Always hiding in moist hide

[Ignitius]

Good day to all you fellow GU members! I have a mild question for you all!

Both of my leopard geckos (Bahamut and Riku) are housed separately following the strict rules established by this website. I have repeatedly checked temps and humidity and both are normal for both tanks. That said, one leopard gecko will come out at night briefly and "interact" with me (climb on stuff, climb on hands, the like) as well as eat. After a couple hours he retreats into the moist hide but we always see him poking his head out.

Riku, however, pretty much only comes out for food. When I try to hold him he doesn't seem to mind (as much as a Leo can as I know they only tolerate it). Think maybe he's just more shy than the other one? Riku was born around late Sept (based on weight/length) while Bahamut is approx. 3.

 

[PastianiJ]

I put a humid hide in my geckos tank the other day, and now, that's the only one he uses. I don't really know what's happening, but your not alone. My gecko comes out for food and the occasional basking, but doesn't really use his other hide as much as he used to.

 

[Conched]

I guess your leos really like the moist hides that you have provided.

Two of mine spend most of their time in the moist hides, one does not.

 

[Superleo98]

Your not alone, my Leo Emma spends time in her moist hide all day then comes out into her dry hide at night Maiyer used to do the same thing, but he is in quarantine as of now.

 

[Kroda13]

Mine only uses the dry hide to poop in >.>

 

[Ignitius]

Mine only uses the dry hide to poop in >.>

Oh no! haha!

Sorry I haven't responded yet, been busy!

Yeah one will come out at night (sometimes during the day if he's feeling restless) and the other will stay unless there's food! Even then he'll run back in when he's full. Ha!

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Are you guys are using UTHs only OR UTHs with overhead heating OR only overhead heating OR UTHs, overhead, and the dim photoperiod bulb?

Ignitius
PastianiJ
Conched
Superleo98
Kroda13

 

[conan]

They are in the moist hide because in nature their habitat is rocky outcroppings- during the day the micro habitat they are hiding in is slight moist, humid, dark and cramped. You wouldn't be so surprised if you did some research on the natural history of the animals you are keeping instead of just trading some crappy care sheet put together by someone with a slightly higher than a third grade reading level.

 

[Conched]

They are in the moist hide because in nature their habitat is rocky outcroppings- during the day the micro habitat they are hiding in is slight moist, humid, dark and cramped. You wouldn't be so surprised if you did some research on the natural history of the animals you are keeping instead of just trading some crappy care sheet put together by someone with a slightly higher than a third grade reading level.

I don't see anything wrong with these forum members posting their observations and trying to validate them. They are asking because they are concerned and are trying to provide a proper care for their animals in captivity.

There is very little information about Leo's in their natural habitat but I guess you already know that Mr. smarty pants. You might also consider when making smart alec comments that some of the posters on this website are children and young teens and maybe don't have that well traveled, worldly experience that you think you have because you are a really good googler.

Try being a leader, it's harder, but will get you allot farther in life.

 

[Superleo98]

Are you guys are using UTHs only OR UTHs with overhead heating OR only overhead heating OR UTHs, overhead, and the dim photoperiod bulb?

Ignitius
PastianiJ
Conched
Superleo98
Kroda13

Just now saw your response Elizabeth. I use overhead heating since the UTH doesn't work well for heating through the moist hides. The overhead heating heats it up nicely and a temp of 90.7

 

[Kroda13]

Are you guys are using UTHs only OR UTHs with overhead heating OR only overhead heating OR UTHs, overhead, and the dim photoperiod bulb?

Ignitius
PastianiJ
Conched
Superleo98
Kroda13

I use a UTH/Thermostat with the Moist hide and warm hide on top of it and a ceramic heating element on top monitoring with a digital thermometer keep the temps well with in the range listed on your care sheets

 

[Cyd]

My leo spends 90% of her time in her moist hide. She comes out when I put my hand in to hold her and she can be coaxed out with food, but that's it. I have a red light heater for the day and UTH at night. We thought she was shedding because of how long she stays in there, but so far no shed.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

My leo spends 90% of her time in her moist hide. She comes out when I put my hand in to hold her and she can be coaxed out with food, but that's it. I have a red light heater for the day and UTH at night. We thought she was shedding because of how long she stays in there, but so far no shed.

Any chance of switching heating around like this:

Recommended temperatures for all leos regardless of size
88-93 F (31-34 C) ground temp at warm end inside the warm dry hide
no greater than 85 F (29.5 C) air temp - 4 inches above ground on the warm end
no greater than 75 F (24.5 C) air temp - 4 inches above ground on the cool end

Leave the UTH on 24/7. Turn off the overhead lighting/heating at night (~12 hours on and ~12 hours off) unless ambient room temperatures are particularly cool during the night.

Try adding a 15 watt incandescent bulb on top of the screen like this. Your leo may be more active that way like mine is.

Photoperiod Dome containing Low Wattage Incandescent
A proper photoperiod is all about mimicking lighting (& heating) the particular reptile would experience in its natural environment. Short of having an expensive computer-controlled system that tweaks the lighting second by second, well minute by minute anyway, we can only approximate this goal.

To better meet the crepuscular needs of leopard geckos, place a low wattage bulb (15 watt standard incandescent bulb) dimmed to half power inside a 5.5 inch diameter fixture in the center of the screen top and right next to the Ceramic Heat Emitting bulb.

Vary the on-time monthly of both the CHE and the photoperiod bulb according to this Pakistan link. For example, 11 hours ON in February is good.

