WW: Little Foot {Linky}

My gecko Warhol shed, and I found this Michael Jackson glove that he left behind.

WW: Upper Geck {Linky}

What yoga position would this be called? I think I'd call it the Upper Geck.

WW: In Da Hood {Linky}

Log Home

If you remember from Sunny's Tipi post I had his new setup:

One day we'll get it right. Changing their setup can be stressful on them. That's why I thought he wasn't pooping AGAIN. Turns out he was using his new tipi for his outhouse. 

That log Travis found. The yellow on it is wax. Sunny can fit through it. 

Splooting and sleeping...again. He's nocturnal.

He loved hanging out there. But we had to take it out.

Travis said, "There must be some bug in it. It's creating a mound of sawdust under the log!" I said, "We don't want Sunny to get anything. Take it out, and shake it. Look to see if you can see a bug." He did just that. I said, "If there's a mound of sawdust again we know a bug is still in there. Can we put the log in the oven to kill the bug?" He said, "No the yellow stuff is wax." 

The sawdust happened again. Out went the log! 

I'm kind of sad he doesn't have it. I hate where we keep changing things on him. I don't want him to get a parasite from whatever the bug is! 

I've learned that there's a lot to learn with pets! I've never had anything but a frog and fish. 

Sunny's #tipi #teepee #leopardgecko #diy #craft #gecko

Our Leopard Gecko Sunny got an upgrade tank. He had a 10 gallon. After doing some research we found out it is just too small! He needs a warm side of the tank, and a cool side. He should have 3 or 4 hides: One on each side + a moist hide when he sheds.

On Facebook Market Place I kept my eye out for an upgrade. Finally I saw one! A 30 gallon tank for $30. We had to buy a top cover, but that was a good price. I got some non adhesive shelf paper, for the base. He was in the tank as soon as Travis cleaned it up.

We filled it up fast.

I had this ingenious idea of making Sunny a Tipi, for a hide.

I seriously decided his tipi plans on Christmas Eve Day. I went out to get the material. Then on Christmas I started making it. I kind of felt like he deserved nicer things, than he had.

I knew I needed some kind of base just to help hold the sticks where I wanted them to be. I used the lid to Orange Slices bought at Walmart - God I love those things!

Then I figured out that most tipis online have 6 sticks. Kitchen skewer sticks are the perfect size for Sunny's tipi, so I used them. I just stabbed holes with a knife tip, and stabbed the skewers through. Then I tied the top with hemp rope, and secured it with Elmer's Glue.

After the anatomy to the tipi was made I had to cut out the canvas, and I started sewing. I sewed around all the skewer sticks, and I sewed the door open.

When I was all done, I took the base out. BUT it was too flimsy, so Travis was nice enough to cut out a masonite base. He glued the skewer sticks to it. I think that's great because it's less likely to tip over. 

I debated on using fabric paint to make a pattern, sew beads on (he just licks, doesn't eat things off like that), or add the God's Eye I made last year out of toothpicks and embroidery floss. I went with the God's Eye. It was the perfect size, and I liked the colors. It was originally made to be a Christmas ornament. 

I worried a bit with the top of the skewers, but Sunny doesn't climb in his tank. Only when he's being held. He'll climb up to your/my shoulder every time. The tipi is really steep. We didn't place it near anything where he could get from one thing, to the top of the tipi. 

Here was his new set up:

I couldn't see him enjoy it because he was sleeping under Travis' sculpture hide. I learned a new word lately. When an animal lays all flat like to sleep it's called, "Splooting". Sunny sploots all the time!

It didn't take long before I heard Travis say, "Sunny is in your Tipi! Come look! It's the cutest thing!"

Sure enough he was checking out the tipi. 

Do you see the back corner? That's where he typically poops.

It was days where we didn't see any poop in his poop spot. He always poops there. I was thinking, Here we go again! Do we need to start giving him baths, and put him back on meds? Then it dawned on me...I bet he's shitting in his tipi! I told Travis to check!

