leopard gecko

[yungnhopless562]

okay, so im deciding to get a leopard gecko but i want you guys's advice before i get one cuz i hate relying on pet stores im happy lol okay anyways back to the point i have a few questions:

1.) How big of a tank should i buy?

2.) Whats the best bedding to use?

3.) Do I need heating pads?

4.) They eat crickets and/or mealworms right?

anymore advice besides those 4 questions would be really appreciated

 

[Earthgirl]

Cool and Leopard Geckos are awesome lizards to start with.
I just love my little girl.
I hope I can help you out with some of the answers to your questions.....
1. A good tank to have is min 10 gallons, but it is nice to have bigger. I have mine in a 15 gallon long. 20 gallon is ideal. The longer the tank the better, cause since they are a dessert lizard, they don't need the height to climb
2. Bedding. There is such a debate. For little ones, ie juvis and babies, paper towel is the best substrate. If you want to use sand, use the finest grade there is, like play sand (which is the most unexpensive also). Other options are tiles (slate for more realistic) or just keep them on the paper towel. The reason behind some people don't like the sand is the chance of impaction. I use sand cause her food is always in a meal worm bowl and I look and check her poop and pee every day to see the signs and syptoms of impactions
3. Heating and Uv lights are recommeded. I also use and under the tank heating pad for night use, but it stays on all day. You will need heating lamps and I recommend an Uv light (but others may disagree). The temp should stay about 88 during the day and a bit cooler at night.
4. They do eat crickets and mealworm, yes. Mine (at most others too) love wax worms, but use those only as a treat once a week, or to fatten up a female to breed. They are extremly fattening and addicting to them (why , don't know) so these are too be only used as I said before. If you are planning on breeding a good way to get your female ready is to feed her a pinkie, but that is only used in breeding.

You might also need a moist hide for the little guy/gal. Geckos, as like most other reptiles, they shed. But leopard geckos eat their shedding, and might more than likely do it at night. A good indication that they are going to shed, is that they seem to go a pastey white, and in the morning when you see them, they are a bright new looking lizard. Anyways, back to my moist hide comment, you will need one to aid in shedding. I use an old margine container with a hole cut out of it. Inside is moist paper towel (you can also use frog moss) but you must mist it and keep it moist everyday.

hmmmm, what else can I tell you....

I can't think of anything at the moment, but if you have any questions, feel free to PM me

 

[RandomWiktor]

^^ Great info, Earthgirl. I worked with quite a lot of geckos at the zoo and they were great fun. I can only think of a few suggestions other than what's been provided.

- Under tank pad/lights are a good idea for heating - please don't use heat rocks, I've seen so many burned up lizzards from malfunctions in those things. However, make sure your perching (which they don't need much of anyways) isn't too close to the lights; one of the main ways the poor little things get hurt is getting pinned between a perch and the lid and ending up getting burned from the light.
- Handle the gecko a lot, esp when it is young, because geckons who don't get handled end up nipping. They probably wouldn't draw blood, but it is still unpleasant.
- Great tank size/substrate suggestions. I've never had a gecko personally so I don't know what else could be used (zoo used sand), but never ever use wood chips. I know a good intentioned but ill informed lizzard owner who used them, and the poor thing ate a chip chasing crickets, got a blockage, and died. I would imagine you could also use those wide, flat, polished craft stones along with sand if you are worried about a large surface area of sand. They sell bags of them at AC Moore for pretty cheap, and they're generally at least an inch or two long but very flat so your pet can't eat them. Pretty, as well.
- Make sure you have something sturdy the animal can get under without being trapped or smushed to get out of the "sun" should the lights get too hot for him/her. They make wonderful lightweight, plastic "caves" for lizzards that might be a good choice.
- If you want to save money on mealworms, breed your own. All you need is a plastic tub with a screen/breathable lid (those little 2 gallon sm. animal carriers, which cost about 5 bucks, are great), a few older mealworms or the actual adult beetles, and a bunch of bran flakes and orange slices. You put maybe 3-4 inches of bran flakes in a clean, dry container, dump in the adult meal worms (beetles), and put a slice of apple or orange on the surface for food and moisture. They usually breed pretty fast. You can try breeding crickets, too, but they have a strong odor and require specific heat, lighting, and soil considerations.

Good luck with your new lizzy when you get him/her ^^