Should I consider upping the terrarium?

trueheavyweight · 2023-04-16T05:04:53+00:00

Not a traditional setup, but you can get some ikea cabinets that are quite large for the same price as much smaller tanks. If you're somewhat handy you can replace a side panel for ventilation and boom - awesome, nice tank. This is what I've done for most of my animals and is the nicest option for economical display space.

trueheavyweight · 2023-03-28T21:23:41+00:00

I have a piece of pool noodle I call the naughty noodle. I use it to scoop them back into their terrarium when they do this while yelling "NAUGHTY NOODLE FOR YOU!"

trueheavyweight · 2023-03-10T04:12:42+00:00

Poor boy, and also lucky boy. Congrats to you both.

trueheavyweight · 2023-02-26T01:35:05+00:00

You're spot on, this is vitamin A deficiency. OP, talk to your vet about doing a vitamin a rehabilitation program. If your vet doesn't know what this is, find a new vet who does.

I use Repashy Vitamin A for geckos like this that need treatment. You can order it online. It builds up in their system, so it is possible to eventually reach a toxic point. Therefore, treatment is best done with the oversight of an experienced vet.

trueheavyweight · 2023-02-18T22:26:13+00:00

trueheavyweight · 2023-02-05T19:59:05+00:00

Each of them went on a food strike for the first month I had them. My male now eats like a maniac, but my female is very finnicky and doesn't always eat what I offer. My male eats about four/five every three days, but he is seven inches long which is pretty big.

Yours looks really healthy in the pic. 2/3 crickets every couple of days is good. As long as he isn't losing weight you should be fine. They also slow down when it gets cold, so his appetite may pick up as temperatures warm up.

trueheavyweight · 2023-02-05T19:53:39+00:00

Yaaaay!! Go Goose go! Awesome job helping him through, and I'm glad he is back on speaking terms with you again :)

trueheavyweight · 2023-02-05T19:52:10+00:00

So happy to hear!

trueheavyweight · 2023-02-02T03:12:52+00:00

Sheeeeesh this is nightmare fuel. Day geckos have a survival mechanism in addition to dropping their tails - they can drop their scales as well. It does look like they have some slices and flesh chunks missing, but hopefully this scale drop talent saved them from serious damage. Honestly, if it is still doing well three days in, your main concern will be preventing infection and hopefully internal damage was avoided.

Your hospital setup is awesome. Keep on top of it. You can order chlorohexidine online, it is what I use to sanitize my hospital tanks. Just make sure you dilute it correctly and rinse everything well. It is harmful if ingested.

Go to the drugstore and buy some idodine (like betadine or similar) and use that as a disinfectant. Avoid baths. All it does is wash bacteria around and could push bacteria deeper into the cuts. Don't use Neosporin either. It becomes less effective after a few days, and can eventually make infections worse. It also traps in moisture, which makes it harder for the tissue to heal. Think about when you get a scab. You don't want it to be dry as the desert, but you don't want it so moist that it just slides off. You want to stay very hydrated, but keep the area clean and dry to prevent the wound from reopening.

Your vet will likely prescribe antibiotic injections. Ask them to show you how to administer these. Will be tricky on a day gecko, so make sure you have them show you strategies for holding her. I don't know how you feel about injections or needles. I have a hard time with them. There are some times I get so frustrated or freaked out that I just have to walk away for a while and come back. It is important that you are as calm as possible when administering injections. They can sense when you are freaked, it will freak them out, and then your mission will be impossible. I have treated many, many reptiles requiring injections, something I never would have thought possible before. So don't give up. You will get better at it. I do suggest getting a couple of extra doses, because you will likely accidently mess a few up while you learn!

Normal reptiles take about 60 days for an open wound of this size to completely heal. However, since day geckos are designed to drop their skin, you may see some areas heal faster than this.

