New Leo Owner! Help Please!

[Elizabeth Freer]

Oh gosh, well ill at least try out the heat pad when I get it and let you know if it will work, if not I will overnight ship a new, and bigger one :biggrin: I do the same with my crickets in gutloading them every day so thats good! I will order the Reptivite asap as well, and definitely not! You have way better guidelines then that! I do not gutload them with the repashy, but rather put the crickets in a bag and then put the repashy on them. I gutload my crickets with these green looking things, can't remember the name but it is gutload food. I will stop using the repashy completely! I am so glad I found this website and I really hope my leo lives a long happy life. Its crazy to think I have only had it for 3 days but i Love it so very much! I hope its okay until all the things I ordered get here! and gosh I just read the Dear Peach thread about impaction and it was horribly sad thank god for you and everyone telling me no about bark!! anyways, thank you so much Elizabeth and I can already tell you do so much around here! I will keep you updated! right now he is in his humidity hide and has been for a while since he ate im guessing he is having a little nap after his hearty meal!

also elizabeth, one more question! my leo still has not pooped, or I have not found poop, is that okay? I have had him for 3 days. I have cleaned out his humidity hide and the terrarium so maybe the poop was somewhere in there but I just want to see what you think? I really wish I would have seen this site before I got my leo so I would have had the heat pad and proper habitat already! but I know leos are very hardy so Im not too worried about Django

To lightly dust the crickets, I use a swirl technique. Take a tallish plastic container, add the powder, add the crickets, then gently swirl.

The UTH is the main heat source.

I usually "save" My dear Peach and those other two linked threads for folks who need additional convincing about the hazards of sand.

http://www.geckosunlimited.com/community/feeders-food-nutrition/14280-cricket-guidelines.html

Re poop: What substrate was your leo on when you bought him?

BTW, can you see an avatar (small picture) right by my name? Should be of someone's hand with four geckos on top.

 

[dill911]

To lightly dust the crickets, I use a swirl technique. Take a tallish plastic container, add the powder, add the crickets, then gently swirl.

The UTH is the main heat source.

I usually "save" My dear Peach and those other two linked threads for folks who need additional convincing about the hazards of sand.

http://www.geckosunlimited.com/community/feeders-food-nutrition/14280-cricket-guidelines.html

Re poop: What substrate was your leo on when you bought him?

BTW, can you see an avatar (small picture) right by my name? Should be of someone's hand with four geckos on top.

oh okay ill try that! and ya if that story does not change things, i dont know what would! to be completely honest I cannot remember i am pretty sure it was not sand tho. He seems very healthy and fine, but maybe he is just still getting adjusted to his new home? and he doesnt look bloated or anything like that, as you saw in my picture
right now, he is currently basking in the sun it seems on top of his big plant ha he climbed up there and has not moved for a while! i think he really enjoys that spot and sadly no I cannot see your avatar, it just shows up as a "?"

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

oh okay ill try that! and ya if that story does not change things, i dont know what would! to be completely honest I cannot remember i am pretty sure it was not sand tho. He seems very healthy and fine, but maybe he is just still getting adjusted to his new home? and he doesnt look bloated or anything like that, as you saw in my picture
right now, he is currently basking in the sun it seems on top of his big plant ha he climbed up there and has not moved for a while! i think he really enjoys that spot and sadly no I cannot see your avatar, it just shows up as a "?"

Yes, that's exactly how I feel about Peach's sad tale.

Hope for a little brown surprise for you today...maybe even when you wake up :coverlaugh:.

Maybe you could rig up another temporary hide...opaque plastic for the other side of his tank till the new ones arrive:
one warm moist hide
one warm dry hide
one cool dry hide

Thanks! For me my former avatar just shows as a tiny generic picture. Think that the avatar disappearance is GU-wide. Wondering cuz I had just finished with a couple hours of professional tech help when I signed onto GU. Poof...I noticed that all the avatars were not showing up.

 

[cricket4u]

Hello,

You stated,

my leo still has not pooped, or I have not found poop, is that okay? I have had him for 3 days
he is currently basking in the sun it seems on top of his big plant ha he climbed up there and has not moved for a while!

He only has a 40 watt bulb correct? Is there any way to receive the UTH and thermostat quicker than Feb? It can become an issue if he continues eating without enough heat to digest properly.

 

[dill911]

Hello,

You stated,

my leo still has not pooped, or I have not found poop, is that okay? I have had him for 3 days
he is currently basking in the sun it seems on top of his big plant ha he climbed up there and has not moved for a while!

