Leopard Gecko Bowser: ceramic heat emitter, night viewing bulb, setup ?s, & all

[cricket4u]

Post #137 You asked if it was normal for him to spend so much time in his humid hide remember?

Even if the humidity hide is in the warm side, his body temp will be lower while he is wet. Sometimes if the warm dry hide is too hot, they will try to spend time there, but will end up moving in the humid hide in an attempt to remain in the warm side. This is just a possibility. It sounds like you have very little time to observe and so it will be difficult for you to know if he is spending enough time in the dry hide.

 

[cricket4u]

Aha :idea: I remember you stated a few days ago that you needed to buy a thermostat. The temperatures fluctuate and so 94 can easily become 96. Once it gets too hot he must move. This is why a thermostat is so important. I know you did say you were buying this weekend I believe.

 

[Bowser]

His floor temps are a solid 94 degrees on the warm side cork tiles (which lie under both warm hides). Off the cork, the Kraft paper read about 98 right on the UTH.

The cork bark is on the paper, its not 98 floor temps its 94.

Correct. The UTH I have is apparently pretty strong. But i like the cork a lot because it allows me to add more cork if it is too hot. His bathroom is already decided and hes been consistent. There is no cork on that side of the cage, and there is paper towel inside the hide where he goes to the bathroom. I change it every other day and everything stays clean.

 

[panthergecko]

The surface of the glass fir my Leos. Terrarium was 100F.
But the surface temp was 92 with the layers of paper towel.

 

[bud1988]

Correct. The UTH I have is apparently pretty strong. But i like the cork a lot because it allows me to add more cork if it is too hot. His bathroom is already decided and hes been consistent. There is no cork on that side of the cage, and there is paper towel inside the hide where he goes to the bathroom. I change it every other day and everything stays clean.

Strange how they pick a bathroom spot, weird that bowser chose his cool hide tho lol. Mine chose one of the "fake" cactus's base. Can just pick it up and clean it off

 

[cricket4u]

His floor temps are a solid 94 degrees on the warm side cork tiles (which lie under both warm hides). Off the cork, the Kraft paper read about 98 right on the UTH.

The cork bark is on the paper, its not 98 floor temps its 94.

Did you sign in with the wrong username? I thought I was asking Bowser.;-) Not the first time you have answered other(so called) poster's questions. Sneaky Edwin Alright!

 

[Bowser]

Why always in the moist hide???

Hi guys, I'm still trying to figure out why Bowser is ALWAYS in his moist hide? The last day and a half, he's been in there constantly. What could be the reason? I fixed the humidity issue with my cage...it was always at about 20%, but the other day I covered 3/4 of the screen top with a wet/damp wash towel. That boosted the humidity up to a steady 42%.

Also, he hasn't been out much in general. Last week and even a few days ago he was always coming and going and I got to see him often. Now, it seems he regressing. I've been feeding him crickets and he's been doing well, but I just don;t know why for some reason he is always in his moist hide. I last fed him Monday evening 5 crickets dusted with Herpivite with D3. His ground temp. is now better at 92 degrees after some added substrate. So I don't know what to think. I'm doing all I can to make him happy, and he doesn't seem sick or anything, but it just seems he isn't happy or something. I even bought him a new hammock!!! He loves to climb...I even had to take out the foam background I had because on Sunday he was nowhere to be found! I though he escaped, but then found him wedged between the BACK of the background and the glass! Standing on his back legs, plastered against the glass! I didn't know if he was stuck, or if he knew what he was doing, or how he even got back there! I think he crawled under the background form that cutout that exo-terra has in their backgrounds...for cords and things. That's the only way he could have done that. So I bought him a hammock and on Monday I finally saw him come out and saw him up in his hammock already! That was the first I saw of him all of Monday (I didn't have work) and that was also the last time I saw him (after feeding him the crickets that is). I don't know what to think :sad:

 

[panthergecko]

maybe his hides get too much light and the humid hide has no light.

My gecko always spending time in humid hide. After moving warm hide he went in because less light was hitting it.

Maybe light could be a factor.

 

[cricket4u]

maybe his hides get too much light and the humid hide has no light.

My gecko always spending time in humid hide. After moving warm hide he went in because less light was hitting it.

Maybe light could be a factor.

