Meet Rainye! Also, quick question..it’s kind of urgent.

[rainye20]

Hello! I just got a leopard gecko on Sunday, March 22. I named her Rainye. She seems to be doing very well and adjusting quite nicely. She is eating, and is even letting me handle her. Rainye is a very curious little leo and is very active. But I do have one concern, I don’t know if it’s just my new pet anxiety or not but Rainye hasn’t used the bathroom in 2 days. She went the night I got her, but she hasn’t gone since. Her warm side temperature is between 91-95 and her cool side is between 71-76. She has three hides: 1 warm, 1 cool, 1 moist. She is eating just fine. I don’t know if this is normal or not, but I hope she goes tonight.
P.S. The poop she had on the night I got her was very normal, and had no odd things about it. I created this account to answer questions like this and get to see other people with leopard geckos. I was told she is about a year old(This is my first leopard gecko).

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Welcome to Geckos Unlimited & to the world of leos!

Please share a photo of Rainye's enclosure.

1. What size enclosure?
2. Are those air temps or ground temps? If they are ground temps -- especially the warm side is a bit too warm.
3. What type thermometer are you using: analog (circle), digital, other?
4. How are you heating this enclosure: under tank heat mat, overhead heat?
5. Have you a thermostat?

Here's a good chart for temps all around Rainye's enclosure. The link that follows shares vital leo husbandry info.

Temperatures - A temperature gradient from warm to cool maintains your leo's health. Here's a temperature guide for all leopard geckos as measured with the probe of a digital thermometer or a temp gun (and controlled by a thermostat set at 91*F/32.8*C).

Place the thermostat's probe and a digital thermometer's probe together right on top of the substrate underneath the warm dry hide. If you use a UTH + a CHE you'll need 2 separate thermostats, because ground and air temperatures are substantially different.

• Warm dry hide ground temperature: 88-92 F (31.1-33.3 C) inside a leo's warm dry hide.
• Warm humid/moist hide: Also place the humid hide 100% on top of the heat mat. Keep temperatures similar to the warm dry hide.
• Cool dry hide ground temperature: 70ish-75 F (21.1-23.9 C) Usually the cool end ground temperature matches the room temperature where the enclosure sits.
• no greater than 82ish F (27.8ish C) air temperature - 4 inches (10 cm) above ground on the warm end
• no greater than 75 F (23.9 C) air temperature - 4 inches (10 cm) above ground on the cool end

Leave the heat mat/UTH on 24/7. If you wish, during the night turn off overhead lighting/heating (~12 hours on and ~12 hours off) unless ambient room temperatures drop lower than 67ish*F (19.4*C).

***** For link 81 (& 87) click: Leopard Gecko Care Sheet (abbreviated) -- March 2020 update (show handout)

 

[rainye20]

1. She has a 20 gallon long tank
2. Yes, those are ground temps. I just brought them down to 88 degrees.
3. I am using a digital thermometer
4. I am heating the tank with a under tank heater
5. I do have a thermostat

I will post pictures very soon. Thanks!

 

[acpart]

One gecko I got didn't poop for 2 weeks (and you don't want to hear about me when I go away for the weekend!). Keep feeding and you will get your gifts soon.

Aliza

 

[rainye20]

Here is a picture of Rainye’s setup. Sorry about the mess she has made from her calcium dish:biggrin:

Probably did this wrong, I’m working from a phone and I’m new to this site. If you cannot see the picture, I apologize.
(Left side=cool side, right side=warm side. Log is cool hide, cave is warm hide, jar with sprayed down eco earth is moist hide. Rainye has a calcium dish, a food dish, and a water dish. The water is right by the log. I also have a reptile hammock.)

 

[rainye20]

Ok, thank you. I do feed her every other day(please tell me if that is too much or not), and she usually eats about 5-7 crickets every feeding. I will soon be moving her towards both mealworms and crickets. Thank you for your response.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Ok, thank you. I do feed her every other day(please tell me if that is too much or not), and she usually eats about 5-7 crickets every feeding. I will soon be moving her towards both mealworms and crickets. Thank you for your response.

About how long is Rainye from snout to tail tip? Do you know how much she weighs?

