Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi, I was noticing I can't keep a humid hide. Here's the problem.

I have a 10 gallon w/ two female geckos around 6 months (To be upgraded to a 20 gallon this week sometime, I was originally planning on getting just 1 leo but I adopted both since they always lived together and get along great) and for heat I use a UTH. So, my reptile carpet is nice and warm with the UTH on the medium setting, so they like to go to that side during the night and sit. (It's not hot enough to burn them, but its warm enough for digestion) Anyways...

I've been reading to put the humid hide on the warm/hot side. So I do that, but it's not a humid hide. Because of the heat, within a few hours its totally dry. (I keep some paper towels directly on the carpet with an empty margarine container w/ a entrance/exit hole, upside down) Should I put both hides on the cooler side? I can understand not to put their main hide, the bigger dry one, on the hot side, since that'll get very hot inside as all the heat builds up.

Also, how do you people who keep multiple geckos make sure they all eat? I have one whos waiting for her appointment because I think she might be sick, since shes always hiding, 24 hours a day almost, and will nip at me if I try to hold her. How can I make sure they're both eating equal amounts? The smaller one with a regenerated tail eats fine, but I'm not sure if the larger one (Who I think is sick) is eating. She's basking so I'm assuming so, but I can't be sure considering she seems to wait for crickets to go into her cave. I've only seen her once eat a cricket while out. (They arrived on Tuesday)

Also, hows the best way to start handling? To replace the carpet I hold a margarine tub infront of them and eventually they crawl in and then I move them over to a temporary tub while I move things around and clean. So I'm suspecting to do the same with my hand. I've tried to do that, but they ignore me. From my experience doing what I do with my beardie, slowly moving my hand underneath him, they don't take very well to that. How do you guys do it?

Finally, fecals. I have two geckos in a tank, but usually find only one fecal. I doubt one of thems impacted, though. No sand-like substrate (Reptile carpet), prey is small enough (3/8" crickets), but I only get one stool. Should I try giving a mild laxative, like mineral oil? If so, should I just use an eyedropper/oral syringe to drop it on their nose?
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0.0.1 Bearded Dragon (Zeo)
0.2.0 Leopard Geckos (Unnamed, being sent right now from a reptile rescue)
1.0.0 Golden Retriever, Rocky, 10 years young

The solution to your humid hide dilemma is to simply put the lid on your margarine container. You don't want the moisture seeping through the carpet anyway, especially over the UTH. It can cause the glass to crack.

The best way to make sure both of your leos are eating is to simply watch them eat. A couple of my leos seem more comfortable hiding and waiting for the food to walk by. What you do is just nudge the crickets into the hide or drop the mealies one by one in front of the entrance.

I think it's too soon to try a laxative. You say you've only had them since Tuesday? Some leos won't start eating right away, so don't make her try to poop if she's got nothing to poop. And usually, all you have to do is just keep looking around the tank, because both of them might not be pooping in the same spot.
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chickabowwow

3.2 leopard geckos (Rosie, Locke, Lisa, Caesar, Tommy)
and 3 eggs a' cookin'

i have a juvi that doesnt like anyone,but thats too bad for him cause one way or the other he will get used to me so this is what i do to pick him up.the slow hand trick doesnt work he runs away,so i just hover my hand over him and quickly without harm snatch him up and hold him for a few min every 3-4 days so i dont stress him out,he bites and hisses but i cant really blame him cause to him im a danger but in time like i said will get used to the faxt that yes sometimes im going to come in and invade his space for a few min to hold him or clean or whatever.

my other 3 do pretty good now its mainly just that one and if you havent had these geckos for atleast a few weeks dont try to handle them let them get accustomed to thier new home and such...
kali