New Gecko

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MissCookie

New member
Hey everyone , this is my first Reptile . I got her from a breeder that did not tell me much about her. So Im assuming that its a girl right now, she was born on easter so I know that she is too young to sex. Oh yes , and I call her cookie.

I got her tank from a reptile shop , and they suggested that I use sand , so 2 days after i brought her home i noticed that her stomach was a little black , so I took the sand out and im currently using paper towel. And her stomach is back to normal . But her poop is getting more and more runny , but she is very regular, everyday. More details about her tank , its just a 10gal ,hot side is between 82-90 cool side is usually 76. I have 2 hides a log on the cool side and a wet hide on the hot side. She is only eating mealworms right now and they are always avlb for her whenever she wants them. Ill take some pictures of her sometime soon and im sure that you guys can tell me what she is.

I know that you are not supposed to handle them too much. Is there a good age/size that I should be ok with handling her ? She is very jumpy still and I dont take her out of her cage when I do hold her because she has jumped off my hand befor.
 
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hyposhawn

Newbie
Some people on here handle theit Leos every day. I do. Others say that reptiles don't like to be handled but some handle a lot.
 
Holly12

Holly12

Member
Yeah I hold my leos and when they are that young they will be jumpy when she gets use to your sent and thats she knows you are not thier to hurt her then she will start to settle down for you give her time she will come around for ya. :)
 
cat_named_noodles

cat_named_noodles

New member
Good job taking the sand out- most pet stores have hardly a clue on herp care in my experience- one store was even selling Russian tortoises as leopard tortoises! Anyway, I would move Cookie's moist hide to the middle of the tank and add another dry hide to the warm side myself.
Her poo is runny? Could be stress, could be parasites. Might be a good idea to take her to a vet just for a general check-up and parasite screen (take in a fresh poo). Just a suggestion, and wouldn't hurt either.
I would not handle her for at least a week or two unless absolutely necessary- let her settle in for a while. Try adding crickets or roaches to her diet as well. The more varied their food the better. Always gutload the feeders and dust with a calcium supplement at least 3x week and a multivitamin at least 1x a week. You also want to put a small dish of calcium in her tank. Leos will lick the calcium when they need it for bone growth and other bodily functions.
Take a pic of her and show us all! We love pics ;)
And congrats on your new baby!
 
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hyposhawn

Newbie
Another thing to do from stop her from avoiding stress (if she is) is to make sure everythings right. Make sure the temps are good with a 95-97 warm side, a 85-90 middle and a 77-80 cool side. Temperature is the most common stress along with parasites and just getting your new leopard gecko. Like Cat named noodles said don't handle for a week or 2 and try different foods with nutritios value and see which kind your Leopard Gecko likes the best. Personally I love mealworms that i sometimes sprinkle with calcium to get the nutrition higher but crickets are better and less fattening. Phoenix worms are also good but many Leopard geckos will not eat them. Keep us updated on what happens and if theirs anymore problems post them and i'll be happy to answer them. Hope your leo overcomes the stress.
 
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rglove

New member
Where do you have proofs? My leo see the red light. There isn't proofs. It's not proven.
If I put a camera flash red light to my leo he looks where the light is and he can't sleep at night, yes because they sleep at night too.
 
Holly12

Holly12

Member
My leos have a red bulb 24 hours and they are doing great with it they can not see the red bulb its the daylight bulb they can see that is what will cause them the stress.
 
B

Babb

New member
Red Spectum.

I dont know much about leos, but reptiles like many other animals including cats can see flashes of light of any kind. Also, they can see the lighter spectrum of red and NO blue spectum. This is due to the shape of their eyes and pupils.
 
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MissCookie

New member
Thanks everyone! I went and got a new bulb to get the temps up so they are sticking to about 95 on the hot side now . I know everyones opinion is diff. but im wondering if leaving the light on at night is bad for her ? And no im not using red light. I just have my heating lamp and heating pad on the warm side. But I was under the impression that red lights dont bother them at all.

I have had her for about a 3 weeks now, and I WANT to try to hold her everyday so she can get used to me, but I dont want to stress her out too much so I have been holding her about every couple days for a few minutes. I went and get her some crickets as well , so she'll be able to try those later today after I finish gut loading them. Did anyone have problems with their gecko eating crickets ? I jsut dont wanna put a few in there and her not eat them and then I have to catch them! And I did forget to mention that I keep a little bottle cap full of calcium in her tank. And im not really sure if there is enough room in her tank for another hide, haha but I will keep that in mind , I plan on getting her a buddy when she gets big enough, so she will be getting a bigger tank.

And I will def. call up a exotic vet today and at least get her checked out for parasites. I got some sweet pictures of her last night in mid-shed . So ill post some up when I get off work today! Again , thanks for all the replys. Im so used to car forums where everyone is a total A$$ to you when your a "newb" :)
 
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rglove

New member
I will only give an advice:
You don't need any tipe of light. Leos are nocturnal, they see better in the dark and they can't see so much on the light. That lights are to see the animal, but you can use that only when you want to see where is your gecko. My leo like very much the red light, she is more active with the light, but he, now, isn't eating on the night, she eats on the morning, because she thinks that the morning is night (is the only explanation that I found). That's because she can see the red light and my room doesn't have much light and the day for she is night and, when I turn on the light she thinks that is morning.

Now I don't use that light and she is starting to eat at night, but sometimes only eat at morning.
 
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MissCookie

New member
Well I have to use some sort of light , to keep the temps up . Thats why I use a heating lamp. I usually only have it on during the day , and then when i go to bed i turn it off.
 
ColdBlooded

ColdBlooded

New member
Are you measuring the temperatures on the floor with a digital thermometer with a probe? Analog thermometers are notoriously inaccurate and if you're measuring the air temperature that isn't giving you the proper reading for the important belly heat (though ambient air temperature is important as well.) A UTH should be enough to heat the tank if it is working right.
 
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