One angry gecko

[sirtalis]

Well, while helping with a bad shed this happened, for some reason I had to majorly crop the picture in order to upload it. haha. Does anyone have an idea of what would have caused a bad shed, she has her own 20 gallon cage, humid hide with close to 70% humidity, cool hide and a hot hide, hot side at 90f cool side in the mid 70s and a basking spot of 110f. Substrate is play sand which I have used for years without a problem. She also poops about two to three times a week and eats very well. 36628

[sirtalis]

And she has a burrow with humidity that is close to 90% on the hot end

[Minkness]

Haha, silky gecko.

Possibly not enough calcium or just wasn't as humid as you thought.

[LISA127]

Hot spot at 110? How....heat lamp? That's your problem I'd imagine. 90 on uth, room temp cool side. That is all that's needed.

Heat lamp and way, way too hot temps is drying her out.

[TRD]

I think that using UTH with species that burrow and/or use burrows is counter initiative. Those species are used to cool down by going underground but when using a UTH this would actually work against their nature by warming them up.

This is the main reason I don't like using them. There is only use for them in rack systems as there is not enough space for any lighting.... but then again, I'm against use of racks too regardless of all the arguments that "My BP likes it as it simulates an underground burrow"... No, it does not simulate an underground burrow, it simulates a plastic box in a cabinet with heating, there's nothing natural about it. But I guess to each their own opinion.

[LISA127]

I think that using UTH with species that burrow and/or use burrows is counter initiative. Those species are used to cool down by going underground but when using a UTH this would actually work against their nature by warming them up.

This is the main reason I don't like using them. There is only use for them in rack systems as there is not enough space for any lighting.... but then again, I'm against use of racks too regardless of all the arguments that "My BP likes it as it simulates an underground burrow"... No, it does not simulate an underground burrow, it simulates a plastic box in a cabinet with heating, there's nothing natural about it. But I guess to each their own opinion.

he's talking about a leopard gecko.

[sirtalis]

he's talking about a leopard gecko.


Correct, my male has a 130f basking spot. Most people keep their reptiles a bit on the cool side. Thats why bearded dragons and leopard geckos are so "tame" you know the little green lizards, anoles. They bask in excess of 150 all the time on my property. And texas rat snakes are suggested supposed to have a warm side of 90ish in captivity but Ive caught them basking on 130f rocks in pure sun.

[sirtalis]

Haha, silky gecko.

Possibly not enough calcium or just wasn't as humid as you thought.


Hadn't thought about the calcium. Now that you mention it, that is probably it. I used to keep a calcium dish in her cage but I started to dust my crickets and just took it out. She laid eggs about two weeks ago so thats probably whats up. Ill put a dish in and go from there.

[LISA127]

Correct, my male has a 130f basking spot. Most people keep their reptiles a bit on the cool side. Thats why bearded dragons and leopard geckos are so "tame" you know the little green lizards, anoles. They bask in excess of 150 all the time on my property. And texas rat snakes are suggested supposed to have a warm side of 90ish in captivity but Ive caught them basking on 130f rocks in pure sun.
I disagree.....I believe it's too hot and dry, hence the shedding issues.

[sirtalis]

I disagree.....I believe it's too hot and dry, hence the shedding issues.


The humidity is in excess of 90% in her burrow, look into biactive enclosures, most people have a great deal of success with higher temperatures and natural cages. Plus, the burrows remain cool and humid just like the wild. Keep in mind the basking spot in the rock under the lights, the air temperature is in the 90s on the hot end. I've kept all three of my geckos like this or in similar enclosure for close to 6 years and this is the first time anything has happened. I get where you're coming from but I would rather a healthy gecko to a tame gecko any day. There's a reason reptiles in the wild can move so fast, and personally I believe it is from the temperatures they are exposed to. If any of my animals got out of their cage the likely hood of me being able to catch it would be close to zero

[LISA127]

The humidity is in excess of 90% in her burrow, look into biactive enclosures, most people have a great deal of success with higher temperatures and natural cages. Plus, the burrows remain cool and humid just like the wild. Keep in mind the basking spot in the rock under the lights, the air temperature is in the 90s on the hot end. I've kept all three of my geckos like this or in similar enclosure for close to 6 years and this is the first time anything has happened.

Well, that's fine. I've kept all of mine as I mentioned for 20 years and have never had problems. I was just answering your question to the best of my knowledge.......

[sirtalis]

Well, that's fine. I've kept all of mine as I mentioned for 20 years and have never had problems. I was just answering your question to the best of my knowledge.......


Fair enough, I don't have a problem with keeping leopard geckos in a more "traditonal" enclosure but I personally like to watch them show of a more natural range of behaviour. I kept my first gecko in a 10 gallon cage for about a year with a heat pad and on repti-carpet and all she did was sleep and come out when I turned out the lights to eat. She was perfectly healthy but I prefer to actually see my geckos and watch them explore throughout the day if that makes any sense.

[Minkness]

Makes sense to me! I am tempted to try this for my female geckos once I get some different caging.

[LISA127]

Fair enough, I don't have a problem with keeping leopard geckos in a more "traditonal" enclosure but I personally like to watch them show of a more natural range of behaviour. I kept my first gecko in a 10 gallon cage for about a year with a heat pad and on repti-carpet and all she did was sleep and come out when I turned out the lights to eat. She was perfectly healthy but I prefer to actually see my geckos and watch them explore throughout the day if that makes any sense.

I think a larger, less barren enclosure is awesome! Definetely more interesting. I don't keep my geckos in 10 gallons either. I simply believe your temps are too high and lamps are drying. Contributing to the shedding issue.

[sirtalis]

Makes sense to me! I am tempted to try this for my female geckos once I get some different caging.

Do it lol. Its very fun, challenging, and entertaining. One word of advice is don't be like me and make sure the the females are not gravid. One of my females buried a clutch, killing a plant in the process. After a few months a baby leo was found exploring the cage haha, I guess its just part of the adventure.

[sirtalis]

I think a larger, less barren enclosure is awesome! Definetely more interesting. I don't keep my geckos in 10 gallons either. I simply believe your temps are too high and lamps are drying. Contributing to the shedding issue.



It is haha I definitely enjoy it. As for the high temps, my male leo lives in a 4x2x2 (originally built for a female peacock monitor but one was never available) enclosure so he has plenty of space to cool off. He would have a group of females living with him but he is a very aggressive breeder so he lives alone. Imo a 110f basking spot is not that high but to each his own lol