A couple of questions?

[Longview]

I want to get a Leo, but first i want to get a habitat all set up before hand, so i had a couple of questions.
I'm planing on a 20 gallon tank.

1. Do i need a heating light, if i have an under tank heating pad?
2. Do i need one of the red night lights or can i just use the lighting in my room for my Leo to tell day or night?
3. I've seen people put calcium in a dish, or dust the crickets they are feeding them, is either or a better way?

Those are the one's i have in my head right now, I'm sure i'll think of a few more!

~Thanks, Devin.

 

[acpart]

Welcome to GF.
In my opinion (others do it differently):
A UTH is sufficient for heating but you may need a thermostat or rheostat to keep it from getting too hot
Room or outside light is all you need. I don't have any special lights on my cages
As I understand it, if you use Repashy calcium plus you need only to dust the crickets. The other method is to keep a small dish of calcium without vitamin D3 in the cage and to dust feeders alternately with calcium with vitamin D3 and vitamins.

Aliza

 

[Longview]

Yeah, i was reading on those Pad thermostats.

I'll go read up on those Calcium supply's, thank you!

 

[Longview]

Also i know it's better to feed them gut loaded crickets, what should i feed the crickets?

 

[Longview]

After reading up some more today, i ended up getting a 10 gallon tank, cheaper and i think i can use it till I, 1 have enough money for a larger tank, and 2 till my Leo matures. I also bought Zoo Med digital Thermometers, and a UTH. Only have 2 questions about these. where should i put the little probes from the Thermometers? And Where can i get one of the Thermostat for the UTH I went to two pet stores and they didn't have them. :main_angry:

 

[Embrace Calamity]

Also i know it's better to feed them gut loaded crickets, what should i feed the crickets?

You can get cricket gutload at any pet store. I use Fluker's.

After reading up some more today, i ended up getting a 10 gallon tank, cheaper and i think i can use it till I, 1 have enough money for a larger tank, and 2 till my Leo matures. I also bought Zoo Med digital Thermometers, and a UTH. Only have 2 questions about these. where should i put the little probes from the Thermometers? And Where can i get one of the Thermostat for the UTH I went to two pet stores and they didn't have them. :main_angry:

You can probably find a cheap 20 gallon on Craigslist or eBay classifieds or thrift sales or garage sales (just make sure you clean it well). Also, the Co of Pets occasionally has tank sales of $1 per 1 gallon. I prefer the 20 gallon because of the excellent temp gradient it gives. I keep the hot side in the low 90's and the cool side stays in the mid- to upper-70's, which my leo goes to once in a while. As far as I'm aware, you can't get that good of a temp gradient in a 10 gallon.

This is the thermostat I see most commonly suggested: Amazon.com: Hydrofarm MTPRTC Digital Thermostat For Heat Mats: Patio, Lawn & Garden

And probes should sit right on the substrate to give you the best reading, since that's where your leo will spend its time.

~Maggot

 

[Longview]

You can get cricket gutload at any pet store. I use Fluker's.You can probably find a cheap 20 gallon on Craigslist or eBay classifieds or thrift sales or garage sales (just make sure you clean it well). Also, the Co of Pets occasionally has tank sales of $1 per 1 gallon. I prefer the 20 gallon because of the excellent temp gradient it gives. I keep the hot side in the low 90's and the cool side stays in the mid- to upper-70's, which my leo goes to once in a while. As far as I'm aware, you can't get that good of a temp gradient in a 10 gallon.

This is the thermostat I see most commonly suggested: Amazon.com: Hydrofarm MTPRTC Digital Thermostat For Heat Mats: Patio, Lawn & Garden

And probes should sit right on the substrate to give you the best reading, since that's where your leo will spend its time.

~Maggot

I'm gona order one of those tonight thanks!

And yeah, i'm going to do some tests before i get My Leo see how the temps work out, if they're not good i'm returning the tank.

 

[Embrace Calamity]

I'm gona order one of those tonight thanks!

And yeah, i'm going to do some tests before i get My Leo see how the temps work out, if they're not good i'm returning the tank.

That's a good idea. I dunno where you live, but you can use searchtempest.com to search Craigslist by zip code and such.

~Maggot

 

[Longview]

That's a good idea. I dunno where you live, but you can use searchtempest.com to search Craigslist by zip code and such.

~Maggot

I'll try that out if the temps don't match up!

Thanks!

 

[Longview]

Also while at the pet store, i notice they didn't have any live crickets, they need to be alive don't they?

 

[Embrace Calamity]

Also while at the pet store, i notice they didn't have any live crickets, they need to be alive don't they?

Honestly, I don't know. I've never heard of anyone using packaged crickets, but I guess I can't imagine why they wouldn't work - though I dunno if he'd eat them. You could also try mealworms. They might have those.

~Maggot

 

[Longview]

Honestly, I don't know. I've never heard of anyone using packaged crickets, but I guess I can't imagine why they wouldn't work - though I dunno if he'd eat them. You could also try mealworms. They might have those.

~Maggot

Dead mealworms too! It was at +++++, didn't look like a good brand name either, i wasn't planing on using them i was just curious.

EDIT: Guess i can't say P3T C0 ?

 

[Embrace Calamity]

Dead mealworms too! It was at +++++, didn't look like a good brand name either, i wasn't planing on using them i was just curious.

EDIT: Guess i can't say P3T C0 ?

They didn't have any live ones? That's interesting. And no, there's a filter from saying either of the big name pet stores. I know, it's a bit of a pain.

~Maggot

 

[Kylerbassman]

I would be surprised if Leo's would even eat them. Mine won't touch anything not moving. I would also be worried what else they are using to preserve. Any large chain pet store I have ever been to has them. You may need to ask at the fish department as that's where they are located at the store near me. I personally basically just use supers and occasional Dubia and mealies. I hate dealing with crickets, but that's more of a personal problem

 

[Embrace Calamity]

I would be surprised if Leo's would even eat them. Mine won't touch anything not moving. I would also be worried what else they are using to preserve. Any large chain pet store I have ever been to has them. You may need to ask at the fish department as that's where they are located at the store near me. I personally basically just use supers and occasional Dubia and mealies. I hate dealing with crickets, but that's more of a personal problem

See, I'm opposite. I have a 10 gallon setup and just keep crickets in there. With peat moss as the substrate, I don't really have any issues with smell (I keep it in my bedroom). I buy enough to last a few weeks, then buy more when they get low. I wanna get some mealworms to keep around too.

~Maggot

 

[Longview]

I didn't ask so that might be why i didn't find them!

I've plugged in my heating pad just do see how it would do without a thermostat and it's been a few hours and it's steadied around 81, 82. Is that normal without a thermostat?

 

[Embrace Calamity]

I didn't ask so that might be why i didn't find them!

I've plugged in my heating pad just do see how it would do without a thermostat and it's been a few hours and it's steadied around 81, 82. Is that normal without a thermostat?

Depends on the size of the UTH. A thermostat isn't really something that does something everyday. It's more of a safe-guard in case the UTH produces too much or uneven heat.

~Maggot

 

[Kylerbassman]

What substrate? What type of thermometer?

 

[Longview]

I just did paper towels for testing.

And a Zoo Med Digital Thermometer.

 

[Kylerbassman]

The pads themselves can generally produce temps more like 105. However going through tanks and or substrate decreases obviously. Also depends if you are on a rack or just propped on a flat surface.