New 4 YR Old, Not eating, Shy...

[lucky7]

Hi picked up a 4 Year old leo last thursday.. Jan 3rd.

I hardly see him come out, except for an occasional poking around out of his hide out with his head. I made the switch from a Night Glo Light 24/7 To a basking light during the day, and the night one during his waking hours.. (Night Time) I have put crickets in there, sometimes they disappear, and I have cleaned his poop once.

Right now there are two crickets in there, and have been for 2-3 Days. The crickets go into his hideout with him!! And I don't see him put up a fight at all, they just are in his hideout with him.. just earlier tonight, I put my finger up to his hide out and touched the cricket to get it to move .. and he made a try to bite at my finger... After that he came out a little of the ways, then went back in facing away.. about 9.45 PM This happened.. Is that because he doesn't wanna wake up yet????


When will all of this change???

Day time temp: 78-81
Night Time: 70-75 (I turn off the light now ...)

 

[The Sunset Gang]

First, his temps are kinda low. Usually we seperate it into warm side and cool side. The warm side should be between 90-94 and cool side at room temperature. As far as eating goes, he may need some time to adjust and try to be patient with him. I would take out those crickets because depending on size, they can nibble at him. Have you tried mealworms?

 

[OSUgecko]

You're witnessing typical gecko behavior. All leos are nocturnal, and lots of leos stay in their hides most of the time. Some individuals are more active than others, but as long as he is eating, drinking, and isn't losing weight, I wouldn't worry about him at all. He is probably still stressed from his move and it may take a while (as in several weeks) for him to really settle in. He may get more active as time passes. Try some gentle handling for about 5 minutes or so daily, but don't mess with him other than that; he'll eventually tame in. Be patient!

You don't need a basking light (it's too bright for them) - just use the "night" light instead. Do you have a undertank heater? Geckos prefer belly heat. Your temps are also pretty low; he may be more inactive simply because he's not getting warm enough. Do you have a "warm side" and a "cool side" to his tank? He needs a temperature gradient to properly maintain his body temperature.

Don't leave the crickets in there with him without some sort of food source for them for extended periods of time... crickets have been known to bite geckos if they get hungry. Take them out after a day or two of being in the tank, gut load them, and put them back in the tank 24 hours later (repeat as necessary); when your gecko gets hungry, he'll eat them.

 

[lucky7]

Thanks.. Would picking up a 100 W Red Colored Night GLo Light Be smart?? Because they can't see that color... = leave on 24.7 ?

Just a couple minutes ago
I lifted up his hide to discover that there were no crickets there! He did eat them... he dugg a little bit, and reached the bottom so, he went somehwere else. When he got there, started to digg (While i moved more sand onto the dugg up area) He came over to my hand and licked it a little bit, and then i put his hide back and he dug back in. I found poop in a corner where he usually goes.. which means he is eating And I know he drinks... I put another cricket in ..

Does gentle handling mean picking up?? Because to do that I would have to remove his hide from top of him.. and then hold him?? in my hands?? Ok .. just wondering

THANKS AGAIN

what are their usual bed times, and when do they usually wake up???
Thanks again...

all answers appreciated..


PS I have photos of him in my gallery!! take a look.

 

[The Sunset Gang]

Its good that he ate those crickets. Do you have him on sand? Because I really suggest to put him on something like tile or paper towel. Sand can cause impaction. Are you not heating the tank with a UTH? They don't really have bed times. Usually when the sun comes up they sleep and sun goes down they are awake.

 

[lucky7]

Yes he is on sand calci I think. I know I know, I am going to pick up repti-carpet today, but thats the thing.. I have read a lot about how bad sand is, and then I read a book on leopard geckos that says that, "Geckos will only resort to eating sand when they have a lack of calcium in their diet (If I were to not dust their crickets in calcium) and that is when impaction could happen.. Also, repti-carpet .. I am worried will be uncomfortable for him, and the little bits he could eat at. So tile it is... But where do I get it??? I guess I will switch to paper towels temporarily?

How to handle is still my question...

