Monthly Archive for October, 2010

Leopard Gecko Hide – What Is The Ideal Set-Up?

The Leopard Gecko hide box is by far the most essential tool needed in a lizard’s habitat. Basically because geckos are nocturnal which means that they tend to hide during the day and are active during the night. It is at night that they go out in the open to look for food. That is the essence of having this type of box, inside the tank to keep them warm and secure. Without it they would feel unhappy and threatened.

However, hide boxes need to provide them with the appropriate temperature and usage. Bear in mind that these are not just boxes to keep them safe and secure during the day, it also has its own advantages.

What does leopard gecko need inside its aquarium?

They need at least two hide boxes, one that is cool and dry and the other one is warm and humid. The reason for this is that geckos have the ability to self regulate their temperature just like in the wild they seek out for different temperatures and conditions. Leaving them with no choice forced them to use the boxes no matter what the outside condition is. Remember that the humid one is used to help them when they need assistance in shedding off their skin.

What is its proper size?

It is best to provide leopard geckos with large hide boxes than small ones, but if large boxes cannot fit in the tank then a small one will do. However, place more than just one small box for hiding in different areas inside the tank. A temperature gradient is needed to let geckos move around the box to attain the accurate temperature they need. That is why it is sensible to have large tanks when having lizards as a pet.

Geckos stay inside the boxes during the day.

Geckos found in the wild normally hide during the daytime and go out from their hiding place at dusk to look for food. This is the reason why the best time for feeding geckos in captivity is only at night. They feel safe and secure to come out only during the night, but in some inevitable cases that you need to feed them during the day then place the food near the door of hiding box where they can easily grab it. Feeding early at night may also be done.

Why does it need to portray a dark environment?

Obtaining this hiding place can either be done in commercial stores or can be made by the owner. Making one is easy and does not require skills. What is important is that the requirements are met and that is to provide them with a dark environment while inside their sanctuary, making geckos feel secure and safe. Needless to say, the materials to be used should be dense, thin plastic is not appropriate. Moreover, the door should be big enough for ease of entering and going out.

Leopard gecko hide boxes are just one of the essential factors in taking care of geckos. There is more to learn about this lovely pet. Taking care of this exotic lizard is so cool and awesome. It is also relaxing and therapeutic to the keepers work. They are so quiet and can be left alone unattended for days. It also comes in different colors which exudes glamor and beauty to your sight.

Posted via email from Leopard gecko care

Worms for your leopard gecko

Here’s another update on the life of the leopard gecko and guys at Seacoastonline.com. Always love reading about them!



Recession doesn't feel over
Seacoastonline.com
Worms for the leopard gecko aren't terribly expensive and they also last a while, so that's not too bad. And then there's Sydney the bearded dragon.

Posted via email from Leopard gecko care

A sick leopard gecko: what you need to do if your leopard gecko is sick

Do you think that your leopard gecko has got a sickness? Is your leopard gecko pet not quite acting normally, don’t seem to have the same energy these days? Perhaps they have gained weight, lost weight, their tail is looking thin or they are having trouble eating or pooping. Leopard geckos are generally fairly easy to take care off, especially compared to a lot of other reptile pets, and they don’t cost an awful lot of money for their maintenance. But still, a sick leopard gecko might quickly have other health problems unless you spot their health problems as soon as possible and act accordingly.

And it helps to create a regular routine of carefully inspecting your leopard gecko and watching out for any leopard gecko problems. It’s good to take a thorough look at your leopard gecko pet every week. Once you get used to their character, body and habits, you will notice little changes pretty quickly.

One of the first and most common leopard gecko problems is when your leopard gecko is not eating and wont eat no matter what tasty mealworms, crickets or other food you might tempt them with. A leopard gecko not eating for one or two days is quite normal, but if they don’t seem interested in eating for a week, then you need to investigate further.

The leopard gecko’s famous and beautiful tail provides another key sign of a healthy or sick leopard gecko. The tail should be quite fat, meaty and strong. If they tail starts to shrink, becomes skinny and lacks movement, that’s a strong sign of illness.

And watch for changes in character and behavior. Maybe you have quite an energetic, cheeky little gecko pet. If they suddenly become listless, lying around and being floppy in your hand, that’s a clear warning sign of potential gecko problems.

Or perhaps your gecko has started to stink.

Most of the leopard gecko health and sickness problems are to do with environment, malnutrition or bad nutrition, stress, parasites or impaction (obstruction of the bowel).

The first thing you need to do is inspect their leopard gecko cage for any obvious signs of problems. Remove the leopard gecko and make sure to keep her/him separate from the other reptile pets so any parasites or health problems do not spread. See if the leopard gecko vivarium has any contamination such as a bleach or some household cleaning product that might have been accidentally spilled or maybe the cage wasn’t rinsed out properly after disinfection. Look closing at the leopard gecko substrate: is it clean? Check the temperature of your vivarium. Is it too hot, or too cold, or too humid?

Check the food bowl: are there rotting foods in there that need to be removed? Has your leopard gecko had enough water to drink and was it clean?

Then look at the food the gecko ate most recently. Did you change their diet? Maybe the new food you introduced had some problem such as bacteria. Did they receive enough nutrition? Mealworms can provide much needed fat for example, but too many mealworms, your leopard gecko will get obese which isn’t healthy.

If you’re not sure of the problem, find a local vet but double check to make sure that they have had experience in looking after reptiles. If you can, bring along a poop sample for them.

Technorati Tags: , ,