Leopard Gecko Setup

N

neil1983

Guest
I'm looking to get a leopard gecko in the near future but I'd like some advice and pic on the sort of setup I should create for it.

Thanks in advance for advice/info and pics
 
pkrtech

pkrtech

New Member
Messages
281
10 gallon tank, paper towels as flooring, humid hide (container with wet paper towel flooring in it) Warm Hide ( container sitting on warm side of container ) Calcium dish, Feeders ( I prefer dubia Roaches, most use mealworms )

Thermostat

http://www.spyderrobotics.com/products/herpstatnd.html

You will need some type of belly heat to hook up to it and put under the tank. I would advise heat tape, these guys will wire it up and everything for you.

http://reptilebasics.com/Flexwatt-Heat-Tape-p-1-c-297.html

Temps need to be 90-92 warm side 72-75 cool side.

Good luck.
 
N

neil1983

Guest
From what I've been told I wont need a heat lights or UV light is this true?

Also sorry for sounding stupid but what is a calcium dish?
 
Krow

Krow

Senior Member
Messages
918
Location
East Texas
A calcium dish can be any kind of dish with calcium in it, it can even be a bottle cap. Here are some pictures of my set-up for my super snow girl & soon my shtct girl.

-Substrate: EcoEarth Coco Fiber
-Heat Source: heat bulb
-Warm side: 91-93
-Cool side: 81-83 (too much of a heat to cool gradient can be bad, imo)
-4 hides total, 2 moist & 2 dry, one on each side. (rock cave on left, & small wooden hide on the right are the 2 moist hides)(exo terra cave & long woodern cave are the dry hides)
-Water dish on cool side, calcium dish in the middle.

Here are the pics of my set-up:

Front veiw...
picture.php


Left, cool side... (the big rock cave you see is where Kirsa spends most her time)
picture.php


Right, warm side...
picture.php


Top veiw...
picture.php


*The calcium dish is not in the pictures because it had been taken out to be cleaned & I just forgot to put it in for the pictures.
 
N

neil1983

Guest
Krow said:
A calcium dish can be any kind of dish with calcium in it, it can even be a bottle cap. Here are some pictures of my set-up for my super snow girl & soon my shtct girl.

-Substrate: EcoEarth Coco Fiber
-Heat Source: heat bulb
-Warm side: 91-93
-Cool side: 81-83 (too much of a heat to cool gradient can be bad, imo)
-4 hides total, 2 moist & 2 dry, one on each side. (rock cave on left, & small wooden hide on the right are the 2 moist hides)(exo terra cave & long woodern cave are the dry hides)
-Water dish on cool side, calcium dish in the middle.

Here are the pics of my set-up:

Front veiw...
picture.php


Left, cool side... (the big rock cave you see is where Kirsa spends most her time)
picture.php


Right, warm side...
picture.php


Top veiw...
picture.php


*The calcium dish is not in the pictures because it had been taken out to be cleaned & I just forgot to put it in for the pictures.
Click to expand...

Cheers for the advice, your setup looks good. I didn't think leopard gecko's needed a heat lamp
 
N

neil1983

Guest
Ok thats cool.

If I dont use a heat bulb what sort of bulb would I use for light? would a normal low wattage bulb be ok or not?
 
L

little98dime

Member
Messages
318
Location
St. Augustine, Florida
At night, you need a red bulb. Not a part bulb from the dollar store, but a red bulb for reptiles. They can be found @ a pet store. During the day, you don't NEED a light, but it doesn't hurt either. Just make sure its not a UV bulb. Leos don't need UV light since they digest their food using belly heat.
 
Olimpia

Olimpia

La Española
Messages
626
Location
Melbourne, Florida
Just wanna add that the subtrate is your personal preference. Krow and I use Ecoearth, and other people use paper towel, but you can also use tile cut to fit in your tank, or shelf liner... just probably not sand. Sand is a touchy subject so it's better if you stick to something simpler. It's up to you to choose what you think looks nicer/is easier to clean/cheapest.

Also, you can get a 10 gal or a 20 gal long tank. That's also up to you and the size of your gecko. I love 20 longs because they're bigger, which lets me really set up a nice warm side and cool side without having too much clutter. In a 10 gal I find it too cramped.

So there are several things that are up to you :) Just do some research as to what the temps are, humidity, housing specs... ect and go from there. For example, I don't use anything more than an under tank heater because I live in a warm climate, but in winter I might have to get overhead lamps to keep the air temp in the 70-80's if it gets too nippy. Stuff like that.

Have fun with your new gecko! They're really cool.
 
N

neil1983

Guest
Cheers for the advice

How much of the viv should the heat mat cover?
 
A

AMYCUS

Guest
That is one of if not the sweetest Leo tanks I have ever seem. I've been setting up enclosures for ppl for years (mostly tarantulas)and ur enclosure is simply gorgeous. Awesome job.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Visit our friends

Top