Is a screen top a must?

[Dragon]

Hi all,

Picking up my first (Leopard) Gecko this evening or tomorrow morening. I have everything in place with the exception of a screen top. Are they necessary?

I've read they really aren't unless of course you have a cat to keep out or to keep crickets in.

My concern, and I've never seen this addressed. Can they climb the wires from the thermostat, thermometer and hygrometer? I will be housing the Gecko in a 10gal aquarium.

 

[metal-otaku]

I had mine in a 10gallon previously and it just had the basics. but i didn't have wires inside the cage. and he wasn't able to climb out till last week. he got big enough to get on top of a rock in his cage and jump up to the rim. luckily it was when i was feeding him. (jumping at food) i have a screen top to protect him from grabby handed children in that previously. however he is now in a 20gallon long and he let me know the first night i had to have a screen top. he escaped twice in less than 12 hours. and climbed down the wires behind his cage to get to the floor. they can be very trickesy i say. though i think it's a good idea. as long as he can't get a grip on the walls or get up high enough to grab the lip you should be good. unless you have a super smart lizard on your hands like i do, you loves giving me a heart attack.

 

[Dragon]

Better safe than sorry I suppose

Thank you for the reply btw

 

[geckos9]

I would recommend a top cause my friend's leopard gecko climbed out, I think from the sides of tank, luckly i helped her find it, it was ok, but I would be safe and buy one. It cost about $10 bucks for a 10 gal lid.

 

[Russellm0704]

When i used to house my geckos in tanks, they never had lids. But I also have no cats

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

Leopard geckos WILL get out of anything if they could. Use a screen lid.

 

[zet]

It's definitely recommended. You can DIY one from a local hardware store if you're on a budget. If you really don't want to put a screen top on for some reason, just make sure the sides are high enough and there isn't anything tall inside for the leo to climb on to increase its elevation. A screen top will potentially save you the worry and hassle of trying to find your leo in the future though!

good luck