GeckoFanboy
Member
Those are my Jello pudding dishes!!!!
Seriously!!
:shock:
Truth be told, I use them for making my Bug Burger gel and SuperHorn gel.
Getting ready for gecko
- Thread starter Keith
- Start date
Those are my Jello pudding dishes!!!!
Seriously!!
:shock:
Truth be told, I use them for making my Bug Burger gel and SuperHorn gel.
Elizabeth Freer
Well-known member
Chocolate or butterscotch? :drool:
Thanks for the advice. I have a Herpstat 2, so there’s a probe on both sides. I have heat mats under both ends and they both cycle independently. Warm side is set to 92f and cool side is set to 75f. I notice that the cool side mat has to come on to reach 75f because I have the two sides so well insulated from each other! Yoshi is always in his terra-cotta moist hide, so I used a tile saw to cut a notch for the probe wire. No matter how I arrange the furniture, he’s always in that hide.
Yoshi seems healthy so far. He’s easily sexed, so I’m assuming at least 6 months old. His weight is 32g right now.
Your little leo certainly has high tech!
Night lows into the upper 60's aren't problematic for leopard geckos.
I love automation. The more things I can get electronics to do for me, the better!
That’s impressive! If I hold Yoshi for any more than a couple seconds, he quacks at me like a duck.
Do you adjust the lighting time daily?!?! I just have the lamp set for 7-19:00 daily.
GeckoFanboy
Member
Elizabeth - Chocolate w/Cool Whip...my bugs prefer the Burger though.
:biggrin:
:biggrin:
GeckoFanboy
Member
You shouldn't have to mess with your timers daily at all. I have my timer on my 25 watt light set for 6:00am - 6:00pm. I have the window shade cracked in his room, so even after the light turns off at 6:00pm, he's still getting the fading dusk coming into his tank...for 2-3 more hours to compensate for summer light. This way I don't have to reset the timers every season. I don't touch them at all. So far, so good. He'll emerge while the light is fading, but usually to just perch somewhere and lounge. When it gets fully dark is when he really starts to become active.
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Gotcha. So my 13w UVB lamp on from 7:00-19:00 should be perfect! Thanks for the input.
I started using reptisafe treatment for the drinking water bowl.
How does this roach setup look? I have three bottle
caps that hold Flukers cricket quencher for water, Repashy bug burger for food, and Repashy superload for gut loading.
I epoxy coated and then plastidipped the inside of the warm hide. I noticed it was very lightweight and flimsy plastic that allowed light to glow through it. It’s very dark now...
A bit off topic, but Yoshi shed for the first time last night. My daughter, who can’t focus on any one thing for more than two seconds, watched the ENTIRE process! I absolutely love this gecko and the fact that she ignores her phone and computer to interact with him!
How does this roach setup look? I have three bottle
caps that hold Flukers cricket quencher for water, Repashy bug burger for food, and Repashy superload for gut loading.
I epoxy coated and then plastidipped the inside of the warm hide. I noticed it was very lightweight and flimsy plastic that allowed light to glow through it. It’s very dark now...
A bit off topic, but Yoshi shed for the first time last night. My daughter, who can’t focus on any one thing for more than two seconds, watched the ENTIRE process! I absolutely love this gecko and the fact that she ignores her phone and computer to interact with him!
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GeckoFanboy
Member
I use Reptisafe too. I also dump his water dish every night, wash it out with scalding hot water, and put fresh water in it. You don't really have to do this. Some people do this every 3 days, but honestly, if I were an animal in a cage, I'd like fresh water daily. And it's no problem for me because the bathroom is right next to his room. Plus, I have to go into his tank daily, so might as well, while I'm there.
