Leia's New Setup

Reptilelady

Reptilelady

Member
Hello everyone,
I wanted to give Leia a bit more natural feel to her home. I used Eco Earth as the substrate and if she needs to dig she can. If its not safe I will quickly remove it and put back the tiles no problem.

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Reptilelady

Reptilelady

Member
Disregard my last post message. I put inside and immediately raised the humidity way too high so reverted back to her original setup with tiles lol ... EPIC FAIL! :crackup:
 
Reptilelady

Reptilelady

Member
I made a few changes, instead of having her whole substrate with eco earth I just added a small section which you can see in the photo. Trying to make it more natural with her but at the same time, safe. She does have a reptisun T8 5.0% tube so if she ever does want to come out and bask to get some Vitamin D she can if not its just good to have a photo-period day/night cycle. She really loves the Exo Terra Reptile Den Cave. She goes insane/crazy if I take it out and she does not have it in her terrarium so that has to be in there. She has a cork bark tunnel like and thats resting under the heat mat. The paper towel is where she usually goes to the bathroom so its just easy to take it out and give her new paper towel. How does it look overall? :D
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Reptilelady

Reptilelady

Member
Thank you.
She doesn't come out as much really. If I don't have the Exo Terra Reptile Den Cave for her then she is usually on her ledge or hammock, under the fake leaves. But other than that she isnt really out. I am trying to replicate her enclosure as close as possible to how it is in the wild. The sun comes up around 6 Am to 8 Pm. Thats her light schedule but if it needs to be on a couple hours of the day I can change it. I have a digital timer so what time or times do you suggest for her? Also, Arcadia bulbs seem to be the best on the market as well so after this bulb does not produce anymore which will be in 6 months I am thinking about changing to this one:
https://www.arcadiareptile.com/lighting/natural-sunlight-lamp/
Has a lot of great information.
 
Elizabeth Freer

Elizabeth Freer

Well-known member
Reptilelady said:
Thank you.
She doesn't come out as much really. If I don't have the Exo Terra Reptile Den Cave for her then she is usually on her ledge or hammock, under the fake leaves. But other than that she isnt really out. I am trying to replicate her enclosure as close as possible to how it is in the wild. The sun comes up around 6 Am to 8 Pm. Thats her light schedule but if it needs to be on a couple hours of the day I can change it. I have a digital timer so what time or times do you suggest for her? Also, Arcadia bulbs seem to be the best on the market as well so after this bulb does not produce anymore which will be in 6 months I am thinking about changing to this one:
https://www.arcadiareptile.com/lighting/natural-sunlight-lamp/
Has a lot of great information.
Click to expand...

Many thanks for that link too! Perhaps it's time to add another article to the care sheet. :)

I don't know how much "UVB basking time" is sufficient for a leo. Maybe Fran has some feedback? I worry if the rays are too bright, the leo will just hide.

Those Zoo Med Reptisun 5.0 T8 tubes are supposed to produce sufficient UVB for 1 year now. That's what Zoo Med tells me when I phone (Zoo Med: 888-496-6633). Last time I phoned Zoo Med planned to replace the packaging. I've been using two 5.0 tubes for my Phelsuma barbouri for years now. I replace them annually. I have both tubes in Slimline fixtures. A couple years ago I switched the fixture over the 15 long to be perpendicular to the enclosure. That way the female can choose: UVB or not.

For my leo's photoperiod I use a 15 watt incandescent dimmed to half power. It's on during the day and shaded by a tall silk palm tree. I only have a 20 long. My leo's out and about frequently during the day resting.

DSC_0159.jpg

Click: Sunrise Sunset Daylight Hours of Pakistan -- Timebie
 
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Elizabeth Freer

Elizabeth Freer

Well-known member
[MENTION=61662]Seth9999[/MENTION] recently built long enclosures for both his leos. He uses UVB for both Cecil and Cleo.

Hopefully he'll stop by this thread and share some details.
 
Reptilelady

Reptilelady

Member
Awesome thanks for the link. I know lighting/heating is very important to reptiles and of course getting the best quality setup/environment = happy healthy reptile whether its a leopard gecko/ bearded dragon/ etc. I feel like if they are happy in their environment they will perform their best. I dont mind spending the $ as long as I know it will benefit the animal in the long run. I have had my fair share of bad experiences and wish to never feel that again. I just want to provide the best care/husbandry I possibly can :D Also, I've seen this girls YouTube Channel and she has wooden vivariums. Her YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpdBIibjN9cdNm6qRLb0cpw

I was wondering if wooden viv/enclosures are better than the glass enclosures?
Heres an interesting video about the UVB: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55rJcXjQJbE

When I first got Leia she was around 6 inches and was living in a 10 Gallon tank. I have upgraded her to the Exo Terra 24" x 18" x 12". Ever since I have upgraded her terrarium to a larger size she has been more active with the reptisun UVB that I have given her. She is now approx. 9 inches. weighing 72g. Of course, females are more susceptible to eggbounding and some issues if not provided enough vitamin D as well as MBD.
https://leopardgecko.org/metabolic-bone-disease-in-leopard-geckos
http://sawneeanimalclinic.com/downloads/leopardgeckosdiseases.pdf
Just some links to show the horrific dangers of MBD.

I prefer to go more on the "natural" approach and provide as closely as it is in the wild for her.
 