I see Zoo Med's Reptivite in the background Does that Reptivite contain vitamin D3? Here's a great schedule for leos about 7-12 mo. Just follow the Mon - Wed - Fri (& maybe Sat)

Weekly Schedule 124 for Leopard Geckos 0-12 months old
(withOUT UVB)​

Early stage metabolic bone disease (MBD) symptoms include uneven (lopsided) gait, walking on one or both "elbows", bowed limbs, belly dragging, and an underbite.

The Reptile Supply Company based in Lodi, California stocks Zoo Med's ReptiVite multivitamins withOUT D3.

Feed lightly dusted prey 3x per week.

• Monday > > crickets or dubia lightly dusted with Zoo Med's Repti Calcium with D3
• Tuesday > > mealworms, superworms, or black soldier fly larvae (Phoenix worms) > > no dusting
• Wednesday > > crickets or dubia lightly dusted with pure precipitated calcium carbonate withOUT D3 (Zoo Med's Repti Calcium or NOW human brand calcium)
• Thursday > > mealworms, superworms, or black soldier fly larvae (Phoenix worms) > > no dusting
• Friday > > crickets or dubia lightly dusted with Zoo Med's ReptiVite multivitamins withOUT D3
• Saturday > > mealworms, superworms, or black soldier fly larvae (Phoenix worms) > > no dusting
• Sunday > > no food or free choice > > no dusting

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

1. She has a 20 gallon long tank
2. Yes, those are ground temps. I just brought them down to 88 degrees.
3. I am using a digital thermometer
4. I am heating the tank with a under tank heater
5. I do have a thermostat

I will post pictures very soon. Thanks!

Here is a picture of Rainye’s setup. Sorry about the mess she has made from her calcium dish:biggrin:
View attachment 48638
Probably did this wrong, I’m working from a phone and I’m new to this site. If you cannot see the picture, I apologize.
(Left side=cool side, right side=warm side. Log is cool hide, cave is warm hide, jar with sprayed down eco earth is moist hide. Rainye has a calcium dish, a food dish, and a water dish. The water is right by the log. I also have a reptile hammock.)

I see your photo!

1. Is it 88*F right underneath Rainye's warm dry hide?
2. Does your 20 long enclosure measure 30 x 12 x 12 inches tall? Maybe my eyes are tired. This enclosure seems deeper than 12 inches???
3. What dimensions is your UTH?

IF you use Zoo Med's supplements, there's no need for a pure calcium dish inside the enclosure. Zoo Med's supplements are amply fortified with precipitated calcium carbonate.

 

[rainye20]

1. Yes, it is.
2. My 20 gallon enclosure is about 30x12x12.
3. I do not know the exact dimensions of my UTH, but it does cover at least 1/3 to 1/2 of the tank.

Thank you so much for the feeding schedule, I will definitely keep that in mind. And also, should I be feeding her every other day or every 2 days? Here is a picture of Rainye.

 

[rainye20]

Hello, everyone! I do have good news. Rainye did go poop this morning, so I think my ‘new pet anxiety’ was scaring me. Thank you for all of your answers.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Hi ~

You have already created a Husbandry, Housing, & Heating thread right here. That's a wonderful idea. Please continue on this thread for all such issues.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Rainye looks very healthy!

(click to enlarge)​

Please measure Rainye from snout to tail tip. Let us know how long she is right on this thread.

I use Zoo Med's Reptivite multivitamins without D3 with the other supplements, because calcium with D3 is more forgiving than Zoo Med Reptivite multivitamins with D3.

Let's feed Rainye 3x per week. That way it's easy to keep her supplement days: Mondays, Wednesdays, & Fridays. See whether she'd like a small snack on Saturdays.

Adapted for your leo Rainye

Feed lightly dusted prey 3x per week.

• Monday > > crickets or dubia lightly dusted with Zoo Med's Reptivite multivitamins with D3
• Wednesday > > crickets or dubia lightly dusted with Zoo Med's Repti Calcium withOUT D3 (plain calcium)
• Friday > > crickets or dubia lightly dusted with Zoo Med's Repti Calcium withOUT D3 (plain calcium)
• Saturday > > (maybe a small snack) > > mealworms, superworms, or black soldier fly larvae (Phoenix worms) >> no dusting

Does that make sense?