Now it's the light? Then it's the crickets instead of roaches or maybe because he needs to use Repashy:scratchhead:

 

[panthergecko]

Now it's the light? Then it's the crickets instead of roaches or maybe because he needs to use Repashy:scratchhead:

I should explain the light thing.
With MY gecko the light from the window hits the tank and if I(THATS ME PANTHERGECKO) don't move my leos warm side hide to an angle where little light gets in she will be in their less time.- That could or couldn't be the issue, just something that worked with me.

I like roaches over crickets, but use crickets since I don't have as much dubia to feed off to 3 geckos. They are in my opinion better,

Repashy is a product I USE because I have heard nothing but good opinions about it in reviews.

 

[SORROW89]

Hi guys, I'm still trying to figure out why Bowser is ALWAYS in his moist hide? The last day and a half, he's been in there constantly. What could be the reason? I fixed the humidity issue with my cage...it was always at about 20%, but the other day I covered 3/4 of the screen top with a wet/damp wash towel. That boosted the humidity up to a steady 42%.

Also, he hasn't been out much in general. Last week and even a few days ago he was always coming and going and I got to see him often. Now, it seems he regressing. I've been feeding him crickets and he's been doing well, but I just don;t know why for some reason he is always in his moist hide. I last fed him Monday evening 5 crickets dusted with Herpivite with D3. His ground temp. is now better at 92 degrees after some added substrate. So I don't know what to think. I'm doing all I can to make him happy, and he doesn't seem sick or anything, but it just seems he isn't happy or something. I even bought him a new hammock!!! He loves to climb...I even had to take out the foam background I had because on Sunday he was nowhere to be found! I though he escaped, but then found him wedged between the BACK of the background and the glass! Standing on his back legs, plastered against the glass! I didn't know if he was stuck, or if he knew what he was doing, or how he even got back there! I think he crawled under the background form that cutout that exo-terra has in their backgrounds...for cords and things. That's the only way he could have done that. So I bought him a hammock and on Monday I finally saw him come out and saw him up in his hammock already! That was the first I saw of him all of Monday (I didn't have work) and that was also the last time I saw him (after feeding him the crickets that is). I don't know what to think :sad:

They come out late when your sleeping. I catch my gecko looking around like at 5am when I get up to go to work. You have to stay up late to watch them.

 

[Bowser]

Ok, so Bowser has been coming out lately! I guess those two days he just needed his time alone! I've gotten to pet him finally, although he didn't seem to like it, or he was just unsure. But he isn't running away anymore, and he's eating a lot. He eats about 7-8 crickets a night. LOVE TO WATCH HIM HUNT!!

Anyone have any tips on how to get them to get used to handling? I gave him his space and its been 16 days since getting him...should i try hand feeding? I really want him to get used to being touched and ir picked up. I know some geckos don't like it, but i gotta give it a shot.

 

[cricket4u]

Ok, so Bowser has been coming out lately! I guess those two days he just needed his time alone! I've gotten to pet him finally, although he didn't seem to like it, or he was just unsure. But he isn't running away anymore, and he's eating a lot. He eats about 7-8 crickets a night. LOVE TO WATCH HIM HUNT!!

Anyone have any tips on how to get them to get used to handling? I gave him his space and its been 16 days since getting him...should i try hand feeding? I really want him to get used to being touched and ir picked up. I know some geckos don't like it, but i gotta give it a shot.

Personally I do not hand feed. Hand feeding means they will associate you with food. Everytime you stick your hand in the enclosure, they will expect food. Some will strike at your fingers, others will walk to your hand and flick their tongue (like what happened to my food). Grab a chair, open one of the glass doors, lay your hand on the ground palm up. Watch his reaction. If he runs and hides, I suggest you give him more time.

 

[panthergecko]

Hand feeding is not the way to go to get them handleable, they'll associate you with food half the time.

Start by putting you hand in his cage for 10 minutes, letting him smell you and lick you.
Do that for about 1 week or so

Then for 1 week pick him up and see his response.

Generally they don't like getting petted.

 

[Bowser]

Hi guys!! Long time no post!

Hope everyone on the east coast is doing well and getting their power back! I live in central NJ and Sandy did quite a number on us. Everywhere is a mess. They are rationing gas here like they did in the 70's with the odd/even license plate #'s.

