Hi, need some advice

[Spikeman]

Ok, I've had alot of bearded dragons turtles and a ball python, but for a year have wanted a crested gecko or two. My b-days soon so it could be in my favor, anything you think I could say to sway my mom to let me get them would be nice.
Also does anyone know a good natural vivarium substrate mixture??

                                                                                                          -thanks, Jesse

[honuman]

Given that none of us know your mom or your situation that would be a bit difficult.  The only suggestion would be to point out how well you already take care of what you have (which if you do can only be in your favor).

As far as substrate I use cypress mulch on my adult animals and paper towels on my juvies.

Steve

[Spikeman]

I'm just gonna beg, and thanks I have plenty of cypress mulch. I cant wait I really want a crested gecko or two. I've wanted some for like a year(already said it but I just have to again) And I have an exo-terra glass aquarium(18"x18"x24") is that good?

[firecrested]

the exo terra is fine for one maybe two.? There are better substrates than cypress mulch, bed a beast, eco earth, peat moss, paper towels, news papers, I personally would not use cypress mulch for crested geckos. There are some sharp pieces that come in the bags and the way the cresteds dive after crickets and bury themselves under things would worry me that they may get cuts from it or splinters.

You can also point out to your parents that crested geckos are low maintanence, no special lighting or heating needed, once a week cleaning is fine and they dont even have to have live food if you use cgd.  One of the best geckos around 

[smith710]

I wouldn't use cypress mulch either.  I don't think that that's a good substrate at all for cresties. Not only would I be worried about splinters and stuff, but I would also be worried about eating a big chunk of it and getting impacted. Peat moss is fairly in-expencive and alot better in my opinion for the animal.  But yeah, paper towels are the best way to go for juvies.

[Spikeman]

Yeah thanks. I'll pick up some peat moss for the bottom. I was going to feed them the cgd. I plan to use a live plant in mine soo I might have to get a little uv light for them, like a 2.0? And if I only get one juvie will the tank be too big for it?

[smith710]

Ok great, peat moss is definately the way to go.  If you get something like a pothos, you won't need a light. Pothos will live in anything.... Just look up some safe plants for terarriums and they will most likely tell you if they need alot of water or alot of light.  There are a bunch of plants that hardly need any light at all.  The tank MAY be too big for 1 juvie.  Just keep an eye oon it.  Make sure it's eating.  If it's eating then there won't be a problem.  Some are a little "dumb" and can't find their food.  But some end up just fine.  Cgd is great, but it would be better off for the gecko if you gave it crickets every once in a while also.

[Spikeman]

Yeah I've been growing a huge pothos just for the tank for a while. I checked it out and its safe. I was also thinkng that I should feed him/her crix every once in a while, you know for excercize/stimulation/variety. Not sure If i can get one this weekend, maybe at a closer expo on the ninth, theres usually alot of cresteds there. I'm still waiting for an answer from my mom. I'll post when theres an answer and even if she says no I'll get one eventually.

[smith710]

Yeah, with a pothos you really don't need any light.  Yeah it will make it grow better.  But my pothos have like no sun or much light and doing just fine.

[honuman]

Well folks I beg to differ with you on the mulch issue.  I have been using cypress mulch for years and have had no problems with it all. No splinters, no impactions, nothing.  They do well on it,  it holds moisture well with out getting horribly soggy and my girls love to lay their eggs in it.  To each his own though.    Bed a beast, peat moss etc. IMHO can get a little soggy and sour up when the geckos' defecate on it. 

Please note that I NEVER would put Juvies on any substrate at all.  It is best to keep them on paper towels. 

Again, we all have different methods that work well for each of us but Cypress has worked out quite well for me all the years that I have used it.

Steve

[smith710]

Well none of us actually said he can't use it.  But I have heard alot more problems from cypress mulch than anything else.  And to make sure it doesn't get too soggy or anything I put a couple inches of perlite under the peat moss for it to drain.  I just wouldn't take a chance that didn't need to be taken.

[firecrested]

? I just wouldn't take a chance that didn't need to be taken.

Couldnt say it better

[honuman]

That's why I said we all have methods that work well for us.  For example I have heard lots of stories from people that Pearlite frequently causing impaction if ingested. So using it in your setup (even underneath the peat moss -- since we know that cresties like to burrow) might run the risk of impaction.  So is it wise to take a chance with it?

So basically we can go back and forth and say one thing is good another is bad because I have heard this or heard that and before you know it.  PAPER TOWELS period.
No substrate is guaranteed not to cause an impaction if ingested. 

We all just go by our personal experiences.  No one method is right, wrong or 100% risk free.  (I am sure that if a gecko some how managed to ingest a chunk of paper towel (however unlikely that would be) it might cause an impaction. 

The day that any of the husbandry practices I have been using in the years I have been breeding geckos cause a single one of my animals any harm I will certainly rethink my methods.  Their health and safety have always been top priority and all of them are doing just fine.


Steve

[smith710]

Um yes, that is why I put alot of peat moss on top of it... And my geckos have yet to burrow underneat the peat moss.  They hide under the green moss that I put on top, but unless they are going to burrow a cave, the perlite is staying underneath them.... And no, no subtrate is guarenteed not to cause impaction, but your substrate has alot better chance than peat moss does, and I have heard alot, and I mean alot, more people saying how something bad had happend to their geckos from mulch.  I haven't heard almost any, if any, about people having problems with peat moss, unless it was a juvie.  And again I mention that I never said your method was wrong or that he couldn't do it that way... But again, why take the chance?  And yess I use perlite, but it's way under and the geckos have yet to come anywere near it.  Also, if they become impacted on little pieces of perlite, don't you think there's a little more chance of cypruss mulch making them impacted?  But again, I never said anybody was wrong, I was just clearly stating that there's no reason to take the chance, especially for someone just starting out.

[Spikeman]

Unfortunatley my parents have said no to getting the crested geckos, in fact I cant get anything untill june!!! but I can still breed my bearded dragons. I geuss I'll get one then untill then though, I'll be roaming the forums gathering more info.

[sciteacher]

When females reach egg laying size, you'd be surprised how deep they'll dig. They might very well reach perlite... or China LOL.

Gary

[smith710]

Lol, ok... Maybe I will take the perlite out then... Either that or think of a way I can put something over it so there is no way of getting to it.  Any suggestions?

[smith710]

Wait! I think I got it!  What if I put a piece of screen over the top of the perlite with holes small enough so that the perlite can't get through, but the water will still be able to get through.  What do you guys think?  I haven't breed yet, so I didn't know that they dig so deep.  So, like I said, I still wouldn't take a chance that doesn't need to be taken.

[sciteacher]

Putting a layer of screen over the perlite layer should work well. This is commonly done in naturalistic vivaria. They also sell landscaping cloth designed to block weed growth, but let moisture through. That might be even more flexible and easy to put in place.

Gary

[smith710]

Oh. alright... I was planning on going out and getting the stuff today.  I'll have to check it out.

[ColleenT]

i use rubbermaid shelf liner. it is a rubber like substance, that you can cut to fit the bottom of the tank. unlike repti-carpet, their nails don't get caught in it, and it is easy to clean. you can remove it, wash it and replace it in 5 minutes or less. and if it ever wears out or rips, you can just cut another one. but i have had mine for over 2 yrs and no problems. mine is a tan color. i got it at walmart.