Does your gecko react with water?

Allee Toler

Allee Toler

Member
When I spray water in her tank to balance out the humidity every other day-ish, she stands on her tippy toes and wiggles while she pushes her face into the mist. If I do it on the opposite side as her, she runs to it and does the same thing. It's quite comical.

I was just wondering if it means she likes it or hates it? Haha. I don't know if it's normal for them to do that.
 
R

rglove

New member
I never spray water. Leopard geckos don't need high levels of humidity. You shouldn't spray water.
 
A

acpart

Well-known member
I don't spray my geckos either, but I think the humidity issue is more complicated. It's true that they are desert creatures, but I'm not sure about the level of humidity in the crevices they hide in most of the time. The easieist thing to do is to give them their humid hide as a more humid microclimate. I agree that daily cage misting and high humidity throughout the enclosure is not adviseable, but occasional misting, especially if the gecko seems to enjoy it doesn't seem to be a problem.

ALiza
 
Allee Toler

Allee Toler

Member
The humidity in the cage is usually around 5-10. We've had really bad dry spells here lately. I spray to bring the humidity up to 40. If it's there on it's own, I don't spray. I've gone weeks without spraying before. Lately it's been every night based on what I'm reading on the hydrometer.

I find it necessary to spray her tank to maintain the humidity levels. She's terrified of her humid hide. She'll walk by, at a far distance, and and stare at it, When she starts to shed and we put her in there, she wigs and has some spasm attack. I've tried peat moss, coconut fiber, wet paper towels, etc. She doesn't like it. It's still there, in case she miraculously decides to go in it.

And thank you SHAWN for answering my question. =] I take it she likes it and it's normal to stand all funny and wiggle. Lol.
 
ColdBlooded

ColdBlooded

New member
I only have one gecko that seems to like it. Dagda will look straight up, stretch his neck out, and close his eyes while licking his lips. When he's done he'll wander back into his hide. The others will squeal and run away or arch up defensively and wave their tail before darting to the nearest hide.

Back arching and standing up tall is often interpreted as a defensive or startled reaction but if she seems to be enjoying it I don't see a problem with doing it.
 
Allee Toler

Allee Toler

Member
Yeah she stands tall and wiggle her back, not her tail, but looks to it, and closes her eyes too. When she's done with it she'll just walk away like nothing happened. It's cute. =]
 
Dendro_Dave

Dendro_Dave

New member
As i understand it Leos come out at night and when the humidity is higher and temps cooler in the wild. I wouldnt be suprised if many people are keeping their animals to dry. Your likely to find night time humidy levels in the desert to be in the 50-70% range often, especially in crevices and what not. They arent the desert geckos that run around on 100 degree sand or rocks. I'd say occasional misting is a good idea, especially during a shed period.
 
Allee Toler

Allee Toler

Member
That's why they have a moist hide, and it's recommended to lower the temps a few degrees at night.

It doesn't bother me if I over mist once or twice a month. It DOES rain in the desert every now and then. I have a red light, so it evaporated in about 10 minutes anyways. She likes to splash around in the water.

Anyways, threads done. My question was answered. Thanks. =] Time for new question threads.
 
G

Gecko Newbie

New member
One last comment? :)

Hey Allee,

I know you said the thread was done, but I just wanted to share that Lola seems to like it, too. She doesn't wiggle or go to it, but she closes her eyes and licks her nose... :) She also stands in her water dish A LOT (even if it's full up to her belly).

I have my kids mist her humid hide 4 squirts every day and they give Tony's log 4 squirts every day.... It doesn't seem to change the humidity at all, and it gives them an extra job (cause everyone at the table has to have a job!).
 
Allee Toler

Allee Toler

Member
Lol. It's cool. I only said it was done because of negativity. I'm not a fan of it.


As another job for the kids, ever think about having them record the temps? When we had a snake in my fourth grade class, we had to 1) clean the poo, 2) change the water, 3) mist the tank and 4) record the temps.

Plus it doesn't hurt to know what temp it is all day. =]
 
Kichi

Kichi

New member
I usually only spray whenever my girl is getting close to shedding. Otherwise I try not to spray, as we have really high humidity levels here.

Although Cleo seems to be more interested in bowls of water lately. I catch her staring at her bowl all the time. Kind of like a: "What is it? Should I play in it?" ITs really cute. So I guess its kind of normal to have a leo play in water after a while.

Or we just happen to have the weirdo geckos...lol
 
Allee Toler

Allee Toler

Member
Oh, I know I have a weirdo gecko. She'd quite odd. Lol. I think she thinks shes a cat. If I put her on the floor, she runs straight for the dining room where the cat is eating and she'll try to climb up the cat food bowl. Lol.
 
G

Gecko Newbie

New member
Our Jobs

The 4 jobs my kids have are 1) scooper 2)sprayer 3) water bowl dumper/cleaner/filler and 4) feeder. They do this every other day. :) Keeping the temp would be a good one, but they're just learning how to tell time, so I think reading the thermometer might confuse them with reading a clock. :) They don't learn temperature for a few more years.

Thanks for the suggestion, though! :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top