A few questions/concerns...

[leolover30]

Hey everybody. I have a few questions and I wasn't 100% sure where to post them, so I went for the general care. I am a new leo owner and just want to make sure I am doing alright. I don't want to hurt any of my babies, but I'm not sure if they are adjusting ok. Also, I'm sorry about it being so wordy, I just want to give you as much information as possible.

Here's my set up and my questions are below:

I have a 30 gallon tall tank (am adding a second level soon for them to have more room to roam) with repti carpet (will switch to shelf liner soon). I started with a red heat lamp because of contradicting information on the web and a pet store employee's advice. I found you guys, did more research and took it back 5 days later for a UTH and Reptistat. I researched the leo's pretty well before buying and thought I had it figured out, but obviously I started out wrong. I have 3 leos, still juvenile, but not sure how old they are. Their pics are here: http://geckoforums.net/showthread.php?t=67164 I got a UTH that is rated for a 10-20 gallon and it covers almost a third of the bottom of my tank. Right now I am using tupperware for hides (hot, cold, humid), but have created my own and will put them on once they are de-fumed. Here is what I created: http://geckoforums.net/showthread.php?t=67212 My digital thermometer readings are: hot hide 95 (I had it turned a smidge lower on the reptistat and it was sitting at 92.5 in the hot hide), cold hide is 81, and air temp is approximately 78. The temps are very close to this 24/7. Here are my questions...

1.) All three geckos ate well (5 mealies each) the first night I got them a week ago. The next night, they only ate 2 each. Yoshi didn't eat for 2 days after, but the other 2 ate 2 mealies each for the next 2 days. Saturday I bought crickets hoping to bring them around. Yoshi ate 3 crickets and a wax worm, Tiki ate 3 crickets and a wax worm, Izzy ignored everything. Last night, Yoshi ate 5 crickets, Tiki ate 1, and Izzy ate nothing. There was only 1 mealie missing from the bowl this morning, however I haven't determined if it was eaten or escaped. I know that they are still getting use to their new home. Is this type of behavior completely normal? Does it sound like it's because they are still acclimating? When should I start being concerned?

2.) The UTH is either 95 in the hot hide or 92.5, I can't find an in between. Which do you think is better? I don't want to make them uncomfortable.

3.) Izzy is hanging out in the humid hide all the time, but she is not shedding. Should I be concerned? Yoshi is hanging out on the outside of the hot hide (or he did last night anyway).

4.) I have had to shift a few things around the tank as I learned new things and I know it has stressed them some, so I am basically starting over on de-stressing process. How do I get Izzy out of the humid hide so I can mist it without stressing her further?

5.) They are all pooping every day and it looks normal. Solid brown with the white. It is moist looking, but not wet and it is solid. I walked by the tank last night and could smell one of them. Once it dries, I can't smell it. Is it normal to be able to smell it after they go?

6.) Lastly, does anyone have a creative and attractive way to create a screen top for a 30 gallon bowfront tank? I can't find one anywhere and I know it will help with the temp. regulation. I would like it to be easily removed and it needs to be halfway decent looking since my tank is in the livingroom.

I know I have some pretty basic questions and maybe a couple of weird ones as well. :main_laugh: I just want to make sure my "kiddos" are ok. Thank you in advance everyone! :main_thumbsup:

 

[Knibitz]

1. new geckos can be finicky eaters, but they will usually start eating when they need to. However since you have 3 in the same tank, be very careful to notice who's eating what and who's poo is who's.
2. either is fine.
3. A lot of geckos prefer the humid hide. That's normal
4. You have the option to make another humid hide and stick it in. But I would personally just either leave her be till she wants to come out, or take her out to mist.
5. I believe so.
6. eer... the only thing I can think of is bending wood with the hot pipe method to make the front of the cover. And then just taking screen and cutting it to fit.

 

[Jordan]

1. sounds like theyre eating fine, its not necessary to feed them everyday, so if you are feeding them that regularly, then if they dont eat for a few days its nothing to worry about.

2. i dunno, i work in degrees C sorry.

3. Its just the hide she's chosen. thats fine.

4. have one thats available to take the top off. for easy acces and misting. also they dont mind the water being sprayed, the first spray will catch em by surprise and theyll go defensive but after that they calm down. (well mine do lol).
or just wait til she comes out.

5. lol, as long as it smells like poo.

6. erm lol. you could use mesh or chicken wire. dont really know what to say to this lol.

 

[Spots]

Congrats on your new geckos!
First, I love the names of your geckos..and your hides..lol

same answers as the above..
1. I would just watch to make sure one isn't bullying another and making them stressed out to not eat. As long as they eventually all eat then I'd say you're good to go. Like the others said, they need time to adapt so they may eat in weird patterns until they settle in.

2. I also work in degree C but everyone on here has different opinions as to what temps are better. I'd say yours is good. Mine kind of fluctuates during the day with the weather. It's only a 2.5 degree difference that you are concern with and since thye regulate their own temps, they can just move if they think it's too hot.

3. my baby chose the moss hide too. she also liked to dig it all out. now my other two likes the non-moss hide. so it's just what they've chosen.

4. I would just mist it when she's out of the hide. Like when you feed them or something.

5. my geckos poops smell too. just make sure you are taking them out regularly

6. mesh or chicken wire sounds good...lol I don't know what to say either. Unless you use the chicken wire and metal pipe to pipe the outside of the rim then the chicken wire like a screen..and get some clips to clip it to the tank? no idea lol

 

[leolover30]

Thanks everyone! I appreciate it. @ Spots - thanks! My daughter and my son named Izzy and Yoshi. I named Tiki. Tiki is a bit of a stinker. She hissed at me the other day when I bumped her hide by accident. LOL! The hides I made were both fun and exhausting to make too. I just need to do the second level and everything will be good.