Crested Geckos

Lately I have been falling in love with crested geckos. They are a beautiful and extremely cute lizard species and everytime I see a photograph of one I fall more in love with them. Hopefully someday I will have one in my collection!

Crested geckos (Correlophus ciliatus) are native to Southern Grand Terre, New Caledonia. They are semi aboreal and spend a lot of time in trees and shrubs. They are nocturnal and find hides to sleep in during the day usually on the ground.

Crested Gecko

Diet

Crested geckos are omnivorous meaning they eat live food and vegetation. Their diet consists of small soft fruit (non citrus) and insects within striking distance. In captivity they are commonly fed: fresh soft fruits, baby food particularly banana, peach and apricot. As for live food crested geckos will eat crickets, small locusts and roaches. There is debate over whether it is safe to feed them mealworms as they can cause impaction. All live food should be dusted with calcium powder such as D3 and gut loaded, (this means feeding your insects healthy food so the gecko gets the best nutrition possible). Also ensure that insect feeders are the correct size and should be no bigger than the distance between the geckos nose and eye. I recommend buying Bug Grub to feed to insects and the odd fresh vegetation such as lettuce. There is also a special food available to feed crested geckos. All you need to do is mix the special food with water and place in a feeding dish.

A water dish should also be available at all times filled with fresh water. Crested geckos are also known to drink from dew in the wild, so spraying once daily will help to ensure that they are kept hydrated.

Housing

A glass enclosure is recommended for crested geckos as they live in cooler climates. They are also aboreal so a taller form of housing is better than a wider one. 18in x 18in x 24in is the minimum size of housing for a crested gecko.

Coco Husk is the ideal bedding for a crestie as it retains humidity without getting mouldy. As crested geckos are nocturnal they need to be provided with hides for during the day. Greenery is also a great addition for making more hiding spots and this helps the gecko to feel more secure.

Exo-Terra Enclosure

 
 
Heating

Cresties enjoy lower temperatures compared to most other reptiles. Keeping them above 30 degrees Celsius will stress them and impact their health. The ideal temperature for a crested gecko is 24 degrees Celsius during the day with a night time drop to 13 degrees Celsius. This means that in some cases they will not require a heat source depending on your ambient temperature. However, a heat mat can be attached to the back or side of a terrarium. Always ensure that when you're using a heat mat that it is attached to a thermostat as this stops the mat from overheating. Also check temperatures regularly with a reliable thermometer.

Lighting

Similar to leopard geckos, crested geckos need to have a day and night time cycle. It is recommended that a 5% UVB light is used for 10-12 hours per day. This can be achieved by attaching a timer to the UVB light.

Reptisun UVB Bulb

 Handling

Generally cresties are a good gecko to handle although they do like to jump. Don't panic if one minute one is in your hand and a second later jumps to your shoulder. Always handle gently and NEVER lift one by the tail. Crested geckos can drop their tail when they feel threatened and unlike leopard geckos, their tails will never grow back, resulting in 'frog butts'.

Humidity

Crested geckos require a moderate humidity. To check your humidity you can purchase a hygometer. Humidity should be 50%. Cresties should be provided with higher humidity (80-100%) for a few hours each day. This helps aid with the shedding process. This can be achieved by heavy misting with water. Although it is vital that humidity levels go back down to normal levels for the majority of the day. Prolonged high humidity can cause infections.

Water/Spray Bottle

Co-habiting

Crested geckos can be co-habited although never two males as they will fight and could end up injuring one another. A male can be kept with a colony of females as long as the enclosure is large enough. A group of females can be housed together. Personally I would not recommend co-habiting as I don't want to risk cross-contamination.

Cleaning

As with all reptiles, keeping your housing clean and spot checking daily is important for your animals' health and well-being. Dead food should be removed on sight as should excrement. A deep clean once a month is also recommend. Remove all substrate and clean the enclosure with a reptile safe disinfectant. Also clean decor and hides at this time and water bowls when needed as sometimes reptiles will poo in their water bowls.

 

Disinfectant

Respiratory Infection

It's dishearting to find that one of your beloved pets has taken an illness. Sadly my latest addition has a respiratory infection.

Around Christmas I noticed that he was wheezing slightly and was yawning a lot. I talked to the owner of my local reptile shop and he said that sometimes royal pythons tend to wheeze if they have just had a drink, so I thought nothing of it. Over the next week or so Fyffe gradually started showing more symptoms such as bubbling around the mouth and sneezing. As soon as his symptoms progressed I contacted my local reptile vet.

