Leopard Geckos laying on thermostat probe???

[Gossamer]

Hello, everyone.

So, I've noticed something interesting. I recently purchased flukers heat mats (11x11 inch ones for 20 gallon tanks) and new thermostats (Vivosuns, since I couldn't get hydrofarms) after my zoo med heat mats peeled away from the tanks and failed, somehow killing themselves and the thermostats in the process. No one (geckos especially) was harmed during this, but both my geckos were without heat and at room temp (~75 degrees) for several hours as a result (I was at work, unfortunately). I ran into town and got the new heat mats and thermostats at a small reptile shop once I got home and saw what happened. I'm so glad it stocks thermostats and a nice variety of heat mats!

After reinstalling everything, I noticed that my geckos had taken to laying on the thermostat's probe, making the heat mats heat up until they reached their shut off points (92 degrees) and then my geckos leave the warm hide to go to the cool one. I've noticed that since this change, both geckos have been in their cool hides more frequently (Lore, my female, especially) and haven't been using their warm hides as often. I set their tanks back up EXACTLY the same way they had been before, in hopes of minimizing stress/confusion. I think I failed on that front, as neither of them have eaten more than 1 mealworm or defecated these past two days (since the cooling incident). The temps in their warm hides are holding steady at around 92-95 degrees (as they've always been), so I'm not worried about overheating. Their cool hides are at room temp; ~75 degrees.

Should I let them continue on like this? I've read on other forums that this is considered ideal, since the heat mat kicks on to warm the gecko (or other reptile) up until they're satisfied and leave. Or could I have possibly triggered brumation with them exposed to lower temps for several hours?

Any and all thoughts are greatly appreciated! Also, in case anyone wants info on my geckos:

Lore: Female, 47g, ~7.5 inches long, age unknown

Lavi: Male, 31g, ~6.5 inches long, age unknown

 

[Gossamer]

Ok, update:

Lore (the female) went into her warm hide last night and stayed there, took a very large poop, and returned to her cool hide. It looks like she ate one of the 10 mealworms I offered her. Lavi (the male) ate 5 mealworms of the 10 I offered him and is back to using his humid and warm hides equally (as normal)... still waiting on him to poo.

The absolute hottest it gets in Lore's tank is 95 degrees in one very localized spot, with the floor of her warm hide usually in the 90-93 range.

Please, any thoughts?

 

[JessJohnson87]

Mine has gotten into a kick of sleeping in his warm hide all the time. I wouldn't worry about it, sometimes they will sleep in the warm hide long enough to digest and go poo, then return to the cooler one. They know when they need to warm up and when to cool down.

 

[Yoshi'smom]

It sounds to me like normal thermoregulation. My leo will change where he sleeps or hangs out according to his wants. I'd say as long as your kids are still eating (at least during the summer months), pooing normally and not loosing any weight you should be fine. Your temps seem ok to me.

 

[Gossamer]

Thanks guys, that makes me feel a bit better.

Lore just at 20 mealworms for me, and is now snoozing in her warm hide. It just scared me to see the piglet suddenly not eat and be in her cool hide for two days. At first I thought she had some sort of internal burns or something! But it seems like she's getting back to normal. I'll just keep leaving her alone for a bit until she settles down. I'm pretty sure my panicking about the heat pads failing initially must have gotten her freaked out as well.

 

[JessJohnson87]

The heating pad failing probably freaked her out to! When my Zoo Med one failed and I was sending it back for the return and ordering the new one, Ziggy was not one bit thrilled about losing that heat, the black light did it's job but he was still not happy. Oh and my house heater quit working when it got into the 40's at night so I really did feel bad.

 

[Gossamer]

Yikes, I'd be mad too! Everything is back to normal. Both of the little twerps are snoozing in their warm hides right now, and I know Lore has eaten all 20 of her worms (15 mealies and 5 phoenix). Lavi will more than likely eat all of his too, but he doesn't hunt until the wee hours of the morn.

Thanks again, dears!

 

[GeckoGuy2142]

My Leopard Cheyene lays almost exclusively on her hot side of the tank, except for a few hours in the early morning when she switches to the cool side. She rarely stays in the cool side for long, though.

My other Leopard Jade moves around a lot more frequently. She lays on top of her hot hide, in the hot hide, moist hide, and most frequently- right in the middle.

 

[muffin_song]

Not to totally hijack this thread, but on the topic of thermoregulation...

The weather has gotten down into the 40s to 50s here, and I've been trying to find the right balance between making sure the apartment stays warm enough for Scooter and not having a crazy electric bill. Yesterday before going to work I turned the thermostat down to about 65, assuming that Scooter would just move to the warm side if she got too cold - she typically sleeps on the cold side during the day.

When I came home that evening, the temperature was down to about 65, and Scooter was still in her cold hide. I got freaked out and broke my usual rule of not lifting away her hides while she's in them. I picked her up and put her on the warm side. She was a little lethargic, but crawled into her warm hide. Several hours later I fed her, and she ate normally.

Scooter has been less active than usual, but still eating and pooping. I've chalked up her lowered activity to the weather, and will continue to monitor.

Anyway, I made sure to set up the CHE this morning so that even on the cold side the temperature will be at least 70, but it really freaked me out that she didn't move hides on her own. Can leos get so cold that they lose the ability to even get up and move?

 

[Gossamer]

[MENTION=56047]muffin_song[/MENTION]

I'm not too sure about that, dear.

Have you considered getting a Ceramic Heat Emitter (CHE) or a small space heater for the room? That would be my best guess at what you should do to keep her tank/room warm. I'm no expert by any means, but you could always do a little research and see if either of those options would work for you!

 

[muffin_song]

[MENTION=56047]muffin_song[/MENTION]

I'm not too sure about that, dear.

Have you considered getting a Ceramic Heat Emitter (CHE) or a small space heater for the room? That would be my best guess at what you should do to keep her tank/room warm. I'm no expert by any means, but you could always do a little research and see if either of those options would work for you!

Oh, I have a CHE (which I hadn't plugged in that day D: ), and if necessary I'll just eat the higher electric bill. I was just surprised that Scooter didn't move on her own when it got cold!!!

 

[JessJohnson87]

I think when they get that cold, they can't move on their own. I've never had any personally that got that cold but I used to watch the green Anole's in the winter and when it was freezing, they barely moved.

 

[Gossamer]

[MENTION=56287]JessJohnson87[/MENTION]

I can vouch for that. But nothing is funnier than getting an email from your cousin down in south Florida with a video attached titled: "Iguanas attack man that tried to rescue them".

It was a news clip a couple years back. Some guy down in Miami saw all the iguanas lazing about and falling out of trees, so (God bless his soul) he picked up as many as he could find and put them all in his car to take them to a herpetarium. What he FORGOT was that his car was a heck of a lot warmer than their surroundings. Imagine 20 or so fully grown wild iguanas in a subcompact car suddenly active... yeah. It was quite a talking point for a while. I have to give the guy credit though, his heart was in the right place. I can't say the same for his head...