Any Gecko keepers here?

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Discussion

Turn7

Original Poster:

23,502 posts

220 months

Tuesday 10th February 2015
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I've been keeping a Crested for the last 18 months or so and really want to try keeping day geckos ,the grandis specifically.

Any one here keep them?

Fugazi

564 posts

120 months

Tuesday 10th February 2015
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I have a Leopard gecko, don't know if that counts?

Turn7

Original Poster:

23,502 posts

220 months

Tuesday 10th February 2015
quotequote all
Its a Gecko, so yes, it does.....

I looked at Leo's when first researching Lizards but ended up with a Crested as I preferred the look tbh.

Im struggling to find a decent care sheet for Phelsuma Grandis which is what I think I really want....




Fugazi

564 posts

120 months

Tuesday 10th February 2015
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I never set out to get any lizard, but the partner of a distant friend apparently got bored of looking after it, so I took him in. I'd have more but I've already cut the number of fish tanks down to five, plus the quails, two guinea pigs and a dog means no more pets just yet. But they are charming little things, especially when in hunt mode. Plus he's a bit on the big side for a Leopard, last time I weighed him he was over a 100 grams nearly double the average weight.

BarryP

584 posts

143 months

Wednesday 11th February 2015
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I keep several species of reptiles and have kept day geckos in the past, they will eat fruit and like fruit flavoured baby food as well as live food. Decent humidity is important otherwise they have difficulty shedding. A quality UV tube is essential and also dust the livefood with a calcium/D3 supplemnt. I buy Activa 172 tubes which are much cheaper than the packaged reptile lights but still provide the essential UV light required.They are very messy as they defecate on the vertical surface, particularly the glass walls of the vivarium.

Turn7

Original Poster:

23,502 posts

220 months

Wednesday 11th February 2015
quotequote all
BarryP said:
I keep several species of reptiles and have kept day geckos in the past, they will eat fruit and like fruit flavoured baby food as well as live food. Decent humidity is important otherwise they have difficulty shedding. A quality UV tube is essential and also dust the livefood with a calcium/D3 supplemnt. I buy Activa 172 tubes which are much cheaper than the packaged reptile lights but still provide the essential UV light required.They are very messy as they defecate on the vertical surface, particularly the glass walls of the vivarium.
Deosnt sound very different for my Crestie tbh.

How active and inquisitive did yuo find the Day Geckos? What sp did you have ?

BarryP

584 posts

143 months

Thursday 12th February 2015
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I kept Grandis and also Gold Dust, less tame than Cresties, tend to be much more nervous and flighty. Have you considered Tokays, very impressive animals and a lot cheaper to buy.

Turn7

Original Poster:

23,502 posts

220 months

Thursday 12th February 2015
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....ad very bitey!

From what Ive heard...

Not really a fan of the looks tbh.

Turn7

Original Poster:

23,502 posts

220 months

Friday 27th February 2015
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Update - used 50x60x100 viv sourced and a nice pair of young CB Grandis are on reserve until new viv is set up....

Pics to follow

Turn7

Original Poster:

23,502 posts

220 months

Friday 13th March 2015
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Viv pretty much ready, inhabitants being added on Sunday.....



Nightmare

5,182 posts

283 months

Saturday 14th March 2015
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that looks great smile will they be able to get inside the bamboo? think my skinks would like that!

Turn7

Original Poster:

23,502 posts

220 months

Saturday 14th March 2015
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The larger one is open ended at the top specifically for a hide.The others are closed ends.

Bamboo from rep shops can be dear, but this came from Swell Repltiles and was very reasonabley priced.

Added a nice big bamboo plant today, will add pics tomo, including new inhabitants!

DeanR32

1,840 posts

182 months

Monday 16th March 2015
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Just came across this thread. I'm looking for a lizard for my son, although can't see him taking care of it. That'll be down to us!

When you guys talk about day geckos, would this just mean a more active lizard during the day? We want a lizard that don't mind being handled maybe once every 1-2 days. And nothing speedy or bitey.

We'd love a chameleon, but keep reading these a harder to look after and don't handle too well or often.

Would love to see all your set ups, and of course any input would be great

Turn7

Original Poster:

23,502 posts

220 months

Monday 16th March 2015
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Crested or Beardie/Rankins I would say. Day gecks are flighty and are not recommended to be handled due to soft skin.

Have a read up here:

http://www.reptileforums.co.uk/forums/newbie-advic...

Happy to try and answer any q's tho.

DeanR32

1,840 posts

182 months

Monday 16th March 2015
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Cheers Turn7, good forum

I think I'll look at the crested gecko, although I'd love something a bit brighter.

Have you found yours don't mind handling? How often do you handle yours?

Turn7

Original Poster:

23,502 posts

220 months

Monday 16th March 2015
quotequote all
DeanR32 said:
Cheers Turn7, good forum

I think I'll look at the crested gecko, although I'd love something a bit brighter.

Have you found yours don't mind handling? How often do you handle yours?
I have a crestie,and I like him a lot. However, Im not into the handling side of things really (Been a fish keeper for years, and you dont handle them either!), but a lot of cresties are hand tame -it depends on the individual gecko and the amount of patience involved on behalf of the owner.

There are a number of different colours in Cresteds, but they arent as as bright as Day Geckos.

Have a look at Leopards and Gargoyles for more colour.Both are handleable.

Nightmare

5,182 posts

283 months

Tuesday 17th March 2015
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Hey Dean,

if can find some, schneider or berber skinks are brilliant for that - mine love being handled (one spends several hours a day asleep on my head or shoulder), and seem pretty indestructible (which is quite important for kids + fast lizards. they're quite small compared to the blue-tongued skink and don't eat that much so v cheap to keep. Also less issue with getting UV balance right (I have many videos if anyone wants to see)

i definitely wouldn't suggest any of the phelsuma as a starter or if you want something to play with as well as observe - as Turn says, their skin is a bit soft and quite easily damaged and they're far more flighty and nervous usually (no doubt there are exceptions). also more delicate with regards to UV and humidity levels.

bearded dragon or leopard gecko (though again, not really 'play with' lizards in my experience) are also good recommendations i reckon

BarryP

584 posts

143 months

Wednesday 18th March 2015
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As a starter lizard that is good to handle you can't beat a Bearded Dragon.They are easy to keep, very tame and are cheap to buy. Have a look on retileforums.co.uk as you may even find some that need rehoming and are free in the classified section.

Turn7

Original Poster:

23,502 posts

220 months

Sunday 22nd March 2015
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New Day Gecko viv...

Phelsuma Grandis...

viv by mark_p99, on Flickr

geck4 by mark_p99, on Flickr

geck3 by mark_p99, on Flickr


geck2 by mark_p99, on Flickr

geck1 by mark_p99, on Flickr

DeanR32

1,840 posts

182 months

Monday 23rd March 2015
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That is a lovely looking lizard mate.

We've been thinking about what route to go with the lizard, and as my boy eventually wants a chameleon, we've been thinking of going straight for one.

It doesn't seem any more trickier to look after once you've got all the kit neither.

How much harder is it to look after a chameleon over something like a bearded dragon for arguments sake?