What to do on vacation?

[Meta]

I want to get a leopard, but in the Summer I go away from 10 to sometimes 14 days. Is there a safe way to leave it home alone? How is this for providing constant water? http://www.flukerfarms.com/reptawaterer.aspx

Could i just throw it a ton of mealworms in a bowl and calcium?

what about when it poops and stuff?

I know its best to give it to a friend or sumthing, but i dont know if anyone would be willing or trustworthy

 

[Desdemona]

For that long you will want to find someone. Depending on your area there might be a vet who could house them as well, but you'll pay more. You can also look for professional pet sitters and get refrences. The mealworms will only live so long without food and they will shed skins, you probably dont' want your gecko to eat that.

 

[reps4life]

I want to get a leopard, but in the Summer I go away from 10 to sometimes 14 days. Is there a safe way to leave it home alone? How is this for providing constant water? http://www.flukerfarms.com/reptawaterer.aspx

Could i just throw it a ton of mealworms in a bowl and calcium?

what about when it poops and stuff?

I know its best to give it to a friend or sumthing, but i dont know if anyone would be willing or trustworthy

Personally I would never leave any reptiles unattended for more than 1 day or 2. Water evaporates, poop will pile up putting them at risk of parasites or infection. God forbid heating equipment fails. If you can't find someone who can care for them while your gone, I suggest you forget about that idea. Some people have left for 3 days and come back to a stressed out reptile who will start refusing to eat. Maybe I am just too paranoid

 

[im faster]

Honestly, if its a full grown adult at healthy weight a 10-14 days isnt a huge deal.
to help keep the meal worms alive toss in a couple slices of carrots.

but a sitter would be best.

 

[tlbowling]

Leave a nice bowl of water, and a bowl of mealies with a small peice of carrot. 10 days really isn't that long, I've done it without any issue at all. 14 days may be pushing it, maybe you could have a neighbor or friend/ family member come in once while you're gone to freshen water and give a few supers or mealies?

 

[IslaReina]

Ive been gone for about 10 days with my adult leo, and i give her a big meal right before I go, and have someone come like twice just to refill the water and check temps. That way, someone who doesn't want anything to do with bugs can still keep her going. Sometimes I set up one feedings worth of mealworms in a bowl and just have the person switch the empty bowl with the full one.

Either way, as long as someone can at least check the temps and water once while you're gone, it should be fine

 

[Taquiq]

I've also been gone ten days. My geckos were fine, I just had a neighbor fill up the water bowls once during that span.

 

[tlbowling]

You have to remember that these guys are from an arid region, they store fat in their tail for times when food is scarce, and they are able to go without water for the last few days that it may have evaporated, thats one nice think about leos and fatties, no worries when your on vaca

 

[Pinky81]

+1 on all above! healthy great weight Leo=ability to leave it while on vaca! Remember sometimes these guys go a couple of months off food! If they are of good weight your leo will be fine while on vaca!

 

[reps4life]

Ever had a reptile heat bulb blow out in the middle of the night in a room which barely goes above 50 even with the heater running? Maybe most of you are lucky to live somewhere warm

 

[Meta]

well. it sounds like it be fine with food and if i get one of those water resevoirs, it be good with that... but what would happen about the poop and humid hide? will the poop accumulate and be a problem

 

[reps4life]

well. it sounds like it be fine with food and if i get one of those water resevoirs, it be good with that... but what would happen about the poop and humid hide? will the poop accumulate and be a problem

That is exactly my biggest concern aside from temperatures. As you may know it is important to remove feces as soon as it's seen. They are susceptible to infections and parasites kept in a confined space. Imagine 2 weeks worth of feces and him stepping on it over and over. Oral fecal contamination is always a possibility. At least having someone come every 2 days will be ideal.

 

[Pinky81]

No honestly my room with my herps never goes that low on temps...where do you live Alaska?? LOL If it is winter and I wanna go on vaca I would make sure that I have my thermostat programed to keep my home warm I don't think that is spoiling them I just think that is part of owning an animal that needs warmth, you can't let your house temps drop that low. Bottom line even if all electrical equipment failed and your herp got cold it would more then likely got into brumation.

Personally I feed a large meal prior to leaving and NOT leave any food in the tank...now let me make this clear all my Leo's are Nice and chucky! No food going in means little to no poop coming out. Ive had hunger stikes that lasted almost 2months with VERY little weight loss...these guys can go without food.

And I'll also be honest I do not pull poop out as soon as I see it. I do weekly poop spot cleanings and BiWeekly full tank turn overs.

I still would not be overly concerned about leaving my Leo's for 10-14 days with maybe someone stopping in around day 7 to check up on water levels and temps.

Bottom line is you have to know your leo's and be comfortable with their health status before making a decision to leave for an extended amount of time.

 

[reps4life]

No honestly my room with my herps never goes that low on temps...where do you live Alaska?? LOL If it is winter and I wanna go on vaca I would make sure that I have my thermostat programed to keep my home warm I don't think that is spoiling them I just think that is part of owning an animal that needs warmth, you can't let your house temps drop that low. Bottom line even if all electrical equipment failed and your herp got cold it would more then likely got into brumation.

Personally I feed a large meal prior to leaving and NOT leave any food in the tank...now let me make this clear all my Leo's are Nice and chucky! No food going in means little to no poop coming out. Ive had hunger stikes that lasted almost 2months with VERY little weight loss...these guys can go without food.

And I'll also be honest I do not pull poop out as soon as I see it. I do weekly poop spot cleanings and BiWeekly full tank turn overs.

I still would not be overly concerned about leaving my Leo's for 10-14 days with maybe someone stopping in around day 7 to check up on water levels and temps.

Bottom line is you have to know your leo's and be comfortable with their health status before making a decision to leave for an extended amount of time.

My basement which is finished is the only area with lots of space. I need to work on insulation. Unfortunately the heater blows very poorly down there. One of my reptiles light blew out in the middle of the night. A few days later I noticed he had a runny nose and he was acting lethargic. I increased his temps but it did not help. Now you know what came next, vet visit and antibiotics.
Although I must admit I am too paranoid:main_laugh: I guess that's what happens after taking in so many ill rescues and a cabinet full of vet receipts:behead:

 

[T-ReXx]

An adult in good health can go just fine without eating for weeks. As long as you leave a large water dish and use an uth on a thermostat I wouldnt worry about it. Leopard geckos are extremely hardy.

 

[T-ReXx]

Another thing to consider is joining your local herp society. Not only is it a good place to meet others in the hobby id bet someone would be willing to leo sit for you.

 

[Meta]

this is frustrating me because this isn't for several several more months, and its making me maybe not get a gecko at all, which i really want!!!!

 

[sunshinegeckos]

why not wait until you get back to get the gecko if your worried about it?

 

[reps4life]

this is frustrating me because this isn't for several several more months, and its making me maybe not get a gecko at all, which i really want!!!!

I was the only one who was overly concerned. They are hardy reptiles. Buy your gecko and enjoy!!!

 

[Meta]

why not wait until you get back to get the gecko if your worried about it?

because i don't go away til July or august...im just worried about the future. like i said its a while away