breeding Cresteds

[krrc]

I've been looking at cresteds for a wile now and plan on getting a few, maybe 2.4 after a wile with a male and 2 females in each. I really like the way AnthonyC did his housing and plan to use it as it would be very practical for me. one question though, I read an article that said an anlisis if their gut contents in the wild showed them consumed primarly fruits. (over 90% if I remeber right) if this is true how nessisary are the crix to their diet is 2-3 times a week ok? more, less? also what size rubbermaids would you recommend for indivualy housed babys, juvi's? thanks.

[krrc]

one more question what whould be a fair wholesale price? I already have a local reptile only shop that is intrested if I started breeding, she's having a hard time getting them. and I have been dealing with her for about 3 years now. thanks.

[CDN-Cresties]

2-3 times a week should be alright, but I have found that the growth rate of babies is quicker when feeding crix all the time. For housing babies in a rubbermaid, I have no idea what size to use. I keep mine in those critter keeper plastic enclosures.

-Steve-

[CDN-Cresties]

A fare wholesale price would depend on the amount of cresties involved in the transaction.

-Steve-

[krrc]

oh, I never thought of critter keepers good idea. as far as as many invovled i would be as many as would be in a cluch, 3-7 at a time most likely. also whould whould you recomend getting them from in the U.S.?

[CDN-Cresties]

One females clutch consists of 2 eggs. If you want to get some quality cresties check out http://www.dragonsdenherp.com
Im not sure how much 3-7 cresties will cost but the cresties they have are amazing!!!

-Steve-

[krrc]

I just checked it out, very nice I really like the red ones but I would most likely get a few other mophs too. if I was to mix them the babies would be a mix of both color, pattens of the parents to some extent right?

[anders_240sx]

In my opinion, cresteds are primarily fruit eaters. Although crickets do increase growth rates, they should not be part of the main diet. I feed my cresteds crix/mealies once a week at the most. Some may disagree, however since the original cresteds are still alive, there are no truly proven methods for what they should eat. Yes many people have bred them, and crickets are used constantly, however, no one knows what effects they can have in the long run. In the short run, there is nothing wrong with crickets. But I would rather stick to what they eat in the wild, or mimic it as accurately as possible. I tried an experiment on my 1.4 group, by putting a shallow dish (2 cms deep) of water with feeder guppies in it. And beside it a container of mealworms. I left them overnight, (there were 20 guppies and 20 mealies). The next day 12 guppies were gone, but only 5 mealworms. Theres something to think about because such species as killifish lay their eggs in the forests during the rainy season. Thats something to think about. Thanks for your time

[CDN-Cresties]

anders 240sx, is it possible that your cresties ate more guppies than mealies because they move more? just a thought?

-Steve-

[anders_240sx]

Of course ... but the point is that we all assume that any reptiles diet is crix ...when there are numerous other forms of food .. that was my point

[CDN-Cresties]

Very true but it is proven that some feeders are healthier than others. For instance crix are healthier than mealies but silkworms are healtheir than crix.

-Steve-

[krrc]

ya but silkworms are so hard to keep alive without mulbarry <-sp. leaves for them. I want to use them insted of crix but it doesent seem possable how about butterworms? arent they about as good as silkworms?

[anders_240sx]

I have heard numerous studies arguing for against crix being better for lizards. Overall, it comes down to each species wanting specific needs. From the evidence I have seen, I would much rather feed mealworms than crix. I dont need the list of nutritional data to try to prove me wrong, cause many reptiles require higher fatty diets, while others do not (ie. cresteds).

[CDN-Cresties]

From what I have read ie. Reptiles Mag. Mealies should not be a staple for any herp. Anyway this has gone a bit off topic. Im not to sure about butterworms being just as nutrious as silkworms. Maybe someone from the cham forum could help you out with this one.

-Steve-

[anders_240sx]

I understand your side ... but keep in mind that reptiles mag relies heavily on supply companies... thus many of their oppinions are "scewed"... thats why I trust only herpers experiences and herpetologists. And of course non-profit organizations and the like. I personally feed everything that eats insects superworms.

[D Healey]

I would stick with crickets as they can be gut loaded and they will also eat unwanted baby food as well wax worms and most other worms molt pretty fast and are quite fatty.

