[gecko]New gecko questions
Daavid
gecko@lists.gekkota.com
Wed, 03 Oct 2007 07:58:01 +1000
Yeppers - Australia has 100,000's of them. The only wild camels
remaining in the world. There is some move to harvest them as they have
a very lean meat. Something needs to be done as their numbers are now
starting to spiral even though they have been living here for over a 100
years. (They were introduced by Afghan traders and were released when
other forms of transport became more convenient.)
Melody Hartley wrote:
> Egad -- feral camels???
>
> Daavid wrote:
>
>> The law applies to all reptiles and amphibians (apart from axolotls).
>> It is mainly about quarantine. Australia's animals have evolved
>> mostly in isolation. Many of the species introduced with European
>> settlement have gone feral and are out of control...(Cats are the
>> worst problem, but also foxes, camels, rabbits,etc. etc.) The main
>> fear is that an introduced species will bring in a pest that will
>> wipe out native species. We already have OPMV and IBD which kill
>> native pythons much quicker than the Boas etc. on which it is meant
>> to have come in with.
>>
>> There is an illegal trade in exotic reptiles but the fines are severe
>> and the animals are inevitably put down when encountered by authorities.
>>
>> Most of the native animals are kept on licence. We submit returns to
>> the various state departments which keep track who has what etc.
>> Each state has different laws but it is the feds that control the
>> quarantine side of things.
>>
>> regards __daavid
>>
>> --
>> HerpTrader-A Herp Shop(TM) initiative-Just a $10 listing fee per ad.
>> http://www.herpshop.com.au
>>
>>
>> Diane Rudesal wrote:
>>
>>> Thanks for the advice, Daavid. That's interesting, that you can't keep
>>> geckos that aren't native to Australia. Does that apply to other types
>>> of animals as well? Is it a federal law?
>>> I do have thermometers in the cage, one on each side, and since he
>>> always seems to be on the warmer side, it probably is too cold for him.
>>> I'll have to try something else heat-wise and put another house
>>> somewhere in the middle as well.
>>>
>>> What do you use to mist them? I think Enzo might freak out if I did
>>> that
>>> to him.
>>> Diane
>>>
>>> On Fri, 28 Sep 2007 18:43:57 +1000, "Daavid"
>>> <daavid.turnbull@optusnet.com.au> said:
>>>
>>>
>>>> I cannot offer too much information specific to leopard geckos as
>>>> we are not allowed to keep them (because they are not native to
>>>> Australia) but I can offer some general advice.
>>>>
>>>> Temperature wise create a heat gradient from one end of the cage to
>>>> the other with places to hide across the heat range. Use a
>>>> thermometer to check out your temperature gradient.
>>>> Do not rely on thermostat settings or guess from the output of your
>>>> heat source.
>>>> If your gecko is always up the hot end of the cage it is probably
>>>> too cold. If he is at the cold end then it is probably too hot.
>>>> If he ranges around the middle then it is probably about right.
>>>> For most geckos I would be misting them from time to time. (I mist
>>>> our cilarus geckos most mornings.) I am happy to see them lick the
>>>> water from their faces ;-) For many species this is how they drink
>>>> most of the time.
>>>>
>>>> regards __daavid
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> HerpTrader-A Herp Shop(TM) initiative-Just a $10 listing fee per ad.
>>>> http://www.herpshop.com.au
>>>>
>>>> Cyndy wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> What wattage was the heat emitter? You might try a lower wattage.
>>>>> Cyndy
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> -- "Diane Rudesal" <leolover@petml.com> wrote:
>>>>> Thanks for your input, Sonya. I think Enzo is getting better now. He
>>>>> seems to like the changes I made back to what he was used to. I
>>>>> think a
>>>>> lot of his problem was stress, as you mentioned. The sand might
>>>>> not be
>>>>> ideal, but he seems to prefer it since that's what he grew up with. I
>>>>> think I freaked him out a little today when I tried adding heat above
>>>>> his tank again (see my message in response to Elizabeth) but after I
>>>>> took it off again he went back in his house on the side with the
>>>>> undertank heater.
>>>>> Diane
>>>>>
>>>>> On Wed, 26 Sep 2007 21:38:52 -0500, "Sonya Owings"
>>>>> <sowings2@comcast.net> said:
>>>>>
>>>>>> Diane,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I am assuming that you are talking about leopard geckos. I agree
>>>>>> tha tthe calci-sand is not good. The sand pieces are not round,
>>>>>> they have sharp edges on them. I actually just use paper
>>>>>> towels. As for the light, leopard geckos are more of a nocturnal
>>>>>> gecko, they do not need a light. Do make sure that you have an
>>>>>> under tank heater on one side of the tank and a cooler side too.
>>>>>> They also like to have hiding places during the day.
>>>>>> I also had trouble with a male that I bought at a reptile show.
>>>>>> It seemed very healthy but once home would not eat. Finally
>>>>>> started eating and got to be healthy again. However, I then
>>>>>> moved it and the same thing happened. I think he just really
>>>>>> stresses out.
>>>>>> Hope your gecko gets better!
>>>>>> Sonya
>>>>>>
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>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Daavid Turnbull - daavid.turnbull@optusnet.com.au
>>>>
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>>
>>
>>
>
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--
Daavid Turnbull - daavid.turnbull@optusnet.com.au