i got a free 20 gallon tank

[reptileluv13]

since i am getting a leopard gecko soon i am buying supplies for it. and my friend gave me an almost brand new 20 gallon tank! its about 2 months old.

now i need to get substrate and all that for my soon to come leo.

 

[reptileluv13]

oh yeah i forgot, can somebody tell me what i should clean the tank with? is there any restrictions, or can i just use any cleaner?

 

[rhino43grr]

any kind of disinfectant should be ok as long as you rinse it out really well afterwards. also don't use sand as the substrate and make sure you have a under tank heater and thermostat to keep it from getting too hot.

 

[GeckoGathering]

free tank/ clean?

oh yeah i forgot, can somebody tell me what i should clean the tank with? is there any restrictions, or can i just use any cleaner?

Lucky You!!!! Good Deal......
I clean all my aquariums every so often.....with Hydrogen Peroxide. Then rinse and dry.................
I think some where I read of a mixture of Hydrogen Peroxide and alcohol too......but not sure what the mix was. Take care. HJ

 

[reptileluv13]

any kind of disinfectant should be ok as long as you rinse it out really well afterwards. also don't use sand as the substrate and make sure you have a under tank heater and thermostat to keep it from getting too hot.

my friend said i should just get two heating lamps one for night and one for day. he said heating pads arent that good. i used dish soap to clean it then I hand dried it, then afterthat i used all purpose cleaning spray.

 

[Airilith]

Heating pads, also known as under tank heaters, are what you should use for leos. They require belly heat in order to be able to properly digest their food. Lamps are a bad idea because leos are nocturnal and the light stresses them out. If you want one for viewing I suggest a red bulb.

 

[GeckoGathering]

Heating pads, also known as under tank heaters, are what you should use for leos. They require belly heat in order to be able to properly digest their food. Lamps are a bad idea because leos are nocturnal and the light stresses them out. If you want one for viewing I suggest a red bulb.

my friend said i should just get two heating lamps one for night and one for day. he said heating pads arent that good. i used dish soap to clean it then I hand dried it, then afterthat i used all purpose cleaning spray.

OPINIONS: Belly heat and Rinse good after the cleaners....................also if you do not wish to get a UTH see if you can access the bottom of the tank with one of those heat lamps with a low watt bulb. I have several aquariums belly heated in this manner. Less expensive but more time on your part to keep a temperature check. You do need a proven thermometer. Take care. HJ

 

[reptileluv13]

ok, so i should get a heat pad thingy, and a heat lamp with a red bulb. dont you have to plug heat pads in though?

 

[GeckoGathering]

ok, so i should get a heat pad thingy, and a heat lamp with a red bulb. don't you have to plug heat pads in though?

The UTH sticks to the underside of your tank. Yes, they are electric, need plugged in and are sized according to your aquarium size. Be careful on the bulb size as, they can really raise the temp.Take care... HJ

 

[reptileluv13]

ok so what you guys are saying is, i should get a heat pad instead of lamps. or buy a heat pad for the whole tank. but wont it be dark? and what about heating lamps.

 

[MacularisMan]

oh yeah i forgot, can somebody tell me what i should clean the tank with? is there any restrictions, or can i just use any cleaner?

u need to mix one part bleach with 25+ parts of water to clean it

 

[reptileluv13]

okay thanks. i am going to clean it again before i get the leopard gecko. so i will clean it with bleach. and rinse it really good.

 

[Bling_my_leo]

They don't need any type of above lighting. Just a UTH (under the tank heater). Don't waste your money on getting lamps, just get what they need.
Good luck!

 

[reptileluv13]

but wont the tank be dark? or does the pad kinda heat it up?

does the pad need batteries? or do i have to plug it in?

oh yeah i am going to buy one of those things to hold the crickets, so i can power feed them. i want my gecko to be healthy

 

[reptileluv13]

ok so i need the following for my leopard gecko.

20 gallon tank done (just need to buy a lid)
heating pad
food dish/water dish (big enough to bathe in)
little rock hideout thingy
reptile carpet for baby time, sand when older.
thermometer?
something to hold food in, while power feeding food.
leopard gecko
and poop scooper

 

[riverboy]

ok so i need the following for my leopard gecko.

20 gallon tank done (just need to buy a lid)
heating pad
food dish/water dish (big enough to bathe in)
little rock hideout thingy
reptile carpet for baby time, sand when older.
thermometer?
something to hold food in, while power feeding food.
leopard gecko
and poop scooper

sounds good except I would not use sand even when they are older. Even the biggest geckos can get impacted. Also make sure you have a humid hide.

 

[Stitchex]

Poop scooper is unnecessary , as most Leos only defecate in one corner or so of the tank. All you need is a piece of toilet paper folded in that one corner/place. Yes to thermometer, and Tom said it most. Sand is bad IMHO and you can use paper towels if you want, it's cheaper and easier to clean than reptile carpet. Good luck!

 

[moosassah]

You can easily spend a couple of days reading posts all over GF & become a leo expert in no time, or at least feel like one! Good luck with your new leo. How long before you pick him up?

GF will provide all the answers you need & then some. Going off your list:

Food: mealie worms or crickets, other available but you can learn more about those later.

Take crickets away if the leo doesn't eat them. They will stress him out & possibly bite him.

Mealie worms can be left in the tank in a small dish with a thin slice of potato or carrot for their moisture. Mealies turn into little white pupae (alien looking) & then into brown/black beetle. Don't leave these in the tank either. Either start your own colony or get rid of them.

Feed your mealie worms too. Lots about this on the forums. Cricket feed, Cody's gut load...etc. Mealies can be kept in a plastic container with air holes. They don't crawl out. Keep them in the fridge & remember to take them out every week or so for a warm up & feeding.

Nutrition: calcium with and without D3, multivitamins

Heat: UTH (under the tank heater) for a 20 gallon tank--it cannot cover the entire bottom or the leo will not have a cool side. At least a temp gun to check your temp ranges. Do NOT get a heat rock. This will burn your leo.

Substrates: The most recommended by GF members are paper towels or tile/slate. Please read discussions in Housing forum about sand.

Housing: minimum 1 hide and 1 moist hide. These can be as simple as plastic tubs with a hole. The humid hide should have something to hold the moisture such as paper towels. Watch for leo to turn a powdery color. This happens just before shedding. Be sure to check him after shedding for stuck shed--especially on toes.

POOP: Your leo will choose his place to poop--often in a specific corner. Easiest method, layer small paper towel pieces there & pick up as they become soiled. The poop is about the size of a Tic Tac candy, black on one end, white on the other. If it's runny, you've got problems & need a vet visit.

Lighting: most of us who keep them as pets use the blue or red lights at a low wattage (15) simply for the pleasure of viewing them at night without stressing them out. I have a male that prefers his red light on & seems to be depressed when it's out.

Vet: if you have a herpetologist in your area that's a bonus. Otherwise you're stuck with a regular vet. Either way set up an appointment for a wellness check & a fecal exam. You bring in the fecal to check it for parasites.

 

[reptileluv13]

wow thanks for all that information, i am getting my leopard gecko near September i got to get the cash for it. but i am going to have a VERY fun summer so summer will fly by and i will have my leopard gecko soon.

im still wondering how do you setup a heat mat? like how do you keep the tempertature at a certain level. and how do you make a humid hide i didnt understand that part.

thanks for your help everyone!

 

[reptileluv13]

ohyeah and i forgot is it possible to buy lids? for the 20 gallon tanks?