New gecko

[drew]

My son just got a leopard gecko yesterday.
Today there is an awful poop stench coming from the aquarium.
There was only one poop in the cage but it smells like my dog pooped in it.
The odor keeps getting stronger and his whole room smells, is this normal?
Everything I read on them said they shouldn't stink.
Please help.

 

[gothra]

Since the leo just came to your home yesterday, I would give it a few days to settle down and see if the poop will return to normal. Usually it shouldn't stink; but sometimes it happens when the gecko is really stressed. If the poop is still loose and stinky after some days, then a fecal exam should be done.

 

[drew]

Thank you.
His stools are not loose. I'm just not certain it is the poop since we took it out and the smell is just getting worse.

 

[roger]

My son just got a leopard gecko yesterday.
Today there is an awful poop stench coming from the aquarium.
There was only one poop in the cage but it smells like my dog pooped in it.
The odor keeps getting stronger and his whole room smells, is this normal?
Everything I read on them said they shouldn't stink.
Please help.

if it is frsh fecal then yes it will smell until it dries a little.remove the feces then witeh paper towel

 

[Pokersnake]

Lol! One of my guys smells to high heaven after he eats crickets. Even when it's dry it still stinks. Normally there is a slight odor only if you decide to stick your nose right over the tank, but it's not that bad.

 

[Dog Shrink]

Are ya sure the dog didn't sneak a poo into his room somewhere? I use a litterbox for my leo (a tie box cut to size and wrapped in duct tape with desert sand in it), and I never have any smell from my tank. The sand dries out the poo really fast and absorbs any liquid and clumps it together almost like that clumping kitty litter. I just sift it thru a collander once a week and voila... all nice and clean again.

 

[drew]

You know, I really did think the dog poo'd in the room til I stuck my nose closer to the tank, the smell is so strong and there aren't any poops in there. I just hope he doesn't kill himself with the stench! Someone else mentioned it could be he is stressed, we will hope that is it and the smells dies off.
I think I will try the sand in a box. Right now we just have the reptile carpet, so messes are easy to find.
Another question, if we feed him meal worms do we have to take their head off? I read this somewhere and am now confused. He is a juvenile, the girl in the pet store said 2 or 3 but I'm not sure they know what they are talking about. Also, can they ever eat freeze dried crickets or meal worms. I was thinking of having on hand in case we run out and can't get to the store.
Thanks to everyone who has answered my questions, it sure helps out!

 

[Dog Shrink]

They only eat live prey. The freeze dried stuff they won't likely eat. Also most of the pet shop kids don't really generally know a lot about what they sell. You'll see more and more on here about "I got my leo at the pet shop and...(insert misinformation here)".

As far as the litterbox goes you will need to bait it with some of the leo's poo to change where he is going. Putting the litterbox in a spot he has already picked may make it easier but having that poo as bair to scent attract was so easy with Eros. Here's a top view of my litterbox area in my tank just to give you an idea what it looks like.

Eros is in a 20 long set up and the litterbox is right on top of his hot hide.

Something else I was thinking is you said you're using repticarpet. Did you wash it out before you started using it? I mean really well like vinegar and soap wash to remove all manufacturing leftovers? Also are you using any type of heat light? Infra red, spot light, basking light, moonlight bulb? If you are it could be baking the carpet and THAT is actually what you smell not poo. I have smelled warm repticarpet before and it wasn't pleasant.

 

[drew]

No, I didn't wash the carpet. Didn't say to do so on the directions and I didn't think about that. Yes, we have a light, 2 in fact, one for day, one for night. We bought the things a man at the pet store told us to buy. I will take the carpet out later and wash with vinegar, I really hope that is what is causing the smell.
When you say 20 long, do you mean the tank is 20 inches long? and why do you put the litter on heat?
Thanks again, I know my questions may seem silly but I am learning and will take as much help as I can get.

 

[GeckoGurl]

20 long meaning its a 20 gallon long tank (they also make 20 gallon tall) of course the long has more floor space. Do you have a under tank heat pad? Cause that is what is really necessary. You should not need lights with that unless you are a case like I am. My house has poor heat so I have a red heat light just for some winter days that the temp drops in the house. I do not always have to use it though. you could take the carpet out and put down paper towel for now and see if that helps the stench... most people use paper towel or tiles as sand is not safe (but if you insist use play sand not calci sand) and carpet can hold a lot of bacteria and also they can get their claws stuck as well. Hope this helps a little. Good luck!

 

[Dog Shrink]

No, I didn't wash the carpet. Didn't say to do so on the directions and I didn't think about that. Yes, we have a light, 2 in fact, one for day, one for night. We bought the things a man at the pet store told us to buy. I will take the carpet out later and wash with vinegar, I really hope that is what is causing the smell.
When you say 20 long, do you mean the tank is 20 inches long? and why do you put the litter on heat?
Thanks again, I know my questions may seem silly but I am learning and will take as much help as I can get.

I'm not really intending to put his litterbox on his hot hide, it's jut an area he feels comfortable coming onto often since it's so close to his main den. I could put it on the cool side lounge area but when he was settling in I wanted to make it obvious and easy. The heat really only serves to dry out the poo faster so it doesn't stink.

Also as far as the lighting goes, if one is a UV light please don't use it. Leos are noctournal and natural UV lighting can absolutely stress them out (they shouldn't need more than the light from a window to keep them on a day/night cycle), and for some of the albino strains can really hurt their sensitive eyes. If you have the leo in a dim room you can put a regular 15 watt incandescent frosted (not clear) light bulb in there and set it up on a timer to govern day/night cycles with out stressing your leo too much. It'll add about 3-4 degrees of hear to your tank as well.

Lastly you should always clean anything, sanatize it properly before adding it to your enclosure. Plants, furniture, sticks and wood, carpet or tile or natural stone. I even wipe down light bulbs before using them to remove any manufacturing residue. and yes a 20 long tank is a 20 gallon but long rather than high. it's about 50 inches long bu 12 inches wide.

My tank just to give you an idea. I do have the 15 watt incandescent bulb in my fisture that yuo see there. I alternate between taht and a 50 watt blue moonlight bulb when ambient temps are lower:

 

[GeckoGurl]

Nice tank Dog Shrink!