Need help with my Leo...

[kyukidojen]

We have a leopard gecko that we got on Friday. We got the UV light the LPS recommended - but i think it's too strong. Does anybody know which sort we should have? Our shop carries only ReptiGlo, but they range from 2.0 to 8.0 - they sent us home with an 8.0. Every time i turn it on, our poor baby scurries under his log and won't come out till it's off. Any ideas here?

[AnimalFriend]

Some leopard geckos, as with other reptiles, just have hermit-like personalities and will not come out if they think someone is around. It could also be that the light is too hot on the poor guy. How is the ventilation in the tank you have him in? I have found that some leopards love their caves and will only come out every now and then. Check the heat coming from the light first and if that is fine, you probably just have an introverted leopard gecko.
Try teasing him with mealworms or small crickets and see if he comes out more then - leopards have voracious appetites.

[emroul]

Well first thing I saw wrong was the UV lighting. This is why I HATE petstores. That's a entirely different thread, but anyway, leapard geckos do NOT need UV lighting; they don't even benefit from it at all. I would return that if you can or just take it off his tank. Now, leos are nocturnal, so you're almost never going to see him unless he's hungry/thirsty/uncomfortable or you're up at 2am lol. Every leo is different, however, he could be more active especially if he's just a baby.

Anyway, I would say ditch the UV completely, I have never found a leo that likes light in their enclosure of any kind, so I really hate recommending a light bulb as a heat source (so I'm not gonna) :p . Get a heating pad for underneath the tank (a human heating pad that you buy from a drugstore is what I'm talking about, just make sure it has NO auto-shutoff) if you aren't using one already and that's all he needs as far as heat goes. Get a thermometer so you can watch the temps and make sure they stay in range (88F-92F on the warm side, no lower than 75F and no warmer then 84F on the cool side).

Try that and let us know how that works! ARRGGHHH petstores!!!!
Jennifer

[emroul]

One more thing I was going to ask, does he have a constant supply of calcium in his enclosure so he can use it freely? This is important with leos. If you need further advice with this, just holler. :)

Jennifer

[Amber23]

Nocturnal reptiles DO NOT need UV lighting. A lot of petstores don't know what they are talking about. Have you read anything about leopard geckos?

[kyukidojen]

Yes - I've read plenty - and heard nothing of UV lighting. But. I figured since they insisted maybe there was some new thing?? Hehe - anyway - i have stuck my hand in there, it's not too warm - thermometer at the bottom says about 86-88, when i turn off the light, it goes down to about 75-78 after a few hours. He has a warm end. And calcium "sand" at one end. Like I said, i read plenty but didn't see anything about UV lights, but was told he HAD to have one... so, yeah... one thing i didn't find was how does he synthesize the calcium and absorb it and vitamin d without sunlight?

[emroul]

Eww, I personally would get rid of the "calcium sand". That stuff should be discontinued from the shelves, seriously. Even though its labelled "fully digestable" or whatever it may say, there have been TONS of reports of impaction caused by ingestion of that stuff. This doesn't happen over night, it happens over weeks, months, etc.. But when you take him to the vet because he hasn't been eating/defacating, and they x-ray him or open him up and find a massive clump of this stuff, it will be no fun. :( SO, anyway, just trying to get my point across.

Anyway, take a look at these so you know what I'm about to talk about:

http://www.repcal.com/supp.htm

I use these primarily and have used them as long as I've owned lizards that need supplements. The very last one on that page, calcium carbonate without Vit. D3 is what I use the most. They get a constant supply of this in their habitat to use freely. Then, once a week I dust their mealworms with the one right above it in the pink jar, the calcium WITH vit. D3. This helps them get the vitamins that they need without being in the sun (or having a UV light) since they are nocturnal. It is very important not to overfeed the D3, that's why I only feed it once a week, and certainly not very generously. Then, to confuse you even more lol, I use the top one in the blue jar, the multivitamin, about once a week, typically a separate day then the D3 is given, just personal preference; I like to make sure they're not slamming down abunch of supplements all in one day. Oh and on that page, I have never used the second one, so can't comment on it.

Whew, anyway, hope that helped. And not trying to be a know it all or tell you that you are doing it wrong, I'm always in it for the animals, so don't take offense to anything. Just trying to help (hope I did). :)

Take care,
Jennifer

[kyukidojen]

First of all, you're not coming off as a know it all - just helpful. :) Secondly, even if you WERE coming across wrong, i'd rather that than nobody saying anything! calcium sand has been removed (I used it for 8 years with my leo when i was younger, but i always wondered about it...) - so this other calcium powder - do i just make a little pile in his cage or what? I've got the calcium/D3 stuff that i coat his cricket with once a week...
By the way - he came out last night at feeding time, and dh FINALLY got to see the "puppy tail" that i have been telling him about... that 5-10 second gap where gecko sees cricket, cricket sees gecko and freezes, and gecko must wait to make sure cricket moves before eating - and gets so excited that his tail is wagging back and forth like a puppy - it's so great!

Now... ANOTHER question - about misting - when i was growing up, we misted my gecko when he was shedding, and he hated it, so we only did it if he seemed to be having any trouble getting his skin off. This one was was in the process of shedding when we got him, so i misted him - and he LOVES it. Adores it. Can't get enough. Thinks it's wonderful. Comes out and lifts his head and spreads out. If he's hiding, and I give just a little spray to the cage bottom, he runs out to get it. Have I mentioned my gecko likes misting? My question is this: I know he's a nocturnal desert-type animal - if i mist him once a day, this isn't going to hurt him, is it?

