Getting ready for Leopards

[Codfather]

Hi, I am just about to buy everything that we need to keep 2 leopard geckos. Is there a post for first time owners to read about everything that they should buy? If not would someone be so kind as to help me out? I was thinking about a 20 gallon long. Thanks!!

 

[im faster]

DO NOT BUY CALCIUM SAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

* means you MUST have
You need a tank 10+ gallons*
Undertank heat pad*
Hides*
Smaller Water bowl*
Calcium Powder*
for substrate i would use Tile or paper towels
Driftwood for climbing
Other Decor

 

[scm133]

If I may add: something to regulate the UTH like a thermostat or dimmer.

 

[Codfather]

Thank you both for the replies. I will get all of those things.

 

[Dimidiata]

If i may add, Vitamin powder. and Calcium with D3.

You need 3 powders

PURE calcium(extremely important)
Calcium D3
Reptivitamins.


If i may make a suggestion though, Get rephashy calcium+ of the computer. Its about $14, much much cheaper then all the powders seperate. Its the only one you will need. Works great and is better for begginers as its easier to regulate.

http://www.geckoranch.com/ This is where i went. They are great people.

Also for hides, You will need a warm hide, a cool hide and a humid hide. These can all be made easy but you can buy them aswell.

 

[roger]

If i may add, Vitamin powder. and Calcium with D3.

You need 3 powders

PURE calcium(extremely important)
Calcium D3
Reptivitamins.


If i may make a suggestion though, Get rephashy calcium+ of the computer. Its about $14, much much cheaper then all the powders seperate. Its the only one you will need. Works great and is better for begginers as its easier to regulate.

http://www.geckoranch.com/ This is where i went. They are great people.

Also for hides, You will need a warm hide, a cool hide and a humid hide. These can all be made easy but you can buy them aswell.

I switched all my animals over to ICB and found all my animals are robust

 

[Dimidiata]

ICB and Rephashy are the same thing

Edit: nvm, i see you edited.

 

[Codfather]

Thank you everyone for the replies!! Sorry for so many questions this time but I have been reading daily and there is so much conflicting info that I still don't know what to do.

So far we have bought an enclosure but nothing else. I was about to buy the Exo Terra Heatwave UTH but then I noticed in the manual that it cant be used with a heat lamp. Will the UTH be enough to keep the Ambient air temps up? We will be using A/C for a big part of the summer so I thought the heat lamp would be necessary.

I really like some of the underground hide DIY vids on YouTube. They look like natural rock and seem to increase overall space dramatically. They are mostly made of styrofoam and grout. Has anyone here used these? I wonder about the UTH with styrofoam. It seems it would be an insulator not a conductor.

How much space do I need for crickets and meal worms to feed one or two leopard geckos?

Lastly I have read that 2 leopards should NEVER be kept together regardless of enclosure size. What does the majority of this forum think about this?

Again sorry for so many questions!! I still have lots of questions about thermostats and dimmers......

 

[LeopardShade]

Will the UTH be enough to keep the Ambient air temps up?

With leopard geckos, it's not necessarily the air temperatures you want to be monitoring, but the floor temperatures. The reason a UTH is considered to be the best heat source for them is because leopard geckos absorb the majority of heat through their bellies. If you're temperatures are around 90-94 F with a UTH only, I don't see a reason to provide a lamp for anything but viewing purposes at night (red bulbs work great), but if you feel that the gecko needs extra heat, an overhead light can be used. If you do plan on getting a heat bulb, I'd recommend a red bulb or a ceramic heat emitter. Leos are nocturnal, and bright light sources such as UVA/UVB could cause some stress, especially for albinos.

Lastly I have read that 2 leopards should NEVER be kept together regardless of enclosure size. What does the majority of this forum think about this?

It is of my own opinion that leopard geckos are healthier and happier being housed individually. They are not gregarious and don't need company of other geckos. I feel housing multiple geckos poses a greater risk of infection and injury to the geckos being housed. You have to make sure that they are properly quarantined and free from health problems, around the same size and weight (to prevent dominance or food competition), and that you have the space to house the number of geckos you want to house (10 gal per gecko). You can house multiple geckos together if you'd like. It's not something that should be considered a "never-do", but I feel it should be done so responsibly, however, and the owner should keep in mind the risk factors that come with it.

