A Begineers Dream

[matthew]

Hi,

I'm about to get my very first gecko and I'm going for a Crested

I've been reading through a lot of information and found many a answer but still, felt I should ask some questions here. No such thing as too much questions when it comes to another living thing

My tank is big. Length 70cm, Depth 45cm, Height 80cm.

I read they should really only be kept by themselves, bar breeding. I wanted to keep 3 so was hoping the space I have available will provide enough space for 3 to get some alone time if they want it.

The tank will be well planted and landscaped to give lots of climbing opportunities and nooksn crannies through out.

The Crested Geckos I would be buying are from my local Pets At Home, they areaged around 6-8 weeks apparently. So with being a young age hopefully that would stop any potential bullying if I bought 3 at the sametime, would this help?

[OctagonGecko729]

Hello, welcome to the forums.

That tank is nice for adult cresteds but its going to be too large to really insure that your hatchlings are eating. I would save that tank for sure cause it sounds awesome but you should buy something more around the range of 30cm, 20cm, 30cm (or about a 5 gallon tank, preferably verticly orientated) for an animal thats so young.

Secondly you will still run into problems with keeping multiple animals together, even so young. When they reach sexual maturity it won't matter if they were raised together or not.

Heres the situations you could end up in if you buy multiple unsexed animals and house them together. If you buy a male and a female, they will breed, this means lots of babies that are hard to find homes for. If you buy two males your going to get a lot of fighting, there is always exceptions but the majority of males will fight each other, sometimes to the death. If you buy two females they may also fight and if it gets out of hand I would suggest seperating them

[matthew]

Thanks for the quick reply.

I think I might split the tank with a divider (got free unlimited access to glass), that way I can still have at least 2 of these beautiful creatures.

Ye, my main concern was the possibility of fighting, bullying etc..with numerous crested geckos in the one area, was just hoping that since I haven't read much about homes as big as mine that the extra space would have helped, but I'll look intoa divider now.


One thing I forgot to ask was about cleaning routines. Like how often do I need to clean the plants, substrate etc...in the tank. I've never came across information on that. Also is it a deep clean on everything, ie fresh substrate or just a wipe down and turn over the substrate.

Thanks

[OctagonGecko729]

Cleaning routines are going to depend on what substrate you use. Typically though I'd say spot clean every two weeks and break the tank down once every 4 weeks or so. If you can get diluted chlorohexidine solution in Scotland then I'd go with that for the break down cleaning.

[ChristophersCresties]

Matthew-
Octagon Gecko is spot on. You don't want to stage your housing now for your gecko(s) and then get geckos...it is the other way around. You will get geckos which likely determine your housing need. Because of the reason Octagon Gecko said. It will be easier to start with one or two geckos (maybe clutchmates) who can grown together, but the need for separation shortly down the road will pop up quickly on you...two males no bueno, male/female no bueno (they will breed too early causing health concerns in the female), female/female....no guarantee. Cresteds are fairly solitary animals...they don't have "social hour" really..they are nocturnal/arboreal creatures that come out when it fancies them and like their space (usually). You will be better off starting with one or two (if two, make sure they are within 2 grams of each other and over 5 grams to start with-I don't house juvies together unless they have some meat on them ;-). They may be great together...they may not. Since they are within only a couple grams of one another they can't do much damage if bullying in one altercation...However even two juvies within two grams of each other can really fight and over time cause significant weight loss in one or both of them in regards to bullying...so it is a tightrope walk and guessing game sometimes. You start out with three and the "separation" need may come up sooner for you...also finding three roughly the same size will be harder....so my advice in short: start very small, get comfortable with the specie and grow...you will definitely grow! It is addicting! ;-) Good luck!

[ChristophersCresties]

Oh yeah- Cleaning...I Clean twice a month with nothing but kitchen sink sprayer on hot water and wipe down with paper towels....if something needs to be disinfected and/or deep cleaned...I use a diluted white vingegar solution (maybe 10% vinegar solution) which works great.....but other people will use different methods and products...

[Ilona]

Welcome to the addiction

I have every juvenile in separate Exo Terra Nano's but small critter keepers or dividing the tank will work as well.

Welcome to the dream Cresties come in all morphs, ranges, colors and sizes. I was wondering have you already orientated on all the available morphs and possibilities? I'm not saying to be against purchasing from a pet store -- but I do like to say there's a whole world of cresties, pet stores and breeders out there.

Masterpiece Morphs (I have no experience with them) is a cresty breeder in Scotland. Just to get an idea (:

[matthew]

Thanks again for all the replys, very informative

Split the tank today so now have 2 tanks side by side at 35cm wide / 45cm depth and 80cm high. I'm not sure if I should put a background along the glass to stop them seeing each other or not though. Don't want to add any unnessecary stress of course.

I the care the same for all types of Cresties? Was looking at a Flame Crestie today with some remarkable markings hence me asking.

[OctagonGecko729]

Yep the care is the same regardless of the morph.

Feed them Repashy's Crested Gecko Diet

Temperatures 20-27C

Humidity cycled daily from 50-75%

[matthew]

Hey again,

I'm struggling with the temparture in the my tank. It current sits at an average of 61C.

The tank is still unfurnished and ofc no Gecko in it yet as I'm testing my temps and humidty.

The tank it's self sits inside an alcove (gap in the wall). So was thinking about putting insulation or even tinfoil down the back/sides to see if that will make any change. Will this work? Also will the temperature rise when I furnish the setup?

Humidty, with 3 sprays per day in the empty tank is averaging 64%