Getting a new Leo.

[Poisoned]

Hi!

I lived with and then owned a leo for around 17 years, once my brother moved out and lost interest, she was passed to me. She had a pretty rough life and I'm sad to admit I didn't think to research the species while I had her.

A friend of mine is downsizing all of their animals and offered me their male - I'm getting him Friday. I'm doing all the researching now, I have no idea how he is being kept at present or if I'll need a new enclosure or not, or what I'll need to buy. I was hoping someone experienced could give me a list of things I need, from enclosure, to thermometers and humidity meters, so if he doesn't have it I can get it. And what is the best way to make a damp hide for him? Sphagnum moss..? What kind of container?

I'm pretty excited about having a Leo in the house again.

Thanks in advance.

 

[DrCarrotTail]

Congrats on getting a leo! They're tons of fun. I recommend folks get a 10 or 20L fish tank (or similar), a small or medium heat pad that covers about 1/3 the bottom of the tank, a thermoter with a temperature probe, and a dimmer or thermostat to regulate the heat pad's temperature. You'll also need some calcium and vitamins, I recommend Repashy Ca Plus to folks with only a small number of leos and might leave some plain RepCal without D3 in the cage for him to snack on when he feels like it.

Other than puchasing those things (probably about $70-100 depending on the tank), you might need a screen lid for the tank if you have furry roommates that might get into the tank and harass your gecko.

I would use paper towels and home made hides to start and eventually get tile and/or nicer hides as you go if you want a prettier cage. You can, of course, get them off the bat as well but if money is an issue you can use cheap cardboard boxes for a while and upgrade as you're able.

Good luck and can't wait to see pictures of him! Welcome to GF!

 

[Poisoned]

I'm actually planning on fixing up a large Acrylic enclosure, and sectioning it off to adopt a couple more, it's about six feet long and already predrilled for some airflow. I'll post about it once I get it here for a build plan, though.

And thank you! I may have some things here if he doesn't have much with him, as far as decor.

I'll be sure to post some pictures as soon as he gets here. She described him simply as a carrot tail, looking at his pictures - he pretty much looks like what pops up when I look up "super hypo tangerine" also a carrot tail, though perhaps not enough orange. Either way, he's gorgeous, and I'll post some pictures for a real identification on here when he arrives.

Thank you!

 

[DrCarrotTail]

I'd recommend starting with something smaller. Young leos are easily stressed out by too much room to move around and too much space to cover to find food and water. They do much better in smaller enclosures. Adults should be okay to put into such a big tank but you may need to design it very carefully and offer a quatitiy of hides and several heating pads dispersed throughout the tank rather than a warm and a cool side. More open space = more opportunity for predators to swoop down out of the sky and eat them in the wild so lots of room or having to travel a distance tends to make them a bit nervous.

 

[Poisoned]

I should have added I planned on sectioning it off, into about 3 areas.

This guy is supposed to be about a year old, but I'll ask all the questions I have on another thread once he's here.

Thanks again.