Tokay stick nose into substrate?

Stellarreality

New member
Any idea why a gecko would stick it's nose in the substrate? Is she maybe sliding down the log while she's asleep?

I keep her around 85-90 w/ ~90% humidity. During the night the temp drops to about 80-85 w/ 90% humidity. Humidity never drops below 77%, it stays at 90% because of the live plants and soil.

Yeah I have no idea why she would stick her nose into the soil though? Maybe she's too hot? She has seemed pretty lethargic but it's hard to tell if she's just tamed down or if she's sick. I mean if there is another person in the room and she's on my hand, she does get aggressive towards them but is pretty calm. I mean she doesn't try to run away or anything she seems pretty tame.

I noticed after she shed, she stuck to glass again but then stopped sticking within a couple days.

Can obesity cause her to have trouble holding her own weight up? It almost seems like that what it is.
 

Aimless

Super Moderator
can you post a clear picture of her, and also one of her setup? this seems like it might be pretty concerning.
 

drillman

New member
They can support their entire body weight with just 2 of their rear toes. So being overweight would not be a factor in not being able to hold on to the wall. When they are close to shedding they will have some difficulty holding on to glass. Sometimes they can have stuck shed on their toe pads which may be caused by low humidity. One of my females likes to come out during the day and sleep in the plant pots on the plant soil, but not the bottom of the enclosure. I think she likes the moisture from the potting soil. Some of the other females will go down near the bottom of the enclosure during the day. But will still be on the wall but never on the floor it self. They may be doing this because it is too hot. If they are on the floor itself then there is a problem. They may be sick and having trouble or too weak to climb. If you help them get back into their hide and you later find them on the ground there is probably a serious problem with their health. They are from the tropics but I don't think they should be kept in a dart frog like humid enclosure where it is dripping wet.
 

Stellarreality

New member
Yeah I actually took her out of her old enclosure and put her in an exo-terra tall, the 18x24x24 one.

She seems kinda weak, or lethargic. In the morning I'm finding her laying in the substrate.

I guess I really should get a fecal float done.
 

Stellarreality

New member
I've noticed my humidity has been dropping to like the 70's at night w/ a temp of 90 so she may be doing that to get cool, I have to fix my misting unit to keep it humid in there and prolly reduce the temp at night slightly...

I really wish I could post some pics, no phone atm tho.
 

Stellarreality

New member
So after reading a few posts I noticed how often bill suggested bamboo or pvc bamboo, previously I wasn't giving bamboo much thought. Also, even though I knew she was arboreal I've had everything kinda set up on inclines, or off the ground but level...So today I went out back and here in louisiana cane grows wild so I cut down like 6-7 thick stalks and stuck them in her cage after a good washing to get the waxy residue off.

Her main hide is a cork bark round that I opened up for easier access, I've noticed that she doesn't seem to grip well on it. I also have 2 other large decorations on the ground to help keep stuff elevated, and she doesn't seem to grip well on that either.

I was thinking her lack of grip was associated w/ not sticking to glass well except right after a shed, and w/ her being on the ground in the morning. The only thing is...as soon as I put the bamboo rods in I took her out of her hide and put her on the base of a bamboo rod...to my surprise she stick perfectly...

Could her nature just be a cause of poor husbandry and not sickness?

Perhaps my lack of vertical objects for her to climb has made her become lazy due to stress, and her not climbing glass may be cause by her lack of care for it? I've noticed all my animals I get from the store don't climb the glass once I get them home. I was thinking that was because they have plenty of climbing area not glass, and also because I have no backgrounds on the sides like at the pet store?

It's so confusing and she doesn't seem actually sick, and talking to the guys at petco she has been healthy since they got her as a juvie and they had her for like half a year...and I trust the reptile guys at this petco because they actually are all passionate about herps. One of the managers is actually friends w/ a breeder on here.
 
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