Click: Sunrise Sunset Daylight Hours of Pakistan -- Timebie

 

[Cyd]

I was told to switch the heat source to better mimic the day and night. I can try leaving it on, although I'm a little worried about how hot the counter gets when it's on. Her terrarium is in a room that gets pretty good indirect sunlight, so I haven't used anything other than the red light because she gets the natural sunlight during the day. The warm side is usually high 80's to low 90's. Unfortunately since I'm in southern Arizona, her cool side still hovers around 79-80 with about 40% humidity. Aside from turning the AC in my apartment down, are there any tricks to get the cool side cooler? She's in a 20 gal tank. Thank you for your advise, too!

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

I was told to switch the heat source to better mimic the day and night. I can try leaving it on, although I'm a little worried about how hot the counter gets when it's on. Her terrarium is in a room that gets pretty good indirect sunlight, so I haven't used anything other than the red light because she gets the natural sunlight during the day. The warm side is usually high 80's to low 90's. Unfortunately since I'm in southern Arizona, her cool side still hovers around 79-80 with about 40% humidity. Aside from turning the AC in my apartment down, are there any tricks to get the cool side cooler? She's in a 20 gal tank. Thank you for your advise, too!

You're welcome, Cyd.

Do you have a 20 gallon LONG: 30 x 12 x 12? What size is your heat mat in relation to the tank's base? About 1/3 the length and as close to the width as possible?

1. If the tank is in any place where the sun might overheat it, please move it. Direct sun can cause deadly overheating.

2. If the above is what you have, then maybe ONLY the UTH on during the day will be fine. Measure the temperature with a digital thermometer with probe directly on the ground under the warm DRY hide. You want the temps listed above, especially the warm end temps. Leopards geckos can see red.

If the tank gets down no lower than ~68 F at night that will be fine.

3. What are your air temps using only the UTH? Maybe the overhead is overkill in southern Arizona?

To regulate the temps to make your leo more comfortable and for peace of mind I would invest in a thermostat. Hydrofarm MTPRTC thermostats have a small metal probe and a digital readout. They are available via Amazon for about ~$35.

Plug the UTH into the thermostat and the thermostat into the wall outlet. Set the thermostat to 90-91 F. Then you're set. NO temp spikes. Many GU members have Hydrofarms; mine works fine. Just tape the probe of the thermostat to the probe of a digital thermometer to verify. I leave mine set up that way all the time with both probes underneath the warm dry hide.

Add a small dome fixture overhead to create somewhat of a photoperiod. For me that works better + daylight from a window. What you need is a 5.5 inch diameter Flukers' dome, 15 watt incandescent dimmed to half power with a Lutron dimmer/rheostat, and a timer. I just have that bulb timed to go on for about 10 hours during the day. I have a tall silk palm tree in the center of my leo's vivarium which further shades the photoperiod dome. My leo is more active since I added this last November.

 

[Ignitius]

Are you guys are using UTHs only OR UTHs with overhead heating OR only overhead heating OR UTHs, overhead, and the dim photoperiod bulb?

Ignitius
PastianiJ
Conched
Superleo98
Kroda13

Sorry for the delayed response! I haven't kept track!

I use both UTH and an overhead light/heat source on a dimmer.

At night my apartment gets to about 66 degrees F, but I don't check to see what the tanks get to. I have a CHE on for both tanks for when it gets that low (I turn it down to that just before sleeping).

 

[conan]

Why so much hate Conched?

 

[conan]

Why so much hate Conched?

 

[Cyd]

You're welcome, Cyd.

Do you have a 20 gallon LONG: 30 x 12 x 12? What size is your heat mat in relation to the tank's base? About 1/3 the length and as close to the width as possible?

1. If the tank is in any place where the sun might overheat it, please move it. Direct sun can cause deadly overheating.

2. If the above is what you have, then maybe ONLY the UTH on during the day will be fine. Measure the temperature with a digital thermometer with probe directly on the ground under the warm DRY hide. You want the temps listed above, especially the warm end temps. Leopards geckos can see red.

If the tank gets down no lower than ~68 F at night that will be fine.

3. What are your air temps using only the UTH? Maybe the overhead is overkill in southern Arizona?

To regulate the temps to make your leo more comfortable and for peace of mind I would invest in a thermostat. Hydrofarm MTPRTC thermostats have a small metal probe and a digital readout. They are available via Amazon for about ~$35.

Plug the UTH into the thermostat and the thermostat into the wall outlet. Set the thermostat to 90-91 F. Then you're set. NO temp spikes. Many GU members have Hydrofarms; mine works fine. Just tape the probe of the thermostat to the probe of a digital thermometer to verify. I leave mine set up that way all the time with both probes underneath the warm dry hide.

Add a small dome fixture overhead to create somewhat of a photoperiod. For me that works better + daylight from a window. What you need is a 5.5 inch diameter Flukers' dome, 15 watt incandescent dimmed to half power with a Lutron dimmer/rheostat, and a timer. I just have that bulb timed to go on for about 10 hours during the day. I have a tall silk palm tree in the center of my leo's vivarium which further shades the photoperiod dome. My leo is more active since I added this last November.

It's a 20 gallon long. The UTH is small, only takes up one corner of the tank. Overnight temps with just the UTH are 84* on the warm side, and mid 70' on the cool side.

I haven't changed anything, still switching between the lights, but she seems to be over whatever was bothering her. She's back to running and climbing around her tank and divides her time between both sides. No clue what was up with her the last week or so.

 

[tom_P_is_a_G]

hi, as most people have said on this thread Leo's will spend a lot of time in their moist hide, mine being no exception its all down to the Leo's personal preference at the end of the day, but the main reason is probably because where they are not know for using their water bowl the moist hide will act as their way to keep their skin nice and healthy at the same time not getting drenched. also the moist hide will help your Leo with shedding.