any suggestions on finding an escaped leopard gecko?

Question

I just got a leopard gecko and forgot to put the lid back on his cage... He has been missing for 3 days now and we searched everywhere for him. We have tried to put a heating pad on the floor,tipping his tank side ways, and even left out meal worms for him to eat. I have searched the entire room and under the refridgerator and stove... we really have looked almost everywhere... any suggestions on how we can just make a trap for him?

ok well he has been missing for almost 10 days now I still can't find him... when do I assume the worse that he may be dead :(

Answer 1

here are some other suggestions,
http://groups.google.com/group/rec.pets.herp/browse_thread/thread/b08e3dd36c68b814/84a823345ca8edbd%2384a823345ca8edbd

same question as you, how to find an escaped gecko, a couple that aren't mentioned yet here.

another forum had this answer as the winning method -
"set up a basking spot for him with a bowl of wax worms/ mealies and sit and wait... also shut all the doors in the house and put plastic bags in various places you'l hear him at night when he moves!! this works well with my snakes!! "
from - http://www.reptileforums.co.uk/about17184-0-asc-0.html

good luck.

Answer 2

I like your ideas. Especially the meal worms. Can you tell if it ate any? Any trap will need meal worms in a cup to attract it and also an inverted funnel type of door. That way it follows the funnel right in but has a hard time finding the small home to get out.

Maybe take a shoe box and slit the sides down the short side. Push in the short side to make a ramp that is just open enough at the top so it fits in after you put the shoe box top back on. Check it often.

Good luck, If you have roaches you may not find him for a while but when you do he will be fat and happy. hahahaha

My friends fraternity house had one they let loose to eat the bugs.

Answer 3

I can tell you this works for escaped hamsters might work on a gecko...

Find a tall bucket or wastepaper can - something he couldn't crawl out of if he fell in but nothing too high so that a drop won't hurt him Make steps up to the side of the bucket with bricks or boxes. Take a carrot and make trails of carrot shavings that lead to the bucket from several directions - put the carrot in the bottom of the bucket. Leave overnight. If it's a hamster you'll find them in the morning every time - don't know about geckos but its worth a shot. Good luck!

Answer 4

Since Leopard Geckoes are nocturnal, your best bet is to search at night. Otherwise in the daytime, look under or behind warm items such as; microwave, stereo, computer monitor, or TV.