Is my Leo too cold? Or lazy?

[Neville]

So winter has arrived and my gecko seems to be really extremely lazy basking on his high rock under the Red heat glo bulb. Sleeping all day all night. Ive noticed hes not even coming down to eat. He just shed a couple days ago and stayed in his cave longer than usual.
Under his light he has a UT heat pad with ceramic tile on top. So I know there is heat there but maybe not enough? I have my thermometer just over the tiles and under the light reading at 85-87. His cool side is pretty cool at 72. So is he just sticking to the basking spot because the rest of the place is too cold?

 

[Dog Shrink]

Yes that is too cold IMO. His hot range should be between 93-95*F hon.

 

[Jordan]

also geckos dont need a basking lamp, or the need to bask.

 

[Neville]

Well its not really there as basking lamp but i have the IR Heat Glo on the hot side over top of the heat pad because the heat pad doesnt seem to do much except heat the ground. There is a Magnatural that he climbs up on and lays there to sleep sometimes. Its closest to the light so hes taking in the heat.
I turned up the Heat Glo to give some more warmth. We will see if that makes him happier.

 

[roger]

Well its not really there as basking lamp but i have the IR Heat Glo on the hot side over top of the heat pad because the heat pad doesnt seem to do much except heat the ground. There is a Magnatural that he climbs up on and lays there to sleep sometimes. Its closest to the light so hes taking in the heat.
I turned up the Heat Glo to give some more warmth. We will see if that makes him happier.

But thats what u want !! You want to heat the ground or the surface temps.They need belly heat not ambient heat

 

[Neville]

Well thats what I have. Its a small exo terra heat pad under slate tile in the far corner by his hot house. So that obviously isnt working too well. I live in a cooler city like you and even with the heat on it can get chilly in the night. So Im guessing he does need ambient because when I put it on higher he became more active.

 

[Dog Shrink]

They need belly heat for proper digestion but if your ambient temps are too low then they're obviously not going to want to move much away from their warmest spots. I think elevating the ambient temps can only help. After all in the desert it isn't 100 degrees on the ground then 75 degrees 5 feet above the ground.

 

[roger]

Well thats what I have. Its a small exo terra heat pad under slate tile in the far corner by his hot house. So that obviously isnt working too well. I live in a cooler city like you and even with the heat on it can get chilly in the night. So Im guessing he does need ambient because when I put it on higher he became more active.

or u can use an infrared bulb and put it over the warm end until u get the desired 95 deg.so put the bulb nearer or farther unti u can obtain that temp

 

[Neville]

Yeah that's what I'm using ATM. IR Heat Glo 75w on a dimmer over his hot spot in a 15g long. And he seems to be doing better. Actively at least. But still not eating like he use to.

 

[roger]

Yeah that's what I'm using ATM. IR Heat Glo 75w on a dimmer over his hot spot in a 15g long. And he seems to be doing better. Actively at least. But still not eating like he use to.

keep track of his weight.leos slow down their eating in the winter.Also once they get to a certain age their eating also slows down

 

[Neville]

Oh yeah? I usually feed him 2 supers every other day. Ill try one every other day maybe. Couple crickets on the weekend. Hes still young. About 2 years old.

 

[Dog Shrink]

That sounds like an adequate feeding schedule, but just an FYI 2 yrs old isn't a juvie anymore. It is an adult.