Getting a rescue ;)

[Sunset]

Hey everyone Im new to the forums! Im rescuing a poor nine month old female that hasnt had the best start in life ):. Apparantly the owners dropped her twice, and her back leg was broke (now healed) then her front leg broke (now healed) and she's missing some toes due to cage mates picking on her. She has a bit of a limp and trouble walking. I work at pet smart as a pet care associate and my co-worker took her in from the lady, but doesnt want to keep her. Poor guy, he has too many animals as it is. (22 fish tanks and 10 reptile tanks) so I told him Id take her. She's my first leopard gecko, but Im no stranger to reptiles so Im not at all worried. Im just happy I could give her a happy home. She'll be going in a 10 gallon tank. However, I have an argentine black and white tegu hatchling that is in a 55 gallon tank. In about 6 months I'll be building her a 6 x 3 x 3 custom tank and my new leo will have the 55 gallon tank all to herself! I might possibly rescue another leo in the future for a cage mate, but due to her being beat up by her other cage mates, I dont know how she'll react to them. I really want to make a nice desert tank, though I know your not supposed to use sand );. I could always feed her in a critter carrier, I suppose. Or just use tile.

I'll be getting her tuesday, I havent seen her yet but my co-worker said she is solid with a black strip down her back. He'll be sending me pics tonight.

And the sad thing is, he said she's the sweetest little gecko in the world! That she's mellow and allows you to pick her up. Poor girl ):.

However, I do have one quick question! I already have a 75 watt infrared red bulb, is that okay to use over a heating matt? At least, for now away.

 

[tlbowling]

They really need a heat mat, because they need belly heat.
And a 75 watt infrared bulb over a 10 gallon tank is going to be WAYYYY too HOT!

 

[Sunset]

Okay Thats what I was wondering! I'll just get a heat pad at work on friday

 

[prettyinpink]

Heat pad should cover about 1/3 of the tank Be sure to have a tempature guage with a probe to measure the temps accurately.

Lights are actually not needed. UTH will do all the heating you need. Just be sure to double check the temps.

As for the huge tank, I'd be afraid it would be too big and would be very hard to control temps. I don't have experience with big tanks and leos going in them though.

 

[Dog Shrink]

Welcome to the forum and congrats on your new rescue leo. I feel bad for her history... people can be so stupid. I know that accidents do happen tho as last night when I was feeding Eros I made the mistake of walking into my bathroom where my son's snow suit is hanging and it brushed him right offa my hand and PLOP he went right onto the tile floor! Thankfully tho nothing broken. Gotta check him later for bruises tho. As far as your tank set up... 55 might be too big unless you put a bunch of hides in there, and heating could be a bear (but leos don't need near as much heat as you're use to for your tegu, they don't need uv and they don't need basking lights just good floor temps ebtween 88-95 degrees and PLEASE don't use sand. They're from a packed dirt region, not sandy region and they live in rock formations so mid-level desert dwellers)... but you never know, she might like the larger environment. I also wouldn't recommend a tank mate. Leos are not social animals and prefer their solitude as evident from her previously assertive tank mates hurting her.

Now onto your Tegu... Loving them... don't own one but was considering one, my 14 year old and I were watching youtube videos now we're both loving them. Can you read my thread "tell me about Tegus" and add anything you think I should know? I'd love to pick your brain for a whole on all things tegu if you hang around the forum for a while We were considering a argentine b&w or a blue.

 

[Sunset]

Yeah I think I'll be going with tile and creating a slate-rock hide. I dont want to risk any impaction issues with sand. I dont think it would be too hard, or maybe Im just over simplifying it ;P. I figured an extra large heat mat on one side, a 75 watt red light or 60 watt ceremic heat emitter in the middle to keep the temps from getting too cool. Who knows, I might just end up putting her in a 40 breeder or 20 long. Im sure I'll figure it out .

Alright! I'll go to your thread and answer anything you want to know! Feel free to pm me, too. My tegus in hibernation right now, so Im missing her ):, makes it less lonely to talk about her/tegus while she's sleeping her life away lol.

 

[Dog Shrink]

A 20 long is the perfect size for a single leo imo. If you need some set up ideas there's a few great pix of my natural set up in my user profile photo albums. I went natural with my tank, vinyl floor tiles (an no they don' t melt and there is no off-gasses from the high end tiles). I read your post about your tegu. She sounds dreamy. Is the hibernation that occures naturally even if you keep temps consistant or is it something that happend regardless of what yo do with temps?