How hot is too hot? & not sure if my leo is eating.

[Jennie]

I've been going back and forth on the size of my UTH. I had bought a medium sized UTH 6"x8" for my 30"x12"x18" tank; of which my hot spot reached 94-95F degrees but didn't seem to cover enough floor space. The other day I bought UTH one size bigger 8"x12" which covers a much better area, but my hot spot now reads 98-99F degrees...although my leo doesn't seem to mind the heat what so ever (she's been laying in there all day), is this too hot? If it is I was thinking of doubling up on tile in that particular spot (or something to reduce the heat at least).

With all that said, my second concern is my leo's eating habits. I've had my girl less than a week and the first day she only ate two crix. The next day I bought mealies instead which she ended up eating only about 5 small from my hand. I left a bowl full of mealies in there with her all day yesterday along with a super worm and it doesn't seem like shes touched it. Most of the day I noticed she's been in her hot hide...I don't blame her, her previous owner only had a 50wat basking bulb in her 5.5gal tank with no UTH so I know shes enjoying the heat. I DO see her up at night when day lights go out, she's very active...but I'm still concerned she's not eating.

When is the best time to feed? Is there any particular time during the day I should/can take her aside and feed her? I hate to wake her up, like I said most of the time when lights are on shes sleeping in her hot hide. Or should I feed right when lights go off? :main_huh:

One last question to add:

I have a plant in the tank, and although I've seen terrarium setups including this plant I read that if eaten its poisonous! I don't feel comfortable having it in there now - its called a Schefflera.

 

[GeckoCrossing]

I'd double up the tile and see what the temperature is. 98-99 is a tad high. As for her eating habits I wouldn't be too worried yet. Like you said, you've had her less than a week and she needs time to settle in and chill out a wee bit.
Once she settles in, she should start eating well. I feed all of mine either early morning, just before the sun comes up, or at night before I go to bed. I've found my juveniles are much feistier feeders when it's dark out. They go crazy chasing after roaches lol.

 

[Jennie]

Thank you, I will try to get that temp down a bit.

OH! I completely forgot the other question I had! I'll have to ad it above, but I have a plant in the tank, and although I've seen terrarium setups including this plant I read that if eaten its poisonous! I don't feel comfortable having it in there now - its called a Schefflera.

 

[GeckoCrossing]

Here's a great resource for herp plants. http://www.anapsid.org/resources/plants2.html

And doing a quick search for Schefflera I couldn't find anything bad about it.

 

[Jennie]

Oh thank you! Yeah I found a couple sites that talked about safe & nonsafe plants but that's a good one i'll have to bookmark it. I did a little more research as well, Dwarf Schefflera is alright to use in setups if the pet isn't going to be eating the plants, but its not recommended for herbivores I guess. Maybe I'll just keep an eye on it. I had bought a peace lily to replace it but its too big for the tank lol

 

[justindh1]

I wouldn't even worry about doing anything with that heat range. As long as you have a temperature gradient then you'll be fine. Most people like to feed at night. In regards to the plant, take it out so you don't have to worry.

 

[Jennie]

I do have a great temp gradient in the tank, she chooses to lay on the hottest end. I just don't want a burned belly, but I'm sure she's smart enough to move if it got too hot. I'm heading out to a few stores today, might pick up a few more plants that are actually on the safe list to give a try.

 

[Fencer04]

Her belly won't be burned. My temps occasionally have reached that level and there are no ill effects. If it were a problem it would be clinging to the other side of the tank and never going on the hot side.

I know breeders on here that keep their geckos hot side at 100 plus.

 

[Jennie]

It drops between 95 and 98/99 depending on the weather here - its been pretty cold out (Washington State). My cool side has been into the mid 70s during the day, drops into the high 60's at night. I keep an additional heat emitter on the tank along with my UTH just to keep the temp up. I bought a timer yesterday and had that extra heat source plugged in to shut off when day lights go on, but it was getting too cold. I now have the timer set for 12 hour cycles, which is so much nicer not to have to worry about.

I'm guessing she ate some mealies yesterday and the super worm I had in there...only because I saw she threw it up this morning. I'm hoping shes okay, I know she must be stressed out and still trying to get used to everything. But shes pooping normal and I see her drinking water.

 

[Fencer04]

I saw you mentions lights. Do you just mean your house lights or do you have lights on the enclosure? They can stress out some geckos. How long have you had her, it is normal for them to not eat for a few weeks to maybe a month after being transported to their new home.

I had a gecko regurgitate some mealies the first two times it ate but was fine after that.

 

[Jennie]

Enclosure lights. I have it set for 12 hour cycles, like I said.