Same behviour as last year

[jerrymb]

Just like last year at this time my gecko climbed into his cool hide and hasn't come out for the last 2 weeks. Last year at the same time he climed into his hide in early October and remained there without eating until mid January.

 

[Cesar_Da_KIng]

Well he might be burmating, What are the temps? Did this act cause him any harm last time or was he perfectly fine? Do you have a light on a timer in his cage?

 

[jerrymb]

The temps are good. Last year after spending 3 months in his hide he emerged just fine.

 

[Cesar_Da_KIng]

Define good, one guy told me the temps were good and they were 83 on the hot side. As I said he might be burmating but I wouldnt take my advice to quickly cause I dont have leos that burmate, my tegus and uros do, but not my leos.

 

[jerrymb]

Warm hide is roughly 90 degrees give or take a few degrees. Cool side of the tank is whatever the room temps are which this time of year are slowly going down each day as Winter approaches. I do have a red heat lamp that I turn on a few hours daily.

 

[Cesar_Da_KIng]

That might be it. Now, answer these questions, do you heat the tank with the light? Are you using a probe thermometer? When do you turn the lamp on and off each day, if youve shortened it it might be causing him to burm along with the cooler temp.

 

[jerrymb]

I have a digital probe thermometer. I have a ten gallon tank and the heat bulb is 50 watts. If it's on long enough it will heat the tank nicely. But at night the tank is dark. It's called brumation.

 

[Cesar_Da_KIng]

I say burm for short,( no not the snake) Do you have a heat pad? How long is long enough to heat the tank nicely?

 

[jerrymb]

The heat pad is on the right side of the tank under the warm hide. The heat bulb heats the tank quickly but it doesn't make any difference he still goes to the cool hide and stays there for months.

 

[Cesar_Da_KIng]

Then my quess stays at burmation.

 

[jerrymb]

I agree with you but if it is brumation why would he come back out of his hide in January which is the coldest month of the year? Why wouldn't he stay in his hide until March when it starts to warm up and the days get longer?

 

[Cesar_Da_KIng]

Like I said all my burm experience is with tegus and uros and they usually start in late November and wake up in March but I also live in Florida where its still 95 outside. Hopefully someone whos familiar with leo burmation will offer more helpful advice.

 

[jerrymb]

Thanks for all your help!