[Snagz]

I little help here please. We have had our Leo for about 3 or 4 weeks now.
We normally pull it out once everyday or two to try to help it get used to us.
Since about the second day it started to be alot more active. Andwhen we gave the crickets it would eat no problem. Last night I dropped in about 7 small crickets and it didn't come out like it normally does to eat. I shrugged it off and figured it just wasn't hungry. Then this morning i was taking out all the uneaten crickets and it came out. I went to pick it up and it started to make a whining noise and snapped at me! I stayed still for a moment and then slid my hand under it and picked it up. I then seemed fine but was not as actice as normal. About 2 mins after i started holdin it I was watching and at started violently shaking its head and something flew out. I looked in the cage and it looked like maybe a large cricket. (It actually looked kinda like his poop but alot larger) So yeah have to say that concerned me a little bit... Any help?

-It is in a ten gallon tank
- Sand on the bottom (Had the carpet but it didn't seem to stay warm at all)
- two Caves (one dry one on the cool side, and one on the hot side with moss that i normally mist inside of it)
- A calcium dish and a water dish
-And a small paper towel in the corner that he has never pooped on

Only issue I can think of is my lighting.
- I use a 60 Watt Sunglow during the day to sim Daytime (Even thought it is by a window) and a 50 Watt red spot lamp and night.
- Only problem i see in the Sunglow (Day bulb) keeps the hot side of the tank at about 90 degrees F, and the Red (Night bulb) actually bumps the temp up to about 100 degrees F... It that a problem? I live in ohio and I am afriad no light would drop the temp to low and the 50 watt red is the smallest i could find.

Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.

[kaikara]

What are the temps on the cold side of the tank? 100 does sound like a bit much when you refer to air temps. Remember that Leos are nocturnal and need belly heat. They are not normally going to bask like a lizard that is active during the day would. I have a 36"x12x12 tank and I use a 65w in the daytime to bump the air temps and use a under tank heater to give the proper floor temps. So a 60 watt in a 10g tank sounds liek too much to me. If you can't find a smaller wattage bulb you can get a dimmer to reduce the heat it is putting out.

You might want to look into getting a under tank heater though. It will use less power and is more efficent at providing the temps where a leo most needs it.

[Allee Toler]

First off, take out the sand. If you're worried about anything not retaining heat I'd go buy some slate tiles. They're cheap and distribute heat well. Geckos, especially when young, are prone to eating the sand when they hunt. From the squealing, he sounds too young to be on sand.

Take out the bulbs, go get an under tank heater. They do not need ambient heat only belly heat. Belly heat helps them digest their food.

Warm side should be between 90-97F (I use 97F in my rack, keeps them eating more) and the cool side should be 15 degrees cooler than the warm side.

Stress can cause a gecko to puke. That may be the case. Or it was stuck and didn't eat because of it, and just happened to come up when you held him. I would just keep an eye on him and if he goes right back to eating normally, I wouldn't worry.

Just don't give him big crickets, stick with the smalls until he gets older.

He or She. I just chose to use He.

[Snagz]

Oh yes I did forget about that. I do have a under tank heater. The 60 Watt during the day seems to be ok it only get the temp up to about 90. It's the 50 watt red bulb that seems to push it to 100-105 at night... But with no light it drops (I have seen as low as 65, and winter has not started) SO that worries me too.... Any Idea about the Throw up thing?

[Allee Toler]

A UTH should be enough heat if put directly on the bottom of the tank. If it's not producing enough heat then it's not working properly.

[Allee Toler]

Is your thermometer on the floor of the tank?!?! That might be the problem. And it needs to be digital. Dials can be off frm 5-10 degrees.

[JordanAng420]

I agree with Allee.

It sounds like your leopard gecko cage is set up similar to what a bearded dragon might need. 100-105 is WAY too hot!!! Some changes probably should be made. As stated previously, the heat that comes from underneath is the most important. Place a thermometer on the floor of each side of the tank and get some accurate temperatures.

The gecko had probably just eaten a cricket not long before you chose to pick him up, he got a little exited and regurgitated. I've had it happen, myself. I try not to handle my reptiles around the times they eat.

I'm not even TOUCHING the sand issue. Use it if you want. It's terrible for juvis. Just so you know, it doesn't TRULY mimick a "natural environment." Leopard geckos don't live on playsand and calcisand. They live on rocks and hills, and sleep underground in caves. And yes, there is sand here and there in small amounts, but it's not ONLY sand.

[kaikara]

Even though I use sand in small amounts myself (pieces of slate on a bed of play sand) I only use it for full grown lizards. But I think the problem is temps like have been said before. In a 10 gallon a UTH plus a 65w bulb is going to be too much. I would take the lights off the tank until you can get a digital thermometer.

[Snagz]

Ok so here is what im into.

- I have moved my thermometer to the bottom of the tank right above the sand.

The temp seemed to drop a llittle... It looks closer to 80 right now with the day light on.
I will be switching in the red night light here soon. and we will see what happens with the temp then.

I am planning on cleaning the tank out this weekend. So I guess it is pretty much agreed between everyone on here that I should lose the sand? Where can I get the slate? and it that gonna be the best for me to use? I am not fond of the carpet because it does not seem to hold the heat.

I really did alot of research on these guys before i got one. It seems like on just about every issue with these guys everyone has a different opinion. Use a blue light...no red! You should use sand, no slate, no carpet, paper towels, calcium sand.....OH no DO NOT USE CALCIUM SAND!!! lol I don't know what to belive really. Is there a proven correct setup or does everyone have to have a different opinion?

I do have the under the tank heater along with the lights... it does not seem to keep the tank warm enough by itself... It is brand new though... Should i be temping the sand or right above it?

[Snagz]

I put my hand under the tank where the heater is... It feels warm but not hot or anything. And i don't see anywhere to adjust a temp. How is the UTH gonna be enough? You don't use lights? lol It's funny when you thought you researched this and knew your stuff only to find out that i guess I have no clue...