Change in behavior - trying to escape obsessively.

chyhart

New Member
Messages
4
Location
Michigan
For the last week or so my gecko has been seriously obsessed with trying to climb out of her tank. I looked online for some ideas, The only thing i read that may have made sense is

  • Tank Size – If the tank is too small the gecko may be climbing because they need more space.
  • Non-stimulating environment – Leopard geckos can get bored with their environment and the habitat in your gecko's tank is too bare or boring they will start to try to get outside their tank where it looks more interesting.
Her tank is a 20 gallon, She's by herself and always has been. I made her a terrarium structure, that she seemed to love and enjoy for a long time, but after reading this maybe it was taking up too much space in her tank, so I took it out to see how she behaved, but she's still obsessively trying to escape. She has a cool side, a hot side, the light comes on and off with a timer, and she has a heating pad that she often lays on. I just don't understand why she's been so obsessed with getting out. Before she was able to reach the screen and i caught her hanging off it, and now she's using the fake plants to climb up to the top since i took out her structure. what the heck is going on with her. When i gave her the big structure she was like "not interested in you silly human" and now i put my hand in there and she's obsessed with getting on it to get out! Anyone else experience this?
 

Neon Aurora

New Member
Messages
1,376
Location
New Mexico
I assume you're talking about the "digging" behavior they sometimes do on the walls of the enclosure. Some of mine do this occasionally for seemingly no reason, but if it is excessive, there is probably a reason.

Could the tank be too hot? Often with a light and UTH (is your UTH regulated?) the whole tank can become too warm and the gecko will want to move to somewhere cooler to regulate its body temperature. Summer is beginning, so this could definitely have an effect.

Does she have enough dark shelter from the overhead light? I usually recommend not using lights because A) they often make the environment too hot and B) without suitable dark places, they can be stressful since leopard geckos are nocturnal and have pretty sensitive eyes (especially albinos).
 

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