Help!! I Don't know what to do!

[Pwnzorz]

Ok so i got my leopard gecko 2 days ago and i bought her pretty much full prepared with info i just really didnt know about the sand stuff and i am now really concerned about my little girl because i got a starter kit for her and it came with this very loose red sand and she has been fine the first 2 days ive had her. The thing is i asked the people at the pet store and one chick is a leopard gecko owner and she said play and calci sand is bad for them but the kind of sand i have is fine for them but i still dont want even a little risk to hurt my angel. Tomorrow i want to switch her to newspaper but i have a couple questions about it. Can i just go buy a nice cheap newspaper from the store and then put it in after i take out the sand or do i need to do something to it first. Also will she be even more stressed then she already is getting use to a new home now because im changing her substrate? I'm so sorry im asking so much questions im just a concerned owner and i want my little gecko to be fully healthy. I keep her on 2 lamps a red light (for basking) and a normal light for... light and vitamins. Please tell me what I should do to keep my baby healthy!

 

[acpart]

There are some nice caresheets that can explain more about keeping your gecko. You can find them by searching these forums for "care sheet" or googling. My care sheet is here: http://geckcessories.wordpress.com.

It shouldn't be a problem to switch the substrate. You can use regular newspaper, paper towel, or get a little fancier and use ceramic tile.

Aliza

 

[Pwnzorz]

There are some nice caresheets that can explain more about keeping your gecko. You can find them by searching these forums for "care sheet" or googling. My care sheet is here: http://geckcessories.wordpress.com.

It shouldn't be a problem to switch the substrate. You can use regular newspaper, paper towel, or get a little fancier and use ceramic tile.

Aliza

Ok thanks a lot but will my gecko be ok until tomorrow?! I am thinking to just put around 3 or 4 newspaper pages in does that sound right? cause i dont want the stupid crickets getting all under and stuff.

 

[LeapinLizards]

Aliza linked you to that care sheet, and that's great.

Some quick pointers:
*She's already probably stressed from the environment change, you might as well switch her to the newspaper (I personally use papertowels as they don't get their toes black ) now. Make it a quick switch, she'll just re-learn her environment.

*As far as the lights...they are unnecessary. Leos benefit from belly heat, so a good under tank heater kept at 87-92* placed under 1/3 of the tank would be ALL she needs. No lights or anything else. The lights can actually make their tanks much too hot. Leos are nocturnal geckos, therefore do not bask (unlike many other species of lizards).

 

[rawson5084]

I use cage carpet, under the tank heater, and one light just so I can see:wideeyed:

 

[Pwnzorz]

Ok thanks guys but I cant get a undertank heater until my mom gets payed next so i think she will be fine until then since im changing to paper towel or newspaper tomorrow. This seems really nooby and slow brained but whats the easiest way to get the sand out like fastest and easiest?

 

[acpart]

Ok thanks guys but I cant get a undertank heater until my mom gets payed next so i think she will be fine until then since im changing to paper towel or newspaper tomorrow. This seems really nooby and slow brained but whats the easiest way to get the sand out like fastest and easiest?

take everything (including the gecko) out of the tank, pick it up and dump. There will be a little left at the bottom. Wet a paper towel and mop it up.

Aliza

 

[rawson5084]

Get everything out dump the sand out and use a vacuum to suck up what doesnt come out

 

[Retribution Reptiles]

if you use nocturnal lights, lights are ok, they provide enough heat. i use both UTH and lights and have had no issues. but as soon as spring arrives and the living situation gets better when i move then the rack comes into play and all my setup pretty much changes. but as of right now it's better to have the lights due to not having an UTH. some heat is better then nothing.

 

[Libby15]

I use paper towels and it works great.

It's cool in my son's room, so I use a small red heat bulb and UTH.

 

[nats]

I use paper towels and it works great.

It's cool in my son's room, so I use a small red heat bulb and UTH.

LOL! same here.
My female snow lives in my room, and I like it on the cool side
when I sleep.
I have her warm side thermostated to 92 and a halogen heat bulb, which only
comes on at night, gives here 75 on the cool side, even when its
65 in the room.

 

[Libby15]

I turn off the heat bulb at night and keep the UTH on all the time. He/she gets a nice cool night.

 

[Snowy & Petra de Gecko]

Cageing

The caresheet will give you the info you need and the posts here are good ideas. I have a light that turns on during the day to simulate day/night times. I also have a UTH that is on 24/7.

As you may have read, Leopard Geckos do not need day light digest their food. They need belly heat.

You can have a night light (I think some of them are blue.) to provide additional heat and to light up the tank so that you can see your Gecko.