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Q:
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Gargoyle Gecko Care
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I was looking at some reptile auctions today on Ben Siegal's facebook and saw a very cute pair of gargoyle geckos. I decided to look a little more into them, it seems they are pretty easy to keep, just like my cresties.
So here are my questions:
1. Are they as easy as Cresties?
2. Do they lose their tails as easy? (I haven't seen any pics without their tails)
3. Are they are friendly as Cresties?
4. Do they need crickets or is it ok to feed CGD or the gargoyle gecko verison?
5. What morphs are there?
Thanks everyone!
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Assisted Answer
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1/1/2012 11:26:43 PM
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FyreFocks
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They keep just like cresties do.
They do lose their tails to the usual suspects, fights, breeding, and attempted cannibalism, however garg's can grow them back.
In my very limited experience, they aren't quite as friendly. But like I said, limited experience.
My female goes with the powdered stuff and occasionally crickets. However, I think she could do well without the crickets.
Morphs? I refuse to acknowledge morphs in cresties, so I won't be doing it with gargs.
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Accepted Answer
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1/1/2012 11:31:31 PM
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HurricaneJen
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Hopefully I can help out here...
1. Are they as easy as Cresties?
Yes, almost more so, because their need for a more varied diet also ensures that they get proper nutrition. However, they are also more difficult in that they are more solitary by nature.
2. Do they lose their tails as easy? (I haven't seen any pics without their tails)
They do, however their tails also regrow easily. According to the Rhacodactylus book, it is not uncommon for dominant females to eat the tails of males they mate with. When they are raised in larger groups, it was recorded that all the males ended up with regrown tails, however several females had original tails. These females may have also been more dominant among the group but that was not discussed in depth.
3. Are they are friendly as Cresties?
For the most part. They can become accustomed to handling and interaction.
4. Do they need crickets or is it ok to feed CGD or the gargoyle gecko verison?
You'll find different opinions on this, but I find they do much better and are larger and more robust when offered crickets regularly as a part of their diet. Cresties also seem to do better with crickets included in their diets but Gargoyles definitely thrive with them. I've even seen some eat mealworms out of a dish, as well as canned caterpillars out of their CGD. If live crickets are too unpleasant, it's definitely an option to include canned insects instead.
5. What morphs are there?
There's striped ones, red ones, purple ones, orange ones, black ones, white ones... Pretty much a wide range of color variaton, and when it comes to red coloration, it can be heavily influenced by diet. If you want a red gargoyle as a pet, try feeding SuperPig with the CGD. They get noticeably redder when on the stuff, although it is not a genetic trait that is passed on to offspring.
Hope that helps!
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Assisted Answer
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1/2/2012 10:26:50 AM
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Synath
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Jen is right on tap..^+1.
(3) The friendliest part I'd say cresties are way more in tune to being handled, though as with most things they have their own personalities. I've seen lots of Gargs that are wonderful to handle.. then I have my brat that can't stand it. As I keep her for watching enjoyment the lack of hand time is fine with both she and I.
(4) I did tons of talking with other keepers on the diet part as I found most care sheets to be inadequate. CGD was the over all suggestion and my little girl grew up fast and sizable on it. I do how ever give her treats from time to time of dusted crickets (she likes them and I think the exercise is good for her). Another good mark for CGD is that it comes with the calcium needed right in it. Though I still leave out a little cup of calcium for her.
(5) Now this I will say I'm not so up to date on.. but all I have ever seen listed are Retics of various colors and Stripes of various colors. I've spent some time looking for my lady a male and that is the only thing I ever see listed in them.
Ultimately their easy to keep and one of the nicest begining geckos. I wish ya the best of luck with them if you do get one and lots of enjoyment!
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Assisted Answer
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1/2/2012 10:55:32 PM
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Quiliai
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Purple?? Hook me up with one of those!
I have only one female who likes to eat her male's tail... I've heard tail eating can be common, but have not experienced much of that yet. They do regrow, but you can tell the difference between a regrown tail and an original; especially when there's colors involved. Gargs are more robust and tend to be less jumpy than cresteds (always exceptions to both). I don't have any diet differences for any of my Rhacodactylus and they thrive. None of my adults care for crickets, but the younger ones love em.
There are a few base pattern variations: reticulated, striped, banded and marbled. Colorations include black or brown with white. There's a number of geckos that have a yellow coloration to their backgrounds as well. Higher end morphs tend to have color, but be more expensive. There are background colorations (mostly visible when fired) of red, pink or orange. There can be permanent stripes of red or orange, or blotching of red and orange (more common in retics and banded retics).
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Member Comment
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4/12/2014 10:16:16 PM
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lismil
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I disagree about them being harder to handle then cresties. I have both, and although gargoyles are meaner towards each other, all my gargoyles are MUCH tamer and easier to handle then my cresties. Both are pretty handleable, but my gargoyles are VERY easy going. And yes, purple gargoyles do exist. Have one who is shades of purples and pinks.....I would post a photo,but don't see a way to do so.
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