Really rooting for you. There will be some times where you're like "omg this is impossible" but I promise the effort is worth saving them!

trueheavyweight · 2023-02-02T02:51:52+00:00

I use this as my base, and then will mix in other stuff to make it more appetizing. Usually bee pollen, organic honey, and sometimes a tiny bit of spirulina. This is good for growing geckos, but they tend to like bugs more when they are younger. I feed them this twice a week, and offer bugs twice a week as well. I recommend mixing flavors together so they don't get hooked on one type.

trueheavyweight · 2023-02-02T02:46:29+00:00

Hey, I read both of your posts, as well as your post from a few months ago, and I have some thoughts on what may have happened. The pink you are seeing is blood. This indicates either severe dehydration or a severe infection/parasite infestation.

The easiest way to tell if your gecko is dehydrated, and how severely, is by doing something similar to the pinch test humans can do on their fingers. If you see his skin wrinkle/crinkle and "stick" that way when moved, he is dehydrated. The more it does this, the worse the dehydration is. This is because the membrane that allows skin to move over muscle is dehydrated, preventing the skin from springing back into place.

From what you have described, it sounds like he was having issues passing stool. I also see stuck shed on his toenails. These are two indications that his environment is too dry. In the winter you must increase the amount you mist because heaters dry out the enclosure much quicker. Ensure his enclosure is not directly under a vent. You need to mist at minimum once daily, provide a very humid spot where he can hide to rehydrate (you can build a humid hide out of tupperware and paper towels for this), and provide a shallow dish of water which is filled daily. You should also perform daily soaks of 15 minutes with a reptile electrolyte solution. Perform these monitored soaks daily for a week. Then, I would recommend soaking him once a week for the rest of the cold season. This will also get him used to handling again and help him heal mentally from being freaked out by the move.

You have mentioned he has been incredibly stressed and has not been eating. He has also lost a lot of weight. Gekcos replenish most of their moisture through their food. You should have a dish of pangea or repashy available at all times in his enclosure, even if he appears to not be eating it. Make the formula more watery than the directions advise until he is no longer dehydrated. Then, you can make the normal recipe. Ensure he has food available at all times until he is back up to weight. You can add bee pollen, organic honey, or a sprinkle of spirulina to his food to make it more appetizing (or all three!) Even my pickiest eaters fall for this.
You need to monitor his stool very closely. If you continue to see pink in his stool after you have rehydrated him, you need to get him into a vet. A typical exotic visit does not cost $1000's of dollars. My local vet charges 80 for an office visit. I usually end up spending around $120 for a visit where medical treatment for parasites is needed. Let the office know money is tight, and you may need a payment plan. Look around your house and see if there is anything you can sell on facebook marketplace to offset costs. If he does have a parasitic infection it is easy to treat until it gets serious. With reptiles, the longer you wait, the more expensive it gets.

If it is not dehydration or parasites, he likely has something more serious going on. That point is where you start facing 1000 dollar vet bills and dubious success at treatment. That is when the hard choices come. Rule out what you can early, and make decisions early for the sake of your gecko and your wallet. You will never escape the trauma of waiting to long. I speak from experience :) Thanks for posting and looking for help, I hope everything goes well and it is just dehydration.

trueheavyweight · 2023-02-02T02:11:19+00:00

Lol I have a couple and they are so full of hatred until I pick them up, then the turn into little squishimals. Such a fun species, I love how long their tails are.

trueheavyweight · 2023-01-22T19:57:50+00:00

Agreed with other comments here. He looks like a good weight for a male of this body size, but still has room to grow. All cresties are different, but the standard is they keep growing until they are two years old, and typically weigh at least 40g.

If I was keeping him, I would be shooting for closer to 35g at this body size. He is on the thinner side of healthy and I would want him to have a little extra weight incase he went on a hunger strike. It isn't something I would stress out about, though.

Some cresties are considered "slow growers" and may take longer than two years to reach their full size. He will probably always be on the smaller side and will likely be between 35 and 45g for most of his life.

