Hi Tobey and all,
I've found no substitute for having a tank that opens on the side rather
than the top -- since they run up, that alone cuts escapes to
practically zero. Of course it's much harder to find or make such a
tank...
Melody
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
>
> Thank you for the helpful hints. I will definitely invest in a net for any
> future escape antics. This gecko is quite fascinating to me as he is so much
> different than the leopards and R. Ciliatus that I have. I was searching on
> the net for a good care sheet for him (Gekko Grossmanni), but I have not been
> able to locate one. Anyone have one they could send me or direct me to on
> the net?
> :o) Tobey
> ------------------------------------------------------
> In a message dated Mon, 8 Jan 2001 6:26:30 PM Eastern Standard Time, Hilde
> <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:
>
> << [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
> >
> > I was not so delighted when I opened the top to
> > put crickets in and he lept out onto the blinds and made his way onto the
> > ceiling in my apartment! It took me 30 min. to corral him into a reachable
> > area to return him to the tank. He is so darn flighty and quick. Is there
> > anything I can do to calm him a bit? I'm a little nervous now to open his
> > cage to feed him, because I don't want him leaping out every time.
>
> I don't know if you can tame him, since any of his species I've ever seen
> were a
> bit skittish, and escape artists as well.
>
> You could try what I do with arboreal glass climbing rocket-butts.
>
> I always have the crickets in a deep plastic bag (whether or not they get the
> shake and bake treatment). I make sure I lift the lid just enough to put the
> top
> 3 or 4 inches of the bag inside the tank, and lower the lid again. Then, lift
> the bottom of the bag so the crickets slide towards the tank. If you work it
> right, you can lift the lid just enough to slide the bag a bit farther inside
> the tank, so the crickets are inside and can fall down. The lid can be
> lowered a
> bit to keep just the tiniest space for jiggling the bag until the crickets are
> all in the tank, but the gecko can't get out.
>
> If you use the bowl feeding method (for mealworms?) you could aim the bag over
> the bowl to dump them in. Though it doesn't help one bit if you have to reach
> in
> and remove the dishes or furnishings. In this case, spraying the glass with
> water helps a bit, kind of slows the gecko for a few seconds, which might give
> you time to open the lid and remove the bowl, but don't count on it working
> everytime and not for longer than a few seconds.
>
> An acquaintance of mine has a sheet of clear plastic she drapes over the lid
> before opening it. She reaches under it to open the lid. Apparently, if the
> gecko escapes, bumping into the plastic confuses it enough to either jump back
> inside the tank or sit and ponder the invisible barrier long enough to be
> picked
> up and put back inside. That method's never worked for me, but it might work
> for
> you.
>
> Other than that, have a lookout (bribe a kid), and keep a large soft fishnet
> handy.
>
> Hilde
> --
> ~*~***~*~
> Chaos, panic, & disorder
> - my work in the kitchen is done.
>
> ######################################################################
> THE GLOBAL GECKO ASSOCIATION LISTSERV
> WebSite: http://www.gekkota.com
> The GGA takes no responsibility for the contents of these postings.
> ######################################################################
>
> >>
