Hello :D

[GeckoGirl1999]

Hello! Which should I get?

I have a betta fish and two dwarf crawfish at the moment, but when they die I am getting a gecko. This is because I can't keep fish alive for more than two months Anyway! I can't decide whether to get a leopard gecko or a panther gecko. So that is why I joined this site, to see which would be better for me. So here is a little bit about me:

I take singing and piano lessons, so it might be hearing some music from my keyboard. I also play French horn, so it might hear some of that too.

I love animals, and I really would like to hold them for at least 15 minutes everyday, so if either of these don't like to be held, please mention that.

I have a dog, but he isn't allowed in the room the gecko will be in, so it shouldn't really matter...

I would like a gecko with a bit of a personality, so which ever has more of a curious personality, that would be probably be helpful.

If there are any major things I ablsolutely need to know, please post it here. I have already done quite a bit of research on the both of them, but if there is something that I might have not seen, please tell me! THANKS!

 

[NinjaDuo]

Well
1. They don't like to be picked up...it's more if they tolerate it.
2. If you think they're expendable I'd recommend not getting either.

I have a few questions for you,
Why do you want a gecko?
And if you can't get fish to live I question our ability to take care of other animals

 

[GeckoGirl1999]

I have a dog, and used to have two cats. They have lived for quite awhile. The only reason we don't have cats anymore, is because after eight years of owning them we found out my brother is allergic to them. And my family has never been able to keep fish alive. And I already said why I wanted a gecko, it's because I love animals. You make it sound like I abuse my animals and don't care for them, so I'd appreciate if you wouldn't skip to conclusions. Every female in my family hasn't been able to keep fish alive, my mom, grandma, or me. I'm not sure past then because the others are no longer with us. I'm very capable of keeping hardier animals alive. The most reason why the fish don't stay alive is because I choose fish that aren't very hardy, but because they are pretty. I have become tired of fish, and find that the animals that I like most are the ones you can interact with. And I never said that they were expendable.

 

[CamoCustom]

Well, Keeping fish, is for sure different than keeping geckos. Proper knowledge and instruction is key. Do as much reading and contemplating as you can, and make for certain that this is what you want to do(keep a leopard gecko). Think about daily/weekly cleaning, how much they will need to eat during a week or a month and how you will deal with that. The list goes on and on. Weigh all the pros and cons and decide then.

 

[muffy]

Betta fish are very tolerant of bad conditions. Fish are actually very easy to keep alive if done right. Unfortunately pet stores are uninterested with anything but making a sale most of the time and do not educate on the importance of cycling a tank, the nitrogen cycle, and water changes. They do not go into detail about what overfeeding could do to your tank. Fish are often overlooked as animals that are living breathing creatures and ate treated as mere displays.

Anyway, I understand the dissatisfaction in fishkeeping so I wont lecture you, but consider rehoming them if you plan on killing them because you won't research care on your own.

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[GeckoGirl1999]

I love my betta and my crawfish and would never do anything to hurt them. I never hurt my fish. I feed them, clean their tank, rinse off the items in the tank every few water changes, and watch them almost everytime I get the chance. I don't plan on killing them, if I wanted to get a gecko sooner rather than later, I would bring them into Funky Fish n' Friends (the pet store nearest my location) and let the manager find them a perfect home. The manager there refuses to sell their animals to anyone unless they have the proper homing for them. I love my betta and crawfish, I'm just saying once their time comes... And I think making a pros and cons list is a really good idea. I'll try that.

 

[muffy]

It might take awhile if you actually know the proper care.

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[GeckoGirl1999]

Okie dokey! Do you recomend any gecko books?

 

[animeavatar]

I had a crawfish. She died of malnutrition or starvation I think. She had eggs that were infertile which dirtied the tank and she refused to eat.

 

[geckogirl3]

I had a crawfish. She died of malnutrition or starvation I think. She had eggs that were infertile which dirtied the tank and she refused to eat.

i can just go outside to catch crawfish

 

[GeckoGirl1999]

Yeah, my two crawfish are dwarf crawfish, so they will get about 2 inches long at most.

