From Sand to Carpet

[Superleo98]

I've used sand for 2 years, with a heat lamp, a UDT, a water dish, and 1 hide, for my 2 seperate tanks (when I had only my males) Buki in a 10 gallon, Maiyer in a 15 gallon. I tong fed them, thinking I wasn't doing anything wrong with my husbandry.
But I was doing things wrong.
I would sometimes drop the superworm in front of them to entice them and sometimes they would miss, and get a mouth full of sand. I thought nothing of it. Soon, I got 2 female leopard geckos. Putting them in with my males. They got along great and still do.
I did some research on leopard gecko breeding, and came across a couple of articles saying "don't use sand! The risk is too great!" I later read articles on impaction. However, I kept telling myself that it's ok to use sand, it won't happen to me.
I worry a lot. And every night it haunted me that I used sand. I soon came across this website, and saw that 2 leopard geckos In a 10 gallon, was not recommended. I read that you needed to dust the insects, have a moist hide, and not use sand. I did all of that. I upgraded my 10 gallon to a 20 gallon, put in a moist hide, fed crickets, and dusted all of it with calcium D3. However one more thing was vital, and that was to get rid of sand....
Today at Petsmart, I saw the repti carpet..and did what felt right. I bought it and with some work got rid of the sand and put in the carpet. My leopard geckos immediately started exploring the new substrate. I realized that I was fortunate for my geckos not being impacted, and that maiyers trip to the vet could have been avoided if I had put in a moist hide sooner. Honestly, I really love the repti carpet. I am using the smooth side.
Point all together is.... Because of this site, I have provided the proper husbandry for my leopard geckos, and may have prevented expensive vet bills in the future! So I thank you! For all the people who have helped me.

 

[JIMI]

Awesome! Glad that you are enjoying the new substrate.
That's one less thing to worry about, which is always great!
I hope Maiyer is doing a lot better!

 

[Yuk]

Just be sure to follow the directions on the packaging (if any). I know you are supposed to wash them after a few weeks (a good idea is to have two pieces you can use as alternates while washing the dirty carpet in the washing machine). There is also supposed to be a flatter side that reduces the risk of teeth and toenails getting caught. It's easy to have issues with reptile carpet if you don't use it correctly. Used correctly, it is a good substrate choice. Letting it get dirty and not properly sanitizing it can lead to bacteria growth. You are also supposed to replace them after a certain number of washes. If you don't replace them, the fiber starts breaking down and becoming easier for toenails and teeth to be caught.

Just wanted to share this info with you in case you didn't know. I believe I saw this info on the Leopard Gecko Guy's website, but at the moment I am unable to find a link where I saw it.

 

[JIMI]

Just be sure to follow the directions on the packaging (if any). I know you are supposed to wash them after a few weeks (a good idea is to have two pieces you can use as alternates while washing the dirty carpet in the washing machine). There is also supposed to be a flatter side that reduces the risk of teeth and toenails getting caught. It's easy to have issues with reptile carpet if you don't use it correctly. Used correctly, it is a good substrate choice. Letting it get dirty and not properly sanitizing it can lead to bacteria growth. You are also supposed to replace them after a certain number of washes. If you don't replace them, the fiber starts breaking down and becoming easier for toenails and teeth to be caught.

Just wanted to share this info with you in case you didn't know. I believe I saw this info on the Leopard Gecko Guy's website, but at the moment I am unable to find a link where I saw it.

Exactly why I use tile my friend. :lol:

 

[Superleo98]

Yes I'm using the flatter side, and am planning on washing it every couple weeks, replacing it every 6 months. They haven't gotten a their claws stuck on it so that's good.
Maiyer had an eye infection from stuck shed a few months back. He is doing great now.

 

[Yuk]

Excellent

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Hey Superleo98 ~

:cheer: on finding GU, sharing your experiences, and upgrading your leos' home.

 

[Superleo98]

Thank you! I'm really glad I found this site, I'm so happy I gave the right husbandry for my leopard geckos. If you'll notice on the left side of the wooden vivarium, there is paper towel because I ran out of repti carpet. But oh well, still looks nice. I don't know if the change of the substrate will help Ava's eating cause she only eats one cricket a day/every other day. I've only had her for almost 3 weeks, so I understand she may be still adjusting.
I've also noticed my Leo's lay on the UDT more, now that the repti carpet is there. It may be more comftorable.

 

[Yuk]

I have definitely noticed a difference in appetite with the girls in the 20 long compared to Toothless in the 10 gallon. I don't know if it's just individual differences, but it is something I noticed. Maybe you'll see a difference too..

 

[JIMI]

Hmm I think she should have a healthier appetite by now. I hope that the change in substrate does improve her appetite. A poor appetite usually indicates that something is wrong. You tong feed her right? Since you have the reptile carpet now, maybe she'll eat more if you let her hunt for a small period of time on her own. If she isn't eating more by then there must be something that she is uncomfortable with. It could be anything. You might have to just be open to experimenting a little bit. If you have a spare enclosure you might want to put her in on her own and see if she eats more that way. She could just prefer having her own space. Just a suggestion.