He only has a 40 watt bulb correct? Is there any way to receive the UTH and thermostat quicker than Feb? It can become an issue if he continues eating without enough heat to digest properly.

Okay so the heating mat with thermostat will be here by wednesday! is that okay?? and ya sadly only the 40 watt because the "expert" at the reptile shop only gave me a terrarium thats all wood, and the only part not wood is the glass in front. it stays about 90 during the day, and I have a dial thermometer on the ground right in front of his humidity hide. and I know i dont want a problem, thats why I put in 2 day shipping, but sadly its the weekend I put two more hides in! (like a paper box with a big opening for him, and ill make another hide. Everything will be coming in the mail slowly but surely! the only thing that is supposed to take until Feb. 1st is the new terrarium. everything else should be here by wednesday or thursday at the latest. What else can I or should I do crickets4u?

PS. I just switched shipping to One Day shipping so it will be here on Tuesday! is that alright?

 

[cricket4u]

Okay so the heating mat with thermostat will be here by wednesday! is that okay?? and ya sadly only the 40 watt because the "expert" at the reptile shop only gave me a terrarium thats all wood, and the only part not wood is the glass in front. it stays about 90 during the day, and I have a dial thermometer on the ground right in front of his humidity hide. and I know i dont want a problem, thats why I put in 2 day shipping, but sadly its the weekend I put another hide on his cool side (like a paper box with a big opening for him, and ill make another hide. Everything will be coming in the mail slowly but surely! the only thing that is supposed to take until Feb. 1st is the new terrarium. everything else should be here by wednesday or thursday at the latest. What else can I or should I do crickets4u?

PS. I just switched shipping to One Day shipping so it will be here on Tuesday! is that alright?

Tuesday as in tomorrow? If so he will be fine.

 

[dill911]

Tuesday as in tomorrow? If so he will be fine.

im in california so there its only sunday still okay? should I feed him a little less until tuesday?

 

[cricket4u]

One of the problems is I am not sure your dial type thermometer is reading accurately. I would have suggested a higher bulb on a platform until then, but I fear overheating him. Do you have another thermometer you can compare it to?

 

[dill911]

One of the problems is I am not sure your dial type thermometer is reading accurately. I would have suggested a higher bulb on a platform until then, but I fear overheating him. Do you have another thermometer you can compare it to?

no sadly I don't the temp gun and everything is coming tho! he spends most of his day and in the humidity hide, he loves that thing, but I put two more hides in that I made to last until everything comes in. is there anything else I can do?

 

[cricket4u]

no sadly I don't the temp gun and everything is coming tho! he spends most of his day and in the humidity hide, he loves that thing, but I put two more hides in that I made to last until everything comes in. is there anything else I can do?

The problem is you won't receive the enclosure until Feb which means you can't use the UTH. A wood enclosure is great if you are willing to spend money contructing under tank heating which gets expensive. The temps you mentioned were high for air temp and may be the reason he stays in the humidity hide. The air temps should be no higher than 77 cool end~ 85 max warm end.

The only temporary idea that comes to mind is to buy something like this locally, another cheap thermometer to compare and a higher watt bulb. Basking Platforms

The idea is to create an elevated spot in which will allow him to access more heat. Keep in mind that the material has to be heat tolerant. You will have to test the temp on the platform to make sure it's not too hot. This will only allow more heat and not continuous belly heat for optimal digestion, therefore not recommended for longterm.

 

[dill911]

The problem is you won't receive the enclosure until Feb which means you can't use the UTH. A wood enclosure is great if you are willing to spend money contructing under tank heating which gets expensive. The temps you mentioned where kind of high for air temp and may be the reason he stays in the humidity hide.

The only temporary idea that comes to mind is to buy something like this locally, another cheap thermometer to compare and a higher watt bulb. Basking Platforms

The idea is to create an elevated spot in which will allow him to access more heat. Keep in mind that the material has to be heat tolerant. You will have to test the temp on the platform to make sure it's not too hot. This will only allow more heat and not continuous belly heat for optimal digestion, therefore not recommended for longterm.

well right now the thermometer is on the ground, should I place it on the wall on the warm side of the tank to measure the air? his humidity hide is a rock and he loves climbing on top of that to bask or the tree thing in my picture. I have already bought three lights. I have a 40 watt right now in and then a 25 watt that I can switch too? So right now he has the 40 watt and temp in front of his hide is 91, and I just placed the thermometer on the wall about 6 inches high to measure the air temp.

