Is this an okay setup?

[Kkhambre]

Hi there! I've never had a leopard gecko before and I'm getting a 4 month old female Leo tomorrow so I just want to get opinions from experts to see if I'm doing everything right, or if there is something I need to change?

This is the warm side:

And the cool/ humid side:

And the whole terrarium:

The first thermometer probe is directly under the hot hide and the temperature is fluctuating around 89 degrees Fahrenheit. The other thermometer probe on the cool/humid side is sitting directly under the reptile carpet and that one fluctuates around 80 degrees Fahrenheit and the humidity probe is right behind the humid hide and fluctuates around 25-30%. Is any of that bad for the gecko and how can I improve it? The humid hide will be filled with damp Eco earth tomorrow. Also, where in the tank do you guys put these probes in order to get the most accurate readings. I originally put the probe directly on top of the UTH under the reptile carpet and it got to 100 degrees.
Sorry for all of these questions but I want to make sure that this gecko is set up for success before it gets here!
Also, if you can't see the pics, please tell me so I can fix them as I've never posted pics on this forum before
Thank you


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[indyana]

Looks pretty good!
A few comments:
- There is a lot of open space and not many dark places. Your gecko may have trouble adjusting to the move if it is used to having a dark, enclosed home (like geckos from rack breeders, for example).
- It's usually a good idea to have a thermostat that can control the heat pad so it does not overheat or malfunction and cause the tank to get too hot.

The temperatures seem okay. Usually, the cool side stays around room temperature because it is not being heated, so be careful the cool end isn't getting heated up by sunlight or some other heat source.

To get an accurate floor temp reading, you should lay the temperature probe flat on top of the carpet over the warm spot. Other than that, just put a probe wherever you want to check the conditions. In the future, you could also pick up a infrared temp gun, which will let you accurately measure surface temperatures in various locations.

 

[Kkhambre]

Ok, I'm getting a thermostat today but how do you make the enclosure darker? Do you get more hides? I can get more of those too if I need to. Also, I don't know what I did but the temp on the cool side has dropped to like 71 degrees now! Isn't that a little too cold? I was thinking of putting a slightly warm water bottle under neath to boost the temp a little but I don't know if that's a good idea or not. Also, I cannot hold still in class today because I am sooooo excited to finally get a leopard gecko!!!


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[mauvelous]

71 is fine on the coolest end of the tank as long as there is a sufficiently large space on the other end where they can stay warm and hidden from daylight. It would be better if it were one or 2 degrees warmer but ambient room temperature can change that. To make it darker you can cover more sides of the terrarium. You could also possibly give them a third hide in the centre of the terrarium.

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[MagnumGeckos]

We would also suggest moving your moist hide, preferably to the warmer side :main_thumbsup:

 

[indyana]

Yep, to make it darker, you can cover sides of the cage. You can also get more hides and/or different styles of hide. For example, your current cave is very tall with a big door that lets in light. Something like a medium Exo Terra reptile cave is a bit smaller and has a small door that doesn't let in as much light.

70s is also fine for the cool end. Basically, you don't want it to get much below 65, so if your house starts getting colder than that, you might need to add some sort of supplemental heating. I usually just let the cool end be whatever my house is (60s at night in winter, 80s+ in the summer...) and keep the warm side steady around 90 F.

 

[pipespets]

Great job with the setup! The only thing i would add is a dish of pure calcium that the gecko can lick up as they please.

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[Kkhambre]

Great job with the setup! The only thing i would add is a dish of pure calcium that the gecko can lick up as they please.

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Thank you, I know I need to have that at all times but I couldn't find any PURE calcium at a pet store near me so I had to order it online! Still waiting for it to get here...

 

[pipespets]

Wow! U are a truely fantastic owner. Your gecko is very lucky.

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[Kkhambre]

Update: I got her on Thursday and it's now Monday. I have angled the rock hide so it gets complete darkness and I have also purchased a plastic log climb/ hide to fill in the extra space so it doesn't look as barren and intimidating to her. I also quickly discovered once I got her that she was having a hard time walking on the reptile carpet because her claws were catching on it and she kept getting her mouth caught on the carpet as well when she was hunting. I have purchased tile as a replacement today but don't know what to disinfect it with, any ideas?
Thanks!
The whole tank (again)

And her in this log hide that I got her! I feel so accomplished that she likes it!


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[indyana]

Looks great!

Give the tile a good scrub with a little bit of dish soap and warm water first to clean it.

I don't do a ton of disinfecting, but I've been using a combo of vinegar and hydrogen peroxide lately: wipe dry, spray with vinegar and sit 5+ minutes, wipe dry, spray with hydrogen peroxide and sit 5+ minutes, then rinse well and dry.

Here's some info on various disinfectants you can use: Tank Cleaning and Disinfecting - EverythingReptile.org

Whatever you choose, the important thing is to make sure no fumes remain afterward.