Newb, need help

[Joker9]

So I got a leo (female, adult) on the 6th and have been doing research ever since, but I find a lot of conflicting information so I thought I'd post here and just ask my questions.

She's very shy still...she won't come out from under her log very much at all. I've handled her several times, trying to get her used to it but I think I am scaring her?

Previous owner was using 2 bright clear bulbs, I read that this annoys them so I went to my local pet store and got one red "nightlight" 40w bulb instead (she's in a 10g tank)-- and at first she loved it basking in it for hours, then back under the log.

Being nocturnal I run the lamp during the day for 12 hours of dessert like heat, then turn it off at night as the dessert gets cool. Is this the right thing to do?

I'm not sure if she's drinking. Like I previously stated she's just hiding a lot.

She does eat, so that's a good sign, I was able to hand feed her a frozen cricket today....but she hasn't pooped since we got her.

I just really want to make sure I'm doing everything I need to be doing for her because I want her to live a long happy life with us.

How do I get her to settle in more and overcome her shyness?


Any/all types and suggestions are welcomed.

Thanks

(Sorry for the re-post)

 

[roger]

So I got a leo (female, adult) on the 6th and have been doing research ever since, but I find a lot of conflicting information so I thought I'd post here and just ask my questions.

She's very shy still...she won't come out from under her log very much at all. I've handled her several times, trying to get her used to it but I think I am scaring her?

Previous owner was using 2 bright clear bulbs, I read that this annoys them so I went to my local pet store and got one red "nightlight" 40w bulb instead (she's in a 10g tank)-- and at first she loved it basking in it for hours, then back under the log.

Being nocturnal I run the lamp during the day for 12 hours of dessert like heat, then turn it off at night as the dessert gets cool. Is this the right thing to do?

I'm not sure if she's drinking. Like I previously stated she's just hiding a lot.

She does eat, so that's a good sign, I was able to hand feed her a frozen cricket today....but she hasn't pooped since we got her.

I just really want to make sure I'm doing everything I need to be doing for her because I want her to live a long happy life with us.

How do I get her to settle in more and overcome her shyness?


Any/all types and suggestions are welcomed.

Thanks

(Sorry for the re-post)

.Your right get rid of the bright lights during the day u dont need it.Also leos dont eat frozen food.crickets have to be live.leos need movement.Most of us use an under tank heat pad that people keep on 24/7.Leos will move to the cool end when they need it and move to heated end of the tank when they need the warmth to digest their food.People only use an infrared bulbs in conjunction with the uth if their ambient temps are 65 and lower.You also need pure calcium dish in their tanks and they need calcium with D3 and a general vitamin supplement.I use MINER I.you want the warm end at 90-95 degrees with 2 hides one being a moist hide.

 

[RocksMama77]

Roger is right, definitely get rid of the bulbs and use uth. Live prey is best, you can get crickets, mealworms, or roaches online for alot lower than you could in store. I use roaches and they are great. I have a colony that feeds all six geckos and one turtle. As far as getting her used to you there is agreat trick that one of the people suggested on here. Wet your hand and place it in the cage. Don't move your hand and let your leo come to you. She will then begin to associate you with water and then she will not mind you at all. Don't do this with food cause this will get you bitten. It wont hurt but it still is shocking. Just be patient. I have two leos I have had for a while that still are very nervous with me but i just got a new one who already climbs up my arm to get out.

 

[CallDr]

Post a pic of your tank.

Handling. What do you mean by scaring her when you handle her? What is she doing? Or is it before you take her out of the tank?

 

[Joker9]

roger, I do know all that but thank you.

......and yes Gecko's (at least Nina) will indeed eat frozen crickets. I had put 2 live crickets in, she only ate one, then 2 days later it was still alive to I thought it was pestering her (per what I read online) so I took it out and froze it and last night she ate it frozen right out of my fingers, lol, it was a bonding experiencing.

Post a pic of your tank.

Handling. What do you mean by scaring her when you handle her? What is she doing? Or is it before you take her out of the tank?

