Strophurus Gecko Questions

[warren63]

Do Strophurus geckos need lighting ?? Hoping to purchase some Goldens Tails or one of the Spiny Tail forms and just working out a setup for them and would like to know if lighting is necessary for these guys. If so i assume you have the light and the heating at the same end of the enclosure. Appreciate some advice

[Mrs I]

I have UV lighting on my Intermedius. and heat on 1/3 of the enclosure.

Mrs I

xxx

[falconboy]

They don't have huge UV requirements but should have some, and as suggested heat on 1/3 of the enclosure. They are a nice gecko, I would go for the goldentail if you can.

[scratchy]

Did some experimenting over the last 8years. Used UV on some animals with good results, while others were only offered fresh good quality calcium/ D3 and had equally good results.
Problems only occured when I used supplements that were used from the previous season without UV.

[JasonL]

Under heating them will also knock their calcium levels around, I have found under heating Strophs and Oeduras, will cause them to have a massive drop in calcium, females, esp Oedura will die whilst gravid, if they don't, none of their eggs will hatch. Heating requirements can be a bit complex with glass climbing geckoes, some thought needs to be put into enclosure design if kept in glass. Oeduras will choose a hide over heat, even if it means dieing for the cause. They can take alot more heat than people give them credit for.

[warren63]

Originally Posted by JasonL

Under heating them will also knock their calcium levels around, I have found under heating Strophs and Oeduras, will cause them to have a massive drop in calcium, females, esp Oedura will die whilst gravid, if they don't, none of their eggs will hatch. Heating requirements can be a bit complex with glass climbing geckoes, some thought needs to be put into enclosure design if kept in glass. Oeduras will choose a hide over heat, even if it means dieing for the cause. They can take alot more heat than people give them credit for.

So heat mat on the side of the tank is the best option ??

[JasonL]

The ambient room temp gets up to around 25 - 30 deg, even in winter it gets to 25, though night temps drop in winter. heat mats up both sides, tiles lean against glass, Oeduras hide between glass and tiles. Mats arn't on a thermo and stay on 24/7. thermometer at the back of the tank, down low (coolest part of the tank) stays between 29 - 35, if it gets over 35, geckoes will move from hides and off the mats. Keep in mind geckoes sitting on cold glass will get chilled, and IMO, plastic tubs can often be a better choice for an enclosure.
Strophs prefer to sit on open branches so wil get more benifit from a basking style lamp and a higher ambient as they don't thermo-regulate well.
When cooling most of my herps, I still give them maximum day temps, just for reduced amount of time per day, for tropical Sp.'s, I may just cool them for a month or two.
Keep in mind where you live, keepers down south will need much more attention to heating than those in sunny Qld,

[warren63]

Thanks Jason, i actually had that pic from when you have prevoiusly posted it but i couldnt find that thread again. The plan now is to get 2 Exo Terra tanks and place a heat mat between them so i can heat my Oedura and my Strophurus. I will place a tile inside on both enclosures. Isafley assume then that no under tank heating will be required ?

[JasonL]

Sorry, I have heating under the tanks as well, substrate is sand / peat mix and is always kept moist, thus you find eggs buried quite often that you didn't know where laid and they will be ok if you don't let it dry out.

Living in Qld though, you will need less heating than those living in Sydney

[JasonL]

like these castelsnaui's I found last week ?? have know idea when they were laid??????