Post by zarozinia on May 17, 2004 12:17:00 GMT -5
This is being put together in sections, heres the first sections, more to follow very soon.
Information and background on crested geckos
Natural habitat
Rhacodactylus ciliatus, better known as crested geckos, are found on the island of New Caledonia, which is north of Australia. Previously thought to be extinct with the last description being in 1866, a single specimen was discovered by R Seipp in 1994. They have been discovered living mainly on the southern half of the island and on the nearby isle of pines and isle of Komoto.
Their habitat is warm, moist, lowland forest. Average temperatures on these islands usually ranges from 64C to 83C, but can vary. The humidity levels tend to range from 70 to 86%. Being arboreal ( tree dwelling) Crested geckos can be found living in trees and often hide in leaves, either on the trees or on the forest floor.
Appearance
Crested geckos are so named because they have a distinctive crests running from the top rim of the eye down their backs. They have almost triangular shaped heads and prehensile tails. They have sticky pads on the pads of their feet and the end of the tail which enable them to climb almost any surface and manoeuvre their way around the forest.
Crested Geckos can grow to almost 10 inches, but in captivity most grow to be around 6 or 7 inches.
Body colour and pattern are quite variable and they have the ability to change colour slightly , which aids adaption to suit their environment. Descriptions of their colours includes yellow, orange, salmon, red, buckskin, chocolate, green and olive. There patterns are described as Harlequin, dalmation, fire and pinstripe.
Due to the short time since rediscovery, their lifespan is at present unknown but it believed to be in excess of 10 years
Temperment
These geckos are usually good natured and easy to handle. They may be shy at first but with regular gentle and careful handling they appear to enjoy being handled for short periods.
They do well living alone but can be housed in groups. Males should not be housed together as there is a high risk of injury or even death due to fighting. Males housed together from an early age have been known to co-exist with social hierarchy, but once sexual maturity develops or females are introduced, then fighting becomes almost inevitable.
They are social creatures and one male can be housed with several females.
They can be heard communicating at night , making clicking, growling and barks.
Feeding
Fruit
In the wild crested geckos mainly eat fruit.
In captivity it is good to aim for a similar diet, despite complete diets being available. Such complete diets could always be added to the fruit to boost nutritional value. A diet including insects provides some stimulation and boosts activity levels. It also provides variety taste wise and more scope for nutrition. The best time to feed is probably late evening as they are nocturnal.
Suitable fruits such as peaches, bananas pears, aprocots and apples can be purreed, or fruit baby food can be used and appear to be enjoyed, some geckos even enjoy figs, so offer variety to increase nutrition. Citrus fruits should be avoided. Youre gecko may also eat other types of baby food including vegtables or meat. Fruit should be offered to hatchlings, juveniles and adults 3-4 times weekly. It can be served on shallow bottle tops, 1/2 to 1 tea-spoon of food per gecko. Any uneaten food should be removed before going moldy or attracting ants which can kill crested geckos, although some people find their cresties eat the fruit after its been in the enclosure for a day rather than immediately.
Calcium(not containing phosphorus) and vitamin D3 powder should be added to fruit once weekly for hatchlings and juveniles, and every other feed for adults. Multivitamins for reptiles will need adding once weekly (or follow the manufacturers guidelines).
Bee pollen amd spirulina can be added once weekly to increase nutritional value.
Insects
Crested geckos have weak mandibles and do not masticate the insects, so types of insects should be chosen with this in mind.
Crested geckos should be fed insects that are no larger than the space between its eyes. they eat a variety of insects including crickets, mealworms, waxworms, and small beetles. Each gecko should be offered 3 - 5 appropriate sized insects at each serving.
Hatchlings should be fed 10 - 14 day old crickets every other day. Juveniles and adults can be fed the appropriate sized insects two or three times weekly. Breeding geckos should be fed daily.
Insects should be dusted lightly with calcium and vitamin D3 powder twice weekly for hatchlings and juveniles, adults every other cricket feeding.
Insects should be gut loaded to ensure high nutritional value. Crickets can be fed on commercially available foods and a variety of vegtables, especially leafy green vegtables to increase calcium levels. The vegetables provide a source of water for the crickets. It is important to keep youre crickets in clean, sanitory conditions, youre gecko will reap the benefits from good quality insects. Dead crickets should be removed from the cricket tub each day.
another section done
Let me know what you think and if Ive missed anything
Disclaimer
This care sheet and information guide was produced following reading numerous accounts from a wide variety of sources and from personal experience. It is only a guideline and further reading is strongly recommended before buying a crested gecko. Please see the list of suggested reading and links at the end of this information sheet.(links to be added soon)
Information and background on crested geckos
Natural habitat
Rhacodactylus ciliatus, better known as crested geckos, are found on the island of New Caledonia, which is north of Australia. Previously thought to be extinct with the last description being in 1866, a single specimen was discovered by R Seipp in 1994. They have been discovered living mainly on the southern half of the island and on the nearby isle of pines and isle of Komoto.
