Moist hides

[karencowboymojo]

Hi, We are new to Leo gecko's. I have been reading a lot about the Leo's needing a moist place to hang out in. Pet smart said I could just spray water in there bonsai cave if I am using carpet which I am but I think it would dry out fast as the heat lamp is 100 degrees and what about spraying them with warm water once a day? My care sheet say's to spray them once a day with warm water, but they said never spray them. A lot of people use moss in the hides. Should I get 2 more moist hide caves as I have 2 dry ones now? I am returning my 24" house for a 36" one this evening so I will have lots of room. These little guys are very young maybe 5" to 6" total length. I know they have to have carpet and no sand or Eco earth as they can ingest it and get sick, Now what about moss being so young? Is it the same? Could they get sick if swallowed? Thank you and I hope to get some good advice as I already have about the heating. Thanks to all.

 

[ElapidSVT]

if you're using a heat lamp, i doubt the animal will live long enough for it to matter much. leopard geckos need undertank heating, and as they are nocturnal animals, lighting of any sort on the cage will typically cause them to stop eating and eventually die of starvation.
moss should be fine in the moist hide. i use paper towel, personally. i also use paper towel as a substrate.

good luck!

 

[katie_]

if you're using a heat lamp, i doubt the animal will live long enough for it to matter much. leopard geckos need undertank heating, and as they are nocturnal animals, lighting of any sort on the cage will typically cause them to stop eating and eventually die of starvation.
moss should be fine in the moist hide. i use paper towel, personally. i also use paper towel as a substrate.

good luck!

This isnt always the case.
You CAN raise geckos with heat lamps if you have the right temperatures, its just not IDEAL.
They need belly heat, and unless you have warm rocks under the lamp, the carpet will absorb the heat.
Lights can also stress them out, but it no means would it %100 kill you gecko.
Youre better off using a UTH, but I have seen many healthy geckos kept under an above the tank heat source.

 

[LeopardShade]

the heat lamp is 100 degrees

That's pretty hot for these guys, who generally do best with an average warm side temperature of 88-94 degrees Fahrenheit. Like others said, I'd ditch the light and go with an UTH. Leopard geckos typically do not need overhead heating sources like the one you have provided, and an overhead heating source should, IMO, never be the primary source of heat for leopard geckos. Like katie said, it can be done, but a UTH is usually regarded as the best heat source and is most frequently recommended and advised. If overhead heating must be used (i.e. if one is needed to maintain optimal temperature), you should invest in a ceramic heat emitter or red bulb, something that emits little to no light.

My care sheet say's to spray them once a day with warm water, but they said never spray them.

They do not need to be sprayed once a day, heck, they do not need to be sprayed at all. That would provide superfluous ambient humidity that the leopard geckos truly do not need. The only humidity that should be provided should be in the form of a moist hide.

I use paper towel for my moist hides, but moss can be used. There have been cases of impaction from moss (http://geckoforums.net/showthread.php?t=77558, but it is still commonly used. Impaction is more likely with young geckos, so to be on the safe side, I'd stick with paper towel for now, but you can switch them to moss when they get a bit older if you'd like.

 

[Russellm0704]

if you're using a heat lamp, i doubt the animal will live long enough for it to matter much. leopard geckos need undertank heating, and as they are nocturnal animals, lighting of any sort on the cage will typically cause them to stop eating and eventually die of starvation.
moss should be fine in the moist hide. i use paper towel, personally. i also use paper towel as a substrate.

good luck!

This is inaccurate Information. Yes the gecko will thrive better with an UTH and will be way less stressed without lights. But the gecko will not die. We are here to help others to take better care of their animals. Not to scare them.

 

[hayley13]

you do need a wet hide with some moss in as it helps them to shed properly and then just spray the wet hide every so often when it starts to dry out. i would suggest using a heat matt too as it helps with there digestion better than a heat lamp.

 

[karencowboymojo]

if you're using a heat lamp, i doubt the animal will live long enough for it to matter much. leopard geckos need undertank heating, and as they are nocturnal animals, lighting of any sort on the cage will typically cause them to stop eating and eventually die of starvation.
moss should be fine in the moist hide. i use paper towel, personally. i also use paper towel as a substrate.

good luck!

