Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I redid my leo's tank yesterday...lots of slate with caves, couple of succulents. Since I was going with the natural look, I replaced the Ziploc container humid hide with a "natural" looking cave w/damp long-fibered sphagnum peat moss in it. Of course, when I fed him, he immediately ate a small piece of peat (well, it was about the same size as the cricket, so you can see how he'd make the mistake...). That's got me a little worried. This morning he's in the humid hide, as opposed to his usual house. We very rarely caught him in the old hide, but maybe that was because he didn't have any privacy in there.

Should I take out the peat, and replace it with paper towels? Will he possibly get impacted from the piece he did eat?
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2.1 Pygmy leaf chameleons (R. brevicaudata)
0.1.0 Chinese firebellied newt (Flame)
0.0.1 grey tree frog (Mr. G)
0.0.1 White's tree frog (Whitey)
0.2.0 guinea pigs (Pepper and Baby)
1.0.0 dog (Scout)
Countless fish

About 80% of my geckos spend all their time in their hide. The other 20% can't stand their hides. I think it should be fine digesting a small piece. I'd say just don't worry about it unless you notice obvious repercussions. Either way, I'm sure it's happier with a more private hide.
Sam

Are you opposed to using paper towels in your hides? Mine seems to love it, he stays in his all day. He kicks all the vermiculite out of his other hides night in and night out.

Thanks for the replies. No, I'm not particularly opposed to paper towels...that's what he's been on since we got him, both in his humid hide and general substrate, until now. But sometimes I've noticed the paper towels getting kind of yellowed, maybe a little mildew on the edges, after it's been in the hide for a while...I thought maybe the acidity of the sphagnum would prevent nasties from growing.
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2.1 Pygmy leaf chameleons (R. brevicaudata)
0.1.0 Chinese firebellied newt (Flame)
0.0.1 grey tree frog (Mr. G)
0.0.1 White's tree frog (Whitey)
0.2.0 guinea pigs (Pepper and Baby)
1.0.0 dog (Scout)
Countless fish

Sounds just like you need to replace the papertowels more often. Most people can get away with once a week, but if you are in an especially moldy or fungus ridden area you may need to do it more often. (We even use paper for our crested because we DO live in a very moldy area, no problems with once a week changings.) Really, just grabbing them when you open everything up to mist or feed the geckos. Good luck!
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0.1 Albino Leo Gecko
0.1 Crested Gecko
1.0 Dear Boyfriend
Departed: Harvey and Spock