Seth9999

Seth9999

New member
The idea behind uvb is great, but there isn't bulb, lamp that fits in well for leopard geckos. At least my two geckos, Cecil and Cleo. In order to get benefits of uvb , the gecko has to tolerate the bright light it puts off.
Both my geckos lounge around in morning. Cecil on his carpet and cleo on her rock, every morning when uvb kicks on , they pack it in and head for moist hides.
If light is on , their out or looking out hide holes, witch ever eye is closes to uvb bright light, eye will be closed.
I have uvb come on from 7am tell 1030 am. If they need it or want it, they can stay put , soak it up. I didn't want them to feel need to hide. It seems uvb was doing that. My poor little girl trying see with one eye open . Clearly light was bothering her.
I have 6% d3 reptile lamp by arcadia in t8 fixtures. The t8 is correct fixture to keep strength of lamp down to correct dose at 12inchs high.. t5 fixture with same lamp needs be 20inches high.
 
Elizabeth Freer

Elizabeth Freer

Well-known member
Seth9999 said:
The idea behind uvb is great, but there isn't bulb, lamp that fits in well for leopard geckos. At least my two geckos, Cecil and Cleo. In order to get benefits of uvb , the gecko has to tolerate the bright light it puts off.
Both my geckos lounge around in morning. Cecil on his carpet and cleo on her rock, every morning when uvb kicks on , they pack it in and head for moist hides.
If light is on , their out or looking out hide holes, witch ever eye is closes to uvb bright light, eye will be closed.
I have uvb come on from 7am tell 1030 am. If they need it or want it, they can stay put , soak it up. I didn't want them to feel need to hide. It seems uvb was doing that. My poor little girl trying see with one eye open . Clearly light was bothering her.
I have 6% d3 reptile lamp by arcadia in t8 fixtures. The t8 is correct fixture to keep strength of lamp down to correct dose at 12inchs high.. t5 fixture with same lamp needs be 20inches high.
Click to expand...

Here's a 2018 lighting product developed by Arcadia and shared a couple posts ago by Reptilelady. I wonder whether this can be "the answer" for our shade dwellers.
Seth has purchased a Solarmeter, so he can measure first-hand the strength of UVB at various distances from the source.
 
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Reptilelady

Reptilelady

Member
Just to let everyone know I decided to revert back to her tile. The Eco Earth was insane to clean up and hard to keep up. Also, it was very "dirty-dusty" type so I dont know if I want to keep her on that even if it was a little portion of her enclosure. I'm still looking into the Bio-Active setups but its still considered "new" not really diving into anything just yet unless anyone here has a comment or advice to say about it. I would like to get her an enclosure where the doors slide open and perhaps more space. The enclosure she is in now looks like a big square like. Kind of leaning towards the long terrariums. I also have changed my timer to go on/off a couple of hours in the morning and at the evening time. The Shade-Dweller UVB looks really intriguing and cant wait to see what others are saying about it. I wonder if it will be available in the US? Or through a website to purchase? I know there is a couple sites like https://www.pangeareptile.com/store/light-heat-and-uvb/uvb-bulbs-florescent-mercury-vapor.html and Arcadia UVB Fluorescent Bulbs

But... for now she seems happy :biggrin:
 
Reptilelady

Reptilelady

Member
Awesome :D I just discovered Leia does not like BSFL's LOL oh well. Shes just a simple gal: Crickets, mealworms and superworms haha.
 
Elizabeth Freer

Elizabeth Freer

Well-known member
Reptilelady said:
Awesome :D I just discovered Leia does not like BSFL's LOL oh well. Shes just a simple gal: Crickets, mealworms and superworms haha.
Click to expand...

Did you try rinsing BSFL or poking them with a pin? They are kinda tough. Click link below for Zux's recommendation.

Here's how to make Phoenix worms (BSFL) more palatable:
  • Rinse the medium off. A fine mesh sieve works great.
  • Let them crawl around on a paper towel to dry, then feed. If they are dry, they will not climb.
  • Even some of the black ones "rejuvenate" when rinsed if they are not too far gone.
  • The darker ones are higher in calcium.
  • Save the dead ones. They may morph into flies, which your gecko may eat.
Click to expand...

For 5 click: Black Soldier Fly Larvae (Phoenix/calci/repti worms & NutriGrubs) Care
 
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Reptilelady

Reptilelady

Member
Thank you so much for the tips. I did rinse them off since they come in with dirt/sand whatever that is. She is just an extremely picky eater. Although, she is a bit chunky, but healthy looking so perhaps she's not exactly hungry. I will try again though in a few days though :)
 
Reptilelady

Reptilelady

Member
I checked on Leia shes in her favorite reptile den hide. Ever since I got it for her she loves it so much she spends most of her time in there. Her skin looking dull shes probably going to be going through another shed again so I know her appetite is affected as well. She doesnt get hungry as much and she is very moody. Tail wags and one time she like did a jump/dart in the other direction. Crazy girl :lol:
 
Elizabeth Freer

Elizabeth Freer

Well-known member
Reptilelady said:
I checked on Leia shes in her favorite reptile den hide. Ever since I got it for her she loves it so much she spends most of her time in there. Her skin looking dull shes probably going to be going through another shed again so I know her appetite is affected as well. She doesnt get hungry as much and she is very moody. Tail wags and one time she like did a jump/dart in the other direction. Crazy girl :lol:
Click to expand...

:biggrin:

:coverlaugh:
 
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