 

[animeavatar]

i can just go outside to catch crawfish

The crayfish we have here is an invasive species so I doubt it is legal to keep and I'm not a big fan of wild caught( that's why I'm careful with what pets I buy).

 

[animeavatar]

Yeah, my two crawfish are dwarf crawfish, so they will get about 2 inches long at most.

I've never heard of dwarf crayfish! I should ask my cousin if he can get me one!
He got me my crayfish( it was blue) Is it wild caught or captive bred?:main_huh:

 

[GeckoGirl1999]

They are captive bred. I bought them at a fish/reptile store within 45 minutes from my house. They are really small (not shrimp small, but they are small) and they will breed on their own if you have one of each gender. But they aren't supposed to be kept with two males together, that would be bad... I think I have one female and one male, or two females. Probably two females because I haven't had any baby crawfish yet.

Back to the geckos. I think I'm going to get a leopard gecko, because they seem to fit my likings better than the panther gecko, according to a book I read (I don't remember what book it was though). I want to make the habitat to be simple, so I was wondering if this would be okay:

10 gallon aquarium for housing
Toilet paper tubes for hides
Plastic containers with holes cut in the sides for hides
Bowls for water/food/calcium dishes
Paper towel for substrate
Driftwood for decoration
Rocks for decoration

Would all that be okay?

 

[Pinky81]

They are captive bred. I bought them at a fish/reptile store within 45 minutes from my house. They are really small (not shrimp small, but they are small) and they will breed on their own if you have one of each gender. But they aren't supposed to be kept with two males together, that would be bad... I think I have one female and one male, or two females. Probably two females because I haven't had any baby crawfish yet.

Back to the geckos. I think I'm going to get a leopard gecko, because they seem to fit my likings better than the panther gecko, according to a book I read (I don't remember what book it was though). I want to make the habitat to be simple, so I was wondering if this would be okay:

10 gallon aquarium for housing
Toilet paper tubes for hides
Plastic containers with holes cut in the sides for hides
Bowls for water/food/calcium dishes
Paper towel for substrate
Driftwood for decoration
Rocks for decoration

Would all that be okay?

First of all Im kinda sad everyone jumped on you for the fish and crawfish thing...Not all of us took it as you were gonna kill off your old pets...I read it as when my fish and crawfish eventually go I wanna get a gecko. I don't know about others but I never could keep a damn betta alive but I own and breed gecko's so no its not that your not taking care of them.

Good for you for researching start with the care sheets up top as well! Your set up idea sounds fine, my suggestion is ditch the papertowel rolls...cardboard can harbor bacteria if soiled, also if you can put up the $$ for a 20gal long reptile tank I think you will find it easier to keep a proper temp range. You will need to do more research on providing proper temperatures and how to do that (under tank heater etc) you didn't mention it so Im not sure if you know you need belly heat for a Leopard Geck or if you just didn't mention it! Like I said click on the care sheets up top and read them! They outline what you need item by item!

And read tons of threads on here...lots of info and lots of the time ppl ask the same questions so you need only read other ppls post to learn!

I have leopard gecko's the reason I like them is they are simple to care for, no special humidity needs other then a proper humid hide. and the set up is the cheapest and simpliest to keep up and care for. i think Leo's have TONS of personalities and againest what some others think I do believe that after some time your leo will enjoy coming out to explore on your lap, but no I don't think they crave it. I will say this these guys aren't SUPER interactive...they mostly SLEEP, EAT, POOP...and in between there in the evening if your lucky they cruise around a bit when you can see them! I love them for their beauty not for the purpose of holding and watching them do all sorts of cool things in their tank. If you want a cuddly reptile then something like a bearded dragon is more for you!

Well welcome to GF!! And please don't let some quick icky responses deter you from asking further questions. Im very happy your actually asking questions like which one will like to be held, which one is more interactive. You will hopefully get honest open answers and hopefully have a better idea of what to expect from a new pet!!!