When I suspected that he had RI, I moved him into quarantine as I did not want my other reptiles to contract the illness. I placed him in a Really Useful Rox with kitchen roll for bedding away from my reptile room. I ensured that no equipment I would be using could come into contact with my other reptiles. Water bowls, tweezers, feeding forceps etc. I also bought disinfectant hand sanitiser to use before and after handling.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As there is only one reptile vet in the whole of Northern Ireland, I had to wait a few days for an appointment. I then researched how I could help ease his symptoms until the vet could diagnose and medicate him. I found a trick recommended on many forums which describes the following instructions:

• Place snake in a box within a larger box. Ensure the larger box has no air holes.

• Mix half a spoon of Vix VapoRub with a few drops of eucalyptus oil and hot water in a cup.

• Place the cup in the larger box, beside the small box that the snake is in.

• Allow the snake to breathe in the vapors for five minutes.

• Repeat every day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At Fyffe's vet appointment the vet informed me that Fyffe did have a respiratory infection and that I caught the infection early. He checked the snake thoroughly; looked inside his mouth, turned him upside down to see if he could right himself and prescribed antibiotic injections every three days and a total of 10 injections.

He is now looking a lot better and not bubbling, wheezing or opening his mouth. He still has a few injections to go and will stay in quarantine for a month after his injections finish and he stops showing signs of infection. If he is still showing symptoms two weeks after his current antibiotic course ends I shall be taking him back to the vet for more medication.

 

What is Respirtory Infection/RI?

In reptiles respirtory infecton is a bacterial infection of the lungs. It is generally caused by poor husbandry. Not providing your reptile with adequate temperatures, humidity, clean enclosure, inadequate feeding and prolonged stress.  

 What can cause Respiratory Infections?

• Bad husbandary can be one cause of contracting RI. It's vital to ensure you have the correct humidity and temperatures. In the winter respiratory infections can be easier to catch due to the fall in ambient temperature gradient 

• Not keeping your enclosure clean. RI can be caused by bacterial build-up so keeping your pets housing clean can stop bacteria spreading.

• Stress; if your animal is stressed this can weaken their immune system and make infections easier to contract.

• Coming into contact with other reptiles that have the infection. (like humans catching a cold.)

RI Symptoms to look out for 

• Clicking

• Wheezing

• Sneezing

• Open mouth/Yawning excessively

• Laying with their head up

• Bubbles and mucus

• Bloated body / swelling

• Loss of appetite

• Lethargic

  If you suspect that your snake is showing signs of RI, then please seek help from a vet as soon as possible. Quicker treatment helps relieve stress levels and in some cases respiratory infections can be extremely dangerous especially with snakes such as colubrids as they only have one lung.

   

My brave boy Fyffe

 

 

 

 

 

 

More New Additions

Christmas has certainly come early for me this year, thanks to Reptile Hunters Belfast for my latest new additions!

The first of which is a champagne royal python. As I give all my royals names, I have named him Cru as it's a type of berry used when making champagne.

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The second new addition is my first normal royal python and I have named him Dinger after a friends name. I think every royal python fan needs to have a normal in their collection! They are just as beautiful as morphs!

This is Mojo the mojave female. I know the name is not the most original but I like it. 

Finally we have Fyffe Hakkinen the F1 male banana. I never thought I would ever own a banana and I was really pleased when my local reptile shop acquired me this guy and all the above. I can't thank my friend Eddie at Reptile Hunters Belfast enough.

I will keep you guys updated with my royals progress and fingers crossed next season I will have my first breeding project!

Rewarding Rescue

Today's post is about a special ball python that came into my care as a rescue last year. His name is Mauve and he is a mojave royal python who has a bump on his nose and a prolapsed hemipene. A local breeder wanted to find him a new home that could offer him a caring and loving environment. I took him in as an extended part of my scaley family.

I am glad to report that Mauve is now doing really well. Last year I was concerned about him as he decided to fast for six months and as I was less experienced with royal pythons back then and I found this to be a major worry. I am now pleased to say that he is now one of my best feeders, loves his grub and has become a pretty aggressive feeder. I have also discovered if your ball pythons are a good weight, fasting can be nothing to worry about and being patient with them is the best way to go.

He also sheds great and does everything he should. I am so happy that this little guy is doing well and I love having him in my care as I know I can provide him with everything that he needs.

I would encourage people who can provide a good and loving home to take on a rescue as in some cases breeders who have an unbreedable snake would put him/her to sleep. In some cases the snake is actually healthy. I am a strong believer in not killing any animal that is healthy if the animal can be rehomed, even if it does have defects. Nothing in life is always perfect and giving a chance to an animal no one else wants is rewarding.

It's now been a year since I acquired Mauve and here is the orginal post, with lots of cute pictures! 

 

Reptile Therapy

A few months ago on Facebook, I read an interesting article about the NHS recruiting snakes to help treat depression. This is being introduced to their assisted animal therapy programme.

A hospital in Roehampton is the first to recruit a 5ft corn snake allowing patients to care for, handle and feed. Doctors have reported the new therapy to be significantly helping to improve patients' self worth and moods and even giving others something to live for.