 

[cricket4u]

well right now the thermometer is on the ground, should I place it on the wall on the warm side of the tank to measure the air? his humidity hide is a rock and he loves climbing on top of that to bask or the tree thing in my picture. I have already bought three lights. So right now he has the 40 watt and temp in front of his hide is 91, and I just placed the thermometer on the wall about 6 inches high to measure the air temp.

Your house must be very warm? If so, the only solution is an AC running in the room. That's what I have to do during the summer.

 

[dill911]

thats the thing its only 70, but im going to run the air right now at about 68 then!!! so the air temp on the wall says 90 still, should I switch back to the 25 watt bulb? im trying not to bother him because he is sleeping I would think im going to run to my reptile shop this afternoon and see if I can get a cheap basking platform!

 

[cricket4u]

thats the thing its only 70, but im going to run the air right now at about 69 then!!!

Either the enclosure has very little ventilation or your thermometer is not reading accurately.

 

[dill911]

Either the enclosure has very little ventilation or your thermometer is not reading accurately.

i was thinking ventilation and if you say that then I agree, I opened the glass doors a little to let some air in is that okay? and I just made a cardboard basking platform with little hide underneath! it has a ramp for him to walk up and everything? will that do??

 

[cricket4u]

i was thinking ventilation and if you say that then I agree, I opened the glass doors a little to let some air in is that okay? and I just made a cardboard basking platform with little hide underneath! it has a ramp for him to walk up and everything? will that do??

No cardboard under heating devices, fire hazzard! Keep in mind that the material has to be heat tolerant. They are very good at escaping, so I am not sure leaving the glass doors open is a good idea while you're not sitting in front watching.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

well right now the thermometer is on the ground, should I place it on the wall on the warm side of the tank to measure the air? his humidity hide is a rock and he loves climbing on top of that to bask or the tree thing in my picture. I have already bought three lights. I have a 40 watt right now in and then a 25 watt that I can switch too? So right now he has the 40 watt and temp in front of his hide is 91, and I just placed the thermometer on the wall about 6 inches high to measure the air temp.

Your house must be very warm? If so, the only solution is an AC running in the room. That's what I have to do during the summer.

thats the thing its only 70, but im going to run the air right now at about 68 then!!! so the air temp on the wall says 90 still, should I switch back to the 25 watt bulb? im trying not to bother him because he is sleeping I would think im going to run to my reptile shop this afternoon and see if I can get a cheap basking platform!

Apologize for not catching up.

How about buying a digital thermometer or even an aquarium type thermometer with a red indicator...not an analog type like you picture? Just make sure the aquarium thermometer is calibrated against your 70 F room temp.

The analog thermometer may be inaccurate.

 

[dill911]

damn i thought I had a good idea with the cardboard, okay ill go to the store and try and find something! I only opened the doors enough to wear django can definitely not escape, and i ordered the thermometer! its coming, everything is coming i wish there was instant delivery trust me! by the way thank you both cricket4u and elizabeth so much for your help!!! im going to try petco and see if they have a small basking platform

 

[cricket4u]

damn i thought I had a good idea with the cardboard, okay ill go to the store and try and find something! I only opened the doors enough to wear django can definitely not escape, and i ordered the thermometer! its coming, everything is coming i wish there was instant delivery trust me! by the way thank you both cricket4u and elizabeth so much for your help!!! im going to try petco and see if they have a small basking platform

You're welcome. The only problem with this is most sleep during the day which means they will only make use of it at night, so being a temporary solution, you will have to provide the gradient at night as well. Also consider buying another thermometer to compare as Elizabeth mentioned. It is very important to make sure it's accurate. You would be surprised how off these pet store thermometers can be. Trust me, you can never have too many thermometers when you're housing reptiles.

 

[dill911]

You're welcome. The only problem with this is most sleep during the day which means they will only make use of it at night, so being a temporary solution, you will have to provide the gradient at night as well. Also consider buying another thermometer to compare as Elizabeth mentioned. It is very important to make sure it's accurate. You would be surprised how off these pet store thermometers can be. Trust me, you can never have too many thermometers whe you're housing reptiles.

okay not to sound dumb, but what do you mean exactly with the gradient? just put the basking platform in and make sure the tank stays hot on the warm side for him to bask on?