Anyway, Bowser update!

He is doing very well! I finally got that waterfall in his cage! It raised the humidity a little, but not nearly as much as I thought it would. It looks great though. I will get a pic soon. Bowser is a HUGE fan hornworms!! So right now now I am switching between them and crickets. I've been placing my hand in the cage the last couple weeks and trying to get him used to me. From what I can tell, he knows who I am, knows I am the hand that feeds (although I do NOT hand feed him) and he seems to be very curious of my comings and goings! He often comes out to the front of the cage just to check things out and see whats up lol! And it is isn't because he is just looking for food either...I thought that a couple times and went to feed him but he didn't want it! I'm going to try and start picking him up now that he is very familiar with me and knows that I am no harm to him. He is very jittery though when I touch him. Sometimes I can pet his head a few times but generally he doesn't like to be touched. I've noticed his legs shake a bit every now and then when he walks...is this normal? I thought maybe cos he was cold, but the ground temp is 90 and the air temp is 81, so I don't think that's it.

 

[Bowser]

Here are some recent pics, they were taken at night under his moon bulb so they aren't that great, but you get the idea.


This one is of his waterfall setup.


This one he over indulged on a dinner buffet of hornworms and crickets lol (he was passed out there for about an hour).


This is by far his favorite hang out spot


"hi daddy!"

 

[SORROW89]

Hi guys!! Long time no post!

Hope everyone on the east coast is doing well and getting their power back! I live in central NJ and Sandy did quite a number on us. Everywhere is a mess. They are rationing gas here like they did in the 70's with the odd/even license plate #'s.

Anyway, Bowser update!

He is doing very well! I finally got that waterfall in his cage! It raised the humidity a little, but not nearly as much as I thought it would. It looks great though. I will get a pic soon. Bowser is a HUGE fan hornworms!! So right now now I am switching between them and crickets. I've been placing my hand in the cage the last couple weeks and trying to get him used to me. From what I can tell, he knows who I am, knows I am the hand that feeds (although I do NOT hand feed him) and he seems to be very curious of my comings and goings! He often comes out to the front of the cage just to check things out and see whats up lol! And it is isn't because he is just looking for food either...I thought that a couple times and went to feed him but he didn't want it! I'm going to try and start picking him up now that he is very familiar with me and knows that I am no harm to him. He is very jittery though when I touch him. Sometimes I can pet his head a few times but generally he doesn't like to be touched. I've noticed his legs shake a bit every now and then when he walks...is this normal? I thought maybe cos he was cold, but the ground temp is 90 and the air temp is 81, so I don't think that's it.

There's a thread somewhere that has a video of a gecko shaking. Check it out to see if it's the same. My gecko don't like being touched either. They're lizards what can we expect, They don't understand who we are! lol

 

[Bowser]

There's a thread somewhere that has a video of a gecko shaking. Check it out to see if it's the same. My gecko don't like being touched either. They're lizards what can we expect, They don't understand who we are! lol

I'm not giving up...I'm gonna try picking him up everyday for a while til he gets used to it or realizes that it isn't that bad. The breeder I got him from never handles them, so it's just not something he's used to. But that isn't to say he CAN'T get used to it or like it. I'll give it some time before I give up. The good thing is that he doesn't sprint away from me in terror when I try...it's just like an annoyance really...he squirms a bit but doesn't run away.

I wish they had the capacity to understand that it's human nature to want to touch things that are cute and adorable lol!

 

[Bowser]

Success!

So I finally picked Bowser up last night for the first time! He didn't try to run or freak out either. He squirmed at first, but didn't fight me too much. I noticed though that if you try to go very slow, they end up evading you. It's best to go in from the front so they can see you, and then just scoop em up. He crawled up and down my arms, onto my shoulders, across my back, onto my neck and even tried climbing on top of my head! I was hysterical laughing cos it was so cute and his little claws were very ticklish! :lol:

I'm gonna take him out again tonight and see how reacts. Hopefully it goes just as well as last night! I was so excited and relieved!!! WooHoo!! :yahoo:

 

[cricket4u]

I'm guessing you don't have too much hair on your head. It's no fun when they try to hide in your hair and get tangled.:biggrin: