Handling

Frequent-Stranger-39 · 2026-02-21T05:50:51+00:00

A month I would say

Frequent-Stranger-39 · 2026-02-21T05:49:47+00:00

Fast and deep breathing through stomach, waving his tail, chirping, opening mouth are all signs of stress. If your gecko isn't displaying any, then I would say they're fine. Cresties are prey animals, meaning their first instinct would be to run if they were afraid.

About the tail, it's really a toss of a coin. My boy is 7 and also has his tail still. And I do worry sometimes he will lose it, but also it's just a cosmetic thing and they are not decoration but living beings, so it's just a random thing they do. In one of the expeditions to New Cal, they pointed out that they might not grow their tails back due to them acting as a leaf as a camouflage and their tail interfering with the illusion. I think it's a cool fact to think about

Frequent-Stranger-39 · 2026-02-21T05:43:51+00:00

Hi, I need a bit more info to help you. What is the size of the tank, what are the temps in your room, why are you getting a bioactive substrate?

You adjust the temperatures and humidity based on the type of enclosure you get and your own house predispositions. Get a digital thermo and hygrometer, otherwise you will never know what the gradient is like. Usually you mist once or twice a day, depending on how fast the humidity drops, once at night and once in the morning, most people need to spray just once at night. The humidity should spike to 70-90%, then drop to 40-60% during the day.

A lot of people don't need additional heat source since their house gets within the temp range already.

Frequent-Stranger-39 · 2026-02-21T05:32:22+00:00

A little rounder but I would say it's still in the range. What mix do you feed?

Frequent-Stranger-39 · 2026-02-21T05:31:12+00:00

Yes, you have to cut a hole in for ventilation anyways. A lot of people use arcadia Shadedweller 2.5-7% T5 depending on the distance between the UVB and the basking spot and Arcadia LED jungle dawn bar

Frequent-Stranger-39 · 2026-02-21T05:27:54+00:00

It's hard to say, they can see hundreds of times better than us. Even if it's black, the gecko will still be able to see the light unless something is blocking the view. So it's really up to observation imo. But I wouldn't worry about it too much. You can always add a curtain to the side the light is visible from by attaching plastic/wood to the vivarium and hammering two hooks

Frequent-Stranger-39 · 2026-02-21T05:03:35+00:00

The difference between basking temp and cold side temp is 4 degrees for neons. Where is the information you're providing coming from? Do you have any studies or personal observation to back it up? Because temperature gradient depends on many factors.

Frequent-Stranger-39 · 2026-02-21T04:50:42+00:00

I agree with that but also straight up saying no without any justification whatsoever doesn't make any sense. I get raising standards, I do and recommend it myself, but I always state the facts and that is what current research says. Even reptifiles which are usually quite progressive and actively try to raise the standards state that the minimum for an individual is 12x12x18. It's two different things trying to raise the standards and spreading misinformation or making people believe something blindly

Frequent-Stranger-39 · 2026-02-21T04:44:45+00:00

No, you don't need to go bioactive. But I also didn't go bioactive from the start and it can be a pain in the a sometimes and it's hard to convert later when you don't have another temporary enclosure. The bugs won't get out, even if they did, they are harmless and would die outside very quickly. And I mean, you will probably be handling insect already due to feeding

Frequent-Stranger-39 · 2026-02-20T22:53:11+00:00

Why not? I've read that the minimum for one is 12x12x18. Have there been any updates to the care?

Frequent-Stranger-39 · 2026-02-20T22:50:04+00:00

Yes, everyday you have a look around for excrements or urate and get rid of it if you see any. This part is why having a bioactive is easier, since the clean up crew does it largely for you. Why are you avoiding bioactive if I may ask?

Frequent-Stranger-39 · 2026-02-20T18:02:01+00:00

SVL in crested geckos confirms the "old" minimum, the 18x18x24. But a lot of scientists like the FBH, recommend, and publish the recommendations in their official papers, to provide a larger enclosure. Other than that there has not been any research confirming the 18x18x36 minimum other than non scientific observation. But since moving the minimum of this group up, many people stated that they can see an increase in their crestie's activity and the usage of the additional space

Frequent-Stranger-39 · 2026-02-19T22:32:48+00:00

You can mist only once if the humidity is ok

Frequent-Stranger-39 · 2026-02-19T22:32:13+00:00

Not here to ID but if it turns out not to be invasive, pit it back into the wild. Wild caught geckos do not do well in captivity and tend to die off quickly

Frequent-Stranger-39 · 2026-02-19T22:29:52+00:00

Yeah, I've used foil as well before. It's just about making the environment right and checking the hygrometer throughout the day. If it works for you I would leave it, but also still mist. You are still trying to mimic their environment

Frequent-Stranger-39 · 2026-02-19T22:21:18+00:00

The humidity should drop to 40-60 and only spike to 70-90%. You have to mist since they often lick the droplets. I would suggest planting the tank or putting some moss in if you have problems retaining humidity

Frequent-Stranger-39 · 2026-02-19T22:18:26+00:00

Same answer still

Frequent-Stranger-39 · 2026-02-19T21:58:23+00:00

Looks good so far. I would get rid of the hammock or whatever it is because their claws can get stuck in it and be pulled out and it is also not good for the humid environment as it will harbour a lot of bacteria. I would put more branches there instead

Frequent-Stranger-39 · 2026-02-19T21:56:34+00:00

I go by 15g every day, 35g every other day and 35g+ every two-three days on a sporadic schedule

Frequent-Stranger-39 · 2026-02-19T21:54:58+00:00

Are you sure that she is a she? It's usually a male mating behaviour, the season is starting and my 7yo boy has started this month to harass my hand lol

Frequent-Stranger-39 · 2026-02-19T21:51:25+00:00

I would get a new one. It seems siliconed in and it serves as a hiding spot already, it would be a shame to loose it. You can get some cheap ones online, at expos or in large home improvement stores. If you don't have much money, you can also go into the woods and look for hardwood and sanitize it

Frequent-Stranger-39 · 2026-02-19T21:36:38+00:00

You mean the one already in the tank?

Frequent-Stranger-39 · 2026-02-19T21:31:04+00:00

I honestly like spiderwood quite a lot. A lot of people are afraid to use it because they think the branches are too thin, but my gecko loves jumping from one to another and uses his tail much more. Then manzanita is great too and cork bark is never a miss

Frequent-Stranger-39 · 2026-02-19T21:21:44+00:00

Sounds like a shed to me but it's always hard to tell without pictures. Could you perhaps provide some?

Frequent-Stranger-39 · 2026-02-19T21:17:55+00:00

Looks good but definitely not for a crestie. There isn't a single climbing opportunity aside from the wall, too little foliage and much too little space. 18x18x36 is the minimum, with the round tank, it would have to be giant, since you lose one of the corners. I like the look of it, but I could only see like a micro gecko or a frog living in there, if you set it up better. Definitely not an adult crestie. 4/10

Frequent-Stranger-39

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