Just got a leopard gecko, should've done my research..?

[sunshinegeckos]

My Geckos are next to a window and they know when it is getting dark because they will start peaking their heads out of their huts when the sun goes down. Its very funny. If you dont have a window near your geckos I would (like others suggest) get a red light that doesnt bother them but you can see them and they can get that sense of night and day. Good luck with your Gecko!

 

[ultimatedc]

He said the substrate is strained desert earch mixed with standard silica hardware sand and high peet concentration soil.

I think it looks natural as hell but it is hard to spot waste, so I'm going to the LFS and picking up the following things.

1 Mister
1 Red night viewing bulb
1 UTH
1 Reptile mat.

And a few crickets. Anything else I should get?

 

[Russ S]

He said the substrate is strained desert earch mixed with standard silica hardware sand and high peet concentration soil.

Anything else I should get?

Get something to replace the substrate. Silica sand is like glass and can to major damage if ingested.

 

[ultimatedc]

I'm thinking of just getting a reptile mat. Overall I want to accomdate him to the best of my ability, but I would like to view him at night. Day time, he gets ambient room lighting from ceiling fan, tv, whatever is on.

So would my list above be fine in keeping him succesfully? I've noticed he won't touch his dried crickets or frozen cirkcets

 

[ultimatedc]

Also, what should I be feeding him?

 

[Gecko977]

Crickets or mealworms. An occasional super worm for a treat every now and then. More people will give info on how much to feed.

 

[ultimatedc]

Well I called the LFS and they don't have any low watt red bulbs. Only 50w. Should I just leave his tank lightless and have my ceiling fan on at night for viewing?

 

[sunshinegeckos]

they like live food so dont go with dried mealworms and dried crickets. I feed mine pheonix worms, mealworms and the occasional waxworm as a treat(only do that if your gecko is underweight or not eating). I dont do crickets because they stink and they are a pain to keep and they make noise but it is good to feed them every once in a while. Leopard Geckos like to hunt.

 

[OnlineGeckos]

If you have an adult, go for super worms, dubias roaches, or crickets. You can easily google up the caresheet for them, and look through to see which you prefer to keep. It's also important to know what your leopard gecko likes, because they can also get picky and you don't want to end up with 100-500 of something and then finding out that your leopard gecko doesn't like it.

So it helps to test things out by buying small amounts at a time, first make sure your leo likes them, before buying bulk for longer duration keeping.

 

[TokayKeeper]

I dont do crickets because they stink...

...if you don't clean them.

...and they are a pain to keep...

...no more difficult than mealworms in my experience.

...and they make noise but it is good to feed them every once in a while.

...only the males, and it's such a soothing, wonderful song to listen to at night. It's like on those warm summer nights with the window cracked or vicariously camping when one can't get time off from work. But unfortunately I'm the oddity in the masses here as many don't like the sound of em just like you. If you think crickets are bad, then you'd probably hate to spend the night here with my male tokay calling.

 

[ultimatedc]

Okay, well, I'll get him a few crickets. Now, as far as hide goes..

He has one hide in the middle of the tank and one on each opposite side. The moist hide should be on the hotside, correct? I douse his slate rock with water to keep it humid.

If I can't get a UTH, would he be okay with the lamp?

 

[TokayKeeper]

If I can't get a UTH, would he be okay with the lamp?

Yes...but make certain your temps are high 80s to mid 90s at cage surface (at hide/basking area), not at top of cage. As I said previously, I use a 40w bulb for this.

 

[ultimatedc]

You have all been so helpful!! I received this gecko and his habitat at the low cost of 40 dollars but it doesn't permit not doing your research!!

I will pick up an UTH tomorrow, just because I want him to enjoy his tank. I haven't seen him roam around not one bit... however I've only examined him throughout the day, with the lights off. I'll be shutting it off tonight, and viewing him to see if he gets out and about. He won't touch his prepared cricket diet so I will be getting him some live crickets tomorrow.

Any advice anybody can offer me? I'm switching to UTH heater, so theres his heat. Switching to reptimat to prevent sand impaction.. I should be good??

Here is a pic of him, and his terrarium. I was told he is worth more money than a standard leopard gecko due to having full snake eyes. Any validity to this?

Here are some pictures. Decorated it myself, quite like it!

http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/6609/photosvh.jpg

from the left side, that is his warm hide. The middle is a humid hide, note the paper towls. On the right is his cool hide.

http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/3206/photo1iq.jpg

Adorable dude. Fat tail as well.

 

[braytonia]

Don't mean to thread jack but what is the CORRECT wattage red bulb for night viewing only and NOT heating purposes? And where can I get it at a reasonable price? Thanks.

 

[OnlineGeckos]

Don't mean to thread jack but what is the CORRECT wattage red bulb for night viewing only and NOT heating purposes? And where can I get it at a reasonable price? Thanks.

Try here.