Help with my Gecko who won't come out of hiding!

[mnj5771]

Just recently I have moved my gecko from a spare room to my bedroom. Her vivi is the same as always, with the only change being I put a thing blanket over her screen top because of a)I sometimes run my ceiling fan and did not want her to catch a chill and b) she seems freaked out. Since the move, she has not come out of her coconut hide unless I move the hide to peek in on her. Even then she isn't scampering around her cage at all. In the other room she would be out at night and nibbling on a cricket, but for the past three days she has not left the shell day or night that I have seen and I am beginning to worry a lot. She allows me to pick her up and doesn't run anymore (like when I first got her), but again I worry this may mean something is wrong! She is an adult female, is in a decently large tank (maybe a 20?), has paper towels for a substrate, two hides, a moisture box, water dish, feeding dish, and fake reptile plant that drapes down that offers more hiding spots.

Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help her! I am a very worried pet parent!:main_huh:

 

[Mclaughlin]

What temps, heating methods, and lights?

 

[mnj5771]

heating is under the tank zoomed heat pad; warm side is 86; and light is just the natural light that fills my room.

 

[JasonO80]

Warm side should be around 90. I don't know if I would cover the screen top that could hold too much heat in the tank. I don't think it is a worry right now since your warm side is on the low end of things. I would try to get that up to 90 it will help her with digestion and possibly make her a little more active. Other than that I would try to leave her alone til she adjusts to the new surroundings. Even though her tank set up is the same she can see the world around her outside the tank and will need to adjust to that.

 

[mnj5771]

Thanks! :-D And suggestions on how to get her tank warmer? The thermometer I have is one of those dial ones (only one I could find in the local area) and I have it laid down in the corner of her warm side).

 

[JasonO80]

So you don't have the UTH on a thermostat? Does it just run 24/7? If it does you might want to consider getting a different one. Mine would heat well over 90's and had to be on a thermostat before I built my own vivariums and went to Heat tape. I would suggest getting a thermostat. Amazon.com: Hydrofarm MTPRTC Digital Thermostat For Heat Mats: Patio, Lawn & Garden these work well for UTH's you will have some fluctuation but it will stay withing the range you need. I would also purchase a infrared temp gun to take surface temps a little more accurately on both the cool and warm side.

 

[Mclaughlin]

I would try a light fixture with a low watt night bulb

 

[mnj5771]

So you don't have the UTH on a thermostat? Does it just run 24/7? If it does you might want to consider getting a different one. Mine would heat well over 90's and had to be on a thermostat before I built my own vivariums and went to Heat tape. I would suggest getting a thermostat. Amazon.com: Hydrofarm MTPRTC Digital Thermostat For Heat Mats: Patio, Lawn & Garden these work well for UTH's you will have some fluctuation but it will stay withing the range you need. I would also purchase a infrared temp gun to take surface temps a little more accurately on both the cool and warm side.

I never knew I would need one. All of my reptiles have UTH pads. I have three (a Burm, Sand Boa, and the Leo Gecko), would I need one for each?

 

[mnj5771]

Just am small update: Pepper (my leo) decided last night to do some walking I caught her exploring her cage a bit. Also since I put the blanket on top the temp has went up a degree. It's not covering the entire top, so there is still a vent, but I think this will help both her stress and heat as it also covers everything but the front of her cage and a good portion of the top respectively.

I still plan on getting the temp gun and thermostat asap as mentioned so things will be much easier on her. Thank you all for your help!

 

[DrCarrotTail]

90 should be the ground temp not necessarily the air around the ground. If you have one of those little dial thermometers stuck on the glass and not a probe directly on the heat pad your tank may be hot enough or even too hot.

Is the light brighter in the room she's now in compared to the one she was in before? That an a constantly moving fan she's never seen could have worried her enough to stay hidden for a few days. I think she'll get used to both eventually without needing to cover the top of her tank with a towel as long as the room doesn't have really bright lights