Your roach setup looks fine. I keep mine in a rectangular plastic food container with lots of holes in the lid. I keep about 12-20 roaches in it at a time. They tend to all huddle up inside a paper towel tube I put in there. I was going to mention something to you, and it's something I've gotten into doing. Every once in awhile gut load your roaches with just fruits and veggies. They love them, and it gives your gecko a slight shift in nutrients and vitamins and such. I'm gut loading my roaches with broccoli, carrots, kiwi and orange right now. The next batch I'll feed Bug Burger and gut load with Superload and quencher. Don't overdo the oranges though with your bugs. Too much orange consumption can give your gecko runny bowels. I will say this about roaches...my Scooby fills up quicker on roaches than he does his other bugs, so they must be meatier or something.
I always feel sorry for Scooby when he's going into a shed. It doesn't look fun at all for him. He gets very withdrawn and sad looking when he's all white and about to shed. It is a very stressful event for them, so you definitely want to leave them alone and undisturbed during this time. You can watch them, but don't distract them. You may notice their heart races when they are shedding. It's pounding. Your gecko should never have problems shedding as long as he's got a moist hide at all times, he's properly hydrated (I always give Scooby one or two hornworms when I notice his skin is drying up...as they are 80% water), and your tank temps are set properly.
Since your gecko is new, I wouldn't handle it for a month or so. You don't want it to have ANY stress at all during this period of adjustment. And you want it to eat daily. I only handle my gecko if I have to. I think it stresses them out to be honest. I have noticed with Scooby, because I have only handled him "once", that he is such a perfect pet in every way. He's really healthy, eats well, his poop normal...I couldn't ask for a better gecko. He snapped at me alot in the beginning, when I went into his tank, but now he barely flinches when I'm cleaning his hide, wiping his floor with wet paper towels...I can pet him and he's okay with it. But when I pick him up he's grunts and squirms...doesn't like it at all. And I'm okay with that. You're going to like this animal. It has it's own unique personality.
Your roach setup looks fine. I keep mine in a rectangular plastic food container with lots of holes in the lid. I keep about 12-20 roaches in it at a time. They tend to all huddle up inside a paper towel tube I put in there. I was going to mention something to you, and it's something I've gotten into doing. Every once in awhile gut load your roaches with just fruits and veggies. They love them, and it gives your gecko a slight shift in nutrients and vitamins and such. I'm gut loading my roaches with broccoli, carrots, kiwi and orange right now. The next batch I'll feed Bug Burger and gut load with Superload and quencher. Don't overdo the oranges though with your bugs. Too much orange consumption can give your gecko runny bowels. I will say this about roaches...my Scooby fills up quicker on roaches than he does his other bugs, so they must be meatier or something.
I always feel sorry for Scooby when he's going into a shed. It doesn't look fun at all for him. He gets very withdrawn and sad looking when he's all white and about to shed. It is a very stressful event for them, so you definitely want to leave them alone and undisturbed during this time. You can watch them, but don't distract them. You may notice their heart races when they are shedding. It's pounding. Your gecko should never have problems shedding as long as he's got a moist hide at all times, he's properly hydrated (I always give Scooby one or two hornworms when I notice his skin is drying up...as they are 80% water), and your tank temps are set properly.
Since your gecko is new, I wouldn't handle it for a month or so. You don't want it to have ANY stress at all during this period of adjustment. And you want it to eat daily. I only handle my gecko if I have to. I think it stresses them out to be honest. I have noticed with Scooby, because I have only handled him "once", that he is such a perfect pet in every way. He's really healthy, eats well, his poop normal...I couldn't ask for a better gecko. He snapped at me alot in the beginning, when I went into his tank, but now he barely flinches when I'm cleaning his hide, wiping his floor with wet paper towels...I can pet him and he's okay with it. But when I pick him up he's grunts and squirms...doesn't like it at all. And I'm okay with that. You're going to like this animal. It has it's own unique personality.
Thanks. We compost kitchen scraps anyway, so anything appropriate that normally goes in the compost is now going to the roaches. Today was an apple core and orange slice.
