Anything I should change? Heating, feeding, etc.

Muffins94

New member
Just wondering if there is anything I can work on or improve on?? Thanks!
General Information
Species of lizard: Leopard Gecko
Gecko's name: Fatty
Morph: High yellow
Gender: Female
Age: Around 1yr 6 months
Weight: Unknown
Total length: Around 6-8 inches
Length of your reptile when you first acquired it: 3 inches or so (Hatchling)
Source (pet store, breeder, previous owner): Pet store: Petco :/
Captive bred or wild caught: CB

Vivarium
Enclosure dimensions (length x width x height): 30x12x18
Cage (type, size): Terrarium 20 Long
Substrate provided: Reptile carpet
Types of hiding places provided: 1 hot, 1 cool, 1 humid, 1 middle random
Is there a humidity hide? location? Yes, closer to hot side but in the middle
Please describe any other furnishings: Dessert décor kit; fake cactus, fake wood, etc
List recent changes in the environment, if any: No

Lighting
Artificial lighting
Incandescent (“screw-in” bulbs): wattage(s): Moonlight night bulb 60Watt
Fluorescent (tube bulbs):
Access to ambient daylight from a distant window: Yes

Heating
Do you have a thermometer(s) in the cage? Yes
What type and brand of thermometer (digital with probe, temperature gun, LCD strip, analog (circle), combo digital thermometer/hygrometer, stainless steel aquarim type, other): Digital with probe, Zoomed
What is the ground temperature right on the substrate under the warm dry hide: High 80s
What is the air temperature on the warm end about 4 inches up from the ground: Mid to high 70s
What is the air temperature on the cool end about 4 inches up from the ground: Low 70s
What device(s) are used to maintain the temperature (Under Tank Heater, heat light, ceramic heat emitter, Flexwatt heat tape, hot rock, other): UTH + heat light
Ventilation space for your UTH by elevating the tank above the shelf (some UTHs come with sticky feet for the tank corners): Yes, wood blocks, about 2 inches
Are you using a thermostat(s)? No
Which hide does she/he spend most of her time? Half/half hot and cool.
Is the temperature decreased at night? by how much? Depends on weather, a few degrees. Use UTH + heat lamp at night.

Humidity
Is the humidity measured? Humidity gauge
Humidity range: <30%

Diet
Insects and worms, list type: Crickets and mealworms
Regular diet fed to the insects and worms: Gutload mixture
Are the insects and worms formally “gutloaded” 1-2 days prior to feeding off to your gecko? If so with? Yes, commercial gutload mix
How often do you feed your gecko? Try every night, whether she wants to eat is up to her.
Please list any supplements (with brand names) used. How are they given and how often? Flukers calcium powder, every other feeding.
What calcium brand are you using? with D3, without or both? Flukers, WITH d3
Is the calcium in the tank with D3 or without? None
Multivitamins (include brand name)? None
Please list any recent additions/changes in the diet: Switched to mainly crickets, rather than before mainly mealworms.

General Health
If your gecko is sick, please describe the signs and how long your gecko has been showing these signs: -
Is your gecko’s general activity level normal, decreased, or increased? Normal
Is your gecko’s appetite normal, decreased, or increased? Normal
Have you noticed any of the following?
Weight (loss or gain): No
Discharge from the eyes or nose: No
Increased breathing rate or effort:N
Change in the droppings: No
Urates
---white or yellowish: White
---size of urates as compared to size of feces: Same size
Abnormal skin color or shedding: No
Parasites on the skin or in the feces: No
Weakness: No

Previous problems and/or illnesses: Goes on hunger strikes every once in awhile. Stops eating for about a week, then will eat again normally.

Other Critters in Same Cage or in Household- Cats and hamster
List other animals that are kept in the same cage: None
Recent acquisitions (new pets within the past 6 months): None
Are any of your other pets ill? No
 

cricket4u

New member
First these are the temps that you want to provide:

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. Can turn off overhead heating at night.

Buy a Thermostat for the UTH (very important)
Connect you light bulb to rheostat in order to provide some control over air temps.
Buy an extra digital thermometer with a probe to monitor air temps.

I suggest that you toss Flukers, WITH d3 in the trash and buy one with lower d3. Zoo Med will be good. Your gecko also needs a multivitamin supplement which includes Vitamin A acetate. You can use Reptivite, just make sure that one one bottle has the d3 included. It will also be best to take it very easy with the MVI's and use it a lot less than recommended.

With the temps you provided, I'm surprised she eats at all.
 

Muffins94

New member
So I need to get a thermostat, another thermometer, reptivite (with d3 or without?) and another calcium(with it without?)? Just clarifying before I buy it all. As for temps I'm just guessing on the cool side and air temps, as I only have one on the hot side.
 

cricket4u

New member
So I need to get a thermostat, another thermometer, reptivite (with d3 or without?) and another calcium(with it without?)? Just clarifying before I buy it all. As for temps I'm just guessing on the cool side and air temps, as I only have one on the hot side.

I'm sorry, I missed the (s) after the numbers so I see why she does eat now. I thought those were the exact temps. It would be best to go with the calcium that includes the d3. That way you can use the multivitamin less frequently. They are both by Zoo Med.
 

Muffins94

New member
I just ordered a thermostat online, a Zilla 1000 watt thermostat. Hopefully that will help, what temp should I set it at when I receive it?
 

cricket4u

New member
I just ordered a thermostat online, a Zilla 1000 watt thermostat. Hopefully that will help, what temp should I set it at when I receive it?

The problem with the Zilla thermostat is it does not display the temperature. The first option you deleted would have been a much better option. Too late I guess. Set the temp anywhere from 88-93. You will have to figure out what your gecko is comfortable with. For example if you set it at 93 and she avoids the hide most of the day, chances are it's too hot and you will need to reduce it.
 

Muffins94

New member
The problem with the Zilla thermostat is it does not display the temperature. The first option you deleted would have been a much better option. Too late I guess. Set the temp anywhere from 88-93. You will have to figure out what your gecko is comfortable with. For example if you set it at 93 and she avoids the hide most of the day, chances are it's too hot and you will need to reduce it.

Oh it doesn't? Shoot. Well that's what my boyfriend ordered so it'll have to work. Since it doesn't display the temp how do I set it?
 

cricket4u

New member
Just turn the knob to the desired temp. Make sure to use a digital or temp gun to check the surface temp.
 

Soccerstar123

New member
Hi there I have a general question about my leopard gecko tank, I had bought a starter kit and this was when I was very new to geckos and it did not have all the necessities that every forum has been saying my leopard geckos need, so I decided to change the tank as my geckos hadn't been eating or shedding properly, image.jpg
 
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