hi everyone

[kevin561]

Hey everyone , Ive been doing weeks of research through this forum along with other forums and I finally got my Leopard gecko 2 days ago, hope to learn alot more on here.

heres my current setup

*19 gal tub
*10-20 gal ZooMed UTH connected to dimmer switch to control temp. hot side kept at 90-95f.
*Substrate is paper towels for now, I have slate tiles ready when he gets a little older.
*1 hide on the cool side, which is around 73-75f, moist hide in the middle, and warm hide on top of the UTH.
*water dish, calcium cup, and mealworm bowl for occasional feeds, read they were not so good so Im switching up to small crickets.
*Clamp desk lamp with 25watt Red Party Bulb pointed away from tank to view the little guy at night( not left on), since I heard red light wont disturb leopard lizards.

let me know what you guys think , and anyone know what morph he is ? Age range?

 

[acpart]

Welcome to GF and congratulations on your new gecko. He looks to be a few months old. He's still young enough to be changing. If he loses all his body spots he'll be a superhypo. If he loses almost all of his body spots (so he ends up with about 10 or fewer) he'll be a hypo. If he doesn't lose any more spots he'll be a high yellow. Enjoy him.

Aliza

 

[kevin561]

Welcome to GF and congratulations on your new gecko. He looks to be a few months old. He's still young enough to be changing. If he loses all his body spots he'll be a superhypo. If he loses almost all of his body spots (so he ends up with about 10 or fewer) he'll be a hypo. If he doesn't lose any more spots he'll be a high yellow. Enjoy him.

Aliza

thanks
and
wow, i did not know there designs change as they grow, thats really cool. Ive been hearing hes alot of different morphs, i guess only time will tell.

 

[Embrace Calamity]

Lovely setup. The only thing I want to mention is this:

"Visible light, including UVA, is essential. Many reptiles have extremely good color vision. Humans have three types of retinal cone cells for color vision, and their brains combine the information from these cells and perceive the blend as a certain color. Most reptiles, however, have a fourth cone type, which responds to UVA. These reptiles see a much more colorful rainbow than humans do, which makes providing natural lighting quite a challenge. This extra color perception is especially important to many reptile species in recognizing others of their species and even food items.

Some nocturnal geckos lack the red-sensitive cone, but their green-sensitive cone also responds to red light; they can certainly see it. Studies have even shown that some use their cone types for color vision in light similar to dim moonlight. Thus it is possible that “moonlight blue” or “red night light” lamps, which usually are much brighter than moonlight, alter these animals’ view of the twilight world."

http://www.reptilechannel.com/reptile-health/reptile-natural-artificial-light.aspx

Not that it's gonna kill him. Just pointing it out.

~Maggot

 

[kevin561]

Lovely setup. The only thing I want to mention is this:

"Visible light, including UVA, is essential. Many reptiles have extremely good color vision. Humans have three types of retinal cone cells for color vision, and their brains combine the information from these cells and perceive the blend as a certain color. Most reptiles, however, have a fourth cone type, which responds to UVA. These reptiles see a much more colorful rainbow than humans do, which makes providing natural lighting quite a challenge. This extra color perception is especially important to many reptile species in recognizing others of their species and even food items.

Some nocturnal geckos lack the red-sensitive cone, but their green-sensitive cone also responds to red light; they can certainly see it. Studies have even shown that some use their cone types for color vision in light similar to dim moonlight. Thus it is possible that “moonlight blue” or “red night light” lamps, which usually are much brighter than moonlight, alter these animals’ view of the twilight world."

http://www.reptilechannel.com/reptile-health/reptile-natural-artificial-light.aspx

Not that it's gonna kill him. Just pointing it out.

~Maggot

i normally just turn it on for like 30 min to see him, which hasn't been working, he still hides with it on, is there any recommendations to be able to view him at night ?

 

[cassicat4]

You could try a night black heat light...it gives off a very soft, dark, purple light that allows you to see somewhat, plus it provides some heat.
I'm normally up late so after my Leo's lights go out, I can see them moving around from the incandescent light of my desk lamp.

Otherwise, I agree with the post on the red lights...I used to have one on my Chinese water dragon's enclosure, and it kept her awake at night. She was very restless, and every time I checked on her throughout the night, she had her eyes half open. She would also be quite lethargic during the day, not even leaving her sleeping spot until around noon. I always thought these lights were fine, as they were recommended by so many people...and then my herp vet explained that some reptiles can see the light so she's quite against them. I switched out the light to a night black heat light, and since then, my dragon has had no problems sleeping at all, and she's awake and active first thing in the morning at 8am.

Even though Leos are nocturnal, I've always wondered what the effect these lights would have on them if they could see them, so I won't use them on any of my reptile's enclosures.

 

[Embrace Calamity]

i normally just turn it on for like 30 min to see him, which hasn't been working, he still hides with it on, is there any recommendations to be able to view him at night ?

Well mine's next to my bed, so I can usually see her a little from light from my computer (I try to keep my lights off to keep from disturbing her). Given that they have such good color vision, any colored light would probably still result in the same issue.

You could try a night black heat light...it gives off a very soft, dark, purple light that allows you to see somewhat, plus it provides some heat.
I'm normally up late so after my Leo's lights go out, I can see them moving around from the incandescent light of my desk lamp.

Otherwise, I agree with the post on the red lights...I used to have one on my Chinese water dragon's enclosure, and it kept her awake at night. She was very restless, and every time I checked on her throughout the night, she had her eyes half open. She would also be quite lethargic during the day, not even leaving her sleeping spot until around noon. I always thought these lights were fine, as they were recommended by so many people...and then my herp vet explained that some reptiles can see the light so she's quite against them. I switched out the light to a night black heat light, and since then, my dragon has had no problems sleeping at all, and she's awake and active first thing in the morning at 8am.

Even though Leos are nocturnal, I've always wondered what the effect these lights would have on them if they could see them, so I won't use them on any of my reptile's enclosures.

I noticed the same with my leo. I had a red light and she spent all her time at night hiding on the nights cool enough for me to have it on. I switched to a CHE and she's much more active at night now.

I dunno about the blacklight. They could probably see that too, given their excellent color vision. And leos regulate their physiology based on the amount of blue light in their environment. Not that it would harm him really, I just am personally a fan of not providing artificial light at night.

~Maggot