Substrate question

[cricket4u]

The truth is scarygirl, not being physically present makes it difficult for us to help sometimes.


A few common problems I have observed and possible solutions:

1)We do not know if your thermostat and thermometers are reading/functioning properly. It will be ideal to have at least 2 digital thermometers and a temp gun in order to compare and check for accuracy. Never rely solely on a thermostat probe reading.

2)Digital thermometer reading air temps instead of ground. The ground should be checked with a temp gun and compared to a digital.

3)One tight hide is not ideal, especially when only a warm spot is provided. You want to provide a longer hide so that they can move off the heated ground (while inside of the hide) or provide several hides in a warm zone. This will allow your leo to move to another hide, but yet remain warm.

4)Do not allow the enclosure to become too dry. You will need a reliable hygrometer, not the circle pet store type.

5)Read the air temp inside the hides as well as ground. Some material can hold in too much heat making it uncomfortable for the leo.

Hope you figure out the problem.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

The temp right now is 80.6 and she slept in her warm hide last night. It goes up to 83-84 and shuts off. I think she spends more time in her moist hide.

Much appreciate your feedback about your new Hydrofarm thermostat set to shut off at 83-84 F.

The temp 80.6 now. Since I moved the probe inside the warm dry hide, it's getting an accurate reading and working as it should. The reason I'm worried about the temp being too high is because, before, I mistakenly put her UTH inside of her tank. Since it became winter, our house gets colder and she spent everyday in her warm dry hide. I'm thinking that's what caused her to regurgitate, since the guy at the exotics store I go to said that too much or too little heat can cause it.

I wonder what precise temps the guy at your exotics store did recommend.

How do your digital probe's readings compare with your thermostat's settings?

Since you now have both probes taped together inside your warm dry hide right on the ground where your leo hangs out, you should not worry about upping the thermostat's settings to on at 88 F and off at 92 F. Please try such and observe your leo. If that is too warm, she will not go inside. She will naturally retreat to a cooler space.

The GU members who have commented on this thread have all kept leopard geckos long term. We really only recommend the best for your leo. We've "been there" and are presently keeping leopard geckos.

Secure snug hides are ideal. Just need 3 hides per leo. You mention a warm DRY hide and a MOIST hide. Are both these hides on the warm end of her enclosure? How are you doing for a cool DRY hide?

How about a picture of your enclosure to help us out?

 

[cricket4u]

3)One tight hide is not ideal, especially when only a warm spot is provided. You want to provide a longer hide so that they can move off the heated ground (while inside of the hide) or provide several hides in a warm zone. This will allow your leo to move to another hide, but yet remain warm.

Let me be a little more specific. Several tight hides in a warm area, wonderful. For example, one hide on top of the heated floor and another hide without the floor heat, but in the warm zone (temps in the 80's). This will allow your leo to move and thermoregulate without the body temperature dropping from 90f to 70f constantly. I mentioned a long hide due to space limitations. As long as the hide is not high and too open, they are fine based on observation of course.

Feel fee to post a picture and fill out the questionnaire if you want us to get the big picture. The only time regurgitation is not serious is, when you first overfeed a young leo and it should only happen once. Also feeding prey too large. Hopefully you will avoid these.

 

[Scarygirl]

I really do appreciate all the help everyone is giving me and trust me, I really do want what's best for my baby, not that I'm implying that you're saying that I don't. I'm just getting a lot of different information from different people and its really confusing me. Dany is my first ever reptile, so this is definitely a new world to me

I do have a cool dry hide. I had one before I moved her into her bigger tank. I will try fixing the thermostat, but I only have the thermostat probe in the warm dry hide, not both. I didn't know that I had to have both inside, so I've been using the thermometer to read the over all tank temp.

She hasn't regurgitated since I moved her to the new tank, put the UTH under the tank, and took the calcium out of her tank, though she hasn't pooped since and I've been giving her the laxative. She's not lethargic and she has an appetite so I'm guessing she's still getting used to her new surroundings, though its been about two weeks, so I'm concerned.

Here's a picture of her tank:
View attachment 28088
Left side: cool dry hide
Right side: Log - warm dry hide and warm moist hide

Which questionnaire do I need to fill out?

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

I really do appreciate all the help everyone is giving me and trust me, I really do want what's best for my baby, not that I'm implying that you're saying that I don't. I'm just getting a lot of different information from different people and its really confusing me. Dany is my first ever reptile, so this is definitely a new world to me

I do have a cool dry hide. I had one before I moved her into her bigger tank. I will try fixing the thermostat, but I only have the thermostat probe in the warm dry hide, not both. I didn't know that I had to have both inside, so I've been using the thermometer to read the over all tank temp.

She hasn't regurgitated since I moved her to the new tank, put the UTH under the tank, and took the calcium out of her tank, though she hasn't pooped since and I've been giving her the laxative. She's not lethargic and she has an appetite so I'm guessing she's still getting used to her new surroundings, though its been about two weeks, so I'm concerned.

Here's a picture of her tank:
View attachment 28088
Left side: cool dry hide
Right side: Log - warm dry hide and warm moist hide

Which questionnaire do I need to fill out?

