crested cage size how big?

[Jazzey]

Hi all!

O.k I want to know how BIG of a crested gecko cage should I build? I was going to have a friend build me a 100 gal cage but thought that was just way 2 big. Now I am thinking maybe 45-50 gal might be better. What do you guys think?
I am starting off with Juvies around spring time and I know this would be just 2 big for them but I will put them in a smaller cage until they learn to hunt.
I have not decided how many jr.'s I will start off with maybe two our four? It's just so hard to pick a number because If I did not have a spending limit I would take them all home, but that is not the case (sigh).
So any help on this would be great help because I would like to make as less mistakes the first time around if I can help it.
Oh, and all so how many of you use a heating pad under your tank? Or do you just use the heating light?
Thanks and sorry for the novel.
Jazzey:p

[HeatherRose]

With cresties, height is probably your biggest concern....but for size? I have a 10 gal for my juvi....But once I get a female I'll be getting a 20-gal, with lots of stuff to climb on :)

I have a black light for my gecko, not a heating pad but I have heaters in my room, so temp isn't really a big concern for me....:)

Depends on the situation I guess....I can't answer all of your questions but hey I tried!@

Have fun!

Heather

[Jacenta]

Hi Jazzey!

To begin with, perhaps instead of having a gigantic cage built, maybe you'll want a medium sized one and a smaller one or something. The problem is, that as juveniles, I've heard you need to keep them separate or at least in manageable-sized groups - to manage their eating and social habits (in case any two males are together). Also, seeing as they're unsexable as juvies, you'll be unsure if you get more than one male, and in which case, you can't keep them together in one cage. So you may end up with a situation where you'll need more than one cage if you buy them as juveniles, and even then, you might need more than two cages depending on the number of males you end up with.

I'm not really experienced yet, I'm just a beginner breeder, and haven't even got my females yet, but will in a week or so, so I'm just trying to help with what I've learned. I've heard, though, you can keep up to four or so females in one cage with one male (very important the males are kept separate or they will fight). So, the size is really up to you, if you plan to make it a natural terranium so it's nice to look at, then size may not matter... the only concern you may have is how hard it'd be to hunt for food if the cage is huge (???) As for my opinion, I'd say go with a 27-35 gallon.... no bigger needed if you're only getting up to 4 or 5.

You just don't want to see yourself waste all your money on a huge cage only taken up by maybe two or three geckos while you need to go out and spend more for any extra males you end up with.

As far as the light/heat is concerned, some people use a heating pad, some use lights. I like the idea of lights because it's distributed throughout the terranium moreso than a heat pad.... cresteds don't spend too much time on the bottom - they're constantly up on the walls or in the branches or something. I have a 25 gall. tank (will be housing 3-4 cresties) with a 75watt clear bulb for lighting during the day (my room can get kind of cold in the winter so it puts it at the right temp) and a 50 watt purple bulb (gives a moonlight effect, but not exactly a "black light") for the night time.

No, I'M SORRY for the book, hahah... I hope this helped a little!!

[HeatherRose]

Awww Jacenta's so smart! :)

LOL I want my females NOW! Arrrg!

:P

Heather

[Jacenta]

hahaha I've done a lot of research, and talked to a bunch of breeders.

[Jazzey]

O.k So i guess I will tell my friend to drop the size down to a 35 gal aprox, but I all ways thought big was better.
I know about that if you have more then one male in a tank that could be trouble, but thanks for the reminder :)
I guess I should start off with one and see if it will be a girl or a boy but you know I will wont ta start off with more then just one because cresties are just soooo cute!
The only reason I was thinking of a heating pad is because the temp in my apartment tends ta flux. a little so I am a little worried about that, but since cresties spend most of the time not on the ground I guess I should not worry about that.
Thanks for all your novels and any other tid-bits of info would be great :p
Jazzey

[Jacenta]

haha no problem, glad to help!!! Don't worry if the temperature fluctuates a little, because usually there's an area of the tank where it's warmer all the time and where it's cooler, so they'll move to where they feel accordingly