Is Glycerin toxic to Leopard Geckos?

[GeckOG]

Hey everyone.

I was curious if Glycerin would be toxic to leopard geckos, i know that people who breed wax worms use it too keep the bedding wet so it would have the same effect on wet paper towels for shedding.

It doesn't harm wax worms so maybe it wont harm geckos, but i don't want to experiment! without knowing if its been done safely before.

I don't use loose substrate so i put wet paper towel in the hot hides when it's almost time for shedding, the problem with that is the paper towel drys out super fast so i have to go back into the habitats remove the hides and re wet the paper towels multiple times through out the day.

In the process i stress them out (they get really jumpy and easily stressed when they're about to shed) and it is a hassle for me as well.

Thanks in advance!

 

[DrCarrotTail]

I believe Glycerine it is used as a food source for waxworms, not solely to keep moisture. I don't think Glycerine is toxic but I would absolutely not use it in a moist hide. If you want something that holds moisture better get some sphagnum moss and/or don't put your hide directly on the heater. The water will evaporate faster the hotter the container is.

 

[Ozy]

Paper towels are horrible at holding moisture. You need to have a dedicated humid hide. Leopard Geckos sleep in rock crevices and burrows with higher humidity during the day and come out at twilight. Not only does it help with shedding, but it helps to keep them properly hydrated. Just get a cheap Glad or Ziploc sandwich container. Put some moist eco-earth in it. Cut a hole in the lid, put the lid back on and PRESTO! Humid hide! Don't worry about the eco-earth. Ozy has gotten a mouthful of it a few times when a mealworm or something falls in there. She always just poops it right out. I have my humid hide right on one side of the UTH and it stays moist for around 3 days. Ozy has herself a little burrow dug out in there and sleeps in it most everyday.

 

[SC Geckos]

I use paper towels in humid hides for my hatchlings and males and don't have any issues. They stay moist for 2 - 3 days. I do let them completely dry out before wetting them again which helps prevent any thing nasty from growing.
The males humid hides are just plastic containers with a hole cut in the top. The hatchlings have just a damp paper towel under foam meat trays (I guess not technically a humid hide). All my females get coco fiber in there humid hides.

What are your humid hides made out of??

 

[GeckOG]

I use paper towels in humid hides for my hatchlings and males and don't have any issues. They stay moist for 2 - 3 days. I do let them completely dry out before wetting them again which helps prevent any thing nasty from growing.
The males humid hides are just plastic containers with a hole cut in the top. The hatchlings have just a damp paper towel under foam meat trays (I guess not technically a humid hide). All my females get coco fiber in there humid hides.

What are your humid hides made out of??

They are stone hides, I lay wet paper towels inside them and spray the inside..most all my geckos insist on shedding on the hot side, that's why they dry out so fast.

I'm pretty dead set on not using coco fiber or moss, they makes a mess and they can eat it..no loose material in my gecko habitats.

 

[SC Geckos]

They are stone hides, I lay wet paper towels inside them and spray the inside..most all my geckos insist on shedding on the hot side, that's why they dry out so fast.

I'm pretty dead set on not using coco fiber or moss, they makes a mess and they can eat it..no loose material in my gecko habitats.

Well then.... I would recommend to continue to mist the humid hides (with water) frequently to keep them moist. Or you can use something else as a humid hide that will hold moisture better/longer. I would not use anything other than water though.(JMO)