Your picture did not come through. :-(

Does your thermometer have a probe? If so, please tape it to the Hydrofarm's probe to verify.

Here's the questionnaire:
http://www.geckosunlimited.com/comm...68527-helping-your-sick-gecko-read-first.html

 

[Conched]

I really do appreciate all the help everyone is giving me and trust me, I really do want what's best for my baby, not that I'm implying that you're saying that I don't. I'm just getting a lot of different information from different people and its really confusing me. Dany is my first ever reptile, so this is definitely a new world to me

I do have a cool dry hide. I had one before I moved her into her bigger tank. I will try fixing the thermostat, but I only have the thermostat probe in the warm dry hide, not both. I didn't know that I had to have both inside, so I've been using the thermometer to read the over all tank temp.

She hasn't regurgitated since I moved her to the new tank, put the UTH under the tank, and took the calcium out of her tank, though she hasn't pooped since and I've been giving her the laxative. She's not lethargic and she has an appetite so I'm guessing she's still getting used to her new surroundings, though its been about two weeks, so I'm concerned.

Here's a picture of her tank:
View attachment 28088
Left side: cool dry hide
Right side: Log - warm dry hide and warm moist hide

Which questionnaire do I need to fill out?

Leopard geckos do not need laxatives to go to the bathroom. Reptiles use heat to aid in digestion.

Heat=Digestion=Poop

Your heat is still too low, crank it up to the proper temps and the digestion will resume to normal.

I know you are confused a bit, but trust me, this is not rocket science. Here is a link to a great website that goes into great detail about Leopard Gecko husbandry. http://sleepydeegeckos.webs.com/index.html

If you like this site and want a few more just let me know.

 

[Scarygirl]

Leopard geckos do not need laxatives to go to the bathroom. Reptiles use heat to aid in digestion.

Heat=Digestion=Poop

Your heat is still too low, crank it up to the proper temps and the digestion will resume to normal.

I know you are confused a bit, but trust me, this is not rocket science. Here is a link to a great website that goes into great detail about Leopard Gecko husbandry. SleepyDee Gecko's - Leopard Geckos, African Fat-Tailed Geckos, Geckonia chazaliae, Tarentola chazalia, Underwoodisaurus milii, Nephrurus milii, Teratolepis fasciata, Hemidactylus imbricatus, Lepidactylus lugubris, Nephrurus levis levis, care, health

If you like this site and want a few more just let me know.

That's what the vet gave me :/ I'm soaking her in warm water right now. It's been a while since I've soaked her since she was getting ready to shed and I didn't want to stress her out. I'll turn up her heat.

I've actual been on that site before! I have the health sheet saved

 

[Scarygirl]

Your picture did not come through. :-(

Does your thermometer have a probe? If so, please tape it to the Hydrofarm's probe to verify.

Here's the questionnaire:
http://www.geckosunlimited.com/comm...68527-helping-your-sick-gecko-read-first.html

Hopefully it came through this time. So, do I tape the thermometer probe on the thermostats' probe, on the other side of the hide, or next the the thermostats' probe?

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

View attachment 28108

Hopefully it came through this time. So, do I tape the thermometer probe on the thermostats' probe, on the other side of the hide, or next the the thermostats' probe?

:yahoo: on the picture! How long is your 20 gallon? How tall is it? A 30 inch LONG tank is important in order to establish a cool end and a warm end so that your leo can choose what is more comfortable at any given moment. A tank 12 inches tall is easy to heat.

I love your Zoo Med 3-in-1 moist cave! Did you get some moss to dampen and place in the lower bowl section?

do I tape the thermometer probe on(to) the thermostats' probe

Answer: YES!

About the probe temperatures:
1. Take both probes side by side touching each other
2. Tape them together
3. Place these taped together probes right on the bottom of the cage, on top of the paper towels and your heat mat, and underneath the warm DRY hide
4. Compare the readings
5. Tell me what both probes read

By the way, is there someone at home who can maybe help you with my posts? I am trying my very best, but don't feel I am being clear enough.

 

[Scarygirl]

He said it was the long 20 gal, so I think it's 30 inches. She definitely has enough space and she explored the entire tank when she first got in

I have sphagnum moss and my girl LOVES the hide, so I love it too, lol.

Ah! I gotcha! And yes, but they come home later in the evening. And since my classes have started up again, there will be times when I'm unable to answer for a time, either I'm not home or I just got home and I'm exhausted. Just so you know.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

He said it was the long 20 gal, so I think it's 30 inches. She definitely has enough space and she explored the entire tank when she first got in

I have sphagnum moss and my girl LOVES the hide, so I love it too, lol.

Ah! I gotcha! And yes, but they come home later in the evening. And since my classes have started up again, there will be times when I'm unable to answer for a time, either I'm not home or I just got home and I'm exhausted. Just so you know.

(check) 30 inches LONG
(check) sphagnum moss for your Zoo 3-in-1 Med Repti Shelter

That's fine, Scarygirl. Let's make sure you have the basics covered as mentioned above.

PS: How are her heat levels now?

