Newbie with ALL the questions
- Thread starter desert_rat
- Start date
Geopard Lecko
New member
i use repashy, it has a very pleasant smell and when food drops in the tank they perk up pretty quick even if they dont see it so i think they can smell it. sorry if this is off topic.
He has been out when I use the UVB and not when I use a regular light
This makes it more obvious that he is under it for UVB. UVB bulbs do not put out heat(at least these do not),therefore the branch that he was basking on was not heated.
Leopard geckos do bask. They do come out while the light is on. People just don’t provide the proper environment because they simply go by what others tell them. You will never see their full potential if all you offer is a dry small cage and a SPOT of heat on the ground.
This makes it more obvious that he is under it for UVB. UVB bulbs do not put out heat(at least these do not),therefore the branch that he was basking on was not heated.
Leopard geckos do bask. They do come out while the light is on. People just don’t provide the proper environment because they simply go by what others tell them. You will never see their full potential if all you offer is a dry small cage and a SPOT of heat on the ground.
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desert_rat
New member
I haven't dusted any of his food in the past three days with that in mind. No luck.
Also I just now tried holding a wriggling meal worm with forceps in front of him. No dice. I'm really nervous to give him the Reptiboost because he's sooooo skittish and I'd really have to HOLD him snugly to get the mixture in his mouth.desert_rat
New member
Yeah when I got the UVB I moved the dome to the cooler side of the tank. It doesn't seem to put off any heat really. The other dome is the CHE, over the warm side of the tank.
Elizabeth Freer
Well-known member
I haven't dusted any of his food in the past three days with that in mind. No luck.
Click: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mIJmeebvss&feature=player_embedded
Try placing a dab of moistened ReptiBoost right on his nose. See whether he'll lick his nose clean. If that works, keep going.
Be sure to gently clean off his nose with a damp paper towel when you are done.
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desert_rat
New member
It's funny that you post that, I JUST watched three other videos on how to feed baby leos. The thing is, mine is SO skittish. I just barely got him onto my hand but everytime I tried to get a hold of him at all, he jumped or ran and it seemed almost impossible to get him without hurting him. I feel like he's not as docile as the babies in th videos but my lack of experience handling them is a huge part of it too I'm sure.
I'm gonna try to hype myself up and give it another shot in the morning. Lol
onto my hand but everytime I tried to get a hold of him at all, he jumped or ran
So you have been trying to handle him, very stressful for the Leo. That alone can cause them not to eat(of course it can be something else). You want to leave them alone completely aside from offering food and watering their dish and humidity hide. I’d say, give him another day or so. You have yet to stabilize the temperatures. Force feeding is very stressful and you can you cause damage to their jaw. You can do as you please of course, just saying.
desert_rat
New member
I only tried tonight for the very first time, and very briefly. I still (maybe in my ignorance) feel the temps have not been so unstable or so off that it would cause a drastic problem. And I would feel so much better if I knew he had something to eat atleast once in the past week. But as stressful as that was for us both, I'm gonna wait a few more days. He's awfully thin it seems like.
If you have a chance snap a picture of him while he is out. Do not pull him out for it please. If he looks that thin, I would take him to an experienced reptile vet very soon before it’s too late.
Elizabeth Freer
Well-known member
Catching up . . . . . .
- EDIT to my feeding post from last night: "Try placing a dab of moistened ReptiBoost right on his nose. See whether he'll lick his nose clean. If that works, keep going.
Be sure to gently clean off his nose with a damp paper towel when you are done."
- Has your 6 x 8 inch heat mat been hooked up to any thermoSTAT at all since you've had this leo? You've mentioned analog thermostats you've used previously.
If not, when your new thermostat arrives today (Sunday), plug the heat mat into that. Then plug the thermostat into the wall. (Sorry if that's super basic info.) For starters, set the thermostat at 90*F. See what happens. Is the heat mat able to keep up?
- Photos from your 2-21-2019 post. Click to enlarge.
PS:
Maybe the kind girl at Petco could assist feed your leo?
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Elizabeth Freer
Well-known member
:scratchhead:: What type wood are you using inside his enclosure?
desert_rat
New member
OK guys, sorry for my absence. Here's the update.
I got in a thermostat and a thermometer. It was far too hot in his hide, from what people say it should be (over 100) but the moist hide was about 90 and his cool hide was closer to 80. He hardly ever left the really hot hide though. Once I got the thermostat and digital thermometer I started playing with my heat sources. The heat pad is more than capable of maintaining 90 in the warm hide (if left to its own devices it runs more like 98, I have the probe on the floor of the hide) but then the ambient temperature drops to 70. So I have the CHE on during the day, keeping the ambient temp at 80 (cool side floor temp about 76), and his heat pad plugged into the thermostat to keep his hide at 90-92. At night the CHE is off to mimic nighttime temps when the light goes off.
