Juvenile acting odd

[Marvb427]

Ok cool, TY spots. Yea i thought i had done my research well about the gecko before i got it but apparently not :/. I have been leaving it alone and not hovering over the tank.

 

[Spots]

Don't say that...lol It's an ongoing learning process. I'm still learning too

 

[Marvb427]

When do you think i can safely start handling it? i was going to wait till sunday but i dont know if i should wait longer.

 

[Marvb427]

And also..should i start taking it out and putting it in a separate container to feed it?

 

[fl_orchidslave]

Def need a UTH and most folks would say no lights, as they really aren't needed. Some people like viewing lights but these should be used sparingly IMO as they can cause stress. But for primary heat source NO! I don't like attaching heat mats to the glass and will use a slate tile underneath to keep it pressed to the glass, just my preference. These are things that can be addressed without disturbing your gecko while it's getting settled in. As far as the substrate, I would wait a bit before trying to get that changed. Less to worry about for you right now and the gecko will be happier too. I've seen people get a new gecko and keep messing with stuff in their tank, then wonder why the animal is scared and won't eat.

 

[Marvb427]

Ok i just orderd an UTH ...ugh i feel like such a dummy for listening to the guy at the store.....hopefully it will be here monday.....It will be fine until then right?

 

[Spots]

Yea. I had a heat lamp and carpet for...almost a year before I knew about anything different. I always just went to petsmart for all my advice so don't feel bad.

Handling...I don't know. I would just wait until he/she (i don't think you ever say if it is a he or she lol) is settled in. I'm not really sure how long this would be. If you do handle he/she, just put your hand out and let him/her smell it. Do this over a few days until they get used to you so you don't cause too much stress. I think it's a matter of opinion when you think the gecko is ready to be handled?

Again, the food is a matter of opinion. If you feed worms, then it won't matter too much as you should have a bowl for the worms. If you feed crickets, I feed in a separate container when I feed crickets so I can take out the ones that the gecko doesn't eat. Also, then you don't get the powdered outprints from the dusted geckos being dropped into the cage and you don't have to worry about the crickets hiding places. Make sure it is a tall, plastic/glass material so the crickets can't climb out. But yea, it's your opinion. I just find it easier when I do feed crickets, to feed out of the tank.

 

[Marvb427]

Ok Ty for the tip..i decided to use the lid off my calcium jar as a feeder dish and i put about five small worms in it, that way i can see if its eating, without having to disturb the tank.

 

[fl_orchidslave]

Sometime when you're out and about, check in a dollar store for tea light candle holders. Clear or light colored is best, so gex can see worms wiggling. Some peeps use glass ashtrays. Then there's pet shop food dishes. Personal preference, but you will want to pick up something the mealworms will not escape from. I feed large superworms to my adults, and they don't often escape the tea light cup. If your gecko takes to the lid, you can wean it to a dish after a short time. Hope the food stays down tonight!

 

[Pinky81]

Just thought I would throw this in here too! First congrats on the Leo, and good on ya for the research! All great advice above but I haven't seen anyone say anything about leaving a little dish of calcium in the Viv for your young Leo, since Leos go through such large growth periods its very important to provide a constant source of calcium in the tank..you Leo will go up and lick the calcium up as it feels it needs it. Mine are almost a year old at this point and I still notice my male will go to his dish and take a lick or two. My female is breeding right now so she seems to always have her head in her dish.

Lots of people use whatever dish they can find...I have little reptile bowls I keep as their calcium bowls.

Also you have a very cute little guy! Soon as he gets a little bigger we could all try to help you find out if he is a boy or girl!!!

 

[Spots]

Hahaha forgot about that. Pure calcium in the tank and calcium with d3 for dusting and vitamins for dusting . You can get a good dusting supplement but I just alternate between my supplements since they are not pre mixed .

Side question to other responders....because I don't feed crickets often, I don't know how much vitamins the gecko actually gets so I leave vitamins in the tank too and it seems to be the first thing gone lol. Is this okay?
Since you bought yours from petsmart they prob told you about the calcium dish thing although they probably didn't tell you about the differences between d3 and regular calcium so you will have the check what you bought

 

[Marvb427]

Thank you . I will try and find a dish and see if it will like that. I noticed this morning that two out of the five worms i put in the dish were gone so im guessing it had a little snack

 

[Marvb427]

Yeah...they didnt say anything about the difference :s...teach me!!!!

 

[Lithuin]

I leave calcium (without D3) in a dish in my tank and generally it's only my female who eats any of it, and only when she's gravid. I still gut load my crickets and dust. From everything I've seen and researched, your gecko will eat what it needs and can't really 'overdose' on JUST calcium.

I heard something once about leos getting some kind of spots behind their legs from eating a lot of calcium, but that it wasn't harmful. Someone else may want to elaborate on that though.

EDIT- Also, on heating, I use an uth and a night glow lamp because my house is drafty. Just food for thought if your house is on the cold side and the uth doesn't cut it.

 

[Marvb427]

Well I went to petsmart today and they didn't have just calcium...everything had d3 with it.am I going to have to order from the net?

 

[Spots]

I got my calcium from a local pet store instead of the petsmart chain so you could try looking at other stores? If not, the internet definately has them. You'll have to do a search of the differences of D3 and pure calcium as I can't remember the specifics off the top of my head lol too much D3 can be dangerous

 

[Marvb427]

Ok thank you!....i have good news!...it ate . I decided to handle it tonight for the first time. I prepared a little "feeding area" that was lined with paper towels. I picked it up and put it in it with a few worms but it didnt seem too interested. So i put it back and put worms back in the feeding dish. Later i turned on the moon glow light and i covered the majority of the tank with a draped over towel. Eventually it came out for its usual drink but then it discovered it feeding dish. I watched as it chomped down and swallowed a decent sized worm and then started walking around the rest of the tank..i think it might be getting settled in finally hopefully my UTH will get here soon!

 

[fl_orchidslave]

Some gex will not eat if someone is watching. Shy eaters. Others are ready to chomp down. They all have unique personalities, you will grow to learn yours