Leopard Gecko: good care check, general ?s

K

Kreuniclus

New member
What i had on that tank was the wood but in a little bit of that wood were 3 layers of glass. I put the heat mat between the top two andthen was the substrate - repti-carpet.
 
Elizabeth Freer

Elizabeth Freer

Well-known member
Kreuniclus said:
I'll do temperatures and dimentions another day. Being as i switched back to the old viv, and that one has a missing bulb, i went out looking for another one. I found a reptile place and they didn't have the bulb. The guy said i need UV shining onto the viv, being as i never had UV before. He told me to go to another reptile place. I went there and i coudn't find the right size bulb. I asked the guy and he said Exo-Terra is a bad company to be with. He even showed me this example. UV can't get through the mesh on Exo-Terra's tanks. Also, they don't even make UV bulbs. I thought the best idea would be to just buy another tank. A Zoo-Med tank. And then everything would be fine.

I don't like to use the wooden tank because when i open it, he could get out very easily. He did once and i nearly died of fright. He was loose when anyone could step on him or a cat could've killed him or i would've lost him. I had a fear of feeding him before i pulled this one out again.

Also, there's something i worry about. My sister had a hamster but then she died so i took one of her things - a hollow log, and put it into Link's tank to see what he would do. He LOVES it. I've had it in there since spring and he still loves it. But i'm afraid he may get stuck in there because he has to squeeze in already. I would take it out but i don't want to because he loves it and when i took it out before he looked so bored. What should i do?
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UV lighting for leopard geckos is a controversial topic. It could help them, but is not necessary for your leo to be healthy.

Have you found my Leo Guidelines linked right here in my signature? That will answer many of your ?s.

I would remove the hollow log. No point in risking a stuck leo. You can replace it with other cage furniture. Have you had the chance to surf the leo forum here?

Tanks with front doors are attractive and convenient. Think Exo-terra (or Zoo Med) makes a 36 inch x 18.5 inch x 12 inch one that would provide enough floor space for your leo.
 
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Elizabeth Freer

Elizabeth Freer

Well-known member
Kreuniclus said:
Blocking off the entry points of the bugs would be blocking off nearly all of his ventelation.
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Kreuniclus said:
What i had on that tank was the wood but in a little bit of that wood were 3 layers of glass. I put the heat mat between the top two andthen was the substrate - repti-carpet.
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Say you have a "standard" tank with a glass bottom. The heat mat should be taped underneath the tank below the glass with aluminum electrician's tape if it did not come with a sticky pad.

The heat mat should always have OPEN ventilation from beneath and NOT be sandwiched between two layers of glass. You could be risking a fire from overheating if I'm understanding you correctly. As well, the tank should be elevated off the stand with rubber stick-on feet or by small blocks of wood.

Paper towels/slate tiles make better substrates than repti-carpet. The carpet retains bacteria from the pee and the poop, and is difficult to clean.
 
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K

Kreuniclus

New member
I'm getting confused to what tanks we are talking about here. The first tank is a glass tank from Exo-Terra. I'm using it now. All walls and floor are glass and it is slightly raised. In it is a substrate of repti-carpet, a hide, a basking stone, a fake plant and vine, a twig and a water bowl. I did have a hollow log in there but decided to take it out because you said so. On the top is a mesh lid. It is divided in half by plastic. The front half is just mesh, providing the ventelation. On the back is a light box with 2 25watt bulbs in it, shining through the mesh. It is 45x45x45cm or 18x18x18 inch.

The second one is wooden. The 2 sides and the back are wood, while the front is glass. The lid is glass and comes off. It's not very tall, but is very wide. About 1/8 of the floor on that one is 3 layers of glass to put the heat mat between. In that one i had repti-carpet as the substrate with everything used in the other tank, apart from the heat rock and the fake plant and vine. The ventelation was small holes in the sides that insects were capable of entering through.

Either way, i'm doing away with both of these. The wooden one is too risky and the glass one is not capable of having UV. I'm buying a Zoo-Med version of the glass one. I'll see if i can get that 36x18x12 inch one. I will see about getting a different substrate. I think UV would be the best thing for him being as for about half the time i've had him he has had NO source of calcium or that sorta stuff. I was never told that i needed go give him powder with his food, or that i was supposed to have moss for him. I only found out those things from school, on my animal care course.
 
cricket4u

cricket4u

New member
What was the problem with this enclosure?

HNI_0093 - Gecko Gallery

Is that glass underneath the lighting? Obviously. Now I can see why you are having problems.

36x18x12 inch one would probably be the only solution at this point.
 
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K

Kreuniclus

New member
cricket4u said:
What was the problem with this enclosure?

