Multiple Jailbreaks, want to find out why.

[hilarity_ensues]

Background Info:
My leo is around 2 years old and I've had him for about a month. I bought him off a breeder who was selling off his stock as he was moving out of the country. He had been kept in a rack system his whole life, and I'm not exaggerating when I say that his enclosure was no bigger than a shoe box.

TANK INFO
Size: 10 gal, 2 hides
Substrate: Paper towels
Lighting: None
Heating: Thermostat controlled UTH and always on ceramic heater above hot side (if my room gets too warm though I'll turn it off for a few hours)
Temps: 90-93 hot side / 80-83 cool side

Now, I realize my tank size could be the issue, however I feel like it is a huge upgrade to the conditions he was living in previously, and he NEVER leaves his hides. The only time he is out is when he's switching sides, and he won't even eat out in the open. For the first 2 weeks of my owning him, he never ate because his bowl was out in the open. I tried every feeder insect to no avail, and one day out of desperation I tossed a superworm into his hot hide while he was in it and instantly heard shuffling and crunching. Even still, he won't eat more than two superworms a night (which I partially attribute to them not being in a bowl and scurrying off under a fold of the paper towel), so that worries me as well. He won't eat any other feeder insect that I've tried that way either. His tail is fairly plump still, and only went down slightly during his initial 2 week fast.

ANYWAY, I never kept a lid on my tank because I just assumed that due to his timidness he'd never try anything. But last week he proved me wrong. After a major tear down of my room I found him hiding under the space of my very heavy book case...which is right beside his cage. Catching him was easy because he never really moved or tried to run away.
Then today, I noticed he was gone again (I found a tunnel behind his girly pin up poster on the wall..haha no I just didn't replace the lid properly the night before). I immediately checked behind the book case and lo and behold, there he was.

So because he hides within the small space under the book case and doesn't explore or wander around, I don't think it's because he desires more room in his cage. I think he's looking for the dark and tight spaced security he's been living in his whole life. And I really don't want to move him into a box (even if it's bigger). I understand that it'll probably take months, if not years for him to get used to being in a glass tank.

Since this is my first leo I'm not used to their behaviours, so I was hoping someone here might catch something that I'm overlooking, or offer up some insight or advice.

Anything would be appreciated, thanks for reading!!


PS: Here's a picture of him in his box of shame after I caught him last week, is that a decent size for his tail despite his only eating 1-2 superworms a night? As far as I can tell its size hasn't changed much over the time I've had him.

 

[OnlineGeckos]

Get a mesh top. There's no way you could teach a gecko to not get out of the tank. A 10 gallon is fine for a single leopard gecko (20 preferred), but they are not tall enough to prevent them from getting out. They are great at jumping and combing, don't underestimate them. They may look docile and slow when you are watching. But once you turn the lights off and leave them alone, they'll see the open space above their head and they'll find a way to get out.

So to save yourself some trouble, and for the safety of your gecko, just put a mesh top on the tank.

 

[Angela Gatt]

I have only owned my gecko for a few months myself, so I am no expert... but here's my opinion anyway:

- From what I understand, your cool side is too hot. Try to get it down to 72-74 if you can. This might be tricky with your small cage. How big is your UTH? Is there a smaller size available? Maybe this is why he is leaving..... too hot!
- I also have read that geckos should have 3 hides: 1 in the hot area, 1 in the cool, and 1 in the middle. The middle hide should be a humid hide. I use damp paper towel in mine. I have purchased some of the magnaturals magnet ledges, and one of these is a hide. That might be a good solution to get another hide in there despite a small tank.
- Are you only feeding Superworms. He likely wants some variety. Superworms are like Mcdonalds. Try some crickets or mealworms. His tail looks HUGE to me in the photo.

Hope this helps!

 

[Simon Mayor]

Can you post a picture of your viv.
Got to agree with the previous posts add a screen lid and at least a moist hide. It might be worth offering even more hides if he prefers dark small spaces.

Maybe some rock ledges, Stuff like this:

Komodo Basking Platform Corner Ramp Sandstone, Large: Amazon.co.uk: Pet Supplies

Ideally give him something so he feels enclosed but so you can still see him. Then if and when he feels more comfortable he will venture out on top. You could try making your own.

Apart from the hides you could try adding other cover like artificial plants with lots of leaves (my leo's are always hiding themselves in the ones on the ones I have - then a locus comes along and its like Rambo waging war )

Also what time of day are you feeding him? - you need to make sure you're feeding him at night, I find mine eat more if they're fed after they become active - I usually try to feed after 10:30. If your not doing it may also be best to feed him without the lights on - use a red bulb as leos can't see this light, or add your food then go back 30 minutes later to see if it has been eaten. They do go through phases where they don't eat. Try some different food, one of my males is really picky and gets bored of some foods. But he seems to love locust (There more expensive but it's better to pay that little more for a fat happy gecko). - btw his tail looks fine, the fatter the better but as long as it is thicker than his neck its good. Try weighing him on some digital kitchen scales and check him once a week, to see if he is losing any.

Sorry if you already know this but I remember when I first got mine - it's so easy to overlook things and there is so much contradictory information out there.

 

[Lavodnas]

Do you have any pics of his hides or his entire current setup? It may give a better idea on what to advise.