieskys]

So I took off the way to hot heat lamp. Do they need uva or uvb?

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[AbsoluteApril]

Cresties do not need UVA/UVB
Good thing to take off the heat lamp, as long as the store isn't cold (like 60) they should be fine, they do great at a normal warm room air temp mid 70s
Crickets may be fed as an occasional treat but they do best on the prepared foods (as Zina mentioned)

[zina10]

Technically they do not need UVB/UVA, although I've seen heated debate over that one and I haven't kept them long enough to have my own experience.

But..if they have none its even more so important to feed the correct diet or they can develop that bone disease from lack of D3/calcium. If fed insects, they should be well gutloaded with good insect food and dusted with calcium/d3.

The complete diets have all that, but be aware that not all the foods are complete. Some are "mix ins". It has to say complete food. I think Repashy is a good one and Pangea also makes good ones. Zoo Med has started to make a new one that is decent, but the one commonly sold in petstores is horrible, nothing in it that a crestie would eat. Exp. the one that resembles tiny kibbles. Or jellies. It should be powder that gets mixed with water.

[Sunnieskys]

Ok so this is how I have them set up right now. Uv bulb for the light to be turned off at night. A low watt heat bulb to keep them at 75. Two food dishes with trex? Should I do two small water bowls? Anything else I should provide?

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[zina10]

I know the substrate helps with humidity, but you would not know whether they eat because you could probably not find their poop. Then again, if they are all in the same tank, that wouldn't matter.

Just refresh the food every other day, and perhaps add some egg crate or toilet paper rolls for additional hiding spots, or a bit more greenery in the back corner. If that water dish is that big, I think one is enough, make sure the water isn't deep enough to drown one.

If you have particular concerns or things aren't going well, you could message mleedee or Deborah. I have researched the cresties like crazy, but I don't have years of experience like they do. And with the babies so tiny, better safe then sorry.

Kudos for you trying so hard to do right by them.

[Sunnieskys]

I can change out the substrate for Eco earth if that would be better? I will add more plants today for them as well. I just want these little guys to thrive. I have already contacted the company and complained they sent out babies that are so small. I also contacted Corp and asked them to look into this facility.