Moist hide Questions

[zak.payne]

Hey everyone,

I have had leopard geckos in the past but have taken a break since I am away at college. However, I have a sudden urge to get back into the hobby and with my knowledge from my past tanks (and a little more money now) I plan on making the tank look very life-like.

In the past I just used a Tupperware container and cut a hole in the side of it and filled it with a moss (don't remember the kind off the top of my head). Does anyone have a slick idea on how to make it more appealing? I have read that some people glue rocks and such to the container but I was curious if there are any easy, and eye pleasing ideas that I could purchase out there?

Thanks for any suggestions!

 

[Embrace Calamity]

They make commercial humid hides just like they make commercial regular ones, if that's what you're often.

~Maggot

 

[zak.payne]

I'm really open to any ideas. I will go down the commercial route if need be, I just don't like the look of just Tupperware. Do you by chance have a link to some commercial ones that I can look at?

 

[Embrace Calamity]

I found a few:

Zoo Med Repti Shelter
Exo Terra Gecko Cave | Reptile Habitat Accessories from Doctors Foster and Smith
Exo Terra Gecko Cave Reptile Hideouts are Natural Looking Hide & Basking Spots

This could probably work as well:
Exo-Terra Reptile Dens Are The Perfect Reptile Hiding Spot

You could use one of these too (and I think they look kind of cool):
Ancient Egyptian Vases are the Coolest Reptile Hideouts Out There
Ancient Mayan Vases are the Coolest Reptile Hideouts Out There

~Maggot

 

[zak.payne]

Also, since it is in the thread, what substrate would you recommend for inside the hide? I plan on just using paper towel while my gecko is still a juvenile but would change it when it is older. I have read that using moss is ok, but is it the best?

 

[Embrace Calamity]

I think most people prefer coco fiber: Eco Earth® Coconut Fiber Substrate It stays more humid than moss and it's nice and soft. Moss works fine too, though, and lots of people use it. Paper towels are a pain because they need pretty much daily misted to stay moist.

~Maggot

 

[GexPex]

+1 for Maggot. I use EcoEarth, Plantation Soil, or Bed-a-Beast depending on what's cheapest at the time that I buy it. All the same stuff...coco fiber. I only mist mine maybe once or twice a week and it stays moist throughout.

 

[Embrace Calamity]

+1 for Maggot. I use EcoEarth, Plantation Soil, or Bed-a-Beast depending on what's cheapest at the time that I buy it. All the same stuff...coco fiber. I only mist mine maybe once or twice a week and it stays moist throughout.

I got the Exo Terra Plantation Soil as part of a kit, and it seems like it doesn't stay as moist for as long as Eco Earth. I use the plantation soil for my snake and have to spray it every few days, whereas the Eco Earth for my leo needs sprayed maybe once a week. Maybe it's just my imagination, but there seems to be a bit of a difference.

~Maggot

 

[zak.payne]

Would using the coconut fiber be ok for a baby leo? If it is I may as well go that route. Sorry for so many tedious questions!

 

[Embrace Calamity]

Would using the coconut fiber be ok for a baby leo? If it is I may as well go that route. Sorry for so many tedious questions!

I don't see a big problem with it. Ingestion of substrate occurs when catching insects (so don't feed in there) or to compensate for a lack of food/vitamins (so make sure you've got all that down). Even if they do ingest it, it should be able to be passed just fine as long as hydration and heat is okay. However, some people prefer to be safe rather than sorry with such little creatures and wait until they're at least several months old. So that's up to you, really. Judgment call.

~Maggot

 

[DrCarrotTail]

I have a a couple of the repti shelters. I find them heavy, bulky and they don't hold humidity well. In fact when I had them in their tanks the geckos started using them as a bathroom....<sigh>

Personally I use sphagnum moss in my "everyday hides" and Coco fiber in my lay boxes. Once i find some organic peat moss I'm probably going to switch that out with the coco fiber as the coco fiber seems to dry out pretty quickly.