Old VS. New Tank - Critique Please!

[lucky7]

Hi All . I have had my gecko for 10 days today, and bought some things to make some changes today.

The Old : Calci-Sand, 50 W Basking Heat Glo (Exo Terra)

The New: Zoo Med REPTI Cage Carpet, 100 W Red Infrared Light, (Same Hides/Dishs' Etc.)

See for yourself.


Do you think I have made the necessary improvements??

THE OLD TANK.

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Sorry if its a little big. Diego is in the hide to the left.



The New Vivarium!

New VIV W. Red Infrared On!

Lastly.. Diego exploring around..

My Leo Diego.

Thanks a lot for all the fedback. The little white dish you see is his calcium dish. Thanks for tips...


Constructive Critisism Accepted!!!
Thanks.


-lucky7

 

[Ccrashca069]

Leopard geckos need belly heat. Do you have an Under Tank Heater (UTH)?

 

[GeeEssFore]

Unless i dont see it you will need a humid hide.

 

[lucky7]

Hi I don't have A UTH. But the REPTI CARPET should conduct the heat well? and last time I checked the floor was warm enough. And question, I thought I only need a humid hide for when he turns white (Shedding Time) .. Can you elaborate a little more??

Thanks!.....

 

[Ccrashca069]

they need belly heat to digest their food. How do you know if the carpet is getting warm enough? Do you have a temp gun or a dig therm with a probe or you have one of those temp strips you stick on the tank that only gives the air temp?

They need a humid hide all the time and it gets placed on the hot side of the tank.

Sorry if I sound bad or anything but just making sure your leopard gets set up right for you.

 

[Ccrashca069]

Your Diego looks very nice BTW

 

[lucky7]

Thanks. just wondering, can he live without a UTH??

and why is it (just curious) that he always needs a humid hide? (Besides shedding)

but doesn't that only happen occasionally??? or does he just chill in there sometimes for no other reason... just wondering..

thanks..!

 

[Ccrashca069]

My geckos sometimes just chill in the humid hide. Some of mine that shed don't go in the hide most some do. I have even just sat down and watch them for a while. Its fun to see them interacting with each outher and hunt crickets and eat mealworms.
They can go without the UTH providing the temps are like daytime 90 hotside and you don't turn the light off at night. The soonest you can get an UTH the better.

 

[lucky7]

OK Well I will just keep my light on 24/7.

As for the humid hide, He needs it to shed in ? When exactly does he shed? and when he does, (starts turning white) why can't I just put it in then? Thanks..

(Just trying to not crowd things up)

 

[ataber]

all of my leos prefer humid hides as opposed to dry hides. Not sure why just do. i'd put one in there all the time but thats just me. aside from helping them shed its a good source of water as mine will lick the water droplets off the sides of the hides.

 

[lucky7]

thanks. and i know many people have different opinions on this but

A) Where do I place it (Hot end, Cold End)

B) What do I put inside (If paper towels, in side of what?)

Any photos of your moist hide?

Thanks .

 

[geckoluv2187]

My geckos love the moist hide. They spend most of their time in there, whether they're shedding or not. I put mine half in the hot side and half in the cold side. When I had it on the hot side, it dried out really fast and I was constantly having to re-wet it. Now it stays warm, but not too warm.

Also, are your hides maybe a little small? Can your gecko fit inside?

 

[Baker14]

Diego is very nice.!

 

[johnnyboy4783]

I also now put the humid hide in the middle of hot and cold side to keep from drying out on the hot side.

 

[moosassah]

Diego's a cutey, but his hides appear to be small.

I have one of the magnetic rocks with cocoa fiber stuffed in the top chamber as a humid hide. I keep it in the middle of the tank. My other 2 tanks I use paper towels in one of the hides & add water. We check our leos all the time & when we notice shedding is about to occur we increase the wetness/thickness of the papertowels.

I would not skimp on the UTH. It is probably the most important item a leo needs otherwise Diego will have trouble digesting his food. Why are you hesitant?

Speaking of food, I don't see a mealie worm dish. Lots of people keep a dish in the tank at all times with mealies in it.

 

[Mel&Keith]

You'll definitely need an under tank heater, then you should be able to do away with the light. Human heating pads work well in my opinion and they have an adjustable temperature control. Plastic food containers with a whole cut in the top work well for humid hides, we just put moist paper towels in ours.

 

[lazzara8478]

Im not going to go into what everyone has already said, but theyre giving very good advice. If you are worried about Overcrowding, youre right to. Theres very little room to work with in a 10 gallon. Id look in to upgradong AT LEAST 10 a 15 gallon, it really does make all the difference. a 20L would be Optimal as it would give you plenty of room to include everything Diego needed but not look like too much. I have a leo in a 29 ( same floor space as a 20L) and my other in a 20 high (same floor space as a 15, but I got it free.) I hope this helps. Diego is quite handsome BTW

 

[lucky7]

yes well he seems to fit them well so I am not to worried. The only reason why I was hesitant about the uth is because I have Been told every where that they are simply a supplement and that the light can do all the heating... (and that his digestion should be fine. When i feel the floor substrate it is very warm i think he is fine. I will add a humid hide tonight... Is mealie dish absolutely necessry?? Or on ocassion can i just feed him some mealies?? Thanks! And by the wqy i have a 15 gallon not 10.

 

[Surf_420]

with that 100 watt heat lamp you have, you might want to make sure the air temperature doesnt get too hot for the gecko. like everyone else said a moist hide and more importantly belly heat is needed for the gecko to be able to live right. guarantee you get a UTH you gecko will eat more and be more active.

 

[The Sunset Gang]

In my opinion, you can get rid of the above light and get a UTH. They do aide in digestion, but you don't need to listen to all of us on hear, we are just trying to help. The new tank does look better!