[AnthonyC]

Diet -

I vary their diet a little differently than most people do, but I would say that overall, 60-70% of my animals' diet consists of crickets dusted with Miner-All. When I first get in a shipment of crickets, that's all my animals get for a week or so. As the cricket supply begins to run low, they will get more of a 50/50 ratio of each. Then, as the crickets start to run low, all they get is baby food and/or Crested Gecko Diet with a few crickets here and there. Sometimes, I'll go a couple of weeks without giving them a single cricket.

To keep their calcium reserves up (along with egg production) and to make babies grow more quickly, I've noticed that they tend to do great when they're getting more crickets. It's not that I think dusted crickets are superior to Crested Gecko Diet and baby food, but they simply tend to eat more when there are live crickets hopping around their cages. I've also had good luck so far with younger (9-10 month old) females laying good eggs, which can sometimes happen.

On the other hand, I've had my little brother raise two Crested Geckos primarily on Crested Gecko Diet and baby food (only getting crix once per week) and I can tell you that there is definitely a difference in growth and in how the geckos look. They are skinnier (almost gangly looking) than my other geckos of the same age. It may sound cruel to see these geckos growing more slowly and looking skinny, but I actually believe that way to be more natural than the way the bulk of mine are raised. You just have to ask yourself if breeding or maintaining a naturalistic approach to keeping them is your number one priority, and then go with what suits you best. Personally, I don't think either approach is "wrong" because in reality, they're all well cared for and are doing fine.


Wholesale pricing -

Right now, 10 lots of average (nice, but nothing phenominal) Cresteds can be had for $250-$400 (US dollars), depending on how nice the animals are. Dalmatian and patternless animals being in the $250 range, flames and harlequins being toward the higher end of the price spectrum. Then again, you have to remember that there are still higher end animals that will cost you $250-500 each.

[krrc]

$250-$400 each for an average one? or is that more than one? also are you talking sexed or unsexed?

[AnthonyC]

LOL - I wish average cresties went for that much! You may want to re-read that. 10 lots are going for $250-400...in other words, $25-40 each...that would be for unsexed juvies (2-3 month olds) bought wholesale.

[krrc]

ah, ok. do you have any for sale? I need a sexed pair but I would take an unsexed one that was very good looking. if you had it.

[krrc]

like the pic in "All colored up" you just posted I would buy one of those unsexed :)

[AnthonyC]

Originally posted by krrc
ah, ok. do you have any for sale? I need a sexed pair but I would take an unsexed one that was very good looking. if you had it.

Remember, those prices are for average geckos, when purchased in a 10 lot (10 at a time). If you were to buy those same animals singly (or a few at a time), they'd cost around $40-65 each.

I personally don't have any available right now. I'm raising all of mine to adulthood. I paid a little extra for most of mine, in order to get animals with really nice color/pattern, so that I'll have nice breeding stock. Once I do have some available, I expect them to go for $75+ each (unsexed). I don't plan to produce enough to sell them in 10 lots or anything like that.

Sexed pairs go for more money. Usually $200+ per pair. Really nice females can go for $350 or more.


Originally posted by krrc
like the pic in "All colored up" you just posted I would buy one of those unsexed :)

LOL - I bet you would.

One like that would typically go for $200-275 unsexed...not your normal cresty. :)

[krrc]

lol... I would pay it though :D I got the crested book that was just finshed. (you know wich one im talking about right?) it was talking about nat. varira <-sp. and I would kind of like to use a 40 breeder to make one with like 4 cresteds, 1-2 african giant millipides and a bioactive substrate w/ live plants and stuff. they said they have had tanks like this without having to clean them for 3 years! I would really like to try and make this work. I'll keep you up dated.

[AnthonyC]

I have that book...got it the weekend it came out. It's a good book.

The only problem with naturalistic vivaria is that it makes it difficult if you want to breed them. They will bury their eggs anywhere that they can dig, so you'll end up having to tear the thing apart at least every other day if you're concerned about getting the eggs before they go bad.

[krrc]

ah, yeah. I dont know, I'm still not sure if I want to just breed them full scale or not. I supose if I want to this would be as good a time as ever seeing as they are still somewhat new to the hobby.