New to forums with Leo question.

Sunday I picked up a leopard gecko. I also picked up the National Geographic reptile desert kit. The kit came with 2 Dome Lamps, 1 Basking Bulb (50 watt), 1 Desert UVB Bulb (13 watt), 1 Thermometer/Hygrometer, 1 Food Dish, 1 Carpet Substrate, 1 Water Dish, and 1 Foam Background.

I also bought 1 rock hide(warm), 2 Wooden hides(1 cool& 1 moist) and a red bulb for heat. And a small heating pad. Reused older thermometer/hydrometer.
I do plan on replacing both thermometers on Thursday.

He/she is eating dusted crickets, National Geo brand. The cricket are eating carrots and a cricket powder, I don't remember the name brand of crickets food.

I did do research before I bought him, and continue to do so. Problem is I have been getting mixed information. First off I'm ditching the UVB when I get home after finding this forum.

The house is generally kept at 60-65 with no body home or asleep. 65-70 when up. Today I left the heat on 68 with the red bulb and heating pad on, temps reached 78 on the cool side with humidity of 45%.
Last night house was at 60 with only the heating pad, temps dropped to 67 in the tank. No thermostat on warm side (stopped working replacing Thursday)
Would it be ok to use the red bulb during the day with out hurting him, then shutting the light off during the night? Reading I noticed some didn't use any lights. My wife like a cool house, I don't know if I trust just a heating pad while I'm not home.
Is the humidity OK at 45-50% being a little high. I was advised and going by Humidity 10-30%
Day cool side 75-85℉
Day warm side 85-95℉
Night 65-75℉.

The first night we had him his tail some how was caught between the rock and glass ripping the tip off. I don't think he dropped it from Google searchers.
How do I go about helping him/her heal. When I woke up and found it, I pulled out the moist moss out. Cleaned the wound with warm water and qtip. I was told neosporin? I was also told No qtip and no neosporin, just drop warm water using a cotton ball and let him/her lick the wound? What I should do?
Is their a safe way I can take a picture so you folks can help me know boy or girl? He/she can be named. He also might be too young still to tell.
Be sides the tail how does he look. I'm not sure the age. I was as told baby (juvenile)



Hopefully this pics worked?
Any other advise is welcome [emoji3]



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The temps seem fine and yes ditch the UVB, they don't need it. You can use the light during the day, you can plug it into a timer to eliminate having to manually cut it on and off. Most use a ceramic heat emitter or no supplemental heat, depending on how room temperatures are. The humidity seems fine. As far as her tail goes, it sucks that it happened , I wouldn't use the neosporin. If you need to clean it, you can use a very watered down solution of Betadine with a gauze, cotton from the q-tip may stick to it and keep the tank extra clean to prevent infection. The tail will regrow where it got snapped off, it will look a little different. It honestly looks like it could be female, I don't see any bulges behind the back legs, unless some nads drop in another few weeks or so. Age wise I'm not completely sure, maybe 3-4 months? All in all, she/he looks healthy, oh and replace the carpet with paper towels until the tail heals. You can throw it out every week and once the tail heals, you can put the carpet back in.

Thank you for the quick response, we will wait a few weeks before giving her a name to make sure.
Carpet is out paper towels in.

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I agree with the above.

It would be okay to use the red bulb during the day (definitely preferable to using a white light), but honestly the air temps don't matter much. It's the ground temp you have to worry about. I personally don't use any lights because leopard geckos have sensitive eyes. The ground temp on my warm side stays at a toasty 92 F.
Probably is too young to sex. You would have to post a picture of the vent, but I would not try to handle the gecko so soon after receiving him. You would not want to stress him further with that wound trying to heal.

What kind of thermometer are you using to measure the temperatures? You definitely want to measure the ground temps, not the air temps.

I second using paper towels and changing often until the wound it clean. Keep the gecko's environment very sanitary to prevent infection. And honestly, my favorite thing to use for wounds like these is honey. Totally harmless and pretty effective. Just use a little bit so nothing gets stuck to the wound.

I wouldn't be too worried about the humidity. I'm positive the humidity gets higher than that in my tubs sometimes and they are fine.

Oh I forgot about honey, it has great antibacterial properties. I use it all the time in my tea when I'm sick.

The thermometer I'm using sticks on the side of the tank, it come with the kit. Not sure the brand, guessing National Geographic.
What thermometer would you guys recommend for testing ground heat in the tank?

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A digital thermometer with a probe http://www.amazon.com/Zoo-Med-Digital-Terrarium-Thermometer/dp/B000MD3MFA like this or something similar. The analog ones that stick on the tank are usually not very accurate.

Your geckos tail will be fine, just keep an eye on it for infection my jezabel had the same thing but her tail grew back and she acts like a normal baby
I don't really recommend any lights, and heat pads are the best option
(I'm sorry if I'm just repeating what they're saying)


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I picked up two new thermometers. I have never used the ones with a probe, I'm guess it should lay on top off the paper towels. (carpet when healed.)
For the warm side, should the probe be in the hide?

I have also been reading they don't climb? While a few due. There is a foam rock display against the back of the tank. He will climb this, is that OK. Will the foam hurt him.

For the lights, I did notice most don't use any. I think with the new thermometers I will be able to ditch the red one. I would like to use a light too simulate sunlight for day time. What would you guys recommend, with out hurting him? My reason is my room is very dark. My wife and I cover third shift all time, for this we use black out curtains.

Thank you for all the advice. His tail is already healing and looking good. I just panicked. When I bought him/her , the plan was to pick up everything, but the Leo. While shopping I kept running back and forth trying to match there tank, after about 4 times back and forth he was out and at the front of the tank. While the clerk was checking my cart he was at the door showing off, walking back and fourth. When she noticed she made a comment about the Leo choosing me. Next thing I know he/she was coming home.
Thanks again and again!

And no worries on repeating info. The more I read he/she will be heal, the more confident I'll be caring for his tail. I was really nervous at first.

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Yes put the probes in the hides for both cool and warm sides. You can use a regular bulb to simulate a day time photo period, I would suggest plugging it in to a lamp dimmer at like 50% power so it's not as bright, they just need enough to know it's day time.

The foam background will be ok, won't hurt him/her. You could also find some garden stacking stones and make something for him/her to climb up to. I have a piece of driftwood in my tank and he loves climbing on it.

You don't need basking lights. They get heat under there belly


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If I were to use a light, I would use a hood light with a soft fluorescent bulb in it. I think in this case it would be beneficial to use a dim light since you block out the sunlight during the day.

I took away all the heat lights a week ago. For a light to simulate day time, I'm using a lamp that shines up towards the ceiling and using a curtain and rod for a little divider.

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Not sure if it was mentioned above, but a temp gun is the best way to read your floor temps. It's the most accurate in my opinion. Most people will not need anything except an under tank heater unless their house is very cold. In that case, I would recommend a ceramic heat emitter. But you will need to check temps often (floor and air) to make sure it's not too hot. You want the floor surface temp to be 90-92 or so. As for lights, I don't use any. They get a little light from the windows in the house and the light in the room. I've never used uvb for them. Just make sure they are getting some D3 with their calcium and vitamins.