In this post, we will talk about importance of humid hides, how to create a humid hide for a leopard gecko and more. We will also discuss leopard gecko moist hide ideas, DIY leopard gecko moist hide ideas and what is the best substrate for a leopard gecko moist hide.
Do leopard geckos need a moist hide?
Yes, leopard geckos absolutely need at least one moist hide in their habitat. Leopard geckos will use a moist hide to regulate the body temperature, to get extra moisture for shedding.
Gravid leopard geckos might even lay their eggs in a moist hide. If you have space, you might even place 2 moist hides. Never merge a moist and a warm hide in one.
There should be at least 3 hides in a leopard gecko’s vivarium – a warm and dry hide in a warm side, cool and dry hide in a cool side and a humid hide in the warm side/in the middle. If you have more space in a leopard gecko’s tank, you can place more hides.
Leopard gecko moist hide temperature
The temperature inside a leopard gecko’s moist hide should be between 83-90 degrees Fahrenheit (28-32.2 Celsius). Make sure not to place leopard gecko’s moist hide in the cool side of the tank. This is because the hide will be wet and cold, and can make your leopard gecko very sick and cause respiratory issues.
Leopard gecko moist hide humidity
Even though leopard geckos naturally live in rocky deserts, they hide in humid spots during the day. Higher humidity is essential for leopard geckos to shed successfully. The optimal humidity in a leopard gecko’s moist hide is 70-80%. 70-80% humidity is also required for an optimal leopard gecko shedding.
Leopard gecko moist hide placement
If you are thinking whether you need to place leopard gecko’s moist hide in a warm or cool side of the tank, then the answer is the warm side. Placing a moist hide in the cool side of the tank will make it cold inside, causing respiratory and other issues in your leopard gecko.
Leopard gecko’s moist hide should be placed in the warm side of the tank. You need to have an under tank heater below the moist hide to increase the temperatures inside (6×8 works well in a 20 gallon tank). You can also use a ceramic bulb on top, instead.
Please note that some under tank heaters are attached with a sticker (adhesive), and cannot be reused on the other side of the tank. This is why try to plan the placement of accessories ahead.
Or, you can use a heat resistant tape, such as this Gaffer tape to attach it. Some under tank heaters don’t come with a sticker, so you will need to attach it yourself. Again, use a heat resistant tape for this.
Leopard gecko moist hide ideas
- Buying a commercial hideout and transforming it into a moist hide
- Making a moist hide from a plastic container
- Using old plastic containers from margarine, ice cream etc., but make sure they can withstand heat. You can make one with a single use plastic dish for a temporary use (when you haven’t setup the tank yet and your leopard gecko is shedding).
- You can even use a glass box/dish that has an entrance
What is the best substrate for a leopard gecko moist hide?
- Sphagnum moss (pros: antimicrobial, cheap, holds moisture well, natural; cons: needs to be mixed with other substrate for egg laying females). This is the best substrate. Wash once in 2 weeks with non-toxic soap to reuse and replace every 3 months.
- Paper towels (pros: no risk of impaction, easy to change, good for baby leopard geckos; cons: not naturalistic, not suitable for egg-laying female leopard geckos). Replace weekly.
- Coconut fiber (pros: naturalistic, good for digging; cons: risk of impaction, gets dusty when dry, can get moldy and isn’t suitable for younger leopard geckos). Not the best substrate. Replace twice a month or as soon as you see mold.
Sphagnum moss for a leopard gecko’s moist hide
Sphagnum moss is definitely one of the best substrates for a leopard gecko’s moist hide. This is because sphagnum moss is naturally antimicrobial and holds the moisture very well.
Both of these factors are very important because it will help keep the humidity stable for longer, and prevent growth of harmful bacteria. High quality sphagnum moss shouldn’t have a bad smell. Sphagnum moss isn’t expensive, either.
You will need to place around 2 inches of sphagnum moss inside of the moist hide and spray it with water. Make sure that the sphagnum moss is not dripping water (better not to soak it) and only spray it with water when it becomes slightly dry.
Even if the moist hide is in the warm side, the water will evaporate inside the hide and your leopard gecko will lick the water droplets. Don’t worry about water evaporation – condensation and occasional spraying will keep it moist.
You might have seen cons of the sphagnum moss in a moist hideout for egg-laying leopard geckos. This is because sphagnum moss is not very loose, and the leopard gecko will be digging to lay the eggs.
As a result, the eggs will stay on the bottom on the container and will stick to it. In this case, you won’t be able to remove the eggs and will have to incubate them inside a moist container.
