IM A NEW GECKO OWNER AND FULL OF QUESTIONS

[Kazuya's mom]

I WAS SO SURE THAT MY NEW GECKO HATED ME BECUASE HE WOULD ALWAYS RUN AND OPEN HIS MOUTH AT ME BUT THANKS TO YOUR FORUM I LEARNED ITS BECUASE HE IS SO YOUNG AND SO THAT IS FIXED. HE HAS ADAPTED TO ME WELL. SOME PEOPLE SAY GECKOS ARE NOCTRUNAL. BUT HE WAS FROM A SHOP WHO HAD THE LIGHTS ON AND THEY WERE HARDLY HANDLED. MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS THAT HE ISNT EATING. HE MAY DO IT AT NIGHT I DONT KNOW. AND I DONT EVEN KNOW IF HE'S A HE BECAUSE HE IS SO YOUNG. BUT HE IS DEFACATING AND URATE IS ALL OVER.BUT WHEN I DO A COUNT OF THE CRICKETS, THE NUMBER IS THE SAME. I HAVE THE CRICKETS IN THE TANK AT ALL TIMES JUST IN CASE HE GETS HUNGRY, IS THAT MY MISTAKE? MY FRIEND BABYSAY FROM THE FIRST NIGHT I GOT HIM TO THE NEXT NIGHT AND SAID HE ATE 6 IN ONE SITTING. SO TECHNICALLY I HAVE CARED FOR HIM FOR 4 DAYS. I HAVE NOT SEEN HIM EAT OR DRINK. AND THE CRICKETS ARE LIVING IT UP RIGHT NOW. HEELLLLPPPPP!!!!

(I HAD A COUPLE OF TURTLES BEFORE BUT THEY ARE NOW IN MY GARDEN WITH BABIES OF THEIR OWN SO I DECIDED TO TRY GECKOS BECUASE THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE PRETTY CHILL,ALL EXPECT MY EVIL KAZUYA:main_laugh:

 

[ByRandom]

Don't take offense but next time try not to type in all caps, I found it difficult just following along.

If you've only had it for four days, you're probably stressing it out more than you are helping. Take all of the crickets out.

What are you keeping him on (substrate)? How are you heating him?

Leopard Geckos in general, but especially babies, get stressed out easily. They don't eat, they don't come out, they do nothing except hide away until they feel comfortable. He can't become comfortable if you're continually checking on him and have crickets in his enclosure all the time. I understand you're just worried, but just leave him alone for a few days, and try to feed him Crickets/Mealworms.

They are nocturnal. I don't understand what the Pet Shop's lights have to do with it -- all of the pet shops I've seen turn out the lights when they close up...

 

[KiKi]

josh is right you need toleave him alone to get used to his new home and you need to also feed mealworms,dont leave the crickets in the cage all the time cause that will stress him also.

 

[Scott&Nikki]

You should put only as many crickets in the tank at 1 time that he/she can eat in about 20 min. After that time is up, you need to get the crickets out because they may bite at your leo which can stress them out, as stated above. It may also help if you do not have a bright light shining on him. The best way to see if he is eating is to feed him mealworms. Most likely he will eat at night when no one is around him. You need to keep those in an escape-free dish which makes it very easy to tell is he is eating. Keep in mind, it may take several days for him to realize not only where the mealworm dish is, but also that it's contents are food. I have had my leo only 2 months and have seen her drink twice, so don't worry about him drinking as long as you see urates. I agree with the other suggestions about handling him. Don't chanse him around, just let him get used to you at his own pace.

 

[Kazuya's mom]

i have a blue light that was to calm him down and i have a heater underneath. thanks guys. i will take them all out. he seems really ok when i hold him and he mostly sleeps. but i will take them out. im going to call the pet shop and see how they fed him.

 

[Kazuya's mom]

and its not like i check every 10 seconds. i had been counting the crickets everyday. but i wont need to cuz now i will take them out. thanks

 

[Stitch]

Keep the Under Tank Heater (UTH), belly heat is preffered over a heat lamp. What are you using to control the UTH with? If the room does not get much light you may need a white light for the day time so you can create a day night cycle. If you want to view him at night without bothering him buy a red light, they cannot detect it.