PDA

View Full Version : adopted a pictus, bad cage?, need input


K1LOS
01-22-04, 02:30 PM
I adopted a madagascan ground gecko about six months ago, and i left the cage the same as it was when i got it. The cage came with a fake plant in one corner, a rock under the basking lamp, a red tight beam bulb for the lamp, and one of those elevated water dishes that have a cave under it in the opposite corner. So there is a hide on the warm and cold side (the plant provides a pretty descent cover).The red light stays on 24 hrs, maybe this doesn't allow enough of a temp drop at night. maybe she needs a bright white light on during the day to let her know its day time? The substrate is calci-sand.

She stays under the water/cave thing all the time.I don't think i have ever seen her come out on her own free will when it wasn't for food. And even then, most of the time she stays in there and waits until the food comes to her. I know they are a seclusive species, and that they are nocturnal, but come on! I have to reach in there every few days to make sure she is still alive! I might have asked about this before, but i just can't see this being normal.

So after some thinking, i believe i should redo the cage. I would like to find some info on their natural habitat, and maybe seem some other people's pictures of their habitats. I was thinking maybe stacks of slate rock on each side of the cage? Tell me what you do, what you think i should do. Thanks alot, i always appreciate the help from you all.

Geoff

sapphire_moon
01-23-04, 08:39 AM
ok, what are your temps? Whats your humidity? How are you taking the temps and checking humidity?

A Care sheet:

http://www.geckonetwork.com/caresheetpicta.htm

Hope this helps.

K1LOS
01-23-04, 02:26 PM
i will recheck all my temps and humidity to get a more up to date number for you.

When i do re-design the cage, are cactii safe? are all, or some, or none acceptable? thanks

Geoff