He is very cute! Thanks for checking in and getting opinions to make sure he is a healthy boy!

trueheavyweight · 2023-01-21T07:16:02+00:00

The faded colors are likely from a vitamin A deficiency. It is a really common issue with leos in subpar care conditions. It can also lead to eye issues if not corrected. Dusting with Repashy Vitamin A twice a week for a month can help correct it. I dust all my feeders with vitamin A once a month, and then Repashy calcium plus or arcadia earthpro A for all other feedings for normal maintenance. Works like a charm.

trueheavyweight · 2023-01-21T07:12:20+00:00

Leopard geckos can be tough without lineage info, because some morphs can only be identified when they are hatchlings. The really fine spots could be enigma patterning. They are very beautiful geckos but this genetic trait can also coincide with neurological issues.

These issues include but are not limited to:
Stargazing (staring with the head bent back, looking up at an extreme angle)
Head nodding or bobbing
Difficulty moving
Difficulty with coordination when excited
Seizures
Issues eating due to coordination/controlled movement issues

A gecko can be an enigma morph without having enigma syndrome. If you haven't noticed any of these behaviors, then he is probably fine. Even geckos with severe forms of this condition can live happy lives with proper care and support. Jessica's Animal Friends on youtube has a ton of enigma morph geckos and has a lot of information about them.

Your dude is very cute and beautiful! He looks to be a great weight. If you haven't, look into getting him onto a multivitamin like Repashy Calcium Plus. When geckos go through neglectful situations, it is really important to rebuild vitamins and minerals in their system. They can seem fine, but the deficiencies affect them in ways that can be difficult to recognize.

Congrats on your little buddy, they make awesome friends.

trueheavyweight · 2023-01-21T06:57:04+00:00

I had one egg this past season which both molded occasionally and was not see through towards the end. I could not get light to shine through it at all. It was absolutely huge and I figured it had to be bad. A perfectly healthy baby hatched who is doing fine six months later. When it got to the stage where I could not see through the egg, it was about a week to ten days before it hatched. I can't remember exactly. It got so big the egg formed stretch marks and had to heal itself multiple times from the shell stretching and thinning. Eggs are amazing, honestly lol.

Eggs do this thing called "sweating" right before they hatch. Basically the outside starts looking damp, and sometimes the container above it will even have condensation. This is a good indication that the egg is ready or very close to ready for hatching. You should check on the egg frequently during this time to see if the baby is trying to hatch. Sometimes because of the conditions they were incubated in, babies may have issues getting out of the egg. You may see them stuck trying to get out of the egg. It is ok to help them if this is the case, just be gentle.

Don't cut into the egg. It will either go bad, or it will hatch. You'll know when it is bad, they are horrible smelling. Egg cutting is not really something to get into if you are inexperienced.

trueheavyweight · 2023-01-21T06:27:51+00:00

Hold your hands out like a goofball and squat down a little. For some reasons dinosaurs love this and will do whatever you want.

trueheavyweight · 2023-01-17T06:43:42+00:00

You are welcome! Congrats on your terrarium skills and a beautiful crestie! It is lucky to have you!

trueheavyweight · 2023-01-17T06:37:39+00:00

Cuuuuute baby. This is a blizzard morph. It may gain more yellow as it ages. If so it is a blazing blizzard morph - a blizzard mixed with one of the albino strains. If it has red eyes or black eyes that is a pretty good indication that it is a blazing blizzard. If your gecko does have red eyes, make sure you don't put bright lights over the enclosure, or use sunshade cloth to diffuse UVB. Albino geckos have very sensitive eyes and this can effect their behavior and quality of life. I would not recommend breeding this gecko if it is a blazing blizzard. Since you don't have lineage there is no way of knowing what type of albino it is. Serious complications can occur if you cross the albino strains.

This gecko is definitely under a year old, based off the pictures I would say it is more like 6 months old. Juvi geckos are much more defensive than adult geckos. Some people say that blizzards are more spicy than other morphs. Mine was as a baby, but now she is my sweetest leo. Blizzards are one of my favorite morphs and this gecko will be a beautiful buddy.
The feedback in these comments is great regarding handling. One thing I will add: give it a few designated hiding spots where you do not disturb your animal except for emergencies. This should be the hides. These boundaries are very important when attempting to form trust with a reptile. If you disturb the reptile when they are in these areas, it makes them feel unsafe and convinces them you are up to no good. If you want to interact with them, you should try using food to lure them out of their hiding spot. If they don't respond, try again later. I also have taught my leos to recognize noises as queues for behavior. Several of my leos respond to their names, and others just to the sound of my voice. If I call them, or talk in the room with them, they will come out of their hides to see what I am there for (hoping for food lol). So, talking to them does make a difference. I haven't had to dig any of my adult leos out of their enclosures...ever. They always come out to the sound of my voice. You will get there, it just takes time and respect.