[emroul]

Good to hear the sand is gone. :) It's better for everyone (or maybe just the leo lol) in the longrun. About the calcium, I just use a very tiny shallow crock-like bowl. You can use almost anything (IE a lid from a butter container or something) I just like to use these because they're sturdy and don't move around or tip over should he climb into it. You can purchase those at petco or online, etc. They are I believe the 3" wide. I only put a small amount of calcium in the dish so that it lines the bottom. Just so I can tell if he's actually been using it or not, and know quickly when to refill. I use these:

http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=84552444180 9587&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302026328&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023695&bmUID=1147970451140&itemNo=3&Ntt=dish&In=All&previousText=dish&N=2

About misting, that's great he loves it so much! Depending on how humid your house already is, I wouldn't mist a TON. Misting while he's shedding is great, even try a soak to see if he likes that. But too much humidity over time will cause a respiratory infection that involves a couple of vet trips. Leopard geckos are natively from Pakistan, Afghanistan etc, so you can imagine they're used to it DRY. But if he likes a mist, go for it, just don't drench his cage or leave it "wet" on the bottom, that's asking for it!

The puppy tail is the CUTEST isn't it? hehe..Have you tried feeding mealworms? If you just leave 4-6 mealies in a shallow dish as mentioned above, that imo is so much better than crickets for us and him. Since crickets are smelly, DIRTY loud insects and mealies just sit in a bowl and you can buy like 100-500 at a time from a petstore and keep them in your fridge until your ready to use them. I love feeding mealies, its so great and just as good if not definately better than feeding crix. Anyway, do what you want with that one, just thought I would spread the light.

Take care!
Jennifer

[CaliGirl0304]

My gecko is on bark, he used to be on Calci Sand, but it always made him so dusty, he seems to like the bark better anyways. Mine is blind so catching crickets would be little difficult so he actually eats canned cat food and meal worms which I have to give him by hand, the cat food he finds on his own. He did not eat the canned crickets at all. I mist him with a tropical mist spray from ESU, he seems to like it, and he has a heat lamp, not that it is usually on anymore (I live in FL it is like 90 degrees everyday) My leopard gecko doesnt usually come out either, he just peaks his head out from underneath his cave, so don't feel worried...good luck with him

[emroul]

Umm, Caligirl0304, I don't want to sound rude, but cat food is for CATS. That's the weirdest thing I've ever heard when dealing with leo food. He may eat it, he may LIKE it, but should he really be eating it? Umm, no. Absolutely not. (For instance, are we humans REALLY supposed to eat the double cheeseburger with king size fries and an extra large triple thick chocolate shake? It may be pretty good going down, but we all know how "good" it is for our health). You should really take him off that asap, that cannot be good for his digestive tract. Nothing may happen short term, but you may be lopping off years of his life. Feed your leopard gecko food that is meant for a leopard gecko. And, fresh is always best. LIVE mealies are the best IMHO. Wax worms make a nice monthly treat, so do small lobster roaches though hard to catch for them, and other worms, even zuphobas ("super" or "giant" mealworms).

Anyway, please please PLEASE take your gecko off the cat food! Who recommended that anyway???

Jennifer

PS- Kyukidojen, how is the little guy? Hope he is doing well!! :)

[CaliGirl0304]

What else do you plan on feeding a leopard gecko that is blind cant eat on his own and does not gain weight and was half dead when I got him. Maybe you havent heard but lots of people feed geckos different things. He eats pinkies also or are you going to say that is bad too? I have heard people that feed their geckos baby food, maybe you should keep your options open and try new things...or maybe that just isnt you! He seems to be doing much better and i have had him for a year and he has gained weight and moves around much more. Dont knock anything until you try it emroul.

[emroul]

Ok, I really didn't want to start anything. All I was saying was I would strongly recommend taking your leopard gecko off the cat food. That is great that you have had him and he has been gaining weight and doing seemingly well. Also, about the baby food, just FYI they were probably talking about crested geckos, not leopard geckos. And yes it is known that crested geckos do very well on baby food, but it is definately NOT known that leopard geckos do very well on cat food. It really has nothing to do with "keeping my options open". It's just the truth, really, that leopard geckos should not have a primary diet of CAT food. I'm not crazy here..

How is the cat food being offered? If it is in a bowl, have you tried mealies in the same type of bowl? Or other grubs such as wax worms, or anything that is considered "leo" food? Just wondering. It seems like you are trying and he is going well for you, I just wish you could understand that cat food is absolutely not the only solution. But hey, if you have tried everything and that's the only thing he'll eat, fine. All I was trying to do was open your eyes in case you weren't aware that cat food isn't typically what people feed their leopard geckos... <sigh>

Jennifer

[emroul]

Oh, and about the pinkies, that is fine..They are very fattening but for a skinny leo they are great treats..I'm not out to get you, lol, just pointing out and trying to lead in the right direction in case you don't know. That's all I ever do but sometimes people take it the wrong way.

Jennifer

[CaliGirl0304]

He can't see the meal worms or smell them so how do you think he will eat the meal worms? He doesn't...That's why he eats cat food. And they were talking about leopard geckos not crested geckos.

[emroul]

Ok.

Take care,
Jennifer

[kyukidojen]

Our baby is getting big!!! I don't know WHAT was going on when we got him - he was so skinny! He's nice and round looking now - not fat, but round... and his tail is all bulgy looking... :) He's doing well, and i think he's grown almost an inch since we got him.

He still adores being misted... when we do it, he runs to the most open, biggest spot in his cage and tips his head way back with his eyes shut and sticks up his tail... if we feed him and then don't mist him, he paces back and forth waiting for it! What a nut...