[CoolioMattio]

Hey everyone! Sorry can't edit the title: "*Juvenile"
So I am stuck in a dilemma here because my leopard gecko keeps using his moist hide as a toilet! I did my research and people mentioned moving the hide to a different corner of the tank which I DID & he continues to poop in the moist hide. I also read you can try making an actual bathroom for them in which you put older poop in there so they smell it and use it as a toilet. I did that as well put the same moss in his lil bathroom and his older poop and he still continues to poop in side his moist hide... The bathroom I set up for him was next to the moist hide which could be the issue with that but still! I am worried that he is only going to think the moist hide is for pooping and not for shedding.. especially cause hes still young. So I am completely stuck in a rut with this one, if any of you could provide some valuable information that will be really appreciated. Thanks a lot!

[Doublet74]

My youngest gecko has been defecating in her cool side hide.(its a skull with a floor). I just eliminated the hide. Unless your gecko is sheding you don't need to have a moist hide all the time. You can take the hide out and replace it as your gecko starts to shed.

[Angey]

My Star was doing that too. I replaced the moist hide with papertowel instead of moss and put moss in another area and she used the moss area (a container with no lid) for her toilet and enjoyed her moist hide with the papertowel. After a couple of months I took out the moss and placed papertowel and she still uses that area for her potty. Maybe your leo, like mine, just doesnt like the moss...

[CoolioMattio]

Thanks for the replies!! Very helpful. I took out his moist hide as I know he isnt shedding as his colors are bright & I just finished feeding him so tomorrow I'll see where he will take a dookie. I've been meaning to actually try the paper towel instead of the moss cause I'm not gonna lie I don't like how messy the moss gets. I shall keep ya'll posted!!

[Saskia]

It´s important that you avoid this because moist poo becomes a bacteria factory! You can actually just put the humid hide there for shedding time and if you want to rise the humidity levels you can spray / mist his enclosure once a week

[CoolioMattio]

Originally Posted by Saskia

It´s important that you avoid this because moist poo becomes a bacteria factory! You can actually just put the humid hide there for shedding time and if you want to rise the humidity levels you can spray / mist his enclosure once a week

Okay good thing I took it out then thanks. But why would I want to raise the humidity levels win it should be lower?

Hey so he never went to the bathroom at all... very strange cause usually I'll see it every day for the last week or so. I have had him for about two weeks.

I have quite a few questions but am struggling to find answers for.

First, since he was 1 or 2 weeks old when I first got him I bought this Desert Rock Cave and I think it is too big for my 10 gallon tank. This is his favorite hiding spot on the hot side.. Since hes only about 4.5-5 inches and I believe about 3-5 weeks old. I want to make his terrarium look and feel bigger with more space to run around. Cause looking at this desert rock formation theres unnecessary 2 inches of rock designed with zero benefits as it doesn't even create any space for the reptiles. This Rock Cave takes up too much space and I have another hide that I used for his moist hide and recently took out. Do you think he will notice the difference if I switched them out?(More Below) What consequences could arise from doing this?

Secondly, I bought a Exo Terra Reptile Den medium sized and on the back it says, "Insulated to create a colder borrow (like in nature!)" and "The rock is insulated to keep the tunnel system cooler than the ambient temperature inside the terrarium. Some moistened moss or substrate can be placed inside the Reptile Den to keep it moist." So I have two options, options one Use the Reptile Den on the hot side and the old moist hide leave the same or second option put the old moist hide on the hot side and the Reptile Den on the cooler side? or just leave the Desert Rock Cave, I know for a fact its too big for him at the moment. I can just add it to a 20 Gallon tank when I replace the 10 gallon tank.

Finally, I think my leopard gecko is a normal/high yellow comparing many baby pictures on google. They say wild type means the same thing? Do these geckos have different contrasts or all usually look the same? I have searched a variety of morphs and I really like the Jungle morphs... And guess what I saw one at Petsmart and he wasnt there when I first got him Should I stop worrying about what hes going to look like and just be happy with him as is?


Many thanks!!