beginner questions

[Lep-Gecko]

hey everyone.

i read the beginner articles on how to set up a gecko tank etc. i still have some questions though...

1. i just bought a heating rock on ebay and i was wondering if that replaces the heat lamp or if i still have to run both (at the same time?)

2. how many crickets should i feed my juvenile gecko a day ? can he eat to much and harm himself by that ?

3. should i try and touch him every now and then so he gets used to touching and picking him up ?

4. when should i buy 2 females for my 1 male ?

thats it so far. i had so many questions but forgot some of them as the registration process here took a while

thanks

 

[Riyo]

1. Most people really don't recommend heat rocks. They can be dangerous and cause burns because they have spots that get too hot. They also don't provide a very good heat gradient in the tank. I personally hate heat rocks..I've seen some terrible burns on reps before.

2. A gecko's appetite varies per individual it seems. Most people say to give him as much as he can eat in 15 minutes and then remove what's left over. If a juvie over eats he'll throw up and know not to eat so much next time.

3. When mine was a juvie I let her settle in after I first got her and then I started handling her about 20-30 minutes every night before I fed her. She's now very mellow and doesn't mind being handled or touched at all. Just be gentle and move slowly as to not startle them..they will sometimes LEAP when they're startled and that's very scary (especially if they leap off of you ><)

4. Not sure how to answer that, I'm not a breeder. Unless you're planning on breeding you should keep your geckos apart and house them in their own tanks.

Just my two cents. Good luck

 

[cwazy]

hey everyone.

i read the beginner articles on how to set up a gecko tank etc. i still have some questions though...

1. i just bought a heating rock on ebay and i was wondering if that replaces the heat lamp or if i still have to run both (at the same time?)

2. how many crickets should i feed my juvenile gecko a day ? can he eat to much and harm himself by that ?

3. should i try and touch him every now and then so he gets used to touching and picking him up ?

4. when should i buy 2 females for my 1 male ?

thats it so far. i had so many questions but forgot some of them as the registration process here took a while

thanks

#1... resell it... :main_no: heat rocks are dangerous as they crack *and they all do* and the cracks inturn create hot spots... hotter than the rock should be getting, thus burning your reptile... i have one heat rock i use in my tokays tank, and its only there cuz he needs lil heat and NEVER goes on it... but i would recomend going with a UTH *under tank heater* leos need belly heat to help digest there food...

#2... from what i know... feed lil guys all that they will eat... if they eat too much they will "throw" up and as previously said will know not to eat that much again... its a learning thing... no harm *to my knowledge* will come from this...

#3... i feel its important to handle your geckos everyday... start small, and work your way up... they will adjust... just be sure to be easy with them and dont grab there tails... *just my opinion*

#4... i have not bred yet... so this is a swing in the dark i sapose... how ever you do not want your females to be too young compared to your male, its ideal to have them about the same size... you want your females to be atleast 45 grams before attempting to breed... i know most people and places sell juvis more than adults... i would recomend going ahead and buying your females and just keep them seperate untill they are ready to be bred... again just my opinion....


hope at least a lil of that helps you out

 

[bitterbeauty]

Heat rocks are horrible. Get a under tank heater instead. Lamps are not needed.

You cant breed until until your male is one year old and 50+ grams. Same for the females.

 

[thekooliest]

#1... resell it... :main_no: heat rocks are dangerous as they crack *and they all do* and the cracks inturn create hot spots... hotter than the rock should be getting, thus burning your reptile... i have one heat rock i use in my tokays tank, and its only there cuz he needs lil heat and NEVER goes on it... but i would recomend going with a UTH *under tank heater* leos need belly heat to help digest there food...

#2... from what i know... feed lil guys all that they will eat... if they eat too much they will "throw" up and as previously said will know not to eat that much again... its a learning thing... no harm *to my knowledge* will come from this...

#3... i feel its important to handle your geckos everyday... start small, and work your way up... they will adjust... just be sure to be easy with them and dont grab there tails... *just my opinion*

#4... i have not bred yet... so this is a swing in the dark i sapose... how ever you do not want your females to be too young compared to your male, its ideal to have them about the same size... you want your females to be atleast 45 grams before attempting to breed... i know most people and places sell juvis more than adults... i would recomend going ahead and buying your females and just keep them seperate untill they are ready to be bred... again just my opinion....


hope at least a lil of that helps you out

This is the best information so far, I don't want to post all of my answers cause it is very similar to this, just different wording. If you have more specific questions...or still don't get it. Please PM me, as I love to help.