If your leopard gecko is laying infertile eggs, it’s fine, but if you want to incubate them, make sure to add another layer of loose substrate on the bottom of the moist hide, such as coco fiber.
Make sure to get a good quality sphagnum moss, such as this sphagnum moss by Pangea. Good sphagnum moss shouldn’t have rubbish in it, such as sticks, dirt or thorns.
If you are collecting sphagnum moss yourself, make sure it hasn’t been sprayed with any pesticides. Remove any dirt and wash it with non-toxic soap, such as baby soap (nothing with bleach).
Don’t wash with boiling water as it can kill the moss. You can even wash the moss that you buy, just in case. Moss can be reused, just wash it with water and non-toxic soap.
Coconut fiber for a leopard gecko’s moist hide
Coconut fiber, or coco fiber, is also a popular substrate for leopard gecko moist hides. It is good for burrowing and digging, so is suitable for egg-laying females. Cons of coconut fiber include a risk or ingestion, especially by babies and juveniles.
You will also need to make sure that the coco fiber is not drying out, because it becomes dusty when dry and is easier to swallow and inhale. Don’t use for young leopard geckos. Coco fiber can also get moldy if you keep it too wet. It is better to choose moss or paper towels over coco fiber.
Paper towels for a leopard gecko’s moist hide
Paper towels are also good for a leopard gecko’s moist hide. The only problem is that they don’t look naturalistic. Paper towels are also not suitable for egg-laying females, as they need to dig and hide eggs in the substrate.
However, paper towels are very good for young leopard geckos under 5-7 months, because there will be no risk of impaction. Baby leopard geckos are known to try substrates in the tank.
You can also use a cloth instead of a paper towel. If using paper towels, make sure they are thick. Otherwise, they will be easily ripped, causing a mess. Change weekly.
Substrates that you must not use in a leopard gecko’s moist hide
Please don’t use substrates that pose a high risk of injury or impaction, in a leopard gecko’s moist hide. And not only in the moist hide, but also in the whole tank.
Substrates that are not suitable for a leopard gecko’s moist hide include vermiculite, perlite, walnut shells, sand or alfalfa. Sand will not absorb moisture and poses risk of impaction, alfalfa will mold, and vermiculite with perlite also pose a risk of impaction.
Making a humid hide for leopard gecko
The instructions will differ for the DIY moist hide and the commercial hideout, that you will need to fill with the substrate. The moist hideout size for your leopard gecko should depend on your leopard gecko’s size – make sure it’s bigger than the leopard gecko. Generally, 10.5 oz (300ml) or bigger is a suitable container size for making leopard gecko moist hide.
After finishing, make sure to place it in the warm part of the tank, with either an under tank heater like this below it or a ceramic heat bulb on top. Heat will help the water evaporate, creating a ‘sauna’ inside the moist hide.
Spray the water into the hide once a day or once in two days, depending on a substrate. Reuse moss by washing it or replace towels once a week.
Making a DIY leopard gecko moist hide
- Choose a plastic container with a lid, that is bigger than your leopard gecko (it should comfortably enter, lay and turn around in there). Plastic container should be safe when exposed to high temperatures (check label that allows microwaving). It is advised not to use single use plastic containers (such as ice cream tub, takeaway boxes etc.). This is because they can leak toxic chemicals due to a prolonged use and heat.
- Take the plastic container and make a hole on the bottom or top so that your leopard gecko can easily enter and exit. Measure your leopard gecko’s width and cut the hole and check for any sharp sides. Make sure the hole is not too high as leopard geckos are not the best climbers.
- Instead of cutting a hole in the lid, you can cut the hole on the side of the container (with both short and tall containers).
- Fill the substrate inside the container and spray with some water.
- Place the DIY moist hide in a warm spot, near or better on top of an under tank heater. Make sure that the under tank heater is connected to a thermostat to control temperatures.
Buying a commercial hideout and making a moist hide with it
If you want the hideout to look more appealing and naturalistic, you can buy a hideout or cave instead, and fill it with moist substrate. For example, you can get this Cave Shelter Hide by Zoo Med, that is an ideal hideout and fill it moist with substrate.
Another great product is this Gecko Cave by Zoo Med, that will look naturalistic in a habitat.
After buying the cave/hideout, wash it with soap, let dry and fill with substrate. Place in the warm side of the tank with an under tank heater below.
You can also have a ceramic heat emitting bulb on top, instead. In summer, when it gets hotter, make sure to see what works the best. Don’t allow it to get too hot in the tank (not higher than 93 degrees in the hot side).
Thank you for reading this post and make sure to read more on the best substrates for a leopard gecko’s tank. You can also find more interesting posts on leopard gecko care on this page.