Leopard Gecko Tango: Class pet looks overweight/poor husbandry

[RadioGumdrop]

In my bio classroom, we have a leopard gecko named Tango, and he looks to be a little overweight. In the tank, I'll see a couple of uneaten mealworms and crickets while Tango is dead asleep in his house or in a corner.

He doesn't really have much to do in his tank. Sometimes there will be a branch in there, but most of the time it's just his house and a water dish. His substrate seems to be this foam-type mat. I think there's similar types to it found in a bathtub to keep you from slipping.

I don't think there are thermometers in the tank, but I will check when I have class on Tuesday. He only has one hide, and the large water dish. On Tuesday I will also get a better picture of his tank's setup, which I know is very bad for him.

My teacher doesn't take care of him, but this one other teacher does. Unfortunately, I don't have her. What could I do to help out this poor little guy and give some knowledge to the teacher taking care of him?

here's a picture of him (a rare moment of him awake!):

and here's a picture of mine for comparison (do you think he might be a little underweight? He's had some trouble keeping weight on since he had issues with impaction.)

 

[panthergecko]

your gecko is somewhat underweight but feeding everyother day should get his weight up naturally and a healthy way.

That gecko on the other hand is obese, in my opinion. Switching him to Every third day feedings would help him cut some unneeded weight.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

In my bio classroom, we have a leopard gecko named Tango, and he looks to be a little overweight. In the tank, I'll see a couple of uneaten mealworms and crickets while Tango is dead asleep in his house or in a corner.

He doesn't really have much to do in his tank. Sometimes there will be a branch in there, but most of the time it's just his house and a water dish. His substrate seems to be this foam-type mat. I think there's similar types to it found in a bathtub to keep you from slipping.

I don't think there are thermometers in the tank, but I will check when I have class on Tuesday. He only has one hide, and the large water dish. On Tuesday I will also get a better picture of his tank's setup, which I know is very bad for him.

My teacher doesn't take care of him, but this one other teacher does. Unfortunately, I don't have her. What could I do to help out this poor little guy and give some knowledge to the teacher taking care of him?

here's a picture of him (a rare moment of him awake!):

and here's a picture of mine for comparison (do you think he might be a little underweight? He's had some trouble keeping weight on since he had issues with impaction.)

Thanks for posting these pictures of Tango (class pet) and your leo. IMO leos make poor class pets because most classes are far too noisey for leos. Moreover, leos are active at dawn and at dusk (crepuscular). Our day is nighttime for leopard geckos.

More thanks for giving your thread such an excellent title !

Linked in my signature below \/ you will find many ideas for improving Tango's environment. Perhaps you could adopt Tango? You could share these guidelines with the teacher who does care for him. These guidelines have helped many a leo.

 

[RadioGumdrop]

Thanks for posting these pictures of Tango (class pet) and your leo. IMO leos make poor class pets because most classes are far too noisey for leos. Moreover, leos are active at dawn and at dusk (crepuscular). Our day is nighttime for leopard geckos.

More thanks for giving your thread such an excellent title !

Linked in my signature below \/ you will find many ideas for improving Tango's environment. Perhaps you could adopt Tango? You could share these guidelines with the teacher who does care for him. These guidelines have helped many a leo.

Thank you for a speedy response. I will print out these guidelines and hopefully I'll be able to get to that teacher before class starts. If not, I'll give them to my friend who has her.

I don't think I'll be able to adopt Tango, since I'd have to keep him separated from my leo. My house doesn't really have other space for a second, and my parents won't even let me get another.

I will let you know how everything goes with Tango after the teacher gets the care sheet.

 

[RadioGumdrop]

Quick update on Tango:

I gave the teacher the care sheet and she was very grateful for it. She told me that she's never owned a tank animal before and just didn't really know what she was doing.

She is slowly but surely transferring Tango into a new and safer enclosure and she is cutting his feeding down. I also told her I'd be willing to help out with Tango if she needs it.

 

[SamanthaLovely]

Quick update on Tango:

I gave the teacher the care sheet and she was very grateful for it. She told me that she's never owned a tank animal before and just didn't really know what she was doing.

She is slowly but surely transferring Tango into a new and safer enclosure and she is cutting his feeding down. I also told her I'd be willing to help out with Tango if she needs it.

Good for you. Good for all parties involved really.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

re Tango Update

Quick update on Tango:

I gave the teacher the care sheet and she was very grateful for it. She told me that she's never owned a tank animal before and just didn't really know what she was doing.

She is slowly but surely transferring Tango into a new and safer enclosure and she is cutting his feeding down. I also told her I'd be willing to help out with Tango if she needs it.

Excellent news, RadioGumdrop! Good to hear that the teacher was open to your advice. Very nice that you offered to help care for Tango! Everyone will benefit. :banana:

Maybe you could ask her if you could make Tango a humid hide?

 

[RadioGumdrop]

Another update on Tango!

He has been successfully transferred into a better enclosure. He is in a nice sized 20 gallon tank with a humid hide complete with moss. It's much cleaner and safer looking for him and I can tell he enjoys it much more than his old enclosure.

Tango really likes his new humid hide. Every time I go to look for him, I can only see a bit of his tail poking out of the moss. It's very cute. I'll put up some before and after pictures in a minute.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Another update on Tango!

He has been successfully transferred into a better enclosure. He is in a nice sized 20 gallon tank with a humid hide complete with moss. It's much cleaner and safer looking for him and I can tell he enjoys it much more than his old enclosure.

Tango really likes his new humid hide. Every time I go to look for him, I can only see a bit of his tail poking out of the moss. It's very cute. I'll put up some before and after pictures in a minute.