 

[Lep-Gecko]

thanks so much for ur help guys u really answered all my questions for now...

apparently none of you really like heating rocks...thats enough opinion already to sell the one i just bought. thanks guys

 

[nats]

Dont use "heat rocks", and dont handle your animal until he is eating
properly.
Do not grab or force yourself on him, let him get used to your hand.
Let him see your hand at least once a day and let him come to you when he is ready. Do not make any sudden, quick movements.
If your leo starts waving his tail slowly, get your hand out of there, he is telling you that he is annoyed.
Put it in perspective, he is a tiny fraction of your size, and low on the food chain. It takes a little time to earn their trust :main_yes:

 

[Lep-Gecko]

ok i know none of you like the heating rocks but my gecko loves it apparently. i got it today and plugged it in. i sat it on the table before i put it in his cage simply because i wanted to see how warm it gets. it takes a while before its warm but i wrapped paper towl around it so he doesnt burn his belly.

what can i say he seems to like it as he is sitting on it right now.

 

[thekooliest]

But it will crack, let off too much heat, and burn your gecko. xD

 

[Lep-Gecko]

it really doesnt get that hot though ?!

 

[OHRobert]

They do work ok when they are new. The problem is they break and burn your gecko. If there is even a slight risk why take it?

 

[nats]

ok i know none of you like the heating rocks but my gecko loves it apparently. i got it today and plugged it in. i sat it on the table before i put it in his cage simply because i wanted to see how warm it gets. it takes a while before its warm but i wrapped paper towl around it so he doesnt burn his belly.

what can i say he seems to like it as he is sitting on it right now.

Of course he likes it, it's nice and warm!

But, unless you have it thermostated w/ prob, they are very unreliable and are notorius for burning animals.

 

[LizMarie]

When I first got my gecko I used a heat rock for like the first few months because I bought a so called "Leopard Gecko Kit" I thought it was fine until I saw a red spot on my geckos belly. Silly me went to see how hot it really was and ended up burning my hand, now I was the one walking around with a big red spot on my hand for around a week. After that I re did the entire tank and got an UTH. Its more reliable with a thermostat and gives your reptile just more room to lay around on the warmer side of the tank. Mines used to love to lay flat on its belly after eating some worms, it used to look as if she was getting a sun tan. lol After that her overall health just seemed to get better. Thankfully the hot stop on her belly went away after 3days.

A heat/hot rock is something you use at your Leos expensive. You want to use it go ahead but in the end the gecko will suffer and he/she cna't tell you hey this burns. Or its so hot im not getting on that and it screws with their digestion.

And I'm not a breeder but unless you want to breed I personally want to add more geckos to the tank. They like to be alone for the most part they'll do fine.

 

[cwazy]

it really doesnt get that hot though ?!

:main_angry: you think we are just talking out our butts??? honestly... you asked for opinions you got em... why try to argue that everyones SAME opinion is wrong???


with that said... yeah, the rock works great right now... but in time, unless you have the capabilities to freeze time, it WILL crack, its what they do... it WILL happen... like it or not... and when it DOES break, it WILL burn your gecko... the gecko appears to like it cuz its HEAT... nice warm belly heat... its not worth it... but hey, go ahead and keep potentially hurting your gecko... after all what do all these people on here know? i mean your gecko SEEMS to love it right :main_angry: i wish you or better yet your gecko luck with it...

ill be looking for the "help my gecko got burned what do i do?" thred... :main_rolleyes: :main_thumbsdown:

 

[Eureka]

Lep-Gecko; Honestly, why risk it? It's your responsibility to make sure your animal is safe. Heat rocks are a danger. I recommend using either a heat lamp or UTH. Either one is way better than using a heat rock.

 

[LizMarie]

hey everyone.

i read the beginner articles on how to set up a gecko tank etc. i still have some questions though...

Just curious to know which articles you've read because there's a bunch of bad information out there.

For a beginners tank that has nothing fancy you could use paper towels/Tile as a substrate (Floor Covering).. An Under Tank Heater that takes up atleast 1/3 of the tank at one side of the tank, so your Gecko can have a heat gradient WITH a Thermostat.. Atleast 3 hides, one on the cool side another on the warm side and a nice little humid hide that could be made from a tupperware box and some paper towels.. Shallow water dish, food dish, and plan calcium dish you can use various bottle caps.. Digital Thermometer with a Probe so you can pay attention to the temperture just incase the UTH or the Thermostat isn't working or you gotta change it a little.. Then you should always have handy some pure calcium always in the tank! Calcium with d3 that should be dusted on food a few times a week and some reptile multivitamin.

If you have all of that your gecko should be happy and you can have a piece of mind.

If I missed anything someone please tell me..

 

[Lep-Gecko]

:main_angry: you think we are just talking out our butts??? honestly... you asked for opinions you got em... why try to argue that everyones SAME opinion is wrong???

easy officer...i am a newbie and i was just trying to understand why it would be such a bad alternative to heat lamps or UTH...just let me look at things and ask critical questions. that can never be wrong if u are new to something


@ LizMarie

i have a 10 gal. tank with half a coconut as his shelter.
Heat Lamp: Check
Water bowl: Check
fake twig: check
real bark from outside: Check

i feed him crickets about 2 or 3 times a day. i put some of them in an extra bag before i drop them in his cage.i have some calcium powder in that bag so the crickets are covered with it...i asked an employee at the pet store who sold me the crickets he said i dont have to put every cricket in calcium powder but i should cover some of what i feed the gecko everyday with it...so out of 10 crickets i maybe cover 4 or 5
can someone explain why i should have a bowl with calcium powder in his cage ? is he going to eat it or what ?

