small problem...before if becomes big problem!

Question
QUESTION: Ok so here are the basics.  I have 3 leo's in a 40 gallon tank with excavator clay substrate.  I've had them 4 years since they were very young and they've done very well..even in the 25 gallon tank they were in before.  I recently decided to upgrade and there have been noticeable changes in their everyday activity.  I have not seen them eat in nearly a week except when I lay their food (gut-loaded meal worms) right in front of their face, at which point they get very excited and go after it, and all 3 seem to crowd around this one half log on the warm side of the tank.  2 go under it literally laying on top of each other and the younger one sits on top.  It just seems like they sleep all day.  The 2 bigger ones have fat tails still and plenty seemingly plenty of energy when I take them out to check for any physical abnormalities but the younger one has lost some weight.  I've noticed a drop in the temperature on the warm side due to the size of the tank compared to the bulb (down to around 86 from 92-93) so my next step is a small UTH stuck to the side of the tank instead of under it but I wanted to consult with someone on here first.  I've taken the younger one out and tried feeding her a little baby food that she used to have and love when she was very young and she took that fairly readily but she just seems to want to sleep now.  I was hoping it was because they were just adjusting to their new home but something just doesn't seem right.  So like I said, my first thought was just the general lower ambient temp. so hopefully you agree and that'll be taken care of immediately.  Thank you very much for your help.

ANSWER: Hello Mike,

Well, it sounds like they are all having some stress due to a new environment.  Reptiles tend not to deal with changes in their tanks very well~!
A drop in the temperature though could definitely affect their activity & appetite.  An under tank heater is perfect, however, I would put it on the bottom of the tank, not the side.  The heat would be distributed more evenly being on the bottom.

The warm side really just needs a range of 88-90 or so, really but it just might be the ambient temperatures that are being affected.  What type of thermometer are you using to measure the temperatures?
Do you have any pictures of them?  

The stress from changing their environment could have increased the overall parasite/worm levels also which will affect their behavior & appetite, too.

What type of basking light do you use?
For now, the baby food feedings should help quite a bit in getting nutrition into them & putting some weight on them until they start eating again.


Tracie

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: well the excavator clay package says not to use a heater under the tank because it doesn't handle the heat well.  I'm assuming it'll cause cracks and I heard it actually gets too hot.  I'm using a 100 watt bulb now.  I wish i had pictures! lol i could send you a cell phone picture haha i don't have a digital camera though.  I just checked on them and one of them just turned white as she is just about to shed and that's always a good sign.  Besides that everything is the same.  I went ahead and purchased a UTH to put on the side anyway because I just noticed this morning before the light came on that it got done to nearly 65 degrees so this will at least help with the night temp and hopefully get them moving a little.  

Also my feeder roaches just came in so i was excited about getting them in there to spur some hunting maybe but my mother won't allow them in the house because she's scared of them so i'm a bit perturbed to say the least.  I guess that's something i'll have to figure out on my own though lol

ANSWER: Hello Mike,

How are things going today?
Great your roaches just came in then, I hope that she will like them.  Most people are scared of roaches & crickets!  LOL  Where are you going to keep them then if you can't keep them in the house?
Well, that is a good sign, if she is going to shed.  Maybe she will start to get back to normal here real soon then, after she finishes shedding.  
Good, the undertank heater should help out a lot & you will need to keep that on 24/7 ok?  Then just make sure the liner/substrate is covering it so it doesn't get too hot.
Which end is the excavator clay at, the cooler end?  The undertank heater should go on the warmer end so it shouldn't affect the excavator clay.

Let me know how she is doing.
Tracie

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: The excavator clay is covering the whole bottom, that's why I had to put the uth on the side.  I have it about 5 inches from the bottom so they can't actually touch the glass directly. I am keeping it on 24/7 and this has definitely helped keep the ambient temperature up between 78-80 at night and consistently over 90 during the day.  These measurements are with a probe thermometer on the hot side of the cage.  I've definitely noticed more movement and activity at night.  as they've been leaving their little half log and climbing around a bit more.  My one girl shed fully with no problems and she's looking wide-eyed and vibrant.  Unfortunately she absolutely hates being handled so I can only show her off in the cage.  My youngest girl is still a bit lethargic but has definitely moved around the cage since i'm not seeing her on the log anymore.  I just haven't actually seen her move that much so that's telling me she's moving in short spurts then seemingly becoming exhausted and sleeping.  I'm still feeding her baby food and she still feels strong and not losing anymore weight but her energy levels are still definitely low.  I'm fairly certain it's just the stress from the move and her not having her favorite hiding place anymore because it didn't fit with my new setup :( lol there are a lot more now so she'll find a new one.  I'm thinking about picking up a magnaturals cave soon to mimic what she was in before.  We've compromised to let me keep the roaches in the garage with towels covering them lol but i'm happy.  While we're in this topic, i'm feeding the roaches strawberries, apples, broccoli, and bananas.  Is there anything that you'd suggest me use more/stay away from as far as gutloading them? Thank you for all of your help.

Answer
Hello Mike,

Oh I see.  :-))
Well, then, that will have to do the.  Hopefully that will help increase the temperatures just a little bit more.  Those temperatures are much better.  Just turn the basking light off at night, leaving the under tank heater on.  The probe should be very accurate too.  
At least they are more active now, & not quite as lethargic.  
That is great to hear that she shed with no problems too.  
I think eventually she will get used to her new tank, & find a new little hide out like before.  
The roaches can be fed dry cat or dog food, actually as it is high in protein.  The fruit is fine, but some solid dry food would do them good too.  Try to balance it out, with dry & moisture type of foods.  
So there was a compromise of where to keep the roaches.  You may need to use some heating during the winter, or they will die.
I hope that they continue to get better & adjust to their new surroundings.  It just takes awhile sometimes.

Tracie