Hey ~

Thanks for posting this update . Look forward to seeing your before and after pictures. Hooray for all and especially your relocation efforts! YOU made the difference.

Check this link -- a recent leo thread -- for more ideas http://www.geckosunlimited.com/comm...lepharis/66247-post-pic-habitat-setups-2.html

 

[RadioGumdrop]

Here is what Tango's viv looked like before I helped him out

I thought i had a new pic of his new enclosure but i do not. I'll put it up tomorrow.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

RadioGumdrop ~

Looking forward to seeing Tango in his bigger tank soon .

 

[RadioGumdrop]

Here's what Tango's new tank looks like. I suggested not to use sand for a substrate due to my own personal experiences with Geico. However, the grains seem to be very fine and Tango looks much more comfortable in his new viv.

You can see him in the hide on the left.

 

[cricket4u]

Here's what Tango's new tank looks like. I suggested not to use sand for a substrate due to my own personal experiences with Geico. However, the grains seem to be very fine and Tango looks much more comfortable in his new viv.

You can see him in the hide on the left.

It's not only the type of calcium, but most importantly housing and diet conditions which can lead to many problems. If there are any flaws or health problems, any sand can cause impaction.

 

[RadioGumdrop]

Yeah, I know sand is a problem. My gecko was all skin and bones while he was going through treatments. I would hate to see this little guy go through what Geico went through. Poor Geico had to lose a testicle and I bet he doesn't feel so manly anymore.

But Tango isn't my gecko, and there really isn't much I could do about it. Maybe I could e-mail the teacher again and suggest to take the sand out.

 

[cricket4u]

Yeah, I know sand is a problem. My gecko was all skin and bones while he was going through treatments. I would hate to see this little guy go through what Geico went through. Poor Geico had to lose a testicle and I bet he doesn't feel so manly anymore.

But Tango isn't my gecko, and there really isn't much I could do about it. Maybe I could e-mail the teacher again and suggest to take the sand out.

Please do e-mail the teacher. I cannot understand why he/she would switch from carpet to sand. I don't even see a humidity hide. This set-up will lead to disaster. I highly doubt that the temperatures are correct and on a thermostat. Too small, too plain and too exposed. A stress and dehydration box. I know you can only suggest to the teacher and hope he/she listens.

 

[RadioGumdrop]

Please do e-mail the teacher. I cannot understand why he/she would switch from carpet to sand. I don't even see a humidity hide. This set-up will lead to disaster. I highly doubt that the temperatures are correct and on a thermostat. Too small, too plain and too exposed. A stress and dehydration box. I know you can only suggest to the teacher and hope he/she listens.

The humidity hide is the large hide on the right with the moss in it. I did suggest that slate tiles are one of the best substrates. I'll email her again and tell her that sand isn't the best.

Do you have any advice on what I should do to help Geico gain weight? He gets fed 5-6 mealworms one night and four large crickets the other night. He always has fresh water and his vitamins.

 

[cricket4u]

The humidity hide is the large hide on the right with the moss in it. I did suggest that slate tiles are one of the best substrates. I'll email her again and tell her that sand isn't the best.

Do you have any advice on what I should do to help Geico gain weight? He gets fed 5-6 mealworms one night and four large crickets the other night. He always has fresh water and his vitamins.

Well, I don't know how else to say this.... you refused to listen to the suggestions in the caresheet. Chances are he can eat more if he was provided with everything on the caresheet. Every single detail ranging from heat, humidity and diet plays a role in appetite.

 

[RadioGumdrop]

Well, I don't know how else to say this.... you refused to listen to the suggestions in the caresheet. Chances are he can eat more if he was provided with everything on the caresheet. Every single detail ranging from heat, humidity and diet plays a role in appetite.

Geico has a huge appetite but he only gets four or five crickets Because I read somewhere here that hw should only get as many crickets as he can eat in a half hour. Geico doesn't have the best aim so to prevent the crickets from eating poop or dying in his cage I don't give him a whole lot. He got 7 to iffy though and ate all of them.

I am going to get a 20 gallon tank an everything Geico needs this holiday season when my parents have a little more money. I'm only a high school student with no job or money so I have to rely on my parents. Since Geico has been fine for 7 years I thought he would be ok until Christmas when he gets his new tank and everything else.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Geico has a huge appetite but he only gets four or five crickets Because I read somewhere here that hw should only get as many crickets as he can eat in a half hour. Geico doesn't have the best aim so to prevent the crickets from eating poop or dying in his cage I don't give him a whole lot. He got 7 to iffy though and ate all of them.

I am going to get a 20 gallon tank an everything Geico needs this holiday season when my parents have a little more money. I'm only a high school student with no job or money so I have to rely on my parents. Since Geico has been fine for 7 years I thought he would be ok until Christmas when he gets his new tank and everything else.

RadioGumdrop ~

I'm sure you know this. Just want to make sure that Geico's new tank is a 20 gallon LONG. That will measure 30 inches x 12.5 inches x 12.5 inches.

 

[RadioGumdrop]

RadioGumdrop ~

I'm sure you know this. Just want to make sure that Geico's new tank is a 20 gallon LONG. That will measure 30 inches x 12.5 inches x 12.5 inches.

Yeah I do. When I was researching leopard geckos before I got Geico, there were a lot of books that said a 10 gallon tank is fine. Also, I was only 9 when I got Geico so I didn't know about the right tank size and calcium dishes. I also had no idea until I joined GU that he would have needed a humid hide. I'm happy I found GU because now I have the knowledge to help Geico an make him healthier.