Never did introduce myself

[honuman]

Let's see.? It would seem I am the OLD MAN around here.? ?? My name is Steve.? I am the co-founder of Turtle Rescue of Long Island (Turtlerescues.org).? We are a registered 501(c)3 non profit organization.? I have been doing Turtle Rescue and rehab and placement for many years now.? It was at the New York Metro Reptile Expo (doing a fundraiser) that I first saw crested geckos for sale years ago and well I was hooked.? I currently have 9 adult males and 11 female adult breeders and 12 really smoking holdback youngsters from this season.? I also keep and breed lined leaftails, satanic leaftails, leopards and lined day geckos(not to mention the many turtle eggs hatched from animals that have come into the rescue.? Currently we are working on Cat Geckos (WAY WAY COOL CRITTERS) and are patiently waiting for the our Island E. Leachies to mature for breeding.? Other herps include Ornate Uros and various tree frogs (red eyed, bird dropping, clown and black eyed).

Keeps me hopping but I have always loved animals (herps in particular) and it is a great source of relaxation after a hard day in the office.? (Yikes now there is where I reveal my age -- I'm 46-- with statements like hard day at the office.)

In any event it is nice to be here and exchange ideas with folks.? I have been at this for while (especially turtle re-hab, husbandry etc.) and would be more than happy to help? you with any questions you may have.

Good to be here.

Steve

[smith710]

Anyone that helps rescure animals is a good person in my book.  How is your satanic?  Are they handlable? I've been looking into getting one, but it;s kinda hard to find out alot about them.

[Liz]

happy to have you here

[NYCrestie]

hey honuman
guess ill have to stop by at the end of the month and say whats up (i usually pass by the turtle guys)
i usually go and BS with mike from dragontown, and do a quick stop by robbie hamper to see if shes got anything good

see you at the next show man

ps, i now found a local guy that breed satanics (that's be you, lol)
so when im ready i know who to go to 

[Liz]

omg i missed the wholepart about cat geckos. i think they are the coolest looking things. how are they? like umm are they handleable?

[honuman]

Anyone that helps rescure animals is a good person in my book.? How is your satanic?? Are they handlable? I've been looking into getting one, but it;s kinda hard to find out alot about them.

To honest I try to avoid handling them as I do not want to upset them but when I do handle them they are just fine with it.  They don't seem to stress and will climb right on to my hand.  The babies are a riot.  They will bite (like hatchling cresties do)  just to show how tough they are. 

Steve

[honuman]

hey honuman
guess ill have to stop by at the end of the month and say whats up (i usually pass by the turtle guys)
i

I'll be there.  Looking forward to seeing you.

No baby satanics right now.  Just lots of lined day gecko eggs and crestie eggs.  Unfortunately, ya never really breed animals -- they breed themselves. 

[honuman]

omg i missed the wholepart about cat geckos. i think they are the coolest looking things. how are they? like umm are they handleable?

Very beautiful and fascinating creatures.  They are VERY VERY aloof though.  I see for short spurts only and only if I am willing to stay up until 3 am.  They are not animal that stands up well to too much handling.  Very sensitive and they stress very easily.  It is usually best to house them separately from eachother except for breeding  or at least in a HUGE well planted terrarium so that they do not have to bump into eachother.  THey are very solitary creatures and prefer privacy.
I do love them though.  They are so elegant and graceful in their movements.  THey have laid for me once but the eggs where no good.

They are my challenge at this point.

Steve

[Liz]

well anyways they are a very awesome looking lizard.

[ColleenT]

Welcome!!

[firecrested]

Hey honuman,

How tough is it to breed satanics and ebenaui?? I know the basics of their care but not much more than that.  I will be getting 2.2 of each sometime in the spring when it warms up a little.?

And i also read on a caresheet that if breeding you should keep 2 males in the enclosure.? Have you ever tried this and will they fight each other?

[smith710]

I'd like to know also.  I would definately like to get a pair of satanics in the future...

[honuman]

How tough is it to breed satanics and ebenaui?? I know the basics of their care but not much more than that.? I will be getting 2.2 of each sometime in the spring when it warms up a little.?

And i also read on a caresheet that if breeding you should keep 2 males in the enclosure.? Have you ever tried this and will they fight each other?

It's not too hard to get them to mate and breed.  Getting them the lay healthy hardshelled eggs initially is the rough thing.  Most all are wild cauight imports and it takes a while for them to get hydrated and healthy.  With right diet and husbandry they do start to lay good viable eggs.  (It took one full season before my girls started laying hardshelled eggs)

More than one male in the enclosure really does ramp up the breeding activity.  I can vouch for that.  Once I introduced a second male to my group things got really hot and heavy.  So yes multiple males and NO they are completely peaceful.  Just provide lots of plant cover because they really seem to get busy when they have lots of dense plant cover.

The real challenge is getting the those tiny little babies to survive and thrive.   If you can get them through their first 3 months you are usually home free.  Most seem to have difficulty shedding and that just does them in.  I have tried various methods to keep them going and the most success I have had is keeping them where I cut a large hole in the center of lid and attach a paper towel to that.  I keep them on damp moss and this seems to have done the trick for me.  Also ya have to feed fruitflies and pinheads to them.  Tricky but it is amazing to see these little things emerge from an egg the size of a tic tac.  The hatchling are smaller than the first joint of your pinky. 

Steve

[firecrested]

I didnt know they were so small!!!  I hope i can hatch some, they sound like a fun gecko to breed.  I'm going to look for LTC or CB.  I dont want any of the fresh imports.  I'll probably wait until the Daytona show and see what they have there.

[honuman]

I'm going to look for LTC or CB.? I dont want any of the fresh imports.? I'll probably wait until the Daytona show and see what they have there.

I have gotten fresh imports in this specie as well as lined leaftails.  The secret is getting them hydrated and basically leaving them alone. (like the cat geckos).  They do very well if you get them past this initial stress.  LTC and CB's are the best way to go though.  It takes alot of the worry away about getting them in shape and you may actually see successful breeding and egglaying much faster.

Steve