Is a 40 gallon too big?

[Gigabyte]

So my brother has an old 40 gallon terrarium from his tortoise (so its short and wide) the demenstions are 36 in (L) x 18 in (w) x 12 in (h). Right now my gal is still a baby so shes in a 10 gallon, but i'm thinking for the future when she's older and bigger. If I did this i would probably end up getting her another cage mate or two (all females). But really i'm just wondering if she'd be able to catch her food in a tank so big...
Alex
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[Cwaller]

I have three females I a 40 gal breeder 36x18x18 and they live it enough room to get away if they want but most of the time all curl up in same log

 

[Cwaller]

Love it don't mind the typo's

 

[KashMoneyExotics]

A 40 gallon might be too big for a single leo. Adult leos can be housed in a 10 gallon perfectly fine. But if you want something bigger than a 20 gallon is good also.

 

[Gigabyte]

A 40 gallon might be too big for a single leo. Adult leos can be housed in a 10 gallon perfectly fine. But if you want something bigger than a 20 gallon is good also.

So i've been doing some research on this and I don't understand why a 40 gallon would be too big. As long as its kept at the right temperatures. In the wild geckos have much more space and are still able to catch their own food... I understand a 20 gallon would work but i would have to go out and buy one when i have a much bigger and very nice terrarium in my house. Could you explain why it might be too big?

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[KashMoneyExotics]

Its just my personal opinion. Most caresheets on basic leo care says that 10-20 gallon tanks are sufficient for leos. A basic rule of thumb is about an additional 10 gallons per leo. I mean a single leo could do perfectly fine in a 40 gallon, but I would probably keep it heavily furnished with decor. Some reptiles tend to freak out in large space out areas. Again this is just my personal opinion. I've seen leos singally housed in 40 gallon tanks and do perfectly fine.
Hope this helps.

 

[dreamsindirt]

It probably really depends on the gecko. My old guys that are almost wild geckos, are wily hunters who would have no issue. An a baby enigma that was raised in tiny tubs with a food dish may not be a great hunter. I tried to set up a new inexperienced gecko in bioactive set up and the poor thing was afraid of dirt, had to put it in a tub with paper towels it is much happier now.

 

[cowana]

Is Gigabyte a really skilled hunter? I mean rarely misses. If she is a clumsy hunter and misses her food then a 40 gallon will make it hard for her to catch her meals. More space from them to run and hide from her.

You will want to make sure it is decently furnished without a ton of open space. Can be overwhelming to a Leo to be in such a big own an area, exposed without cover. I can send you pics of my 40, but it holds 3 Leos 1.2.

She will be much more comfortable in a 10-20 gallon tank by herself. The soace is more appropriate and comfortable for a Leo.

If you plan to put multiple Leos in the 40 I would do it at the same time so it is a new area for all of them and they will consider it neutral territory. Remember any new Leo would have to be quarantined for a minimum of 30 days before you can introduce them to Gigabyte. You can fit 3-4 Leos in a 40 gallon.

Hope this helps!

Amy

 

[Gigabyte]

Hi thanks guys! You really gave me some things to consider.
In my opinion she is a good hunter although i don't know how she sees the little guys! I have to give her to a friend of mine for a little while this year so i won't be getting anymore at the moment. (although that hasn't stopped me from looking lol, i never thought geckos would be addicting)
I didn't think about her being freaked out by all the space. I guess it makes sense. I'll probably end up just buying a 20 gallon for the near future. Then maybe i can build her up to a big tank with friends. Do you think that there is a period of time that she has before she can no longer socialize like other animals?
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I just want to be a good mommy and her ten gallon doesn't seem to have a whole lot of space.
Thanks again!
Alex & Gigabyte

 

[cowana]

Geckos have great nocturnal vision. Much better than humans or even cats. I read an article about it. I will see if I can dig it up.

A 20 long would be a good fit for her alone or even a cagemate. You can then use her 10 gallon as a quarantine tank for any new gecko you get.

