Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just got a new leo that my dad promised me. I named HIM spotty(he's a normal phase leo, nothing special, just a lot of spots). He is a CB, wich is a very big deal where i live (most animals are WC except 4 the leo's and ball pythons, and the occasional colubrids like corn & kingsnakes). I've had spotty for just 3 days now, and he haven't ate anything. I did let 4/5 crix go in his cage just in case. He lives alone in a 36" long aquarium, with sand & pebbles as substrate (i know, i know, impaction right? but the sand is smooth round river sand and the gravel covers most of the place anyway, plus i monitor him daily, almost every hour ^^ )He has a hide cave from wood, another wood pillar that is in the back corner of his cage, some plastic plants, spotlight with a dimmer, a small water bowl, a dish of calcium carbonate, and a uv light that i think doesn't produce uv rays anymore (i never turn it on, though). Spotty is an adult leo, and have some nice fat reserves in his tail. His body is well rounded, slightly chubby (the store fed him mealworms wich are high in fat). Is it me, or can something serious happen 2 him? Maybe its just me. How long does a CB leo need 2 adjust 2 his new home anyway? Thanks in advance. I just love spotty so much. It would be a very very bitter expirience if he ever... (well, u know).

Okay well congrats on your new pet. You got hooked prepare to stay hooked..lol. It's normal for them to not eat for atleast the first week and cince he has lots of fat stored up there's really nothing to worry about. An alarm sounded in my brain when you said "sand and pebbles as substrate" please get him off of that ASAP! If you still want a natural look but a safe substrate try tile. You can get a tile at home depot for like 99 cents. They're cheap, easy to clean they conduct heat great and they still look natural. I use the vinyl type because you can cut it with regular scissors. You have a under that tabk heater right? You didn't mention it in the list of stuff you have. Actaully mealworms aren't that bad to feed to leos if properly gutloaded. I feed mealworms as the staple diet for almost all my herps. Just keep a eye on him and try not to bother him unless you are feeding him or refilling his water bowl. Feel free to ask any more questions.
-----
Katie F.
Peach State Geckos
Breeding Mealworms
My Email

yeah, I think that is part of the problem I'm having with my gecko right now. He did fine for the first week actually, eating tons of crix. The place I got him from hadn't been feeding him much, like 12 crix a week (he's nice and full just the same...nice tail and everything), and I think maybe he was really hungry for the first week so he just went after them. Then I had to pick him up to change some substrate, and he was shedding and all that, and I think he is really stressed out. So I'm going to leave him alone except for changing water and crix. I feed him crix from a bowl right now so they're always there for him if he needs them and they won't bother him or bite him at night. The only thing about this is you need just the right bowl (I have one of those ceramic kidney shaped reptile bowls that seems to do the trick...I know I'm going to end up dropping it and breaking it so I think I'll stock up on more ). You also need to break the back legs of the crix so they can't jump out. It's better than having them hide around the tank though. Sometimes they get hungry and nibble on the leo.

I'm just hoping he doesn't have parasites or something. It would be like my bearded dragon all over again. He was just full of parasites when I got him (I got him from a different place though).

Thanks 4 the advice. I am looking 4 some tile type material. I know about impaction and everything. I'm also already hooked (the leo is my 14'th reptile, and been on herps for almost 2 years). I just gut loaded the meallies today, and they should be plump & fat 4 tomorrow. Does anyone know the effects on UV lights on leos? Just curious. And i'm sorry to say, undertank heaters are not available anywhere where i live. I live in Indonesia and the reptile busines pretty much relies on the hobby of keeping fish & birds (bird food can be an excelent gutload stapple, live feeder fish 4 my 10 turts, etc). The weather here doesnt get below around 23 degrees Celcius (here, we use C instead of F), so its quite okay for my pets. I just have spotlights as aditional heat, and its easy to control humidity. I was also able to aquire some vit&cal supplements from my trip to thailand (u wont believe the herps they sell). I guess the key word here is creativity to use the "things" i can get here.