As snakes are unusual and not everyone comes across a snake in the UK, this in itself can provide a sense of achievement and provides a talking point to tell friends, family and even colleagues about.

In some cases animals can provide a lifeline, as they are non judgemental towards people. The patient also has something to care for and this can help them to get out of bed in the morning.

To read more about the NHS recruiting reptiles click here

Snowy The Corn Snake

I personally think that this is a great idea, as I myself have suffered from depression on and off for years. I find that when I'm having a bad day, caring for my collection helps me cope better and gives me something to look forward to. I also think that interacting with animals can be relaxing and rewarding. I would encourage more hospitals to use reptiles as part of their animal therapy programme and not just for depression but a host of illnesses as it's amazing how helpful and therapeutic interacting with a reptile can be!

How The Lacey Act Could Effect The Pet Trade

The Lacey Act was first introduced in the United States in 1990 and is a law that prohibits the trade of various wildlife, fish and plants that have been illegally transported, sold or possessed. It has allowed local govering authorities to implement civil and criminal penalties for those who have broken the laws.

Some of the snakes that have been added to the act include:

• Burmese Pythons
• 2 species of Rock Pythons
• Yellow Anacondas

Burmese Pythons

Furthermore, the Lacey Act carries penalties for the falsification of any documentation and also prevents the animals listed above from crossing state lines.

How does this effect those living in the USA?

• If you move for work or family, you can't take your animals to a different state.
• If you do educational shows.
• If you are in the army.
• Lots of jobs shall be lost for breeders and pet stores.

 How does this effect the hobby?

In the United Kingdom and Europe, many of the imported animals in the pet industry have previously been obtained from the United States. If more animals are added to the list then they can't be transported.

PETA may also have a say in the future of reptile keeping and may even go as far to introduce new laws in both the UK and Europe.

What can we do?

The hobby needs to promote education first and foremost in order to change negative perceptions against the hobby. Breeders and hobbyists would also need to come together and put differences aside to make the industry more friendly instead of jumping down one anothers' throats and arguing over the most stupid issues. We need to show that the reptile industry is taken seriously and that the facts are clearly displayed and a few negligent keepers can't spoil it for everyone.

• According to CDC data, dogs killed 167 Americans over the age of 14 between 2001 and 2010.
• From 2003 to 2007 (according to www.geog.ucsb.edu), 22 people on average are killed by cows in the USA alone.
• Between 1990 and 2012, the amount of constrictor attacks that resulted in fatalities was 10. (rexano.org) This means the lifetime odds of being killed by a pet constrictor is 1 in 9,513,742!

Spotting A Fraud Part 2

Lately on specific websites, I have been spotting more people lying about the genetics of their animals in order to increase sales value. Sadly in the reptile industry this has been becoming more common and horrible to see, especially when the targets are people just getting into the hobby.  

The scammers are very popular when it comes to royal pythons as they are the most commonly found animal in the reptile trade. They also have extensive genetics and sometimes understanding the difference between dominant, co-dominant and recessive genes can be hard to grasp.

When purchasing a reptile, ensure that you have researched what morph you plan on buying carefully and only buy from reputable sources. When looking at advertisements, look for the words "possible and het." 

Possible means that the breeder is unsure if the animal has a specific gene so therefore don't expect that to be in the animal when you purchase it. This term should only be used when referring to a non visual gene, a recessive animal.

Het means heterozygous and this is basically a recessive gene that can skip a generation if not bred back to a visual. To get a visual recessive animal, two hets of the same gene need to be paired together and if this is not the case then the gene stays hidden. 

To avoid falling into this trap;

 1. Ask the breeder for paper work showing records of where the animal was purchased. 

 2. Ask questions, as if they are lying, they won't know the answers and get flustered. 

 3. Ask people who have had dealings with the breeder/seller. 

 4. Always go to a reliable shop/breeder. 

 5. Take extra care when purchasing an animal on sites like Facebook and Gumtree. 

 6. Visit World Of Ball Pythons or similar sites to learn about basic genetics. 

The only way to prove a heterozygous or possible animal is through breeding. Although don't let this put you off buying a het, just be careful and know what to look out for. 

Two examples of possible scams.

The first image may lead people to think they   are purchasing a cape morph, which does not exist. The snake appears to be a normal.

 The second image shows "100% het albinos". With no paper work the buyer relies on the seller's word. There is also no listed breeder for where the snakes came from, just a friend.







I have also seen people selling animals that can't be heterozygous for example; fire, banana, pastel and spider to name a few. These morphs are all visible and non recessive.

List of common recessive royal pythons;

1. Albino

2. Pied

3. Axanthic

4. Clown

5. Genetic Stripe

6. Ghost/Hypo

For more information and lists of recessive reptiles visit; http:/www.newenglandreptile.com/genetics_simple_recessive.html

For further information on spotting frauds