Crested Geckos

[gibbrishclown]

Hey all, since you're all so smart, I thought I'd ask a question on behalf of my friend.. he is getting his new house soon and is planning on getting a pet.... He's coming to the Exotics Expo here May 5-6 with me and I happen to know someone who breeds crested geckos will be there... my friend liked the look of them, and I researched them a little and it seems they're kinda like corn snakes in how hardy they are... is that correct? Do you think a Crested would be a decent first lizard? He is afraid of snakes (and dogs LOL, yet the man has transdermal anchors in his head and over 200 hours of tattoos, it can't be pain he's concerned about!! but whatever I love him all the same LOL) so those are out of the question... but he's cool with lizards and stuff. Being a professional piercer, he is gone from the house from about 10am to sometimes very late at night, but would be able to have them on a timer or in a room with natural light... also the site I checked out said that there could be up to 3 adult cresteds in a 29 gallon tank... is this correct? Is this healthy? Any input appreciated

[mlededee]

cresteds are very hardy and great first lizards because of the ease of the care they require. they do not require any supplemental lighting, ambient light from a window is plenty to give them a day/night cycle. since cresteds are nocturnal they would be fine for your friend's schedule--he could feed and care for them after he gets home at night when they will be awake.

3 adults should fit comfortably in a 29 gallon tank, but the tank should be oriented vertically rather than horizontally since cresteds are arboreal. also keep in mind that males should not be housed together and a male and female kept together will most definitely result in eggs so if he wants more than one gecko he should probably look for females.

[gibbrishclown]

Thank you for your response!

I don't know how to sex a gecko, but will the person selling them who breeds them most likely be able to tell him which are female?

[tigerlily]

As adults, it's VERY easy to sex cresteds. As hatchlings... not so much.

[mlededee]

Thank you for your response!

I don't know how to sex a gecko, but will the person selling them who breeds them most likely be able to tell him which are female?

maybe. but sometimes they will say that a cresteds "looks female" when really they just can't tell the sex yet--looks female really just means that it hasn't developed a bulge yet and they want you to think it IS a female when really it may not be. this is where it is important to buy from a reputable breeder. where is the show you are going to? i will try to find out if any good crested vendors will be there.