Depending upon her length, Rainey might be ready to cut back to 2 feedings per week right now. When Rainey is mature (~18 months old), she'll just need supplementing at 2 feedings per week.

 

[rainye20]

Hello! I am planning on getting uvb for Rainye very soon. I don’t know which kind is safe for her, could someone give me suggestions?I do know leopard geckos should have it be 2-6%. I also know that coil bulb are not safe.
Thanks!

 

[Gutler]

Hello! I am planning on getting uvb for Rainye very soon. I don’t know which kind is safe for her, could someone give me suggestions?I do know leopard geckos should have it be 2-6%. I also know that coil bulb are not safe.
Thanks!

Arcadia shade dweller light if they arent out of stock (reptile basics and lightyourreptiles usually have them)

 

[rainye20]

Substrate for Leopard Gecko

Hi! I am planning on switching Rainye’s substrate. She has carpet right now. I know sand is completely out of the picture, and I am looking towards non-adhesive vinyl that is slightly textured. Would that be okay? Thanks.

 

[Gutler]

Hi! I am planning on switching Rainye’s substrate. She has carpet right now. I know sand is completely out of the picture, and I am looking towards non-adhesive vinyl that is slightly textured. Would that be okay? Thanks.

Vinyl would work great definitely better then carpet since her nails and teeth cant get caught on it (and it doesnt harbor bacteria like carpet).

 

[rainye20]

Oh and by the way, this is her tank right now:

(Sorry about the reflection in the tank haha)

 

[rainye20]

Oh and by the way, this is her tank right now:
View attachment 49000
(Sorry about the reflection in the tank haha)

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Hello! I am planning on getting uvb for Rainye very soon. I don’t know which kind is safe for her, could someone give me suggestions?I do know leopard geckos should have it be 2-6%. I also know that coil bulb are not safe.
Thanks!

Both Arcadia and Zoo Med UVB bulbs and tubes are top-notch! How frequently is Rainye eating now?

Rainye's Current Schedule​

Feed lightly dusted prey 3x per week.

• Monday > > crickets or dubia lightly dusted with Zoo Med's Reptivite multivitamins with D3
• Wednesday > > crickets or dubia lightly dusted with Zoo Med's Repti Calcium withOUT D3 (plain calcium)
• Friday > > crickets or dubia lightly dusted with Zoo Med's Repti Calcium withOUT D3 (plain calcium)
• Saturday > > (maybe a small snack) > > mealworms, superworms, or black soldier fly larvae (Phoenix worms) >> no dusting

After you install Arcadia or Zoo Med's ReptiSun UVB and Rainye's using it, replace 1-2 plain calcium dustings with 1-2 dustings of Zoo Med's Repti Calcium with D3 each month.

UVB Weekly Schedule 156 for leopard geckos 18 months old +​

(with UVB)​

Early stage metabolic bone disease (MBD) symptoms include uneven (lopsided) gait, walking on one or both "elbows", bowed limbs, belly dragging, and an underbite.

The Reptile Supply Company based in Lodi, California stocks Zoo Med's ReptiVite multivitamins withOUT D3.

Leopard geckos usually reach maximum size at about 18 months old.

Feed lightly dusted prey 2x per week.

• Monday > > crickets or dubia lightly dusted with Zoo Med's ReptiVite multivitamins withOUT D3
• Thursday > > crickets or dubia lightly dusted with pure precipitated calcium carbonate withOUT D3 (Zoo Med's Repti Calcium or NOW human brand calcium)
• Saturday > > Optional: mealworms, superworms, or black soldier fly larvae (Phoenix worms) > > no dusting

***** When your leopard gecko is taking advantage of appropriate UVB rays, Dr. Fran Baines (Reptile Lighting group's lighting guru) strongly recommends a backup dose of powdered D3 @ 1-2 feedings per month! Just substitute 1 D3 calcium dusting for 1 plain calcium dusting during those 1-2 weeks only. *****

 

[rainye20]

Since she is over 12 months old I am starting to feed her every two days. That seems to be working out thankfully