baby sitter for 6 months

[mamangenn]

hi for the next 6 months i am gonna babysit a little gecko. i dont want to spend a lot of money on the set up because,,, i am just babysitting.

if i like it. i will invest more money and get my own gecko

that s the tank so far.

2 tiles and paper towel for the bottom( if i can find the tool to cut the tile.. i put more in the tank. lol)

2 pvc hide on the ceramic, 1 plastic contener for the humide hide

2 bol... but i think bol number 2 is too tall. i might change it.

there is gonna be a branch that the owner gonna bring me and a heating lamp.

she is bringning me grillon and calcium





do it look like i have everything?

 

[DrCarrotTail]

Looks great! I would recommend getting an UTH and a dimmer (around $25-30) instead of the lamp. Lamps can overheat small tanks easily and the light can stress your leo out.

 

[mamangenn]

it is a 50 gallons. 3 fts by 1.5 fts if i remember well. i am keeping the gecko for free... and i am the one that will pay for the food.... i ll see if i invest more money. but dont worry if the lamp doesnt do the job.. i wont let him die i ll go get an undertank heater

 

[DrCarrotTail]

I understand you'll be taking care of it for free. By the time a leopard gecko starts noticeably going downhill because of the conditions it is kept in it is often difficult to save. The best course of action is always preventative and providing the best husbandry possible. The light may be okay if it maintains a warm spot of 90 degrees on the floor under one of the hides (often really hard to do with a light which is why the UTH is important). I would recommend not using a bright light and using a Ceramic heat emitter or black light. If it is a 50 gallon I would also recommend putting a few more smaller hides in the tank. These don't have to be fancy, they can be cut up cardboard boxes or styrofoam trays that you would otherwise throw away. Usually geckos feel most secure in hides where they can get 100% out of the light and that are a snug fit. Good luck with watching him and let us know how it goes!

 

[mamangenn]

thank you for you help i will be very careful. i will look if i can order an undertank heater on ebay. might be cheaper.

 

[DrCarrotTail]

In general they're not that bad. Even a small one would be better than not having one at all. In fact I would recommend two small ones (the 10x8 or 12x10 would be fine) on the two back corners for a tank that big. They usually run about $15 but usually require some sort of regulator like a dimmer to make sure they don't get too hot.

 

[mamangenn]

ok i will look for that even maybe some used one

 

[DrCarrotTail]

You can't usually find UTHs used since once they are stuck to the bottom of a tank they can't be safely peeled off and stuck on a different tank. Your best bet is a new one.

 

[mamangenn]

would that do? i could order one now. and buy another one a little later?

Heat Heated Heater PAD BED MAT FOR PET Reptile Amphibians 15x28cm 110V US Plug | eBay

 

[DrCarrotTail]

Looks like it would work. I tend to be skeptical of non-brand name heaters as it just takes a small malfunction to start a fire. If you feel safe with it then it should work! I would just make sure you have a way to measure the temperature on the mat and make sure it doesn't exceed 93 degrees.