Perks of working at a pet store! Free stuff! PICS

[njnolan1]

So a customer came in and said her son is bored of the gecko they got awhile ago and she was the only one taking care of it. She didn't care for it as a pet but still gave it proper care. She asked me weeks ago if I wanted him and I told her I would take it because they're awesome but unfortunately I couldn't afford everything else it needed.

She came in a couple weeks later and said she would give me everything! Including a stand she purchased at Walmart! I paid nothing for this awesome little guy. He's pretty calm, but when I pick him up he gets a tad wormy but calms right down. Hasn't hissed, jumped, snapped etc... at me at all. Eats right out of my tongs or fingers. Love this guy! Healthy too, has all his toes and no markings of damage except for the end of his tail where it looks like there may have been a break. It has healed nicely.



Being new to L. geckos I do have some questions but since this is an area for showing off I'll ask in another thread.

 

[LepoInc]

I don't see a cord for an UTH. Do you have one?

 

[njnolan1]

Nope. I've read enough to trust that he's good the way he is. This is the way they've cared for him since they got him as a baby. He's 8 inches, has all his toes, has a huge appetite and is active. I'm going to increase the light wattage though because he spends most of his time chilling outside of his hides under the light. The thermometer says 95 but it's right under the light. I think I'm at 60 wattage but zoo med has a distance from light temperature chart so I have to do a little measuring. Maybe even some remodeling. Think I'm going to get a piece of slate to put under the light so he can get that belly warmth too.

 

[katie]

You really, really need a heat pad. You don't need any heat lights. I know that you said this is how they cared for him since he was a baby, though impaction (which can occur from not having a heat pad) takes a long time to happen - from weeks to months to years. Eventually he will be at the point that he won't be able to digest his food anymore, and there is a high chance of him going down hill, fast. If you think about it, leopard geckos are nocturnal. They would rarely come in contact with the sun. So what is the point of heat lamps for them? When they come out, the rocks and ground is heated by the sun. Therefore, they get only belly heat. We can never replace this natural method, but we can try. Using the opposite way though is not the direction you want. Heat pads are pretty cheap, usually only $30, plus $30-$60 for a good thermostat. I really hope you make the decision to get one, because in the end, it is the best choice for your pet.

 

[njnolan1]

You really, really need a heat pad. You don't need any heat lights. I know that you said this is how they cared for him since he was a baby, though impaction (which can occur from not having a heat pad) takes a long time to happen - from weeks to months to years. Eventually he will be at the point that he won't be able to digest his food anymore, and there is a high chance of him going down hill, fast. If you think about it, leopard geckos are nocturnal. They would rarely come in contact with the sun. So what is the point of heat lamps for them? When they come out, the rocks and ground is heated by the sun. Therefore, they get only belly heat. We can never replace this natural method, but we can try. Using the opposite way though is not the direction you want. Heat pads are pretty cheap, usually only $30, plus $30-$60 for a good thermostat. I really hope you make the decision to get one, because in the end, it is the best choice for your pet.

I appreciate your concern and advice! I just don't have 60 bucks right now to do that. I'm going to get a higher wattage bulb and possibly a piece of slate to place the bulb over. I would get the heat pad instead and chuck the lights but I can't do the thermostat.

 

[katie]

I appreciate your concern and advice! I just don't have 60 bucks right now to do that. I'm going to get a higher wattage bulb and possibly a piece of slate to place the bulb over. I would get the heat pad instead and chuck the lights but I can't do the thermostat.

Well what are you measuring the temperatures with? I dont see any digital thermometers

 

[njnolan1]

You're starting to kill my high.

 

[katie]

You're starting to kill my high.

Not sure what to say to that.....:main_lipsrsealed:

 

[CharmedMom]

You really, really need a heat pad. You don't need any heat lights. I know that you said this is how they cared for him since he was a baby, though impaction (which can occur from not having a heat pad) takes a long time to happen - from weeks to months to years. Eventually he will be at the point that he won't be able to digest his food anymore, and there is a high chance of him going down hill, fast. If you think about it, leopard geckos are nocturnal. They would rarely come in contact with the sun. So what is the point of heat lamps for them? When they come out, the rocks and ground is heated by the sun. Therefore, they get only belly heat. We can never replace this natural method, but we can try. Using the opposite way though is not the direction you want. Heat pads are pretty cheap, usually only $30, plus $30-$60 for a good thermostat. I really hope you make the decision to get one, because in the end, it is the best choice for your pet.

^^^110% agree.
Your gecko really needs a heating pad. Without one he won't be able to properly digest the food he eats.
It'll be cheaper to buy a heat pad now then several vet visits later.

 

[bfb345]

If you truly are high you should stop spending money on drug paraphernalia and save some for your gecko duhh

 

[lora01fl]

Nope. I've read enough to trust that he's good the way he is.

Then you really haven't read enough. The belly heat is essential to his long-term health and will not be provided with the heat lamp even if you put a slate underneath it. A heat lamp really isn't needed at all. A uth and appropriate thermostat should be a top priority regardless of his prior care. Try craigslist maybe or do you get a discount at the store you work at?

No one is trying to kill your high; we want you to be able to enjoy him for a very long time!

All of the above aside, he is very cute and I'm glad you are so excited to get him!

 

[tibi]

of course a uth is better for a leopard gecko but only because it's a nocturnal reptile and light can cause stress in some cases. the leo will do just fine with the light bulb. there is a vivarium nearby where i live where they also have a few leopard geckos in a terrarium with just normal light bulbs for heating sources. they have them for more than 12 years and they are perfectly healthy. i use 8w jbl terra temp heat pads for my leos because they work perfectly without a thermostat. i think you can buy them at around 15 dollars. the ones from zoo med are also good.