Sure enough...there was about 5 poops in his tipi.

His tipi is his outhouse! He likes to poop in private.

What's the craziest thing you've ever made?

WW: Sunny's House {Linky}

We decided to put Isaak's Eitech Teifoc House in our Gecko - Sunny's tank. It fit!

He loved it a lot! 

He'd eat, sleep, and smile in his new home.

The only problem, was that Sunny never wanted to leave his home. We couldn't get him to come out all week. He wouldn't even come out to get drinks of water. 

Sleeping away!

Even though it's supposed to stress Gecko's out to change their tank set-up, the house has now been removed. He has one of Travis' small sculptures in his new tank set-up. He's a bit more active in and around it.

Have you ever had a pet that took you awhile to figure out?

Poop Already!

The oh so cute Sunny AKA our Leopard Gecko is backed up. When we got him he had blue sand in his tank. After researching, we found that sand even if it has calcium in it isn't good for him to digest. They lick everything.

We reset up his tank to have coconut substrate in it made for lizards. I read that, that was ok.

He's pooped, but it had blue in the poop. Now it's been 2 weeks, since Sunny has pooped.

At first I was just like, "I don't know how much he actually needs to poop. Maybe there's poop that's hiding in his tank."

We've researched some more. Any loose stuff in their tank isn't good. Out went the coconut substrate. He now has a cork board, for the ground. He has fun things to hide under, and climb on.

Travis didn't believe me at first, but to help Sunny's body relax, and keep up hydration he needs some warm baths. In the water he goes. We've been watching him, so he doesn't drown. He just needs water to hit his under belly. Then if your lizard likes you, you can rub his tummy to help him. I did that. He didn't seem to mind. After that Olive Oil can be applied to his lips (we used a q-tip), and put in his drinking water. We did that. Still no poop!

We only have to take him to the vet if his eyes seem sunken in, and he's not active at all.

There were mixed reviews on feeding him, or not. We laid off on feeding him one day, but fed him the next. Then we followed up with more Olive Oil.

We decided to take him in to see a Lizard Veterinarian. It was $60 for the visit, and $10 for a laxative.

After he had the laxative one day he pooped. YAY! $25 for them to test his poop sample. Then they want a follow up. I just want him to be regular. If he can become regular, I'm all for skipping the follow up. Ha!

Moral of the story:

Leopard Geckos do best with a hard surface, for a ground. No sand, no substrate. Just newspaper, paper towel, and Scotch Brite Pads (Smooth Surface, not Rough). I think cork board will be just fine. It can be taken out, and washed.

Have you ever had problems with an animal? If so what was your problem?

WW: Meet Sunny {Linky}

Isaak has been begging to get a pet. The trouble is...we are always busy, I'm allergic to anything furry or feathery. I was told to never get a dog or cat. There really isn't such a thing as a hyper allergenic dog or cat. There are some breeds that are better with allergies than others. Sadly I have allergies and asthma, so dogs and cats are out.

I have a student that was trying to get rid of her Leopard Gecko. She has a few other animals that require attention, she goes to school and work.

I took in Mr. Leopard Gecko. That same night I told Travis to call in for pizza. Isaak's sent me a meme to bring home pizza, but the night he did that we had something in the slow cooker.

When I got home I said, "Isaak I have a surprise for you." I pulled out the pizza.

To his surprise I next pulled out a tank with a Leopard Gecko in it. I call him a Therapy Gecko. Isaak kept getting worked up that he didn't ever have a pet. Now he has one.

Isaak said he was going to name him a color he is. The Gecko is speckled all over. His name is "Sunny".

Sunny is not as cuddly as a cat or dog, but we love him.

Even I have held Sunny.

Sunny is nocturnal, so he's the most active at night. He loves hanging out on his new petrified rock - lepidodendron stigmaria. 

I think he loves what we've done to his tank. He did have blue sand. I read that sand isn't great for little lizards. They lick it, and it gets into their digestive track.