I have heard to slowly reach hand underneath and lift from stomach. Make a cave with both hands? What if he bites... etc etc

 

[The Sunset Gang]

You can get tile at Lowes or Home Depot.
When going to pick him up lift his hide and make sure he sees your hand. and then just gently pick him up from under his belly. Put him on your chest and make a loose cave and talk to him in a soothing voice. If he bite, it shouldn't really hurt and usually leos don't bite unless threatened.

 

[lucky7]

Ok Thanks.. Right Now the store I need to visit is closed, so I will lay down paper towels.. Any of you have any good ideas on a temporary home??

(While I take out his hides/sand/plants/ etc to lay in paper towels. Where should I keep him where he can be happy for 25 Min or so...?
and how often do I clean with the paper towels in there/ how do I clean...
..
Thanks...

Lucky7.

 

[The Sunset Gang]

I can just hold mine when I do tanks, but yours isn't that tame... what did you get him in? or use tupperware or something he can't escape from.

 

[lucky7]

I brought him home in a plastic yogurt container, He was a little crammed in there. Would it be all right to lay him in a plastic (GLAD) container with paper towels and his hide in there? and I would make it tall enough so I could not have to put a top on (So air could come in etc)

how do i clean the paper towels? and how often..

 

[The Sunset Gang]

yeah a glad container should be fine. To clean paper towels, just remove the part that there is poop. You should probably change the paper towel weekly or bi weekly and just clean when he goes to the bathroom.

 

[lucky7]

How many layers of paper towel? 2?

And should I wait until later tonight to change up his cage?? He is asleep now and I don't want to cause stress + The new substrate may be new and uncomfortable for him at first..

Eventually when I get the chance, would Repti-Carpet be OK? To use?

I know for sure I am going to get a 100 W Red Glo Bulb next visit too...

thanks.

 

[The Sunset Gang]

as many layers as you want really. it doesn't really matter when you change his substrate. peoplwe do use repti-carpet but i don't so i can't really tell you about that.

 

[lucky7]

Okay. thanks for all of your help.

Any one who does use repti carpet? is it good? bad? PS What kind of tiles exactly.. what brand maybe? if I have time to pick those up... and how do I clean/change those.. (just take em out and rinse?)

Thank.s

 

[The Sunset Gang]

Your welcome! Now I do know about tiles. HaHa. I just went to Lowes and looked for a white or off-white tile. since I have a ten gallon tank, I needed two cut to size which is free of charge. The total for the two tiles was $8.59 or something like that. To clean those I spot clean every time they go to the bathroom and one a month a take out the tiles and rinse.

 

[lucky7]

I think I will go with repti-carpet. Thanks anyway.
As for an UTH.. are they necesary?? Or does that just help a little during the winter months.. etc..

And I have calci-powder to put on my crickets.. but It says it will last for 8 Min after applied. I have never seen my gecko eat crickets within 8 Minutes of the crickets being put in... any ideas??

How long can leopard gecko's go without food.

 

[Ipsl]

I would recommend a UTH over any over head heat source for several reason. But the one that most people dont talk about is cost... they only use like 7 watts compared to 75 or 100 for comperable heat... so its WAY cheaper in the long run.

I use mealworms for that reason. Cause they cant clean themselves (mealies I mean)

 

[lucky7]

Hi All. Thankyou so much for your help.

Just picked up:

REPTI CAGE CARPET 15 Gallon Size

and

100W INFRARED HEAT GLO


I will make the changes later tonight (Substrate)
And will install the light right when I am done posting.

At what time do you suggest I take him out and empy the calci-sand??? What time is best for minimal stress....

and,
will he be stressed in his new substate habitat?? and for how long would you estimate...





also I will be sure to post picts of the before terrarium , and after in my gallery. thanks

 

[lucky7]

Hi All. Made the changes, everything went fine. He is exploring around now and doesn't seem to stressed. I held him close to my chest for about 5-10 Minutes before putting him in, he seemed pretty comfortable with me and licked occasionally.

Please! See photos of old tank, new tank, and critique my vivarium! Tips/Suggestions Appreciated.

Thanks for all your help, "The Sunset Gang" I used a glad tupperware plastic container for him while I emptied the sand, worked like a charm... @ Everyone else who helped thanks again... Will post here if I have any more questions.

but for now, I am open to feedback.

The new thread: : http://www.geckoforums.net/showthread.php?p=148621#post148621