 

[Scarygirl]

(check) 30 inches LONG
(check) sphagnum moss for your Zoo 3-in-1 Med Repti Shelter

That's fine, Scarygirl. Let's make sure you have the basics covered as mentioned above.

PS: How are her heat levels now?

Her heat levels now 92 and it's now 79.5. I'm guessing it shut off during the night. And I looked at the directions again and I still don't see how to set it to turn on at a certain temp :/

 

[Scarygirl]

We have poo! I was soaking her, gave her to my mom to watch while I heated up some more, and it happened! It was REALLY big. Poor baby was really backed up.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

We have poo! I was soaking her, gave her to my mom to watch while I heated up some more, and it happened! It was REALLY big. Poor baby was really backed up.

:yahoo: relieved at last.....

 

[Scarygirl]

:yahoo: relieved at last.....

Seriously! I think I'm more relieved than she is, lol. Seems like the soaking finally paid off. I've never been more happy to see poo in my life. I bet she feels a LOT better.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Her heat levels now 92 and it's now 79.5. I'm guessing it shut off during the night. And I looked at the directions again and I still don't see how to set it to turn on at a certain temp :/

Seriously! I think I'm more relieved than she is, lol. Seems like the soaking finally paid off. I've never been more happy to see poo in my life. I bet she feels a LOT better.

Somehow geckophiles talk about poo frequently! :razz: I'm certain your leo feels better! Is your mom relieved too? :biggrin:

Take the directions that came with your Hydrofarm thermostat.

Under "Programming the Controller" there are 5 steps that tell how to set the thermostat to turn on at 88 F and off at 92 F. Maybe your parents can find it if you can't?

 

[Scarygirl]

Somehow geckophiles talk about poo frequently! :razz: I'm certain your leo feels better! Is your mom relieved too? :biggrin:

Take the directions that came with your Hydrofarm thermostat.

Under "Programming the Controller" there are 5 steps that tell how to set the thermostat to turn on at 88 F and off at 92 F. Maybe your parents can find it if you can't?

lol! She seemed a lot perkier afterwards. Mom was the poo recipient, lol, but yes she was.

About the temp, I was reading the leo sheet that the vet gave me at our last visit and it said the temps on the warm side should be 80 to room temp.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

lol! She seemed a lot perkier afterwards. Mom was the poo recipient, lol, but yes she was.

About the temp, I was reading the leo sheet that the vet gave me at our last visit and it said the temps on the warm side should be 80 to room temp.

I will PM you.

Please believe all the experienced posters who have shared with you here regarding temperatures. I don't understand how to communicate better.

This is what Sleepy Dee says:
"An undertank heater (UTH) is a necessity with leo's as they use the heat to aid digestion and thermoregulate themselves, ideally the heat mat should cover about one third of the tank floor so to allow for a hot end (approximately 88*F-92*F/ 31*C-33*C) grading down to a cool end (approximately 75*F ~ 23*C ). A thermostat helps keep the UTH at a constant temperature and from over heating."

These are the temps you want. Otherwise your leo will fail to digest her food and serious problems will result. :-(

Can you reread all the posts in this thread to make sure you have seen everything?

 

[Saskia]

I have just read the whole thread, and I feel I must say this:
Scarygirl: By no means I am saying that you should listen to what people say on the internet over what a veterinarian says, but in this case, your vet is not right, your Leo needs higher temps than the ones you mention... all the people that have replied to this thread, including myself are experienced leo keepers and/or breeders, with several years of experience with many leos and other reptiles, and all the advice you have been given here is right, vets are not animal experts in general, they speciaize in ceirtain areas and ceirtain animals, it would be virtually impossible for them to know every husbandry detail about every species of pet animal, (for instance some vets are excellent dog surgeons, and know very little about birds... that doesn´t make them bad vets, it is just a whole different species!) , for what I have read, you have all the implements to provide top quality husbandry for your leo, you have the right tank, the right hides, the right heating devices, and heat control equipment, you just need to set up everything in the right way and I can tell you, you will have a happy happy leo!

 

[Scarygirl]

I have just read the whole thread, and I feel I must say this:
Scarygirl: By no means I am saying that you should listen to what people say on the internet over what a veterinarian says, but in this case, your vet is not right, your Leo needs higher temps than the ones you mention... all the people that have replied to this thread, including myself are experienced leo keepers and/or breeders, with several years of experience with many leos and other reptiles, and all the advice you have been given here is right, vets are not animal experts in general, they speciaize in ceirtain areas and ceirtain animals, it would be virtually impossible for them to know every husbandry detail about every species of pet animal, (for instance some vets are excellent dog surgeons, and know very little about birds... that doesn´t make them bad vets, it is just a whole different species!) , for what I have read, you have all the implements to provide top quality husbandry for your leo, you have the right tank, the right hides, the right heating devices, and heat control equipment, you just need to set up everything in the right way and I can tell you, you will have a happy happy leo!

I really do want Dany to happy and healthy. So much different information is being throw at me and its really confusing me. Also, either my UTH is malfunctioning or my thermostat and thermometer are, which is possible because they are both giving off different readings.