I got my first Crested!!!

[mlededee]

is he really that small or is it that hes severely underweight? i cant believe if hes that young... i cant begin to imagine how old the others were!

he doesn't look malnourished or anything so he likely hatched out on the small side. if his mother has been allowed to lay for too long her body may be getting depleted, thus smaller eggs and smaller babies. cresteds usually hatch out at 1-2 grams (2 being more on the healthy/normal end). the only times i've hatched cresteds smaller than that was when 1. it was the female's first clutch and the eggs were smaller than normal. when the babies hatched out they were smaller than normal too, but with a little extra hand feeding and nurturing they did fine. 2. a baby hatched a week early for unknown reasons and just wasn't quite as big as it should have been. same thing here--a little hand feeding and love and he is doing just fine.

as far as the tail flicking, i figured that was a defensive move on his part. glad i put him back, he has also opened his mouth at me a couple times so leaving him alone at this point was certainly the plan lol..how long before i should fuss with him again, is it the same with snakes?

oh yeah, he was really trying to scare you off! cresteds don't need as much of a settling in period as snakes do--i usually recommend at least 3-4 days before handling but since this little one is so small i'd go ahead and hand feed him at least every other day for now.

[mlededee]

thanks emily for all your help, i did want to add your critters (snakes, kitty, cresteds, exc) are absolutly beautiful!! i cant get over your balls and cresteds.

no problem at all on the help and thanks for the compliment!

[ADEE]

wow, thank you thank you!!

so anyway to know (more like guess) his approx age? I will go ahead and try to handfeed every other day as suggested.
do i leave food in there otherwise full time?

[mlededee]

i'd guess he is under a month old, maybe 3 weeks or so. he's lost his hatchling color so he has to be over 2 weeks old.

yes, leave food for him at all times right now and hand feed every other day. once he starts eating well on his own you can stop hand feeding--this could take as little as one week or as much as one-two months so just play it by ear.

[ADEE]

what are these hammocks some people have? are they recommended (not for now obviously) but for the future.

[Kristy]

Did someone say hammocks?

They are repti hammocks and my cresties all have one, they all use them. reptilesupply.com has them pretty cheap. I can post pics of mine if you'd like, but I don't want to hi jack your thread so I will leave that up to you

Emily has helped me in a few situations, couldn't get better rhac advice

[mlededee]

i think this is what you are talking about: http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...amily&keepsr=1.

those are fine--they make nice perches and climbing areas. my husband has one in his anole's cage and i don't think he ever leaves it except to eat.

[ADEE]

awesome, might have to invest and i dont mind hijacking lol.. im guilty of it. ill have to pick up a hammock eventually.

oh i have new pics too!! ill have to put them here too.. the one as my avatar is one

[Kristy]

I will just one for you, can't seem to find the rest. Plus my avatar is one of mine too.


They really love it when there is some sort of cover, like fake plants on top of the hammock.

[ADEE]

great pic, tfs that does look super neat and easy to keep clean