There really isn't any age limit on adding another gecko, but I think they tend to adapt better if they are younger. The main rule is they need to be close in size to help prevent bullying and dominance issues. Be prepared some geckos regardless of age or size just won't accept living with another gecko. You will always need to have another tank prepared to house them separately, just in case.

When you go to add the second gecko thoroughly clean and disinfect the tank and rearrange it. That way you get rid of Gigabyte's smell and make it a neutral space. They are much less likely to have territorial issues then. Also, have plenty of hides so they can have their own space if they want.

 

[cowana]

Also, are you 100% sure Gigabyte is a female? Not to question you've cause I know you've done a lot of research, but I know she is still relatively small and young. Some males don't show their pores or bulge until they reach sexual maturity at 9 months or older. How old is she? How long is she from snout to tail tip? Do you have a vent picture? That is something to keep in mind.

 

[Gigabyte]

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HI I don't have a picture of her vent but i'll take one when I get home (i originally though she was a boy!) She's about 5 inches from tail to head, im trying to see if i can find a gram scale to weigh her. Thank you for all the advice you've been a great help!

 

[cowana]

You're welcome. I try to help when I can.

She is still small to sex, so she may end up being a he after all. Haha. The general rule is 6-7" inches and 25-30g in weight, but some males are slow to develop and may not show until sexual maturity. Definitely post a cent pic and we can tell you if we see any pores but it is still early. [emoji4]

I got my gram scales at Walmart and Kroger's in the Kitchen tools section. They are digital and work really well. The downside is they only do whole grams, but that isn't a huge deal. I like my Ozeri Touch II best, but any should work fine. You will probably need to put her in a Tupperware container. Weigh the container first, tare it, then add her and you will have her weight. [emoji4]

 

[Gigabyte]

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My phone wouldn't let me get closer but here is a picture. (maybe she is a boy...) I was talking to one of my co-workers yesterday (I work at a pet store) and he suggested I just section part of the cage off so I'm thinking i might do that. I have midterms this week so i'm going to pick up a scale sometime this weekend or next week. She's(he?) has gained a lot of weight since I got her(him?) (although she wasn't emaciated when I got her) and I'm very happy with her progress. Also I've been hand feeding her mealworms every other day and now she comes up to my hand and licks it to see if I have food! lol. Is there a chart somewhere about approximate age and weight/length?

 

[cowana]

So far Gigabyte is looking female. I don't see any pores and don't think I see a bulge. Kind of hard to tell with her tail bent back. Haha

You could totally portion off a 40 gallon if you wanted. That would work well for a couple Leos. I would still do your quarantine in a separate tank, though.

No, there isn't any charts. Leo growth varies widely. Some will take a long time to reach a weight/length mark, and some will reach it quickly. As long as they're healthy it is normal. Gigabyte looks healthy and appears to be a nice hypo jungle. [emoji4]

 

[Gigabyte]

Yea I tried to make her still but she didn't like it too much (I can't blame her!)
Thanks I actually go her from work, she was really small when she came in (like three or four inches) and so we put her in isolation so that she could grow a little before she had the stress of a new home. I used to go and back and play with her while things were slow, or in the mornings when they get taken care of. Then of course I had to have her lol.
Also I was wondering what kind of cleaner I can use to disinfect, I don't want to use something that will make her sick. It happened to my ferret once even though I washed his cage with a lot of water (he did like to lick his floor sometimes thought...)
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[cowana]

Most LGs don't like it. They will eventually give up the struggle though, and even come to not mind it.

She is definitely a cutie. You chose a good one.

You can use chlorhexadine spray, a mix of isopropyl alcohol and water, or vinegar and water. With the rubbing alcohol or vinegar you would mix 5-6 parts water to 1 part of either. Chlorhexadine you will order online and it will either come premixed or have directions. Been awhile since I've used it, but it is by far the best of the 3 products.

 

[Gigabyte]

I work in a vets office in my free time (i do it for free for the experiences) and I know chlorhexadine very well! Thank you for all of your time and advice!
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[Tongue Flicker]

More research and you'll find that no big enclosure will ever be big enough for an adult animal in captivity.