HNI_0093 - Gecko Gallery

Is that glass underneath the lighting? Obviously. Now I can see why you are having problems.
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I thought using that enclosure might be a bit too risky. One meathod of heating could've caused a fire and the other was way too hot. Spiders can get in. He ATE one! If that happens when i'm sleeping or something he could get mites and i wouldn't even know. I'll get an exam done checking for mites next chance i get. I don't think spiders can get through the mesh on this one. Also, i don't like to use that one because once when i was feeding him he snuck behind me, climbed up onto that log and climbed out the viv. He could've been stepped on, killed by a cat or gotten himself lost. I nearly had a heart attack. For as long as i had that tank out i had a fear of feeding him. Now that i've moved in with other people who have no clue about animals, i've switched back to the old one. I only got the wooden one because the cat was about to break through the mesh on top. There are no cats here.
 
K

Kreuniclus

New member
As long as that 36x18x12 inch isn't too short and has doors on the front i'll be ok with it. If it's too much like that other wooden one and will scare me to death because he can climb out, i won't be getting that one. I will definately search for one that has more floor space, though.

You might be right about the shedding, but usually he leaves tiny little bits of skin and i haven't seen those. Plus, his skin has turned really brown. I'm hoping that's because he just needs to shed, but i can't help thinking that it might be because he has mites or that i've given him skin problems by not having UV or by the tank being too hot for a bit. I know somethings not right with him anyway. You can see it in his eyes.
 
cricket4u

cricket4u

New member
Kreuniclus said:
As long as that 36x18x12 inch isn't too short and has doors on the front i'll be ok with it. If it's too much like that other wooden one and will scare me to death because he can climb out, i won't be getting that one. I will definately search for one that has more floor space, though.

You might be right about the shedding, but usually he leaves tiny little bits of skin and i haven't seen those. Plus, his skin has turned really brown. I'm hoping that's because he just needs to shed, but i can't help thinking that it might be because he has mites or that i've given him skin problems by not having UV or by the tank being too hot for a bit. I know somethings not right with him anyway. You can see it in his eyes.
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Well, I suggest you take him to a vet asap! Poor housing conditions leads to illness. If you want your gecko to to be healthy I suggest you follow the caresheet. I think you have been putting things off for too long. http://www.geckosunlimited.com/comm...re-recommendations-28-august-2012-update.html
 
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panthergecko

panthergecko

Active member
The uv topic is greatly debated but IMO I think some UVB would be good during the day.
Cricket- The wooden vivarium is no longer in use.
Remember that 1/3 of the terrarium should be on a UTH.
That would be a 12x18 heat pad. or 2 12x8 heat pads.

Maybe an updated picture of his current setup and himself could help us figure out what the problem is.
 
cricket4u

cricket4u

New member
panthergecko said:
The uv topic is greatly debated but IMO I think some UVB would be good during the day.
Cricket- The wooden vivarium is no longer in use.
Remember that 1/3 of the terrarium should be on a UTH.
That would be a 12x18 heat pad. or 2 12x8 heat pads.

Maybe an updated picture of his current setup and himself could help us figure out what the problem is.
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Yes, but unfortunately neither enclosure is adequate for a proper temperature gradient.
 
K

Kreuniclus

New member
I know i've been putting things off for too long. I'm still looking into finding a vet in this area. I've asked every reptile place in the area but they either don't know or it seems to be too far away for my dad to bother driving to. He's definately top priority right now. His skin is looking a little bit better today. I've fed him as much as he will eat and i will set up some moss in the tank again to try to encourage him to shed and so i might be able to get a feaces sample at last. Also, my animal care classes have changed into environmental so i won't be able to gain any more information when it's not in my time. I would spend all day after school searching the internet or going to shops but now i have very limited time, being as i now have go get busses to and from school. I'll have roughly 3 hours. I'll have to do it all at weekends.

I saw a hydrometer in the shop the other day and will probably get it. What level humidity should the tank be on?

I will get a new viv asap. I will look for a vet asap. Is there anything else i could be doing while waiting? Like getting him used to hands? Not that i'll have much time to do it.
 
K

Kreuniclus

New member
I'll post a new pic when he looks a bit better. I found a vet and it turns out i'm already registered with them. I found a really good shop the other day. The guy there is really about the animal's welfare rather than trying to get you to buy something. He's really helpful. I'll go there asap and see how much he sells vivs for.
 
Elizabeth Freer

Elizabeth Freer

Well-known member
Kreuniclus said:
I'll post a new pic when he looks a bit better. I found a vet and it turns out i'm already registered with them. I found a really good shop the other day. The guy there is really about the animal's welfare rather than trying to get you to buy something. He's really helpful. I'll go there asap and see how much he sells vivs for.
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How soon can you take your leo to the vet?

Cricket4u is really good at noticing issues with leos right from pictures. The sooner you post a picture the better for your leo :).
 
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