GeckoFanboy
Member
Just remember to get any fruit or veggies out of the critter cage before it rots and gets moldy. You don't want your gecko eating bugs that eat mold or rotten food. Oranges get moldy really quick - sometimes within 36-48 hours. Broccoli lasts awhile, as does carrots. Here's a good article on gut-loading your dubias:
https://dubiaroachdepot.com/guidance/gut-loading-dubia-roaches
https://dubiaroachdepot.com/guidance/gut-loading-dubia-roaches
GeckoFanboy
Member
Where's the elevator? C'mon Keith, everyone knows you can't have a gecko crib without an elevator.
:biggrin:
BTW, your setup looks really nice. Good job. Let us know how your Yoshi likes it.
I went out and bought my Scooby an All Living Things 20 gallon 30x12x12 tank yesterday from PetSmart. At 11 months old, and 9" long (I measured him lastnight), he's turning into a big boy and needs a bigger tank. I'm done with the little 10 gallon tank and cannot find anyone to take it...so, who knows maybe I'll buy something smaller to live in it, LOL.
Meanwhile, I went up to Lowes today, bought some tile, and had it custom cut. It fits his tank wonderfully. When you buy a new tank, you just can't help but want to add some new stuff. I'm keeping his warm and cool hides, but he's definitely getting something bigger than the coconut shell for a moist hide. Thinking of getting him this:
https://www.amazon.com/Zilla-Decor-Rock-Lair-Medium/dp/B01N1EOR0K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1524282268&sr=8-1&keywords=zilla+rock+lair
I can't find the Ultratherm heat mat and am gonna go with the ZooMed instead. I've been happy with the ZooMed I'm using now. I just don't like the size...8x18...kinda weird.
Has your gecko been pooping on his paper towel?
:biggrin:
BTW, your setup looks really nice. Good job. Let us know how your Yoshi likes it.
I went out and bought my Scooby an All Living Things 20 gallon 30x12x12 tank yesterday from PetSmart. At 11 months old, and 9" long (I measured him lastnight), he's turning into a big boy and needs a bigger tank. I'm done with the little 10 gallon tank and cannot find anyone to take it...so, who knows maybe I'll buy something smaller to live in it, LOL.
Meanwhile, I went up to Lowes today, bought some tile, and had it custom cut. It fits his tank wonderfully. When you buy a new tank, you just can't help but want to add some new stuff. I'm keeping his warm and cool hides, but he's definitely getting something bigger than the coconut shell for a moist hide. Thinking of getting him this:
https://www.amazon.com/Zilla-Decor-Rock-Lair-Medium/dp/B01N1EOR0K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1524282268&sr=8-1&keywords=zilla+rock+lair
I can't find the Ultratherm heat mat and am gonna go with the ZooMed instead. I've been happy with the ZooMed I'm using now. I just don't like the size...8x18...kinda weird.
Has your gecko been pooping on his paper towel?
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The elevator is still tied up in red tape trying to get city permits.
The only hide I haven’t seen Yoshi in is the 3 story cold hide. That moist hide you’re thinking of getting looks great! I didn’t have much luck finding ultratherms locally. I had to order online.
Every evening, between 19:00-20:00, he goes on a single toilet paper square like clockwork. I throw it away and replace every morning. Concerning cleanliness, I’ve never had such a low maintenance creature!
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GeckoFanboy
Member
Scooby did that exact same thing up until he hit around 10 months. What threw the schedule off? Feeding him at a different time of day. He hit this point where all of a sudden he wanted food in the middle of the day...emerging from his afternoon nap, he'd walk along the tank glass watching me deal with his bugs. I knew he was hungry. A couple times, I resisted and waited til later that night to feed him, and he wouldn't eat...then. So the next time he came out wanting to eat during the day, I fed him, and of course this immediately changed his poop schedule, LOL. So now his eating schedule fluctuates. Yesterday afternoon he ate two very large dubia roaches. Lastnight, he rejected anything I offered him. He'll either eat today or he won't. We'll see...
