Reptile Forum, Reptile Classifieds - CaptiveBred

Nelson · Key Member Joined: 04 Oct 2005 Posts: 318

A good friend of mine is looking into having a crested but she wants to keep it in a tank in a cubbard. Reason being shes renting,no pets are aloud and lives with house mates that dislike (it seems) all animals!

Ventalation within the cubbard is good but can it live in (near) total darkness?

PaulG · Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2008 11:29 pm Post subject: Re: Crested light question...

Dan.W · Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2008 11:35 pm Post subject:

Well cresties are nocturnal but they do need to have a photo period. Like Paul said a light on a timer would be a good idea.
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0.0.1 Rhacodactylus ciliatus (Crested Gecko)

minno · Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2008 2:25 am Post subject:

surely if she just has it in her room and opens the cupboard door in the day her housemate aint gna mind lol not like her housemate should be going round her room anyway lol, plus i think the no pets revolves around messing on the floor ect so doubt very very much that the landlord with bother bout nethin in a tank (mine said no pets but said its in a tank its ok cause it aint s**tin everywhere -his exact words not mine lol)

Carol · Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2008 1:05 pm Post subject:

I'm not being funny but isn't it a bit cruel to keep any pet in a cupboard. Strikes me that if we were talking about any other creature than a reptile the RSPCA would be knocking on the door! My cats sleep 18 hours a day but you wouldn't dream of keeping them in a cupboard!!!

What's the point of having a pet if you can't look at it - half the joy of my cresties is looking at their vivs - and trying to spot them kipping!

In the wild they would sleep in dappled sunshine in the canopy not in the dark. I personally think if you can't keep a pet in optimum conditions you shouldn't have a pet. Just my honest opinion
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0.0.3 Crested Geckos - Sid, Kurt & Titch
1.1.0 Cats - Lenny & Charlie

Nelson · Key Member Joined: 04 Oct 2005 Posts: 318

Thanks for the input everyone.

SmallPaul/Dan W: The light idea was at default option and is possible, but having never kept a nocturnal lizard I was unsure whether light was even needed (cave species etc). As due to a cresties housing needs (mild humidity, low temps) it would be daft not to think in the wild some would not venture into caves from time to time/live in?

Minno: Renting in the South is now very tight. Its standard practice to put a no reptiles clause in (fear of escaped crickets/animals etc).

Carol: She has no interest in the aesthetics of the tank. She only wants one to care for, handle and watch going about its business in the evening.
I notice from your sig you keep reptiles already and would hazard a guess you keep them in tanks/Vivariums? By your own standards then it must be cruel for you to kept them? Whats the difference between housing them in a Tank and housing them in a tank in a cupboard? Just a thought.

PaulG · Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2008 12:00 am Post subject:

Carol · Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2008 1:41 pm Post subject:

Hi there - I'm not saying keeping cresties in a viv is cruel I'm saying keeping them in the dark is. Cresties are an arboreal species and would therefore not live in caves. If you can recreate natural daylight conditions in your cupboard then it wouldn't be a problem.

Aesthetically my viv looks the way it does to try and give the cresties lots of places to hide, climb, sleep, jump, feed etc etc, i.e. to try and give them a suitable place to live and thrive - the fact it also looks attractive to me is just an added benefit.

What I was trying to say was that if they couldn't see the viv your friend would be missing out on one of the joys of keeping these amazing geckos.
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0.0.3 Crested Geckos - Sid, Kurt & Titch
1.1.0 Cats - Lenny & Charlie