 

[thekooliest]

easy officer...i am a newbie and i was just trying to understand why it would be such a bad alternative to heat lamps or UTH...just let me look at things and ask critical questions. that can never be wrong if u are new to something

I completely agree with you. Everyone starts out like this don't worry.
The only thing is...they need belly heat to digest. A heat lamp makes more "air" heat, and a UTH makes more belly heat. If they don't have the belly heat they can't digest and they have eating problems and can die.

 

[LizMarie]

easy officer...i am a newbie and i was just trying to understand why it would be such a bad alternative to heat lamps or UTH...just let me look at things and ask critical questions. that can never be wrong if u are new to something


@ LizMarie

i have a 10 gal. tank with half a coconut as his shelter.
Heat Lamp: Check
Water bowl: Check
fake twig: check
real bark from outside: Check

i feed him crickets about 2 or 3 times a day. i put some of them in an extra bag before i drop them in his cage.i have some calcium powder in that bag so the crickets are covered with it...i asked an employee at the pet store who sold me the crickets he said i dont have to put every cricket in calcium powder but i should cover some of what i feed the gecko everyday with it...so out of 10 crickets i maybe cover 4 or 5
can someone explain why i should have a bowl with calcium powder in his cage ? is he going to eat it or what ?

Some good advice that you will appreciate someday is don't listen to pet shop employees. Half of those people don't get trained and don't have the proper knowledge. I'm not saying that none of them don't have knowledge but many of them don't so I would suggest coming here where there are many breeders and hobbiest that actually have years and years of experience, have spent their time studying geckos and learning all they can about them.

- A ten gallon tank is good to start with a little bigger is always better but that's fine, as long as you keep one gecko. If you get more I would suggest a 20L!

- Heat Lamp is pretty unnecessary due to the fact that Gecko absorb heat from their belly that is necessary for digestion, from everything I've read. Thats part of the reason everyone on this topic has been pushing a Under Tank Heater. Geckos are also noctorunal, meaning their more active at night and a lamp can't be left on all day without messing with day/night schedule. Some people add lamps to their gecko tank better or to add heat to their UTH if he doesn't seem to be heating up to the right temps. I find this to be the MOST important thing when purchasing a gecko. While I can't force you do buy one I HIGHLY recommend that you do.

- A coconut hide is good to start with but it would make your gecko more secure if you were to add another hide on the other side of the tank. A Humid hide is also HIGHLY recommended. When it comes time to shed your gecko he/she will need the extra humidity to loosen their shedding skin. If you don't the air could be too dry making it harder for your gecko to shed leaving pieces behind that have been known to constrict blood to toes and tails slowing killing the tissue until the entire thing falls off and you have a gecko with missing toes or a nipped tail. A humid hide is ivery easy to create get a plastic food container big enough for your gecko leave the lid on make a big whole on one side so he can get in and out. File or burn down the rough edges pop in some warm paper towels and you have a humid hide. Spray it a little to keep it moist and nice and humid

- You should be leaving a capful of Pure Calcium WITHOUT D3 in the tank at all times. Geckos will regulate their own calcium intake and help them in preventing Metabolic Bone Disease. You don't want this, if this happens your geckos bones can be distorted and I would imagine very painful for the poor little fella.

- I hope that the bark you bought from outside was either baked or boiled before you put it in your tank. If you just grabbed it from outside and put it into your tank you probably exposed your gecko to bugs and parasites that you might not be able to see but that can infect your gecko. It can make your gecko very sick and even kill him or her.

- You should have a dusting schedule. How it should go I don't remember but you should to keep your gecko healthy. In captivity they aren't able to regulate these nutrients on their own so we need to help them. But you should have scheduled dusting with calcium, calcium D3 and a Multivitamin.

I hope you take some of what I said into consideration. If not good luck with your gecko.

 

[cwazy]

easy officer...i am a newbie and i was just trying to understand why it would be such a bad alternative to heat lamps or UTH...just let me look at things and ask critical questions. that can never be wrong if u are new to something

sorry... you asked for opinions... we gave... then you say ahh what the heck, stick the thing in the tank, say that your gecko loves it, then question everyones knowledge and say it doesnt really get that hot... *shrug* sorry that just rubbed me the wrong way... sometimes it bugs me when people ask for advice and just refuse to listen... new or not... *shrug* sorry if i offended you i wont bother ansering anymore of your questions to avoid being an officer... best of luck with your gecko... and honestly... ask questions here AND LISTEN TO PEOPLE... we are all here due to the love of our geckos... these people will teach you more than most any petshop worker will... ya just gotta take the time to listen and accept that some moves are wrong and shouldnt be done... oh well... best of luck... :blank: