I NEED HELP!!!!

[thestack510]

I have a fugitive on the loose. I was taking pics the other day and turned around for a split second, and she was gone. She is young so I don't know how long she can last without a good meal. I've made a hide with a trap door, but no sign of her yet. This is day three. She was plump when she escaped, but it's been a while. I let a few small crickets loose in my room hoping she'll hunt them down. There are some large furniture items in my room that can't be moved easily, that is most likely where she is hiding. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[thekooliest]

Put out a heat mat with a bowl of mealies (WHERE YOUR DOG/CAT CAN'T REACH).
Look everywhere. Look at night with a flashlight. Get someone else to help. Look methodically. This musn't be fun, but I am sure you will be able to find her, she should be able to live a good bit longer. If you have a dog or a cat, make sure they cant get to her first.
Another thing, geckos are fast and can get under small places, so don't just look in the room they escaped from. Also look around a heater, or something warm.

 

[LeapinLizards]

Oh goodness Ken! How scary.

My suggestion, like Sam said, would be to set up a couple different hides around your room, and water as well. I would look at night, as that is when they are out most. He/she is probably bunkered down somewhere. Hopefully she is in the same room, but I would make sure she stays there by putting a towel in the crack under the door.

Good luck! Keep us posted.

 

[thestack510]

Thanks for your suggestions. I duct taped under my door, so I'm pretty sure she can't escape. I'm afraid to ask anyone here for help because they're careless. I don't want to find her on the bottom of someone's shoe. I left her food and water in a hide. No dogs or cats here, strictly cold blood. I've been trying the flashlight thing too, and waking up before the sun. Last time one escaped it eventually found it's way to the back of my rack system, I'm hoping this one will do the same, looking for heat. Thanks again for your input, Sam.

 

[thestack510]

Thanks Heather. I'm a nervous wreck about this whole thing, because she is so young. I'm hoping to see a bright pink flash across the floor soon. I went into lockdown mode as soon as she escaped so I'm almost sure she is still in here. My room stays locked until she is safely back in her enclosure. I might not even go anywhere for Thanksgiving, because I'll be dwelling on where she's at.

 

[LizMarie]

Get some night vision goggles and a wax worm on a string... j/k

I'm sorry to hear about her escape. I never had this happen to me but they said they might want to hide in warm dark places so check those places out. And don't worry too much I've heard a Leos being lost for months and still survive even though they're skinny. Make sure you don't have an poision or traps laying around that if you have them that is. You wouldn't want a gecko eating it or getting caught. I hope all goes well. A little gecko advice if you were a gecko where would you hide? hmmm..

 

[thestack510]

I thought of the night vision thing too, and infrared, but reptiles won't leave good heat signatures, darn it! I also considered the fishing approach. Thanks Liz, I needed a laugh.

 

[nats]

Put out a heat mat with a bowl of mealies (WHERE YOUR DOG/CAT CAN'T REACH).
Look everywhere. Look at night with a flashlight. Get someone else to help. Look methodically. This musn't be fun, but I am sure you will be able to find her, she should be able to live a good bit longer. If you have a dog or a cat, make sure they cant get to her first.
Another thing, geckos are fast and can get under small places, so don't just look in the room they escaped from. Also look around a heater, or something warm.

Sam brings up a very good point.
If you have dogs, or esp. cats, be very careful.
Also, like Sam says, it's best to have a little help in your search.
I cant add anything to what Sam has already said, except that they tend
to not go very far, and since they need food and warmth, you can keep that
in mind in your re-capture strategy. You are best to search at night, as this
is when he will be most likely to wander about.
Good luck, and don't worry, you will find him okay :main_yes:

 

[thestack510]

Thanks nats. I have my rack system and a small refrigerator in my room, hopefully she'll go to one of those spots seeking heat. Nothing but cold blood here. I have a RTB and nearly 60 Leos.

 

[nats]

Thanks nats. I have my rack system and a small refrigerator in my room, hopefully she'll go to one of those spots seeking heat. Nothing but cold blood here. I have a RTB and nearly 60 Leos.

Ken, it seems like most escapee's are from those rack type systems.

Do you think that's a concern, or just coincidence?

 

[thestack510]

It didn't escaped from the rack, I had her out taking pics and I turned around for a split second, and ZOOM! I raise my hatchlings in smaller containers within the tubs, they'd have to break out twice.

 

[Libby15]

Good luck!! I think the heat from the back of the fridge would be the place to watch.

 

[thestack510]

Thanks for the good luck wish...

Good luck!! I think the heat from the back of the fridge would be the place to watch.

I'm watching like a hawk. I miss my baby.

 

[LeapinLizards]

Ken, it seems like most escapee's are from those rack type systems.

Do you think that's a concern, or just coincidence?

Nats, as long as a rack is built correctly, with an 1/8" space between the top of each tub, and the shelf above, there are no escapees. The smaller geckos cannot even reach the top of the tubs, and the larger ones are MUCH too large to fit through that tiny of a space

 

[thestack510]

Yup, my adults don't have a chance at fitting through that gap, and the yougsters can't reach it, as Heather said. Heather's system is great, check out her thread about it guys. I'd hire her dad if I could. He did a great job.

 

[Mel&Keith]

We've only lost one young gecko, it was for almost 2 weeks, and Keith finally found her running across the hallway at 4am. She was nice and plump which would have been slightly disturbing if we didn't have lots of crickets escapees as well. We had 3 dogs at the time which didn't seem to bother her wherever she was hiding. You can try setting up at heat mat with a hide in the room and check it late at night. Everyone I know that's lost a Leo has found it eventually, I'm sure yours will show up when it wants to!

 

[Amber7399]

sorry to read this ken.. i know how it feels. My female escaped twice!!!!!(<---the one pictured to the left ) the first time. i found her like two days later at 1:00am in the bathroom. where the cabinets meet the floor.. under the sink area. when i got up in the middle of the night to use the restroom.
and the second time, i found her the next day, of all places INSIDE my kitchen cabinet. laying infront of a cassarole pan.. (gave me quite a startle when i opened the cabinet door to say the least)..

I am sure you will find her safe & sound. I know it's hard, just try not to worry too too much.

 

[thestack510]

Thank you everyone. It comforts me to know that in most cases the fugitives have turned up safe and sound. I'm hoping the same for my Skrimp Marie. She got her nickname (I may change it as she develops) because she looks like a little pink shrimp, and Marie because she is het eMARInE, to help me remember her genetic makeup.

 

[Kilikina]

i'm so sorry to hear about that! i'd be freakng out, i'm sure. good luck finding her!

 

[GeckoGathering]

Escape from Alcatraz

Thank you everyone. It comforts me to know that in most cases the fugitives have turned up safe and sound.

First, good luck finding her.........
Suggestions from 3 escapees .........Bath or shower connected to the room lost in?.....#1 Found one of mine in the folds of the shower curtain.

#2 take two waste baskets..(or use shoe boxes or?)..put them on their side bottom to bottom and set up in a corner of your room..(gets her from two directions)....small heat source between the two bottoms, small hide in each basket, water source/use damp paper towel........
Do the same thing in locations in likely places
(closet? small fridge heat, etc.) .......can you get some help to lift up the small fridge?...likely place but don't roll it over her.......Take care. HJ