First setup

[indianajones]

About 2 weeks ago, we got our first leopard gecko. Not our first reptile, but our first lizard. I should have known better, but took my advice from a Petco employee and bought their basic setup. I made the switch from sand to paper towel pretty quickly, for fear of impaction.

However, paper towels caused a problem for me too. No matter what I did, crickets would always crawl under the narrowest of gaps in the paper towels and disappear under it, where my gecko couldn't find them. So I did a lot of research and made the switch to slate tile.

Just wanted to see what you guys opinions are on this... I left a tiny bit of sand in the cage to use as grout, but made sure there were no patches of open sand that the gecko could swallow.

*EDIT* We refers to my girlfriend and I. I got no choice in the matter of the sand, she brought it home colored pink. Hahah.

 

[forgivenick]

I like it! How did you make the "stepping stones" in the back of the tank? Just break some of the slate tile? I am doing something very similar with my tank. I have had my male for 8 years on sand, but recently bought a female for him and want to keep it cleaner with the tile. I will likely use your stepping stone and sand method to fill in gaps. Thanks for the idea!

 

[NinjaDuo]

As long as its not calci-sand

 

[indianajones]

I like it! How did you make the "stepping stones" in the back of the tank? Just break some of the slate tile? I am doing something very similar with my tank. I have had my male for 8 years on sand, but recently bought a female for him and want to keep it cleaner with the tile. I will likely use your stepping stone and sand method to fill in gaps. Thanks for the idea!

Appreciate it, glad it sparked an idea. And yeah, I just bought a few 3x12s and broke them.

As long as its not calci-sand

I think it is calcium carbonate sand... The cracks are small enough to where he won't ingest any on missed cricket strikes, but is there a danger of him licking it or something?

 

[Mastercarth]

That's a nice setup

 

[indianajones]

Thanks a lot! Unfortunately I just had to completely re-do everything... I got rid of all the potential calcium sand and so now it's just paper towel between the slate rock. It doesn't look near as nice but until I can get untreated play sand, it's not looking near as nice as the pictures anymore.

 

[mango+cola]

how are you heating the tank?

 

[indianajones]

how are you heating the tank?

Have a 50w infrared bulb on a heat lamp until we can get a UTH... keeping a close eye on the temps but it's keeping the surface of the warm side (just got a new thermostat yesterday that isn't a dial thermo) about 93-94 degrees.

 

[andrew5859]

I think it is calcium carbonate sand... The cracks are small enough to where he won't ingest any on missed cricket strikes, but is there a danger of him licking it or something?

There is always a danger of them licking it, especially if you have a younger gecko. The way you have it setup is better then just sand but there is still a risk of impaction.

Some places like HomeDepot will cut the slate to the exact length and width for you but it all depends on the store. I have had one store tell me yes and another tell me no.

Also if you wanted to go a different route, if you buy mealworms instead of crickets and buy a glazed bowl they will not be able to crawl out and get under the paper towel. Mealworms are easier than crickets in my opinion but what you feed is totally up to you!

 

[indianajones]

There is always a danger of them licking it, especially if you have a younger gecko. The way you have it setup is better then just sand but there is still a risk of impaction.

Some places like HomeDepot will cut the slate to the exact length and width for you but it all depends on the store. I have had one store tell me yes and another tell me no.

Also if you wanted to go a different route, if you buy mealworms instead of crickets and buy a glazed bowl they will not be able to crawl out and get under the paper towel. Mealworms are easier than crickets in my opinion but what you feed is totally up to you!

I've already put him on just the slate tile and paper towel, did that right after someone suggested to. We might upgrade to a 20 long and I'll get the tile cut then, but unfortunately Home Depot wouldn't do it so I had to break them myself.

I give him a dish of mealworms and he doesn't do anything, doesn't even react to it. Thinking of using a petri-dish or something so he can see in it.

 

[katie_]

The pink is cute. If you could find grout that colour, it would be ideal. Your geckos and your girlfriend would be happy.