Their habitat is warm, moist, lowland forest. Average temperatures on these islands usually ranges from 64C to 83C, but can vary. The humidity levels tend to range from 70 to 86%. Being arboreal ( tree dwelling) Crested geckos can be found living in trees and often hide in leaves, either on the trees or on the forest floor.
Appearance
Crested geckos are so named because they have a distinctive crests running from the top rim of the eye down their backs. They have almost triangular shaped heads and prehensile tails. They have sticky pads on the pads of their feet and the end of the tail which enable them to climb almost any surface and manoeuvre their way around the forest.
Crested Geckos can grow to almost 10 inches, but in captivity most grow to be around 6 or 7 inches.
Body colour and pattern are quite variable and they have the ability to change colour slightly , which aids adaption to suit their environment. Descriptions of their colours includes yellow, orange, salmon, red, buckskin, chocolate, green and olive. There patterns are described as Harlequin, dalmation, fire and pinstripe.
Due to the short time since rediscovery, their lifespan is at present unknown but it believed to be in excess of 10 years
Temperment
These geckos are usually good natured and easy to handle. They may be shy at first but with regular gentle and careful handling they appear to enjoy being handled for short periods.
They do well living alone but can be housed in groups. Males should not be housed together as there is a high risk of injury or even death due to fighting. Males housed together from an early age have been known to co-exist with social hierarchy, but once sexual maturity develops or females are introduced, then fighting becomes almost inevitable.
They are social creatures and one male can be housed with several females.
They can be heard communicating at night , making clicking, growling and barks.
Feeding
Fruit
In the wild crested geckos mainly eat fruit.
In captivity it is good to aim for a similar diet, despite complete diets being available. Such complete diets could always be added to the fruit to boost nutritional value. A diet including insects provides some stimulation and boosts activity levels. It also provides variety taste wise and more scope for nutrition. The best time to feed is probably late evening as they are nocturnal.
Suitable fruits such as peaches, bananas pears, aprocots and apples can be purreed, or fruit baby food can be used and appear to be enjoyed, some geckos even enjoy figs, so offer variety to increase nutrition. Citrus fruits should be avoided. Youre gecko may also eat other types of baby food including vegtables or meat. Fruit should be offered to hatchlings, juveniles and adults 3-4 times weekly. It can be served on shallow bottle tops, 1/2 to 1 tea-spoon of food per gecko. Any uneaten food should be removed before going moldy or attracting ants which can kill crested geckos, although some people find their cresties eat the fruit after its been in the enclosure for a day rather than immediately.
Calcium(not containing phosphorus) and vitamin D3 powder should be added to fruit once weekly for hatchlings and juveniles, and every other feed for adults. Multivitamins for reptiles will need adding once weekly (or follow the manufacturers guidelines).
Bee pollen amd spirulina can be added once weekly to increase nutritional value.
Insects
Crested geckos have weak mandibles and do not masticate the insects, so types of insects should be chosen with this in mind.
Crested geckos should be fed insects that are no larger than the space between its eyes. they eat a variety of insects including crickets, mealworms, waxworms, and small beetles. Each gecko should be offered 3 - 5 appropriate sized insects at each serving.
Hatchlings should be fed 10 - 14 day old crickets every other day. Juveniles and adults can be fed the appropriate sized insects two or three times weekly. Breeding geckos should be fed daily.
Insects should be dusted lightly with calcium and vitamin D3 powder twice weekly for hatchlings and juveniles, adults every other cricket feeding.
Insects should be gut loaded to ensure high nutritional value. Crickets can be fed on commercially available foods and a variety of vegtables, especially leafy green vegtables to increase calcium levels. The vegetables provide a source of water for the crickets. It is important to keep youre crickets in clean, sanitory conditions, youre gecko will reap the benefits from good quality insects. Dead crickets should be removed from the cricket tub each day.
another section done
Let me know what you think and if Ive missed anything
Disclaimer
This care sheet and information guide was produced following reading numerous accounts from a wide variety of sources and from personal experience. It is only a guideline and further reading is strongly recommended before buying a crested gecko. Please see the list of suggested reading and links at the end of this information sheet.(links to be added soon)
