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 #1508113


Sevydots
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 Golden foster

Am getting a golden from the local SPCA. No idea what kind of shape it’s in. I’ve never had a gecko of any kind, but have been keeping herps for about 20 years; I currently have 2 green iguanas, a beardie & a moderate collection of corn snakes.

I’ll be reading more on this forum but would welcome other links. I’ve Googled, but would like to know what sites members here recommend.

Also, I have seen 2 different species names--ulikovski and auratus. Are there 2 different golden geckos or has there been a nominclature change? The one I mostly see is ulikovski

Thanks in advance for any help offered.
11/10/07  12:51am

 #1508126


KrazyKelli
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   Message To: Sevydots   In reference to Message Id: 1508113


 Golden foster

I believe the two latin names refer to the same gecko. The marbled gecko has two different latin names as well that both refer to the same species in that case, too. And doing searches proved the same results for both latin references. The only difference I found was that stores in the US called it Ulikovski and stores shipping straight from Vietnam called it Auratus.

Look at the caresheet section on this website under Golden Gecko. The caresheets by Cro Biatach, Dragon D., and myself will all work. You’ll need to quarentine the goldie a room away from all other reptiles until the aspca provides a vetcheck and fecal (or your local vet does). They usually come with parasites and the stress of all the recent moving around will definately increase that. The goldie may also not eat from the stress and could attempt to starve to death, so your vet will need to teach you how to forcefeed if it becomes an issue (if you don’t know how, that is.)

Unlike Iggys (or at least young ones), beardies, and corn snakes, goldies should not be held with exception of tank cleaning and moving. One will attempt to drop its tail, deficate on you, squirm, and bite as a last resort. Do not hold too tightly or you could rip the skin accidentally, and don’t hold too loosely or the goldie will get away. If you hold the goldie and it doesn’t try to escape, then it’s stressed into shock or very ill.



11/10/07  01:22am

 #1508579


Sevydots
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   Message To: KrazyKelli   In reference to Message Id: 1508126


 Golden foster

Thank you.

The shelter tends to not be willing to vet check herps. If it is ill & I can’t fix it, it gets euthanized.
I can run my own fecals and have panacur and flagyl here already (I work for a dog & cat vet and have a great relationship with my herp vet).

If I am just fostering, I won’t spend the money or make the long drive either, but if I adopt (about 50% of the time) I take it to my herp vet. (I now own a $900 iguana!)

Sounds like most are WC & a prophylactic course of panacur may be a good idea.

I read all the care sheets from this site as well as several others I found Googling. It seems to be an interesting animal to have. Now that I know it is a bit of a challenge and that the males are really beautiful, I am actually looking forward to picking it up!

They said it is kind of a spaz, so that sounds like maybe it is fairly healthy--we’ll see...
11/10/07  03:38pm

 #1508612


KrazyKelli
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   Message To: Sevydots   In reference to Message Id: 1508579


 Golden foster

Oh, I have to warn you, this species of lizard is very very smart. He will try to find a way to escape. Mine learned that my arm is the only thing keeping the lid open, so if I don’t check to see where he is in the tank before opening it, he’ll leap onto my arm and run up it to escape. Either that or he’ll jump to the underside of the lid and run across it. Once free, a golden gecko is hard to catch.

But that’s what I love about the species, in all honesty. Stubborness aside, I can tell that my golden gecko, Sade, thinks things through. If he doesn’t get the food he wants, he’ll knock his food cup over and storm around angrilly. He’ll also sit on the corner wall of the tank closest to me and stare at me intently for all hours of the night.
11/10/07  04:07pm

 #1516199


Sevydots
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   Message To: KrazyKelli   In reference to Message Id: 1508612


 Golden foster

So far so good. Is a male (which I expected) & seems to be healthy from what you can tell by outside appearances. He is eating for me & his favorite hangout is in a place where I can actually see him :)

The person who posted the idea about putting prey in a small plastic bin, it’s been working great. He can get them but they can’t get out to bite him and I can keep an eye on how much he is eating. Also, he pooed in there, so I can get a good sample to run a fecal. Great idea! Thanks!

Just need a name (is Xanthos over done?)
11/16/07  04:51pm


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