Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Is it ok to mist the actual gecko when I do it they`ll either run to their hides or lift straight up with a high posture so my question is should I keep doing this once in a while?

I wouldn't recommend misting your leopard gecko. It could raise the entire humidity level of the tank which can cause respitory infections and sores. They are desert-dwelling lizards and misting is unnatural. All they need in order to shed properly is a humid hide.
-----
1.2.0 Leopard Geckos
0.1.0 Crested Gecko
1.0.0 Minature Chihuahua
1.0.0 Cat
0.2.0 Gerbils

They're like a cat, if they get wet they want it to be on their own terms. They don't like to be sprayed, and sometimes they'll even screech! (So my daughter told me from experience).
Just keep the humid hide misted. Good luck!
-----
0.3 High Yellow Leopard Geckos
1.0 Blizzard Leopard Geckos
0.2 Toy Poodles
0.1 Jack Russell

this would seem to be unique to the indiv gecko. Some of mine will actually come out of their hides when ispray down the tank. I agree that most will scream, run away, etc. but the occasional gecko does seem to enjoy a misting.
-----

1.0 Blizzard Bill
1.0 Pastel/Jungle Leopard gecko from JL (BJ)
1.0 HypoTang from Crested (Apricot)
1.0 Tremper Albino Hypo (Cloud)
0.3 Normal/Hi-Yellow Leopard gecko (Beatrice, Goldie (now w/SD), Freckles, Pepper)
0.1 SHCT Leopard Gecko (Brite)
0.1 Tangy Mutt Leopard Gecko (Rainbow)
0.0.2 Corn Snakes (MIA)
RIP Peaches, Ghost

not to stir the pot BUT, just because a person smokes and enjoys it, does it make it good for the person? I have no idea if it is good for them, I would doubt it.

You make an excellent point. It doesn't seem to hurt them, and I can't be convinced that a light misting before a shed raises the humidity in a screen topped tank enough and for long enough to cause any harm. If my vet says otherwise, I'll let you know.
-----

1.0 Blizzard Bill
1.0 Pastel/Jungle Leopard gecko from JL (BJ)
1.0 HypoTang from Crested (Apricot)
1.0 Tremper Albino Hypo (Cloud)
0.3 Normal/Hi-Yellow Leopard gecko (Beatrice, Goldie (now w/SD), Freckles, Pepper)
0.1 SHCT Leopard Gecko (Brite)
0.1 Tangy Mutt Leopard Gecko (Rainbow)
0.0.2 Corn Snakes (MIA)
RIP Peaches, Ghost

I don't understand how misting a leopard gecko's tank would not raise the overall humidity in the tank. For example, a crested gecko's - a tropical lizard - tank should be relatively high in humidity, and in order to achieve this, the tank should be misted once a day. How would a leopard gecko's tank not become too humid when it is enclosed on five sides? The humidity level should be no greater than 45%... and preferably lower.

My vet has seen many leos with respitory and bacterial infections because of the use of humid hides in the state of Florida. Our levels of humidity our already so high that we do not require humid hides. I haven't used humid hides in over 6 months and my leos have not had any problems shedding. Misting, especially in already humid areas, could easily cause infections.
~Courtney
-----
1.2.0 Leopard Geckos
0.1.0 Crested Gecko
1.0.0 Minature Chihuahua
1.0.0 Cat
0.2.0 Gerbils

Misting the cage of a leo isn't going to cause problems unless you over-mist it to the point it becomes a like a swamp. Leo's are extremely adaptable and can live in extremely dry AZ and extremely humid FL. I have been breeding leo's for 12 years and I don't use water bowls in my racks due to spillage issues.Once a day I mist the sides of their container and the geckos come out to drink from it.
Now misting the gecko directly is a different can of worms... now we are talking stress issues. The cat analogy used earlier in this thread was pretty good but cats are less likely to die from stress. Even if the gecko "seems" to like a misting I would still avoid a direct spraying.
Montezuma's Reptiles

The worst side effect I've seen is a sneeze when a little bit got too close to a nostril. The air in my apt. is very dry, and when I do mist a tank, the humidity goes up to about 60%, but is back to the usual 20-30% in well under an hour. Haven't had any resp problems in 9 gex in 3 yrs.
-----

1.0 Blizzard Bill
1.0 Pastel/Jungle Leopard gecko from JL (BJ)
1.0 HypoTang from Crested (Apricot)
1.0 Tremper Albino Hypo (Cloud)
0.3 Normal/Hi-Yellow Leopard gecko (Beatrice, Goldie (now w/SD), Freckles, Pepper)
0.1 SHCT Leopard Gecko (Brite)
0.1 Tangy Mutt Leopard Gecko (Rainbow)
0.0.2 Corn Snakes (MIA)
RIP Peaches, Ghost

Yanno, now that I think about it... I could swear the last time I misted a gecko directly I saw it pull out a miniture bar of Irish Spring and start scubbing. I heard some sort of bad singing coming from somewhere also... I guess I should listen a bit closer next time.

Gene
Montezuma's Reptiles

I wouldn't mist them, but if they are having trouble shedding you might want to let them sit in a saucer of warm water. That's what I usually do with my leo, but I usually wait until he's just about to shed, when his skin is almost all white. Never had any problems doing that, just as long as the saucer doesn't go past his knees.