Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm having a hard time setting up a proper humid hide.

Since I've got two adult geckos, I keep two hiding spots in the tank: one is a hollowed out half log, which they like to climb on, the other is a big rock with two opposite entrances. The rock is what I place over the UTH, and both geckos seem to enjoy laying on top of it.

I tried constructing a humid hide from a butter container, just like I read about everywhere, but neither of the geckos were interested in going in.

I've also bought some kind of moss. I'm not sure what kind it is, but it was from the reptile aisle at Petco. It's just labled "Terrarium moss." I've tried placing it in different spots in different amounts, but it dries up after just a few hours and blocks up the hiding spot.

Even the area where the rock rests on the paper towel dries up quickly because it's over the UTH.

What do you guys recommend?

I think you are suppost to put the humid hide on the cool end of the tank and try using wet paper towels they are easy and inexpecive they also take out most of the risk of impaction. Hope this helps!

n/p

sorry i didnt know because i dont really use one mine dont ever seem to use it or need it to shed.

Your leos probably use it when they are about to shed, but you just may not see them using it. My leos will sit in their humid hide for an hour or two before the actual shed and then will leave the humid hide for their dry hides where they actually start shedding (they use the rough edges on their plastic hide to help them get the skin off). The humidity in the humid hide softens the dead skin, making it easier to pull off.

Cleo
1:1 leos (4 eggs cooking)

Thanks, Cleo!

Hey, we're all here to learn.

. . . but the geckos love it. I use those cheap Ziploc left-over containers that you get at the grocery store. Cut a hole in the lid big enough for the geckos to climb into, and then fill the inside about 1/3 full of coconut bark, moss, or sterile soil from the pet store. Put a little water in the tub and stir it up so that the substrate absorbs it, and then put it on the warm side of your enclosure. The water will evaporate, but the Ziploc thing will contain the vapor creating a nice humid spot for your geckos to hang out. Just change the substrate once a week so that bacteria doesn't start growing like crazy.

Thanks for sharing.

I use cool whip containers for my leos' humid hides. Phoenix loves his and spends nearly all of his time in it while Beanie only uses hers when she is shedding. I just cut a door in the container's side, put in a large wad of wet paper towels, put the cover on, and place the container over the UTH. Actually, I have found that paper towels make a better humid hide than the commercial beddings I have bought, and they are alot cheaper. You will have to dampen the paper towels every other day tho.

Cleo
1:1 leos (4 eggs cooking)

I was going to post a message asking if you use a UTH, cause i couldn't see from the pics you posted.

What brand do you use?

Thanks
Red

I use those bigger size "I cant believe its not butter" containers. Not the huge ones but the next sixe down. I plan on using a bigger one when I put the two females in together. I also use paper towels in there also. I noticed that sunshine was never using it nor was serenity, but lastnight sunshine went in and out all night and this morning she was in again . I noticed with the paper towels though that I have to spray them down everyday.
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1 male HY(Winky), 1 Tang female(Sunshine), and 1 Tremper Albino female(Serenity)

I use paper towel in humid hides myself, it's easy & clean and one of my leo likes to use her humid hide as her bathroom. The only draw back is it dries out fast as you indicated so I have to mist it once in the morning and once at night to keep it moist. Vermiculite is another option but I heard leos tend to like to munch on the vermiculite as snacks. I use a small Rubbermid rectangular container with a hole size of a silver dollar drilled out on the lid. All my leos learn to use it within a couple of days.