 

[Codfather]

Thank you for the reply LeopardShade! I think I will set it all up first and monitor the temps. One Leo suits me just fine. I am designing the layout on paper I will post it when it is finished. Hopefully people will give me some pointers. Thanks again for your help!!

 

[Codfather]

Finally have the terrarium!

The terrarium arrived and I managed to build a stand for it. It is big and empty for now. I have decided to get a CHE and an UTH. Is there a thermostat that can monitor both the ambient and substrate temps and control both the UTH and the CHE?

Also we live close to the ocean does anyone know if salt air will hurt a leo?

 

[scm133]

I am having a brain fart (haha)....what is a CHE? I use a Ranco and a Herpstat to monitor and regulate the heat under my tubs. I don't think you have to worry about ambient temps.

 

[Codfather]

CME = Ceramic Heat Emitter.

I guess I should post in a different part of the forum. Not many people reading this.

 

[Dimidiata]

There is no point in reposting your thread, give it all do time. As far as salt air, how salt are we talking? I live on the gulf, our air isnt that salty until you get to the beach, i live 2 miles from the water, my animals are fine. The salt doesnt really carry through the air anyways. Im not all tech wise, but im sure you can get a thermostat with 2 probes, Or just get 2 small digitals. Ambient temps are fine unless your house is freezing or crazy hot.

 

[Codfather]

Getting Closer

We have been slowly but surely getting closer. I will respond and update on our status in case anyone is reading. haha

@Dimidiata We are about 50 meters from the water when the tide is in.

I finally bought some tiles. They are ceramic and porcelain. They fit very well and were inexpensive so if they don't work well I will use them elsewhere. I have the the Heatwave UTH but I am not sure how to install it. I would like to install it at one end with the longest part of the heater running from front to back of the Terrarium but the plastic part that attaches to the heat mat will be bent so I think that I am forced to install it from left to right . Has anyone else installed a large PTC Desert Heatwave mat on a Large Exo Terra Terrarium?

After watching videos on Facebook I have decided to sculpt my own underground hides and background. I bought lots of Styrofoam, some non toxic paint and the tools to cut and sand it. I think I have a good design. The underground hides will take zero space away from the original area, plus I will add a ledge half way up that adds another 50% of the original space. It will create some shade and give me a space to add some plants. I am still a bit concerned about how well the UTH will work with the tile/styrofoam but once it is finished I will begin my tests.

The thermostat has one sensor and 3 outlets. One outlet for lighting, and two for UTH/LAMP. It will turn lights on and off with a natural cycle. It also has a setting for Day/Night Temps. It has Alarms if something goes awry and it has memory in case of power failure. I plan on running the UTH and a low watt light at first. If the ambient temp is low I will pick up the CHE. I have a digital thermometer coming soon. I believe its by ZooMed. It has little happy/sad faces on the display to let you know how conditions are.

Who knew that we would take months preparing the cage before we actually get a Leo. The LPS has three new Leos but they never last long enough for us to sex them. We really want a female but people snatch them up as soon as they get to the shop. We aren't ready yet anyway. According to what I have read the breeder should pretty much know what sex they are. The staff at the LPS claims that they have no idea. Once we are ready for a leo I will devise a plan to get a female.

 

[kiytsrs]

They are mostly made of styrofoam and grout. Has anyone here used these? I wonder about the UTH with styrofoam.Sac Lancel It seems it would be an insulator not a conductor

 

[kritiana0]

I really like some of the underground hide DIY vids on YouTube. They look like natural rock and seem to increase overall space dramatically. They are mostly made of styrofoam and grout. Has anyone here used these? I wonder about the UTH with styrofoam. It seems it would be an insulator not a conductor.

How much space do I need for crickets and meal worms to feed one or two leopard geckos?

Lastly I have read that 2 leopards should NEVER be kept together regardless of enclosure size. What does the majority of this forum think about this?