Poorly leo??

[Hai1988]

hiya im a bit consurned about my leopard gecko ive only have him about 2 1/2 weeks.
When i first set up the viv i was told to put the heat mat inside the viv it is a glass eco-terra one, he seemed very happy and eating well, but then i was told the heat mat i was using was too big and it should be underneath the viv. So i got a smaller heat mat and put it underneath the viv but no he seems to spend all the time in the hot hide and doesnt seem to have eaten since. I havent really seen him since i changed over the mat's but i can see him moving inside the hot hide.

Does ne one know wats up with him??

[SleepyD]

Originally Posted by Hai1988

hiya im a bit consurned about my leopard gecko ive only have him about 2 1/2 weeks.
When i first set up the viv i was told to put the heat mat inside the viv it is a glass eco-terra one, he seemed very happy and eating well, but then i was told the heat mat i was using was too big and it should be underneath the viv. So i got a smaller heat mat and put it underneath the viv but no he seems to spend all the time in the hot hide and doesnt seem to have eaten since. I havent really seen him since i changed over the mat's but i can see him moving inside the hot hide.

Does ne one know wats up with him??

the heatmat should be between one third and one half of the floor space ~ what are the temps at the hot end and how are you measuring them?
If he's changed from moving/eating well to not eating and staying on the hot end I'd say that he's not warm enough ~ if leo's don't have the underbelly heat they need it can interfer with their appetite and digestion.
Would recommend that you check the temps and if they're below 88*F-90*F/31*c-32*c then I'd go back to using the heatmat and system you had before.

[jools]

What substrate are you using as well - if it is sand or similar and it is too thick then it can stop the heat coming through properly. As SleepyDee says it sounds like he is not warm enough. Also you really ought to be opening his hide each day to check him over

[Hai1988]

ive got lino down in the viv, temp in hot end is only 80 at the mo should it was about 89 before should i put the heat mat back in the viv under the lino again???

Also any advice on how to get crix out of the viv just ment to put half a dozon in my beardie's viv and about 10 fell out of the cricket keeper tube !!
everytime i try and catch them they just freak out and start jumping at me and trying to escape out the door.

How do i catch them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[SleepyD]

Originally Posted by Hai1988

ive got lino down in the viv, temp in hot end is only 80 at the mo should it was about 89 before should i put the heat mat back in the viv under the lino again???

*nods* 80 is far too low hence why he's hiding at the hot end and not eating ~ personally I'd put the heatmat back inside under the lino again and get the temps back up for the leo.

Also any advice on how to get crix out of the viv just ment to put half a dozon in my beardie's viv and about 10 fell out of the cricket keeper tube !!
everytime i try and catch them they just freak out and start jumping at me and trying to escape out the door.

How do i catch them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

don't about catching them I'd go straight for the hoover and suck the blooming things out

[Hai1988]

wont the hoover in the viv upset the beardie ??

[Hai1988]

also the heat mat instructions told me to put it underneath. its a habiat one will it be ok in the viv

[messengermatt]

The heatmat will be fine under the lino just make sure its statted !

[bluewater]

Re feeding the crix - I knock a few from the tube into a marg. tub - which I use for dusting the food. Then I put them one at a time - with tweezers from the dusting box. No escapies - they are well dusted and you know exactly how many are been eaten. If there is some in the viv, place an empty tube in the viv - I'm sure the crix would go back in pretty quickly - it's safe & dark. Otherwise just squash them, one at a time, with your longest finger and remove same. Messy but it works.