You'll also find your gecko is hungry right after he poops, and often won't eat until he does. Oh, and if you ever get into feeding him hornworms...he'll actually pee clear liquid that will solidify white. Freaked me out when Scooby started doing that occasionally, but he only does it after eating one too many hornworms...they are 80% water. If he eats a really big one he gets overly hydrated and pees.
But yeah, once you get your routine going with your gecko, you're going to find out just how easy and simple they are to maintain. The biggest hassle is the bugs. Keeping them well fed, keeping their cages clean, etc, etc. Personally, I think the bulk of my work is with the bugs. I'm very fussy about their clean tanks and what they eat...gut-loading, etc.
On a side note, my bugs arrived from Rainbow Mealworms the other day. Everything arrived safely, but my crickets. I can't believe they put 50 large crickets in such a small container. I estimate that 2/3 of them arrived dead. I'll never buy crickets from them again. My dubias arrived fine though.
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Update on thermostat settings. This is how I have the cycle set now. Please feel free to criticize if I have it wrong.
1) At 3:00, it’s 88f on the warm side and 70f on the cool side.
2) The temperature slowly increases over a period of 10 hours until 13:00.
3) At 13:00, it’s 92f on the warm side and 75 in the cool side. The temperature stays stable for the next 4 hours, until 17:00.
4) The temperature slowly decreases over a period of 10 hours until 3:00
5) Back to “1)”
1) At 3:00, it’s 88f on the warm side and 70f on the cool side.
2) The temperature slowly increases over a period of 10 hours until 13:00.
3) At 13:00, it’s 92f on the warm side and 75 in the cool side. The temperature stays stable for the next 4 hours, until 17:00.
4) The temperature slowly decreases over a period of 10 hours until 3:00
5) Back to “1)”
I got tired of having to refill the moist hide, so I fabricated a lid for the water reservoir. It’s .25 inch transparent acrylic, so I can see if there is still water in the reservoir. The handle that allows removal of the lid is just a black rock I cut in half and adhered with silicone. The form fitting perimeter is rubber coated epoxy for a vapor tight seal. It builds up condensate and drips nonstop, so I’m definitely reducing water loss. It has also reduced humidity in the Vivarium to more ideal levels.
GeckoFanboy
Member
That's pretty cool, Keith! Nice innovation for sure. I bought my Scooby a new moist hide. In fact...
I now have everything to set my new tank up...with one problem. Scooby's getting ready to shed...any day now. This is a stressful time for him, so I don't want to do the tank switch for at least two days after his shed, as this is when his appetite kicks in again after the shed. It's always fun to do a new tank. I'm having fun with this one. Two new hides. New water dish. New fake plants. I want him to feel as comfy as possible in his new digs. I am keeping his old warm hide though, but using it as his cool hide this time. Hope it doesn't confuse him, LOL. This is the hide that he poops on top of. I do not want him to continue pooping on this thing, and am thinking he will. I'm hoping he won't though since he has more room in his tank now. We'll see. Hopefully, this time next week I'll have it all up and running. I'll post pics when I get it going. Glad you're enjoying your new pet. Geckos are so cool!
I now have everything to set my new tank up...with one problem. Scooby's getting ready to shed...any day now. This is a stressful time for him, so I don't want to do the tank switch for at least two days after his shed, as this is when his appetite kicks in again after the shed. It's always fun to do a new tank. I'm having fun with this one. Two new hides. New water dish. New fake plants. I want him to feel as comfy as possible in his new digs. I am keeping his old warm hide though, but using it as his cool hide this time. Hope it doesn't confuse him, LOL. This is the hide that he poops on top of. I do not want him to continue pooping on this thing, and am thinking he will. I'm hoping he won't though since he has more room in his tank now. We'll see. Hopefully, this time next week I'll have it all up and running. I'll post pics when I get it going. Glad you're enjoying your new pet. Geckos are so cool!