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Almost a Rhac keeper
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Mark.A
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Joined: 19 Oct 2006
Posts: 69
Location: Cleveleys, UK

PostPosted: Thu Oct 19, 2006 2:10 pm    Post subject: Almost a Rhac keeper Reply with quote

Hi all, I've been reading up on crested geckos for a while now on here and other forums/sites, and from what I've already read (and I've read all the topics in the Rhac forum on here and on a few other forums! Embarassed ) I've come up with a first set up of an Exo Terra Terrarium, the 18"x18"x24" high one, which I was planning to use to keep 1 male and 3 females. Very Happy

I'm not getting the cresties yet but I've got the terrarium (last night! Very Happy ) and am going to set it up today to make sure I have the temp right, etc. For substrate I've got peat and for decor I've got some plastic plants for round the back/sides, cork bark for hides and one live plant (ficcus), oh and one of those jungle vine things.

A friend of mine knows Scott.W and may have already spoken to Scott on my behalf about my next question. Rolling Eyes but anyway, what I want to know is can I put a group of 4 young cresties in together and just let them grow up together in there? then just sort out whats what when they can be sexed?

For instance, could I get 4 young cresties and keep them together then when they can be sexed remove all but one male, or doesn't it work like that? would i need to know the sex before I put them together? can cresties be sexed when young? would I have to keep the male separate from the 3 females whilst young? Confused
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Scott W
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Joined: 15 Apr 2004
Posts: 13355
Location: London, England.

PostPosted: Thu Oct 19, 2006 3:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi Mark,

With the peat substrate, make sure you really pat it down firmly and then keep it damp but not soggy.

Yes, you can grow 4 up together and then just sort out the sexes when you can tell. That's exactly what I do but with bigger groups, sometimes up to 20 per viv, then set the females up into groups with the best males and sell the excess males. Never had a problem with fighting or biting with the cresteds.

The 18x18x24 may be a little too small for 1.3 adults unless you really set it up well, plenty of surface area and plenty of visual barriers (plants, branches, cork tubes).

As for seperating the cresteds onced sexed, I DON'T, as soon as they are sexable I group them. I have found that the females don't start laying eggs until they are ready in both size and maturity. I have only ever lost ONE female crested gecko, that 'crashed' with MBD/severe calcium depletion and that was before I used the CGD. Since then I have had 100's of eggs and not had a single female 'crash' or die, from breeding or otherwise.


I'm sure others will advise to seperate the females until a certain age or weight, this will do no harm so feel free to follow that advice too Wink
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Mark.A
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Joined: 19 Oct 2006
Posts: 69
Location: Cleveleys, UK

PostPosted: Thu Oct 19, 2006 3:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks for the quick reply Scott! Very Happy

I'm just sorting the peat substrate out now so I'll make sure to pat it down well. I have a hand-mister and was just going to mist each night with that, I know the substrate needs to be damp but not wet so I'll keep an eye on it and adjust the misting accordingly. Smile

Quote:
Yes, you can grow 4 up together and then just sort out the sexes when you can tell. That's exactly what I do but with bigger groups, sometimes up to 20 per viv, then set the females up into groups with the best males and sell the excess males. Never had a problem with fighting or biting with the cresteds.

So would I be better getting about 6 to 8 young? and then just keeping the best male and 3 females once they can be sexed? Would 8 young be okay in the terrarium I have, just until they can be sexed? Confused or should I stick to 4, I doubt I'd get 1 male/3 females but I could add more females if necessary later?

Quote:
The 18x18x24 may be a little too small for 1.3 adults unless you really set it up well, plenty of surface area and plenty of visual barriers (plants, branches, cork tubes).

Right, well I thought it would be okay as I've seen quite a few with this set up and some even have 1.4 in the same terrarium. It is going to be quite well set up (IMHO Razz ) with plenty of hiding places, etc. I'm setting it up now but I'll try to get a pic or two once it's finished later on today. Wink

Quote:
As for seperating the cresteds onced sexed, I DON'T, as soon as they are sexable I group them. I have found that the females don't start laying eggs until they are ready in both size and maturity. I have only ever lost ONE female crested gecko, that 'crashed' with MBD/severe calcium depletion and that was before I used the CGD. Since then I have had 100's of eggs and not had a single female 'crash' or die, from breeding or otherwise.


I'm sure others will advise to seperate the females until a certain age or weight, this will do no harm so feel free to follow that advice too Wink

From what I've seen of your cresties I think I'll listen to you if that's okay... Wink Laughing
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Mark.A
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Joined: 19 Oct 2006
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Location: Cleveleys, UK

PostPosted: Thu Oct 19, 2006 7:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Finally finished setting it up... Laughing
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Mark.A
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Joined: 19 Oct 2006
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Location: Cleveleys, UK

PostPosted: Thu Oct 19, 2006 7:51 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Agled from the right. Very Happy
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Mark.A
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Joined: 19 Oct 2006
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Location: Cleveleys, UK

PostPosted: Thu Oct 19, 2006 7:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

That was supposed to say angled. Embarassed an angle from the left this time. Very Happy
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Mark.A
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Joined: 19 Oct 2006
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Location: Cleveleys, UK

PostPosted: Thu Oct 19, 2006 7:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Top half. Very Happy
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Mark.A
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Joined: 19 Oct 2006
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Location: Cleveleys, UK

PostPosted: Thu Oct 19, 2006 7:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Bottom half. Very Happy
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Mark.A
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Joined: 19 Oct 2006
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Location: Cleveleys, UK

PostPosted: Thu Oct 19, 2006 7:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Closer pic of some of the decor. Very Happy
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Mark.A
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Joined: 19 Oct 2006
Posts: 69
Location: Cleveleys, UK

PostPosted: Thu Oct 19, 2006 7:55 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

That's all for now. Very Happy

All it needs now is some Gecko's... Laughing
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