First Leopard Gecko

Falconeer999 · 09-17-12, 02:22 PM

I picked up "Lilly" at the Repticon show in Charleston, SC yesterday. She's a Super Hypo (picked up from the Southeastern Exotics tables). Just went to check the temperature in her hide and she tried to bite me - something my king snake hasn't even tried to do. So, she's a feisty one. Did discover her hide was a bit warm so readjusting my thermostat.

She was hatched 8/5/12 so she's still young. Hope to watch her grow nice and healthy!

DragonsEye · 09-17-12, 08:21 PM

Cute lil bugger.

Make me miss my little girl.

Give her several hides in different areas of her tank (with a moist hide on the warm side) -- she'll choose which one is most suitable for her.

Falconeer999 · 09-18-12, 04:27 AM

I have several hides for her and a moist hide. Discovered my thermostat on the UTH is either way off or dead - in either case I have a new one ordered to come in this week. Thermal gun was reading 105 even though it's set at 90. Until the new thermostat comes in, I have her hides arranged around the outside of where the UTH is and where I measured temps in the 88-90 range.

I was concerned about her eating - she didn't eat at all the first night in her new home but last night she ate 3 (gut loaded) mealworms. Guess she was just a bit stressed (understandable after the 2 hour car ride home from the show - I was stressed too)!

Quick question for anyone who checks this - how long can you leave mealworms in the dish? I left 6 in her bowl yesterday and she ate 3 during the night. Should I put those 3 back in the gutload mix and put some new ones out? Or just leave those in there until she eats them too or they die / start getting thin?

Kingsnakechris · 09-18-12, 08:08 AM

I only ever took out crickets as they are a terrible annoyance lol as long as their not dead id leave em. When she gets older you can feed her pinkies from time to time, helps keep a nice fat tail!

Kingsnakechris · 09-18-12, 08:09 AM

Very cool leopard gecko btw

brooksy · 09-18-12, 09:06 AM

If you use a mealworm dish that the worms can't get out, you can place a bit of gutliad around the sides of the dish, so the worms can keep eating but that your leo won't accidentally ear the gut load when going for the worms.
Congrats on Lilly! My youngest leo is also named Lily too.
Keep us updated with pictures as she grows and her adult patterning comes in.

Oh and I saw that someone suggested pinkies. I would not suggest them, as it is like suggested fast food to help a human child fill out. Feeding a healthy diet will naturally have their tails get big. My biggest tailed leo has never touched a pibkie or wax worm but fed a steady diet to get to that point. Proper husbandry I think affects their growth, as my first leo came from someone who didn't know better for the 3 years they had her and she is a smaller leo but with a good sized tail still.

BarelyBreathing · 09-18-12, 11:53 AM

Very pretty. I love the fiesty ones.

Falconeer999 · 09-18-12, 11:59 AM

With the way she hissed at me and attacked, I'm hoping I get to witness her go after the mealworms soon! And looking forward to her getting used to and not attacking me. Definitely going to give her some space and get settled in. Big peace of mind though that I know she's eating.

DiscoPat · 01-09-13, 12:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Falconeer999

Thermal gun was reading 105 even though it's set at 90.

If I am thinking of the right thing thermal guns measure surface temperature. The surface temperature may be hotter than the air temperature

If you were measuring surface temperature sorry for the confusion.