Newb Help

[crazy4geckos]

Hey everyone i have a few questions. First off im not a reptile newb just a leo newb. I just got a leo at the reptile super show in Pomona yesterday and shes a Tremper Het raptor. They didn't tell me how old she was or anything just the gender and morph. I got her setup in a 10 gallon yesterday and bought a big rock hid, UTH, Food bowl, and some repashys calcium plus. But i put her in last night and she drank A LOT but hasn't ate. The food bowl was too shallow and the meal worms kept getting out so i put them in a small container and put water in the old food bowl. About how long until she starts eating? i have a 60 watt heat bulb just because its chilly in my house and have a UTH under where her hide is. i also have a container in there with some calcium with no d3. And I'm using paper towels as a substrate but since the meal worms keep getting out they hide under the paper towel SO my main 2 questions are does it sound like I'm doing everything right? When will she start eating? Shes also very nice.

 

[acpart]

Congratulations on your new leo. It can take several days before a new one will start to eat. I had a leo that neither ate nor pooped for 2 weeks. He's up around 85 grams now. If you put a bit of gutload or carrot in the mealworm dish they are less likely to get out. So far it sounds as if you're doing everything right (you could tape down the paper towel at the sides; I use ceramic tile). Just be patient she'll eat eventually.

Aliza

 

[Embrace Calamity]

Do you only have one hide? And how are you monitoring temps? If you're having mealworms get out, you can buy a smooth plastic dish to put them in. But like the above said, sometimes it takes them a while to settle in and eat. Make sure to not handle her for one week minimum.

~Maggot

 

[crazy4geckos]

ok i have a temp gun and thermometer probe.

 

[crazy4geckos]

oh and yes i only have one hide so far i still have to buy more stuff and decorate it really nice i like the idea of making burrows but i don't know of any substrate to make burrows in the ground. I know your not supposed to use sand and ive seen people make things like what i mentioned above out of Styrofoam but that sounds like too much work.

 

[Embrace Calamity]

oh and yes i only have one hide so far i still have to buy more stuff and decorate it really nice i like the idea of making burrows but i don't know of any substrate to make burrows in the ground. I know your not supposed to use sand and ive seen people make things like what i mentioned above out of Styrofoam but that sounds like too much work.

You need a minimum of three hides - one on the cool side, one on the warm side, and a humid hide in the middle. Leos need to move in different places of different temperatures to keep their body temperatures where they need to be but still be able to hide. If they don't have that, they'll stay in a place that makes them too hot or too cold just so they feel safe, which isn't healthy and could lead to stress and decreased appetite. So don't wait to do it. If you want some nice things but can't get them immediately, just use plastic containers with holes cut in the side or tops (with wet paper towel for the humid hide). It won't be pretty, but it'll do until you can get some nice hides.

Also, leos don't really burrow, so providing them with a substrate that holds burrows would be kind of pointless. They'll dig on occasion, but nothing like monitors or hognose snakes.

~Maggot

 

[Ozy]

I use an old glad container with a hole cut in the lid and eco-earth for my leo's humid hide. When I first started out her vivarium was UGLY. Paper towel substrate, the box she came in with a hole cut in the side, the glad container humid hide, butter tub for the cool hide.. LOL! I just bought stuff little by little to make it look nice and now it looks awesome. But she has always had what she needs! It didn't LOOK nice, but it served it's purpose

 

[crazy4geckos]

She still hasnt ate of today should i be worried? she looks a bit thin and her skin is a little wrinkled too. And i havent seen her come out she just stays in her hide. When i move the hide she looks around and walks to her other hide then at night when no ones around shell just go back to her main hide.

 

[crazy4geckos]

SHE JUST BIT ME?!?!?!? :main_robin:

I picked her up and she was calm and then licked me then i felt a wet thing close on my finger and i see her mouth open! it didn't hurt at all. although it did feel weird:main_laugh:

 

[Embrace Calamity]

Has she eaten yet?

~Maggot

 

[crazy4geckos]

When i posted she bit me i was cleaning up her cage and then i through all the dead meal worms away and put 6 new ones in the dish and right now i checked and they're all gone :main_laugh:

 

[Embrace Calamity]

Are they regular sized mealworms or giant ones? Put more in. Let her eat as much as she wants.

~Maggot

 

[crazy4geckos]

i bought them as mini's but they only got a little bigger so they're regular. I put 10 more in there and she ate 6 of them ill check to see if she ate them all in the morning.

 

[B&B Geckos]

Don't worry about the ambient temp... It will seek the warmth over the UTH. Therefore, you don't need the 60 watt bulb. Do ensure that the floor surface temp over the UTH is bt 88-94.