 

[GeckoGirl1999]

First of all Im kinda sad everyone jumped on you for the fish and crawfish thing...Not all of us took it as you were gonna kill off your old pets...I read it as when my fish and crawfish eventually go I wanna get a gecko. I don't know about others but I never could keep a damn betta alive but I own and breed gecko's so no its not that your not taking care of them.

Good for you for researching start with the care sheets up top as well! Your set up idea sounds fine, my suggestion is ditch the papertowel rolls...cardboard can harbor bacteria if soiled, also if you can put up the $$ for a 20gal long reptile tank I think you will find it easier to keep a proper temp range. You will need to do more research on providing proper temperatures and how to do that (under tank heater etc) you didn't mention it so Im not sure if you know you need belly heat for a Leopard Geck or if you just didn't mention it! Like I said click on the care sheets up top and read them! They outline what you need item by item!

And read tons of threads on here...lots of info and lots of the time ppl ask the same questions so you need only read other ppls post to learn!

I have leopard gecko's the reason I like them is they are simple to care for, no special humidity needs other then a proper humid hide. and the set up is the cheapest and simpliest to keep up and care for. i think Leo's have TONS of personalities and againest what some others think I do believe that after some time your leo will enjoy coming out to explore on your lap, but no I don't think they crave it. I will say this these guys aren't SUPER interactive...they mostly SLEEP, EAT, POOP...and in between there in the evening if your lucky they cruise around a bit when you can see them! I love them for their beauty not for the purpose of holding and watching them do all sorts of cool things in their tank. If you want a cuddly reptile then something like a bearded dragon is more for you!

Well welcome to GF!! And please don't let some quick icky responses deter you from asking further questions. Im very happy your actually asking questions like which one will like to be held, which one is more interactive. You will hopefully get honest open answers and hopefully have a better idea of what to expect from a new pet!!!

Yeah, I do know that they need the heat pad, just forgot to type it in. I think that keeping fish alive is really hard, because there are a ton of illnesses they can get. I have read a few books about leos and they seem more interesting than panther geckos... Would you reccomend getting a leo from an online breeder, or at a local pet shop that has really good quality geckos? The reason I ask is because the pet shop has only adults, and because with online breeders, you can really see what the geckos are like. I could also find a good quality leo from PetSmart. The PetSmart near me has pretty good juvinile (or however it's spelled) leos. I asked if I could hold one, and the employee said sure, and the one I held was really nice and cute and it started licking my fingers. And on average, how many mealworms do juvinile leos eat and then also how many adults eat.

 

[Pinky81]

I recommend a breeder! I personally have NEVER seen a juvi at Petsmart or petco, they always sell 2 week old babies in little 5 gallon tanks.

remember with a quality breeder you have a better chance of spending you money on a healthy gecko. remember gecko's are prey animals and do not show illness untill they are really ill. So you purchase a leo from petsmart that hasn't had calcium available 24/7 and you get it home and start to realize it now is showing signs of MBD (bone disease from lack of calcium) or a leo that has been housed with other leo's that have now passed on parasites that until the stress of moving tips the scales for your leo making it really ill. Then you talking vet bills and heart break. Im not saying it can never happen that you could come home with a perfectly fine Leo and not have issues, but my thought process on it is...the more people that purchase from these box stores the more opportunity you give them to sell sick animals. From what i have seen at my local Petsmarts, petco's, and petworlds I do NOT purchase ANYTHING from them. I purchase all supplies and animals from private breeders or online reptile supply sites. I want nothing to do with supporting the big box stores.

As for the personality of your leo, don't worry too much about that at this point. You leo will be as tame as you make it. If you handle your leo daily he/she will become use to you and your daily routine. My male Clyde was a little stinker when he was a youngin but now his is a big sap that actually seems to enjoy having his little chin rubbed. The licking thing you experienced isn't that the Leo was kissing you...that is the way Leo's smell or figure out what the object infront of them is, its call tongue flicking. Leo's can identify eachother this way, and identifiy your smell this way.

Since owning my Leo's and now hobby breeding I will never do anything else besides support private breeders who if a quality breeder.