 

[acpart]

In my opinion, as long as the gecko can have consistent belly heat in the low 90's it should be fine. Most of us supply this via a UTH, which I think is the easiest, but there are people who successfully supply it with a heat source from above (which is where the heat source in nature is). I was surprised to read recently that in the wild it's likely that nocturnal geckos spend very little time active out of their burrows, and probably most of it is soon after sunset when the rocks are still warm from the sun (this was in the Gecko Answer Book that I reviewed for Gecko Time a few weeks ago). If the gecko isn't bothered by the lights, continues to maintain its weight, is getting the right belly heat temperature, then using lights, though not the usual solution, sounds do-able.

Aliza

 

[Embrace Calamity]

You really, really need a heat pad. You don't need any heat lights. I know that you said this is how they cared for him since he was a baby, though impaction (which can occur from not having a heat pad) takes a long time to happen - from weeks to months to years. Eventually he will be at the point that he won't be able to digest his food anymore, and there is a high chance of him going down hill, fast. If you think about it, leopard geckos are nocturnal. They would rarely come in contact with the sun. So what is the point of heat lamps for them? Whefn they come out, the rocks and ground is heated by the sun. Therefore, they get only belly heat. We can never replace this natural method, but we can try. Using the opposite way though is not the direction you want. Heat pads are pretty cheap, usually only $30, plus $30-$60 for a good thermostat. I really hope you make the decision to get one, because in the end, it is the best choice for your pet.

While I agree that leos should have UTHs as a fail-safe, you're kind of defeating your own argument by bringing in their natural habitat and pointing out that the ground is warmed by the sun - not unlike a heat light, no? They don't have UTHs in the wild, nor do they have any source of heat from beneath them. They rely on ground heated by an overhead heat source, which is exactly what a light does.

OP, I don't see a problem with your keeping him with only a heat light, especially if it's only temporary. Just make sure that the temps are right, and I'd recommend putting several flat rocks around the area so that it can be heated by the light. It would also be a good idea to have a hide with a flat top under the light and moving the water dish/hide to the other side. To be safe, you could avoid high-chitin foods like mealworms and stick to softer foods like crickets. I kept my leo for a long time without a UTH and never had issues (on dirt, in fact!), but I made sure she had many, many places to get belly heat from. Even now that I do have a UTH, she often sits on her hide to get belly heat instead of in it - doing it now, actually. But, just to be safe, it would probably be a good idea to get a UTH hooked to a thermostat when you can.

~Maggot

 

[njnolan1]

^^^110% agree.
Your gecko really needs a heating pad. Without one he won't be able to properly digest the food he eats.
It'll be cheaper to buy a heat pad now then several vet visits later.

I just don't understand how he has been digesting his food, growing, shedding if he's never had a heat pad. I figure being and ectotherm as long as he gets the heat. Of course, belly heat is what he gets in nature. I'll have see what I can think of. He's an awesome little guy.

I might get him one if an 8w is good without a thermostat. The only reason I'm concerned is I only found one poop. It was nice and healthy looking, no bug parts or anything but still, as much as he eats he's not pooping much. Unless it's in his moss hide.

The bulb was only a 60W so I got a infrared 100W. But the dome is only regulated for a 75. I can only do one or the other right now. The light or the uth, I'll have to think about it. Being that I'm only using paper towels maybe I can just keep the heater under without attaching it?

If I end up spending too much money on this guy my fiance is going to kill me. Seriously, I'll be in trouble . I assured her that he was free and everything he needs is free. I'm not telling her that I may be buying a small uth. I can do the 15 if I return the new bulb that was 9. Not sure though, Maybe I can use the 75W and put it on top of the flat rock hide and see how that goes first.

And thanks for all the input!

 

[Embrace Calamity]

I wouldn't use a red light. It's just not a natural color of light for them to see. I think you'll find your gecko will be less willing to come out if you use a red light. But since you're only using paper towels, I'd be cautious about hooking up a UTH without a thermostat. They get very hot.

~Maggot

 

[katie]

While I agree that leos should have UTHs as a fail-safe, you're kind of defeating your own argument by bringing in their natural habitat and pointing out that the ground is warmed by the sun - not unlike a heat light, no?

Yes, the thing is though that a heat light heats up the area its above, therefore the Leo has both belly heat AND back heat which isn't natural.

They don't have UTHs in the wild, nor do they have any source of heat from beneath them. They rely on ground heated by an overhead heat source, which is exactly what a light does.

But they don't have "back" heat in the wild.

Look, I know I have a poor "arguement" but I don't feel like getting into one. I've been keeping Leos for about 7 years now so I know what I'm saying. I've been lurking this forum for months and learned alot about their natural habitat...

I could be wrong of course, but either way they need belly heat, like you agreed to. I don't like lights, but thats my opinion, I just don't think its natural.

 

[Embrace Calamity]

Wait, how is "back heat" not natural? I'm pretty sure the sun heats from above.

~Maggot

 

[katie]

Lol I'm pretty sure they're nocturnal, which means they come out at night, therefore = no back heat...

 

[Embrace Calamity]

No, they're not nocturnal. They're crepuscular, therefore = back heat. Even so, your argument still doesn't hold water because (I assume) she's not leaving the light on 24/7, so, if they were nocturnal (which they're not) and they didn't experience "back heat" (which they do), it still wouldn't matter because the light would be off at night. You really can't come up with a better replication of their natural heat source than a light during the day. The sun heats from above during the day, warms the air and the ground; a light heats from above during the day, warms the air and the ground. A UTH is actually pretty unnatural for them, so you can't really use the "natural" argument when advocating for the use of UTHs.

~Maggot