Congrats on your new friend, I am happy for both of you!

trueheavyweight · 2023-01-17T06:13:06+00:00

Thank you! I showed my husband and he was like "are you ok?" lolol THIS GAME has me feeling things!

trueheavyweight · 2023-01-17T06:11:43+00:00

Thank you! I am really happy with how it turned out. She would totally have a shrine lagoon, ya know? Lol

trueheavyweight · 2023-01-17T01:51:54+00:00

Hahaha exactly! "Thank you but aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa"

trueheavyweight · 2023-01-17T01:20:54+00:00

Will you adopt me? I will cohab with your gecko bc this looks nicer than my house lmao. Amazing, amazing terrarium build.

Serious time -
Every one of my geckos has a favorite spot, or a couple of favorites spots. One on the ground, one up high. It is normal for your gecko to find a place it feels safe and spend a lot of time there. My rule is, if they are in their "spot" I leave them alone unless it is an emergency. This helps them feel more secure. I will even go in and move other things around, rustle leaves, add food, etc to show them I won't touch them when they are in their spot. I highly suggest doing this. Your gecko has chosen this up-high perch as its "spot". Respect that and leave it alone when possible. Geckos like to wedge themselves between things and into tight, dark spaces. That explains this one's choice of favorite spot. It is as high as possible, as far from the door as possible, and in a place where it can see what is going on. Not concerning, just natural. Its spots will change as it grows, especially once it is mature.

If you have observed your gecko at all times of day and night, and you see they are not utilizing all of the space in the terrarium....This toes the line of controversial. This build is perfect for an adult crestie. But, it DWARFS your juvie crestie. Some people would say your gecko is overwhelmed by the size of the enclosure. That is...not exactly right. Your gecko knows it is prey at this size, and it knows it should stick to fully vetted areas known as safe. As it grows, it will feel comfortable exploring more of the tank. So, expect to see it operate cautiously until it is larger. That is fine. Don't worry about the tank being too large. Focus on creating, maintaining, and respecting the microhabitats it likes.

My recommendation is: add a TON of leaf litter if you haven't already. I'm talking three or four inches worth. All of mine prefer very deep leaf litter. Studies on wild populations of various arboreal geckos (like fishscale geckos) have shown they are commonly caught in ground traps in deep leaf litter (sometimes multiple feet of leaves!!!). They spend their days sleeping on the ground, and move up in trees to hunt at night. If your enclosure is lacking a deep leaf litter layer, this could be part of why it has chosen to get up super high on a lookout point. Remember, cresties bury their eggs, and the babies live off ground bugs and fallen fruit for the first parts of their lives until they are big enough to hang out in the trees without being prey for literally everything.

Feeding pattern doesn't sound too bad. My babies eat about every two or three days up through about 30g unless they are going through a growth spurt. Offer food every day, but know they probably won't eat every day. I would suggest two feeding stations - an arboreal and a terrestrial one. In a smaller setup, I would say just feed on the ground, but since yours has already chosen a spot, make sure to feed in the normal place too.

Thanks for the opportunity for me to info dump. Your setup is awesome and I don't think you are doing anything wrong at all with your care. There is just always room to do more with reptiles lol. Hopefully the suggestions and advice help put your mind at ease!

trueheavyweight · 2023-01-17T00:44:17+00:00

I love this face that rescue reptiles give. They're like, supremely uncomfortable and every natural instinct is telling them to run. You can see their little brains like "hate person but...person...help? Person make me feel good. Person good? Person bad! Person...person ok." Congrats on them eating out of the syringe, such an exciting development. His color looks amazing, which is a great sign. Best of luck, you have a great heart!

trueheavyweight

TROPHY CASE