 

[MistyBleil]

What size crickets are you feeding her? Crickets should be no bigger than the space between the eyes. If the crickets are to big, the risk of impaction gets higher. Yes, I did learn that lesson the hard way. At our house watching Stormfly hunt is a family bonding moment. :biggrin:

 

[Superleo98]

I tong feed my males superworms, because my females reject the superworms. Emma is eating regularly, Ava just eats a cricket a day. I don't know why. The crickets I feed them are the size between my Leo's eyes.
Also, I feed my females in a seperate container putting 2 crickets in there, and let them eat for about 10 minutes. Emma usually only takes a minute lol. I've noticed Ava only likes to eat bigger crickets than smaller ones. I have such a picky gecko! Lol.
Btw, when my dad was emptying the sand out of the 15 gallon, a huge cloud of sand formed around us! I thought that couldn't have been good for them. So I made a good choice switching to carpet

 

[hmarie186]

Sometimes putting them in a different tub to eat is stressful and can lead to poor appetite. Try feeding her in her cage where she feels more comfortable and can go straight to her warm hide to digest.

 

[JIMI]

Sometimes putting them in a different tub to eat is stressful and can lead to poor appetite. Try feeding her in her cage where she feels more comfortable and can go straight to her warm hide to digest.

Yeah I agree, I tried that once and he was way too stressed to eat. I immediately put him back in his enclosure. Superleo98, your Leo may be the same way.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Superleo98 ~

for my 2 seperate tanks (when I had only my males) Buki in a 10 gallon, Maiyer in a 15 gallon. I tong fed them, thinking I wasn't doing anything wrong with my husbandry.
But I was doing things wrong.
I would sometimes drop the superworm in front of them to entice them and sometimes they would miss, and get a mouth full of sand. I thought nothing of it. Soon, I got 2 female leopard geckos. Putting them in with my males. They got along great and still do.

Are your leos set up in pairs: one pair in the 15 gallon and the second pair now in a 20 gallon LONG--30 inches long? Have you noticed any competition between these females during eating or otherwise? Is Ava the smaller female? About how old are they all?

Perhaps you could feed Ava first by herself and then feed Emma?

 

[Superleo98]

Buki and Ava are together, Maiyer and Emma are together. I have seen no fighting or aggression. I will try putting Buki out of the vivarium and put some crickets in there and leave them in for about 20 minutes so Ava can eat. She ate 3 crickets 5 days ago in the seperate container and seemed fine.

And yes, Buki and Ava are in a 20 gallon long, Maiyer and Emma are in a 15 gallon long. Ava and Emma are 11 months, Ava is smaller than Emma. Which is why I put Emma with Maiyer because he is a super giant leopard gecko. Buki and Ava are both hypo. Maiyer and Emma are both normal. Also, Buki, Maiyer, and Emma all are eating well. Ava is active and healthy it's just the eating part.

 

[Completeleopard]

Hello,

I suspect that Ava is eating less because she is smaller than the others, this will be a continued trend I expect, she is not as dominant as then others/ confident. I'd recommend housing Ava alone for a while and see if her eating improves, but that is just my idea.

Removing them from their enclosure and letting them hunt is stressful for your Leo , some Leo's don't mind, others hate it. Maybe take out Buki, feed Ava in her tank, see if that helps?

 

[Superleo98]

I did that and she isn't the best hunter...she striked and missed. I don't throw crickets in there with both of them and let then eat. Nor do I have a food dish. I tong feed them seperately to avoid fighting over food. I added a hide into Buki and Ava's vivarium so they feel more secure.
I've noticed that Buki and Ava generally don't like to share the dry hide, so adding another dry hide will help. They always share the moist hide though. Maiyer and Emma cuddle all the time and are doing great.
Right now my main focus is trying to get Ava to eat. The pink spots on her belly seem to have gotten bigger

 

[cricket4u]

I did that and she isn't the best hunter...she striked and missed. I don't throw crickets in there with both of them and let then eat. Nor do I have a food dish. I tong feed them seperately to avoid fighting over food. I added a hide into Buki and Ava's vivarium so they feel more secure.
I've noticed that Buki and Ava generally don't like to share the dry hide, so adding another dry hide will help. They always share the moist hide though. Maiyer and Emma cuddle all the time and are doing great.
Right now my main focus is trying to get Ava to eat. The pink spots on her belly seem to have gotten bigger

Just a few reasons I recommend housing them separately.

1) Your leos will not send you a warning. You will likely just come home one day and find injured leos.

2) One may feel intimidated by the other and fail to eat more than another.

3) If one becomes ill, you will then have 2 to worry about. Two veterinarian bills, instead of one.

4) You will have to have an extra enclosure ready just in case a fight breaks out. What is the point of having an extra enclosure empty taking up space.

5) They can run into problems with thermoregulation by squeezing in the same hide.

6) You will not be able to determine whose feces belongs to who. It's impossible to watch them 24/7. It is important to monitor bowel movements for signs of problems or changes.

7) One leo may need higher temperatures than another. Yes, they have their preferences.

Leopard geckos can live as carriers of crypto and not develop any symptoms until they are under stress. This means you will end up jeopardizing the other leos life.

9) A 20 gallon is definitely not enough space for 2 leos.

10) A common accident. One leo confuses the other leo's moving tail or digits for moving insects and takes strikes at it causing injury.

 

[Yuk]

I don't know if you would be open to this, but what I do is keep a food dish in there 24/7. Mine do not fight over the food and actually rarely eat out of the dish. Normally mealworms escape and they like to hunt the escaped ones before they will look at the dish. I also feed them individually whenever I feel like it just to be sure they are both eating and have good appetites. Maybe having food in might be an option for her to eat when you aren't there. Mischief is like that. She won't eat food as readily from my hand, but I do catch her hunting very frequently. Candy doesn't hunt as much and is very receptive to a free meal handed to her. Just a thought