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 #1583601


Gret
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 New adoption, few questions

Friends of mine are moving to California and ask if i wanted to take their 2yr old male AFT. I agreed after doing some research and I am very excited about it. I have a few questions though. After reading nearly all of the posts on this forum, thank you very much to all the knowledgeable folks, I have come to the realization that his habitat is probably not set up properly. The substrate that was in the tank when I took ownership is crushed walnut shell, according to previous owner. He has had the same set up for the full two years or so that she owned him, and I am concerned if i switch to the recommended eco-earth or bed-a-beast if that change will be traumatic to him. I just acquired him on 1/15, so I figured I would give him a couple days to get used to me before redoing the tank.
What is the best way to change over to the new substrate?
Also i would like to introduce live plants, any recommendations for that?
As far as the water for his dish, i live in the city so I know I have to make sure the water is de-chlorinated, is it recommended to let the water sit, like I’ve done for fresh water fish tanks or to get a de-chlorinater?

Thank you all in advance for your assistance in making sure my little dude has a happy and healthy life.
01/18/08  11:36am

 #1583616


Repfanatic
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   Message To: Gret   In reference to Message Id: 1583601


 New adoption, few questions

I’ve never seen substrate changing as being stressful to any of my lizards. The crushed walnut is not good at all and I would recommend taking it out immediately. As far as live plants go I just think they would be too much work and are not needed to keep the gecko in a good environment. I use Jurrasipet Jurrasi safe for my reptiles’ water. Good luck with your new guy.
01/18/08  11:51am

 #1583757


AllHailRain
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   Message To: Gret   In reference to Message Id: 1583601


 New adoption, few questions

Thank you for reading through posts before asking questions that have been answered on here 40 times!
That is very cool of you. :]

Substrate changing shouldn’t be traumatic..I would do it immediately and he’ll adjust (very happily) to a new substrate and his new home.
When I clean his tank, I just put his hides in a gladware box and put him in my bathroom and tell everyone in the house 3 times that they can’t use the bathroom for any reason because of 3 dogs and a cat.
I usually put a towel over it too, sometimes he’ll crawl out and sometimes he won’t, but no big deal.
And then just empty the tank outside, clean it, and put in the substrate.

And with water..I buy a lot of those 50 cent gallon jugs of clean, drinking water. I use them for my 10 gal fresh newt tank and my gecko’s.
:]
That’s what I do, just so I don’t have to worry about anything. It’s pretty cheap, and in my case it’s cheaper than buying dechlorinator.


Hope I helped a bit. :]
01/18/08  01:57pm

 #1585297


Smurfzilla
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   Message To: AllHailRain   In reference to Message Id: 1583757


 New adoption, few questions

i have one of those water filters on my faucet.. i never thought about the big water jugs. lol
mine really liked the substrate change to eco earth and plain dirt from pet store calcisand.. theyre pretty easy going little guys.
moss, grass, and pothos plants come to mind right now.. check with the tree frog forum.. since frogs absorb stuff through their skin i figure what can be safely used without poisoning an amphibian can be used with a gecko.. somewhere i have a link i got from them.. but for me its the wrong time of year to be able to buy plants.. ive been looking into it though.. i think it would look neat.
01/19/08  12:58pm

 #1590868


Gret
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   Message To: Gret   In reference to Message Id: 1583601


 New adoption, few questions

i switched the substrate and he seems just fine with it. I also tried to switch his food from hand feeding mealworms to crickets. He is not a fan of the crickets. I thought it may have been two changes too many, but six days later, he still doesn’t seem to have any interest in the crix. I really don’t have a problem feeding him mealworms and waxworms, but was hoping to get him to eat the crickets. Any suggestions on this little issue?

thanks
01/23/08  11:08am

 #1591164


AllHailRain
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   Message To: Gret   In reference to Message Id: 1590868


 New adoption, few questions

Wow, never heard that before. most afts love crix but won’t touch worms. nothing wrong with the other way around though, just be sure to dust the worms so he gets all of his vitamins.
:]
superworms are bigger and sometimes (from what i’ve heard) easier to feed, and those will work too as a staple.

Nope..You’ve just got a unique gecko. if yours is as stubborn as mine is, there’s no way you’ll ever get crickets down him, haha. mine refuses worms -.-



01/23/08  04:12pm

 #1591232


Gret
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   Message To: AllHailRain   In reference to Message Id: 1591164


 New adoption, few questions

Ok... his personality matches mine, I like him more already.

I am using a Calcium powder with D3, is there another supplement I should use instead or in conjunction?


Also photos to come, as soon as I get my camera charged up.
01/23/08  05:05pm

 #1591346


Suicidepill
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   Message To: Gret   In reference to Message Id: 1591232


 New adoption, few questions

I don’t know what brands your useing, but i use pure calcium 5 times a week, and d3 twice a week.too much d3 is toxic. but i dont know how much your using.
01/23/08  06:06pm

 #1592166


Gret
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   Message To: Suicidepill   In reference to Message Id: 1591346


 New adoption, few questions

I bought ReptoCal, and I was using just a light dusting. Last night when I went to feed him he did not seem to care much for the dusted food, he would not eat any of the worms dusted with it, but heartily chowed down on the untreated ones. I could only get him to eat waxworms though, seems the mealies I got were to hard for him to pick up so he lost interest quickly, and they were really hard for me to hold to hand feed, I have to work on my kung-fu grip. I am going to try with just mealies tomorrow night and try to slowly work in the supplement, I may have just had a little too much on them, plus the previous owners never used a supplement.
01/24/08  10:39am

 #1598518


Gret
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   Message To: Gret   In reference to Message Id: 1592166


 New adoption, few questions

Finally I have pictures of Balthazar (but i call him Fred). Enjoy

Who’s House? Fred’s House!



Fred likes my lazyboy.







He looks a little ashy in the photos, I took them 2 days ago and he shed last night. Still not eating meal worms or crix. I found out from his previous owner, she only ever fed him wax worms... We may have a long road ahead of us breaking the junk food habit.
01/28/08  04:34pm

 #1600720


AllHailRain
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   Message To: Gret   In reference to Message Id: 1598518


 New adoption, few questions

He’s really cute.

And good luck breaking him of waxworms..that will probably be a difficult task.
Hope everything goes well!
I’m glad he’s in a really good home now. :]
01/29/08  08:03pm

 #1600795


Smurfzilla
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   Message To: AllHailRain   In reference to Message Id: 1600720


 New adoption, few questions

awww.. hes a cutie.. just stick with another food.. eventually hell give in and eat them.. try freshly shed superworms for a starter worm. best of luck!.. fred looks to be in pretty good shape and has an awesome tank!
01/29/08  08:43pm


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