I have an UTH and I use a red nfrared heat lamp and It keeps the temp at 100 6" down as recommend . Is that a good set up? I was going to get a CHE but someone told me they don't hold heat well and aren't worth the 35 bucks. If I buy one can I use it in my light stand i have above the tank? I have a good set up just working on the heat thing so i can perfect it, I have gotten attached to these little guys and wouldn't want any thing to happen to them.

 

[karencowboymojo]

if you're using a heat lamp, i doubt the animal will live long enough for it to matter much. leopard geckos need undertank heating, and as they are nocturnal animals, lighting of any sort on the cage will typically cause them to stop eating and eventually die of starvation.
moss should be fine in the moist hide. i use paper towel, personally. i also use paper towel as a substrate.

good luck!

I have an UTH and I use a red nfrared heat lamp and It keeps the temp at 100 6" down as recommend . Is that a good set up? I was going to get a CHE but someone told me they don't hold heat well and aren't worth the 35 bucks. If I buy one can I use it in my light stand i have above the tank? I have a good set up just working on the heat thing so i can perfect it, I have gotten attached to these little guys and wouldn't want any thing to happen to them.

 

[karencowboymojo]

This isnt always the case.
You CAN raise geckos with heat lamps if you have the right temperatures, its just not IDEAL.
They need belly heat, and unless you have warm rocks under the lamp, the carpet will absorb the heat.
Lights can also stress them out, but it no means would it %100 kill you gecko.
Youre better off using a UTH, but I have seen many healthy geckos kept under an above the tank heat source.

We purchased an UTH last night and i run a red heat lamp on a lamp stand my temp. 6 inches down is around 100 which petsmart recommended. 1 of 2 pet sources where i live ): Someone recommend a CHE but someone said they don't hold heat well and im not sure if i can run it in my lamp stand. Would i be better off with the CHE hanging and the UTH? thanks

 

[karencowboymojo]

That's pretty hot for these guys, who generally do best with an average warm side temperature of 88-94 degrees Fahrenheit. Like others said, I'd ditch the light and go with an UTH. Leopard geckos typically do not need overhead heating sources like the one you have provided, and an overhead heating source should, IMO, never be the primary source of heat for leopard geckos. Like katie said, it can be done, but a UTH is usually regarded as the best heat source and is most frequently recommended and advised. If overhead heating must be used (i.e. if one is needed to maintain optimal temperature), you should invest in a ceramic heat emitter or red bulb, something that emits little to no light.



They do not need to be sprayed once a day, heck, they do not need to be sprayed at all. That would provide superfluous ambient humidity that the leopard geckos truly do not need. The only humidity that should be provided should be in the form of a moist hide.

I use paper towel for my moist hides, but moss can be used. There have been cases of impaction from moss (http://geckoforums.net/showthread.php?t=77558, but it is still commonly used. Impaction is more likely with young geckos, so to be on the safe side, I'd stick with paper towel for now, but you can switch them to moss when they get a bit older if you'd like.

So what is your thoughts on temp 6" down when i am running the UTH? Right now i have the red heat bulb on it is a 100 watts.

 

[karencowboymojo]

This isnt always the case.
You CAN raise geckos with heat lamps if you have the right temperatures, its just not IDEAL.
They need belly heat, and unless you have warm rocks under the lamp, the carpet will absorb the heat.
Lights can also stress them out, but it no means would it %100 kill you gecko.
Youre better off using a UTH, but I have seen many healthy geckos kept under an above the tank heat source.

I have the UTH with a red 100 watt heat lamp on a stand what should the optimal temp. be on the floor above the UTH and 6 " down from top of tank? Pet Smart recommend 100 degrees as this is there basking area. Im not liking what they are telling me. I really appreciate all of everyone's thought and information on the forum. thanks

 

[karencowboymojo]

Thanks! My husband has read where some Leo's eat the paper towels so we cut a wash cloth in half and I took my sewing machine and finished the edges and folded that part to the floor just so they don't chew on a loose string or piece of wash cloth. And It makes for a soft bed they lay on all day long but Ringo likes the cool side a lot better than Dexter he will sleep there half the day or more under the green's.