Before I take her out of the tank she'll back up in to a corner all , I even offer her a finger lick first.

First poop today since the 6th woo hoo! lol:main_laugh:

Can anyone offer advice that can't be easily found on google?

I would like to know why she isn't coming out and basking in the infrared light during the day anymore, why at night she isn't as active as a young gecko should be.

Should I leave the lamp on at night instead of during the day?? Would that help. She's kept in a room that's a constant 75+. The red light 102V I think, it pumps some decent heat and does penetrate to the bottom of the tank.

PS.

I can't post a pic of my tank set up right now, no camera and can't afford data charges on my phone bill. :main_thumbsdown:

 

[Northstar Herp]

The heat might not be enough, so she stays put. Can you check the temp on the floor when the heat lamp is on?

I think the live vs. frozen thing is more about them eating live BETTER. If you fed her out of your hand, then she probably saw it moving anyway. They really are movement activated eaters.

 

[roger]

So I got a leo (female, adult) on the 6th and have been doing research ever since, but I find a lot of conflicting information so I thought I'd post here and just ask my questions.

She's very shy still...she won't come out from under her log very much at all. I've handled her several times, trying to get her used to it but I think I am scaring her?

Previous owner was using 2 bright clear bulbs, I read that this annoys them so I went to my local pet store and got one red "nightlight" 40w bulb instead (she's in a 10g tank)-- and at first she loved it basking in it for hours, then back under the log.

Being nocturnal I run the lamp during the day for 12 hours of dessert like heat, then turn it off at night as the dessert gets cool. Is this the right thing to do?

I'm not sure if she's drinking. Like I previously stated she's just hiding a lot.

She does eat, so that's a good sign, I was able to hand feed her a frozen cricket today....but she hasn't pooped since we got her.

I just really want to make sure I'm doing everything I need to be doing for her because I want her to live a long happy life with us.

How do I get her to settle in more and overcome her shyness?


Any/all types and suggestions are welcomed.

Thanks

(Sorry for the re-post)

your are the first person whose leo eats frozen prey.thats a first for me.Can anyone chime in on whether thats good or bad for a leo to eat frozen prey.I really dont know

 

[CallDr]

The heat might not be enough, so she stays put. Can you check the temp on the floor when the heat lamp is on?

I think the live vs. frozen thing is more about them eating live BETTER. If you fed her out of your hand, then she probably saw it moving anyway. They really are movement activated eaters.

Yup..... thats the cool part! Watching them eat or chasing their live food. The look sometimes in their face is awesome as they look down before the plunge or move their tail .... and BOOM!... they can be fast!

 

[Northstar Herp]

I can't imagine it would be bad for them to eat frozen food. It doesn't hurt snakes to eat f/t mice and rats. It's just hard to get leos to do it, most of the time, since they're so motion oriented.

 

[roger]

I'm not sure I would want to feed my leos frzen items Just my opinion

 

[Northstar Herp]

I'm not sure I would want to feed my leos frzen items Just my opinion

Yah, me neither. I do know some folks who like to deal live prey, though. To each his own, I guess...

 

[Joker9]

A frozen cricket is not that big of a deal and can't harm a reptile. I did it only to preserve the food since she wasn't interested and live prey left in the tank long term can irritate leo's, even eat their feces and then when the leo eats the cricket they can get really sick. So I'm not saying "hey frozen crickets are the way to go" It was just the right thing to do at the time -- would I do it again if the same scenario occurred? Yeah why not.... I didn't wiggle the frozen cricket around either, I just held it in front of her, any living creature will eat when it's hungry. Plus they sell freeze-dried crickets at pet stores, so it's like live prey vs dead, half & half I say. I'm all set with housing a dozen live crickets -- females don't eat as much as males anyways....but I understand she needs the stimulation and it is very cool to watch her hunt and gulp one down.

I think her lack of motivation is adjusting to new noise + she's getting ready to shed, because I've found some shedding's in her water dish which was odd but cool.