First time getting a leopard gecko

[Astrael]

My boyfriend and I have 2 beardies, an armadillo lizard, and are planning on getting a leopard gecko. We've got a 20 L, two insect colonies, with others bought occasionally (crickets, butterworms, hornworms for the beardies). Basically, aside from the hides we'd pick up at the same time, we're set up for it.

Now, we just want to know which is better to get, a baby or an adult leo. Both our beardies are male, and we don't mind either male or female for the new one.

 

[leoman777]

i prefer baby so you can handle them and get them used to you over time

 

[Khrysty]

You want a male. Females tend to go off feed during breeding season even when there are no males around and it gets really stressful/worrisome for all of us. If you don't plan on ever breeding, a male is usually a better choice.

Also, double check that you have exactly what you need for the little guy. Leo care is different than the others you've listed. Above all, don't listen to the pet store when they say to use sand. Solid substrates are best, especially for babies.

And if you have an questions about requirements/setups, just ask! We're always glad to help

 

[acpart]

I think it's more of an issue of where you're going to get the leo from than the age and gender. I'd recommend against getting one from a large chain petstore and to check the privately owned pet stores carefully. The best places to get them are either at a show or from a breeder, preferably a breeder near you so you don't have to pay shipping. In that case, you can look at what's available and then get something you like. When you find what you like it may not matter so much about the age and gender.

Aliza

 

[ang3l3s]

agreed, so many morphs but i personally like them juvi, babies are stressful 4 me

 

[Astrael]

I've been researching for about a month about leopard gecko care, and someone from our supply store actually has a number of them (and many other reptiles).

I actually wanted one for some time, and figured it would be a good time right now to get one. Also, due to various health issues, we're home a lot to provide care, and we're up well into the night. (The beardies don't mind an adjusted lighting schedule). I really liked the idea of having a nocturnal pet. And due to allergies and such, furry critters are out. So is sand, or anything that becomes very dusty.

But we've got paper towels for now, an uth, a 20L, an old MVB (doesn't produce enough UV for beardies) But I hear it's not necessary. Plenty of calcium, vitamins, and food dishes. Probably gonna go with reptile carpet. Oh, do need another digital therm, but I'm borrowing one of the beardie's to check temps for now.

Only thing is I greatly prefer feeding dubia roaches to most feeders. I've got a steady colony, and I feed our Armadillo lizard small nymphs. Would that be fine for a leopard gecko?

And how much handling is good once they get adjusted? As I said, we're around a lot. But Oscar (the armadillo lizard) doesn't like being handled at all. Quite shy, don't see much of him, but we love him just the same. I'm hoping daily handling wouldn't cause stress. Seems like that should be ok from what I've heard.

And I found a store around here that keeps it's reptiles in spotless condition. No poo in tanks, everything looked well fed and clear eyed. There was one tiny garter snake that was just following me around. I had to resist taking him home. I was quite impressed. I'll probably get from there. They had mostly normals, which I'd prefer.

But yeah, I'm a huge animal lover and feel like having another companion. We did get our beardies from a breeder, but had lots of trouble with shipping them and no longer feel comfortable with it. (UPS lost a live animal and put his box on an international shipping truck. We kept them there till midnight till they found him. Thank goodness we did.) Definitely buying on locally.

 

[Khrysty]

an old MVB (doesn't produce enough UV for beardies) But I hear it's not necessary.

You're right there

Only thing is I greatly prefer feeding dubia roaches to most feeders. I've got a steady colony, and I feed our Armadillo lizard small nymphs. Would that be fine for a leopard gecko?

Yep! I've never fed them but a lot of people say their leos love them!

And how much handling is good once they get adjusted?

Once they get used to being handled you can handle them on a pretty regular basis. I usually have mine out at least once a day and they don't seem to be bothered by it.

 

[Hiccup]

I have leos and an armadillo lizard too! Leopard geckos are awesome. They're so much calmer than Sparky (my armadillo lizard). Then again, I think Sparky may hate me. Dunno why. Anyway, good luck! And get pictures when you get them!

 

[Astrael]

First, thanks for your quick replies. They helped us make our decision.

Well, two juvi leos came home today. I should have known better. Seriously, I was only planning on one. John fell utterly in love with them, and I couldn't say no to him.

But yeah they're sharing a 20L for now until we grab another one or they are old enough to sex. (We've got a divider ready in case of emergency) They've been housed together till now, no problems. No nips, quite round little bellies, and they are curious! The one has made several rounds of the tank. Even climbed onto my hand. (He was trying to turn around the wrong way for about 2 minutes, so I put my finger in there for him to push off of, and he just climbed on.)

They're adorable. I'm quite glad too, John's been rather depressed because health has been leaving him stir crazy. So he got out, and got new friends. They seem quite happy too. I'm happy too, since there's nothing I love more then spending time with my buddies, all of them.

And armadillo lizards haven't been captive bred for long. I'm personally convinced they're mostly wild caught. And yeah, they're not terribly friendly. Still love my Oscar anyway.

 

[geckoboy134]

My boyfriend and I have 2 beardies, an armadillo lizard, and are planning on getting a leopard gecko. We've got a 20 L, two insect colonies, with others bought occasionally (crickets, butterworms, hornworms for the beardies). Basically, aside from the hides we'd pick up at the same time, we're set up for it.

Now, we just want to know which is better to get, a baby or an adult leo. Both our beardies are male, and we don't mind either male or female for the new one.

i think you can get any. But if you are going to get a baby from a large chain pet store don't i have been to many. There are stores like ***** that have very small weak babies and there are some stores like ******** that sell babies without tails. Go to a family petstore or smalll one. I got a jumbo gecko from ******** and he was impacted but luckily he didn't die so its your choice! good luck.

 

[Khrysty]

i think you can get any. But if you are going to get a baby from a large chain pet store don't i have been to many. There are stores like ***** that have very small weak babies and there are some stores like ******** that sell babies without tails. Go to a family petstore or smalll one. I got a jumbo gecko from ******** and he was impacted but luckily he didn't die so its your choice! good luck.

I see horror stories all the time about chain store geckos, but I got Spike from a chain store. Aside from not knowing her exact genetic makeup or her exact age (she's a SHTCT, just not sure if anything else's been mixed in there, and she's around 7 months now, assuming she was a month old when we got her), she was perfectly healthy. My sister and I spent an hour watching the babies they had in that store, though, and picked out the liveliest, whollest, healthiest looking one there was. It was between Spike and a little mack snow hatchling. She won out because of her spectacular coloring! lol

Oh yeah...point to this:
If you're going to get one from a chain store, make sure it doesnt look impacted, has all of its toes and its tail hasn't regenerated, doesn't have mouth rot, is moving around, try to ask to see if it will eat, and hold it first, before you buy