As for how much they eat it all varies! My male will eat maybe 3 super worms every 3days. My juvi's will eat anywhere from 5-10 regular mealworms daily or everyother day, to say for example my juvi Twigg (hatched this spring) ate about 7 small dubia roaches last night. And probably won't eat for another day.

Lots of area's have reptile shows going on right now, these are great places to meet local breeders! Remember its very easy to fall in love with the first leo you see...but keep researching and learning and give yourself some time...your gonna have this lizard for 10-15years!!!

 

[GeckoGirl1999]

I recommend a breeder! I personally have NEVER seen a juvi at Petsmart or petco, they always sell 2 week old babies in little 5 gallon tanks.

remember with a quality breeder you have a better chance of spending you money on a healthy gecko. remember gecko's are prey animals and do not show illness untill they are really ill. So you purchase a leo from petsmart that hasn't had calcium available 24/7 and you get it home and start to realize it now is showing signs of MBD (bone disease from lack of calcium) or a leo that has been housed with other leo's that have now passed on parasites that until the stress of moving tips the scales for your leo making it really ill. Then you talking vet bills and heart break. Im not saying it can never happen that you could come home with a perfectly fine Leo and not have issues, but my thought process on it is...the more people that purchase from these box stores the more opportunity you give them to sell sick animals. From what i have seen at my local Petsmarts, petco's, and petworlds I do NOT purchase ANYTHING from them. I purchase all supplies and animals from private breeders or online reptile supply sites. I want nothing to do with supporting the big box stores.

As for the personality of your leo, don't worry too much about that at this point. You leo will be as tame as you make it. If you handle your leo daily he/she will become use to you and your daily routine. My male Clyde was a little stinker when he was a youngin but now his is a big sap that actually seems to enjoy having his little chin rubbed. The licking thing you experienced isn't that the Leo was kissing you...that is the way Leo's smell or figure out what the object infront of them is, its call tongue flicking. Leo's can identify eachother this way, and identifiy your smell this way.

Since owning my Leo's and now hobby breeding I will never do anything else besides support private breeders who if a quality breeder.

As for how much they eat it all varies! My male will eat maybe 3 super worms every 3days. My juvi's will eat anywhere from 5-10 regular mealworms daily or everyother day, to say for example my juvi Twigg (hatched this spring) ate about 7 small dubia roaches last night. And probably won't eat for another day.

Lots of area's have reptile shows going on right now, these are great places to meet local breeders! Remember its very easy to fall in love with the first leo you see...but keep researching and learning and give yourself some time...your gonna have this lizard for 10-15years!!!

The reptile show that is closest to me to four hours away. There are reptile shows closer than that, well one, but they don't have leos I don't think... Maybe they do... I'll check their website again. What about the pet store that has really good quality geckos? They are not a line of stores, it is a unique store. It has really pretty fish and geckos and snakes and so on. They are all healthy too. The only problem there is that they only sell adult leos...

 

[Pinky81]

Again I prefer to work with breeders, bottom line is they know their animals, their genetics, and how they were raised. Its a gamble when shopping at a store, so you have to ask yourself if it is worth it to you! Look around on this site, not all the breeders on this site sell high prices leo's! Remember there is no rush right...you are researching and waiting till your current pets pass. Go to the reptile show, talk to people, look around, I have never really seen a reptile show with NO leo's!

You gotta weight the pro's and con's for yourself...for me stores will not win out.

 

[GeckoGirl1999]

Again I prefer to work with breeders, bottom line is they know their animals, their genetics, and how they were raised. Its a gamble when shopping at a store, so you have to ask yourself if it is worth it to you! Look around on this site, not all the breeders on this site sell high prices leo's! Remember there is no rush right...you are researching and waiting till your current pets pass. Go to the reptile show, talk to people, look around, I have never really seen a reptile show with NO leo's!

You gotta weight the pro's and con's for yourself...for me stores will not win out.

True... I found an online breeder, and the shipping cost more than the actual gecko did. The gecko was about $60, and the shipping was $75... I'm not sure what site it was, but I was thinking to myself: Why pay more for shipping? So I'm trying to find one with shipping that is like $35...