Round Substrate?

[foxyjax]

Hello,

A week ago I purchased a healthy adult leopard gecko from a local reptile store that I have shopped at for years. He adjusted well to his new enclosure, a tiled 20 gallon long, multiple hides, and proper temperature gradient. He has eaten crickets every day we've had him and wax worms on one occasion, however I noticed he wasn't really pooping a lot for as much as he's been eating.

The tank they had him in in the reptile store had small round yellow balls as the substrate. I don't know what bedding it is, I don't believe it's corn cob because the substrate pieces are perfectly round. Today, I noticed another small poop, but today it had some of that substrate in it.

I guess he's not completely impacted because there have been some small poops. Would he benefit from a warm soak? I don't want to cause extra stress because I've only had him for a week.

I'm planning on passing by the reptile store later today to ask about the type of bedding.

Thanks!

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Hi foxyjax ~

A warm welcome to GU where geckophiles hang out.

Please find out what substrate that is asap and get back with us.

Make sure you keep your leo well hydrated and the temperatures spot on. Gentle massaging from throat to vent might help pass any remaining problematical substrate. A warm soak could help.

 

[foxyjax]

Thanks Elizabeth!

After I visit the Reptile store I will post their response about the substrate. Your Leopard Gecko care sheet is awesome, I just read through a bunch of it.

I did try giving him a warm soak yesterday, however within 4 minutes the water was already cool. So I moistened his warm humidity box and put him in it. Do you have any suggestions as to how to keep the water warm...I though if I filled up the bath tub to the proper height for the gecko if it would maintain its warm temperature longer.

I have a photo of his last movement with the round substrate in it...I just wasn't sure if it was too graphic to post right in the thread.

 

[GeckoManiac91]

I like your setup! Do you have a probe thermometer to measure the ground temp on the warm side?

 

[Mardy]

That's a very nice, clean setup. Good for you on using the tiles and proper number of hides. Just make sure to test the floor temperature, stick on thermometers only tell you the air temperature. Proper belly heating is very important for their digestion.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Thanks Elizabeth!

After I visit the Reptile store I will post their response about the substrate. Your Leopard Gecko care sheet is awesome, I just read through a bunch of it.

I did try giving him a warm soak yesterday, however within 4 minutes the water was already cool. So I moistened his warm humidity box and put him in it. Do you have any suggestions as to how to keep the water warm...I though if I filled up the bath tub to the proper height for the gecko if it would maintain its warm temperature longer.

Any chance of using a human heating pad under a large stainless steel or ceramic mixing bowl? Once I set up a bowl with an overhead light clamped onto a wrought iron plant stand to keep the water warm for longer. I used nylon net on the top held on by a wide piece of elastic to keep the gecko contained. In this case, be sure to monitor the water temperature with a stainless steel aquarium-type thermometer.

I have a photo of his last movement with the round substrate in it...I just wasn't sure if it was too graphic to post right in the thread.

View attachment 24176

Go ahead and post the picture ;-). Consider using paper towels to facilitate cleanup in the poop corner.

 

[foxyjax]

So, the guy at the Reptile store said the substrate is millet. He said that yes, they can ingest it, however it doesn't cause impaction because of its round shape. I disagreed because I haven't seen a "good poop" yet after a week of healthy eating. He insisted that if he had an impaction, he wouldn't be eating at all. grrr...that guy annoys me. :fight:



Thanks for the set up compliments! We are about to invest in a couple probe thermometers, we've only used the analog ones for years.

I have to mention my late leo Lemmy, he lived happily in that tank for the last 8 years. We purchased him as an adult, so I never knew his exact age. He was a ghost albino.

Lemmy


Great suggestions for keeping the warm soak warm! I will try that out tomorrow morning.

Thank you everyone for your suggestions, ideas, and compliments! I feel very welcomed into GU! :cheer:

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

So, the guy at the Reptile store said the substrate is millet. He said that yes, they can ingest it, however it doesn't cause impaction because of its round shape. I disagreed because I haven't seen a "good poop" yet after a week of healthy eating. He insisted that if he had an impaction, he wouldn't be eating at all. grrr...that guy annoys me. :fight:

View attachment 24203

Oh my gosh! Did you share this photo with the guy at the reptile store?

Thanks for the set up compliments! We are about to invest in a couple probe thermometers, we've only used the analog ones for years.

I have to mention my late leo Lemmy, he lived happily in that tank for the last 8 years. We purchased him as an adult, so I never knew his exact age. He was a ghost albino.

Lemmy
View attachment 24204

Great suggestions for keeping the warm soak warm! I will try that out tomorrow morning.

:biggrin:

Thank you everyone for your suggestions, ideas, and compliments! I feel very welcomed into GU! :cheer:

Good to hear this :banana:!

BTW, how thick is your substrate? If it is too thick it could interfere with the heat transfer from the UTH. I am also concerned if you feed your leo free range, the spaces between these "tiles" will be perfect hiding places for crickets and/or mealworms.

 

[foxyjax]

Well, I got home last night and attempted a feeding. He wasn't at all interested. I handled him, he was active and his belly didn't feel hard, then I noticed this in his poop corner:


A slightly undigested mass of whatever he was eating at the reptile store.

So, this morning he had produced another millet filled poop and I'm about to give him a warm soak.

We've always managed our heat from the top using a heat lamp. With a probe thermometer, I found the tile surface is about 88F.

His staple diet consists of crickets which cannot get between the tiles at all. I don't feed any kind of mealworm because of their extra-crunchy exoskeleton; I've heard terrible stories about them harming the leo from the inside after ingestion. If I do feed waxworms, its by hand...or chopstick rather...which is only once a week, if even.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Well, I got home last night and attempted a feeding. He wasn't at all interested. I handled him, he was active and his belly didn't feel hard, then I noticed this in his poop corner:

View attachment 24205
A slightly undigested mass of whatever he was eating at the reptile store.

So, this morning he had produced another millet filled poop and I'm about to give him a warm soak.

We've always managed our heat from the top using a heat lamp. With a probe thermometer, I found the tile surface is about 88F.

His staple diet consists of crickets which cannot get between the tiles at all. I don't feed any kind of mealworm because of their extra-crunchy exoskeleton; I've heard terrible stories about them harming the leo from the inside after ingestion. If I do feed waxworms, its by hand...or chopstick rather...which is only once a week, if even.

Hope your leo continues to do a good job passing the millet.