But he NEVER came out of his hide that I ever saw after those first couple times. I opted to take him in to Petco to the girl I know who has been so helpful. She was going to try to feed him but he was VERY stressed and hissed at her a lot as soon as she even tried to put her hand in the box. So she recommended that they take him to the vet and rehabilitate him, if I wasn't especially attached to him, and get a calmer gecko. She said she'd let me know the outcome on him and noted that he was thin. They actually had an adult gecko in house who is brown with no spots - essentially he's ugly and that's why he's the last one left. But she said he's a total sweetheart. And he is, so I took him home.
Since he's an adult, I'm giving him some time to adjust (couple weeks) and then switching him over to a bigger tank. Does my heat set up sound much improved? (Before anyone asks, yes I thoroughly cleaned the habitat before putting him in it.)
He's big and healthy and enjoys climbing on the branches (which Elizabeth, btw, are dried branches off of an oak tree) and exploring his new home. And his name is Marvin.
I got in a thermostat and a thermometer. It was far too hot in his hide, from what people say it should be (over 100) but the moist hide was about 90 and his cool hide was closer to 80. He hardly ever left the really hot hide though. Once I got the thermostat and digital thermometer I started playing with my heat sources. The heat pad is more than capable of maintaining 90 in the warm hide (if left to its own devices it runs more like 98, I have the probe on the floor of the hide) but then the ambient temperature drops to 70. So I have the CHE on during the day, keeping the ambient temp at 80 (cool side floor temp about 76), and his heat pad plugged into the thermostat to keep his hide at 90-92. At night the CHE is off to mimic nighttime temps when the light goes off.
But he NEVER came out of his hide that I ever saw after those first couple times. I opted to take him in to Petco to the girl I know who has been so helpful. She was going to try to feed him but he was VERY stressed and hissed at her a lot as soon as she even tried to put her hand in the box. So she recommended that they take him to the vet and rehabilitate him, if I wasn't especially attached to him, and get a calmer gecko. She said she'd let me know the outcome on him and noted that he was thin. They actually had an adult gecko in house who is brown with no spots - essentially he's ugly and that's why he's the last one left. But she said he's a total sweetheart. And he is, so I took him home.
Since he's an adult, I'm giving him some time to adjust (couple weeks) and then switching him over to a bigger tank. Does my heat set up sound much improved? (Before anyone asks, yes I thoroughly cleaned the habitat before putting him in it.)
He's big and healthy and enjoys climbing on the branches (which Elizabeth, btw, are dried branches off of an oak tree) and exploring his new home. And his name is Marvin.
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Elizabeth Freer
Well-known member
Welcome aboard, leo Marvin! I hope you settle in nicely. A large home is waiting for you.
Can we see him?
Can we see him?
Geopard Lecko
New member
Pics of marvin?
desert_rat
New member
I didn't get any pictures of him yesterday! I'm a terrible leo parent. He seems to really be startled everytime I enter the room if I don't move about at a sloth-like pace so I'm trying not to disturb him too much as he settles in. But I will DEFINITELY get some photos tonight when comes out!
New heat situation sounds good to ya'll? Warm hide stays 90-92, cool side floor temp is about 76, ambient fluctuates between 73-83 depending on time of day. Humidity is now pretty stable around 45%. Things are definitely much more stable now and I appreciate ya'll's help in that!
New heat situation sounds good to ya'll? Warm hide stays 90-92, cool side floor temp is about 76, ambient fluctuates between 73-83 depending on time of day. Humidity is now pretty stable around 45%. Things are definitely much more stable now and I appreciate ya'll's help in that!
desert_rat
New member
Prominent spine= dehydrated at minimum. I’m glad you now have better control of the temps because he’s going to need the best conditions possible. Is there any way for you to get a hold of some small hornworms? They can help with hydration.
desert_rat
New member
YES! I will see what I can do.
I don't know how to properly care for all these worms, I have the meal worms in the tub they come in, in the fridge. I haven't bothered to gut load yet until he starts to eat. I will go get horn worms now, I'm out and about anyway. Can I just put them in the dish too?You want the worms well hydrated and so best to place one at a time in front of him. I don’t know how they sell them locally? I’ve always had to order them on line and the worms came in a cup with food or food was sold separately.YES! I will see what I can do.