Prefers cool side?

[SDCowboy]

Okay, so I brought home a new leo yesterday from petco. Last night when I had the red light on he was out the whole time, moving, climbing, etc. just like you want. My concern though is he seems to really favor his cool hide. During the day, I have the UTH and a 50watt heat light which brings the temp to the correct 88-95* (the heat light goes off around 5pm and the red goes on till bed). When I go to sleep it's just the UTH. When I woke up this morning he was back in his cool hide again which seems odd to me since it get's cool in there at night thus they usually are in their hot hide in the morning. Is this normal? Is it just because he just got home? Thanks.

 

[roger]

Okay, so I brought home a new leo yesterday from petco. Last night when I had the red light on he was out the whole time, moving, climbing, etc. just like you want. My concern though is he seems to really favor his cool hide. During the day, I have the UTH and a 50watt heat light which brings the temp to the correct 88-95* (the heat light goes off around 5pm and the red goes on till bed). When I go to sleep it's just the UTH. When I woke up this morning he was back in his cool hide again which seems odd to me since it get's cool in there at night thus they usually are in their hot hide in the morning. Is this normal? Is it just because he just got home? Thanks.

Some leos just like their cool hides.As long as your husbundry is correct I wouldnt woory about it.

 

[SDCowboy]

Some leos just like their cool hides.As long as your husbundry is correct I wouldnt woory about it.

I guess my concern is that once he starts eating that he might still not use his hot side with the UTH and he won't process his food correctly.

 

[ProGeckoServices]

They are not helpless, if hes cold he will go over there unless its just way to hot for him.

 

[roger]

I guess my concern is that once he starts eating that he might still not use his hot side with the UTH and he won't process his food correctly.

As long as your warm temps are good they will thermoregulate

 

[SDCowboy]

As long as your warm temps are good they will thermoregulate

Thanks that's what I thought. Just seems odd that he doesn't leave his cool hide at all during the day since I got him yesterday.

 

[ProGeckoServices]

Thanks that's what I thought. Just seems odd that he doesn't leave his cool hide at all during the day since I got him yesterday.

Then its probably too hot.....

 

[roger]

Then its probably too hot.....

88-95 degrees is not too hot for a leopard gecko.I have leos that love their cool end.unless you are monitoring your animal 24/7 how do you know he's not going to his warm end.If hes defecating properly than thats a sign hes getting his proper belly heat

 

[gothra]

Have you check the actual temperature inside his hides in the hot end? If its within the right range, its probably nothing to worry about. They have their preferences.

 

[ProGeckoServices]

88-95 degrees is not too hot for a leopard gecko.I have leos that love their cool end.unless you are monitoring your animal 24/7 how do you know he's not going to his warm end.If hes defecating properly than thats a sign hes getting his proper belly heat

Um, I do not know if his lizard is going to the warm end, I can only respond based on what people say. What temperatures leopard geckos can tolerate is different than what temperatures leopard gecko's prefer. Thats like saying being out in 110 degree weather is alright because we can tolerate it. If his lizard never goes over to the opposite side of the cage and no other variables are present that are preventing him from doing or wanting to do so, then very likely the temperatures are too hot for his liking.

 

[roger]

I guess my concern is that once he starts eating that he might still not use his hot side with the UTH and he won't process his food correctly.

Sd as long as he is eating and defecating properly your leo will work it out on its own to his liking.

Um, I do not know if his lizard is going to the warm end, I can only respond based on what people say. What temperatures leopard geckos can tolerate is different than what temperatures leopard gecko's prefer. Thats like saying being out in 110 degree weather is alright because we can tolerate it. If his lizard never goes over to the opposite side of the cage and no other variables are present that are preventing him from doing or wanting to do so, then very likely the temperatures are too hot for his liking.

Thats why I give my leos a range of 88-95 degrees on the warm end.I let my animals decide what the best heat is for them.If they are too warm at 95 they will move down the range to maybe 90 where thay are comfortable.If the OPs animal is eating and defecating there is nothing to worry about

 

[ProGeckoServices]

If one side is too hot for him its not going to have any effect on whether hes able to take a comfortable and proper crap, since he is still getting adequate belly heat as the issue is to hot of a cage and not too cold of a cage. The only problem lies with whether the op would be alright with his gecko only utilizing half his cage.

 

[roger]

Okay, so I brought home a new leo yesterday from petco. Last night when I had the red light on he was out the whole time, moving, climbing, etc. just like you want. My concern though is he seems to really favor his cool hide. During the day, I have the UTH and a 50watt heat light which brings the temp to the correct 88-95* (the heat light goes off around 5pm and the red goes on till bed). When I go to sleep it's just the UTH. When I woke up this morning he was back in his cool hide again which seems odd to me since it get's cool in there at night thus they usually are in their hot hide in the morning. Is this normal? Is it just because he just got home? Thanks.

SD-If your animal is eating and defecating than thats all that matters.Some leos spend more time in the cool end for whatever reason.Thats not abnormal.Keep the temps in the proper range which where its at now.Your animal IS gathering the proper amount of heat for his needs and Im sure he is using both ends of the tank..All leos are slighly different in their needs.

 

[ProGeckoServices]

Let me illustrate this for you SD

Heres his tank, the O represents your lizard

I I
I I
..O.......................>........................>>...

If your lizard finds the correct temp for his body in the middle, ie where the arrow is then that is as much of your tank as he is going to use. If the correct temp is where the double arrow is then he will utilize that much more of your tank. Roger, you argue that if your animal is eating and defecating that is all that matters, then later in your argument you state that all leo needs are slightly different which is a contradiction. What SD should do is lower the temps and see if that has any effect on what side of the tank the Leo utilizes. If it does then we know it is a temperature problem and not some other variable. I would recommend turning off the lights and leaving just the head pad on and see if he tends to spend more of his day in the warm side, rather than the cold. I find that your statement Roger is very negligent, and does not show the proper respect for raising these animals. Just because your lizard eats and defecates does not mean that all of the environmental variables for it to be healthy are met. The lizards that are housed 20 to a 10 gallon cage at the major pet stores eat and defecate too, but I doubt you would find to much support among this board to suggest they are treated humanely.

 

[SDCowboy]

Thanks for the info guys. He finally ate yesterday and then wandered over to the hot side and flopped down so he seems to be fine. haha Thanks again.

 

[fl_orchidslave]

Since this a is new animal, it hasn't established itself in it's new home, nor does it have any preference patterns yet. It's still checking everything out, but it does need the correct temperature range to avoid digestion stress

Glad it's eating and pooping already Be sure to watch for signs of light related stress as some leos are bothered by lights.

 

[SDCowboy]

Since this a is new animal, it hasn't established itself in it's new home, nor does it have any preference patterns yet. It's still checking everything out, but it does need the correct temperature range to avoid digestion stress

Glad it's eating and pooping already Be sure to watch for signs of light related stress as some leos are bothered by lights.

Thanks. He did his first poop today also. It was a little on the loose side but that seems pretty normal when they getting used to the new setup the first couple of days.