Just got my first leopard gecko, help!!

[avilamillar]

Hi, yesterday i got my first gecko and this is what i have:

10G terrarium
Leopard gecko: 4 1/2 inch aprox
Substrate: Carpet
Half of a coconut as a hiding place with moss inside
Some woods
Worms (he havent eat any yet)
Basking light
Red light (is not especial for geckos i bought it at menards, just a normal light with red glass) for the night.

I havent buy any vitamins yet i think this is what i need (correct me if im wrong):

Calcium without D3 (always in the cage)
Calcium with D3 (to dust the crickets or worms)
Vitamins

any tips of how to take care of my gecko??

thanks

 

[geckoavenger]

You also need a dry hide & NO BASKING LIGHT. Leos dont bask like breaded dragons. You can use a heat light but the best thing is a UTH(Under Tank Heater) & a rheostat to control the temps. Also, your cool side should be around 78-80 & the warm side should be around 91-93 (These are my temps, diff people have diff temps/opinions.)

 

[avilamillar]

Yeah, next week im going to change the UVB light that they tell me i MUST have for a UTH.

So I shouldn't use the basking light? i read a normal light with the UTH will work find.

another half of coconut without moss will work for the dry place?

Is it ok to use that red light in the night?

Thanks a lot my gecko will be happier and healthier with your help

 

[JordanAng420]

So I shouldn't use the basking light? i read a normal light with the UTH will work find.

I find that a few of my geckos do much better with individual lights cycled at 12 hours on and 12 hours off in addition to the UTH, however, others do fine with the lights from the room during the day. The only thing you should really stay away from is keeping them in the dark all day.

another half of coconut without moss will work for the dry place?

That should work fine.

Is it ok to use that red light in the night?

Depending on how many watts it is, if it's 60 watts or less it should be okay to use along with the UTH.

 

[avilamillar]

Ok, so i can keep the basking light and then use it in addition with the UTH. and the light for the night is 25 watts but i wasn't sure of it because its not for animals, is a normal light for the house but red (it will also keep the cage warm in the night because now i dont have a UTH)

thanks

 

[JordanAng420]

The red light at night is used for viewing purposes mostly. At 25 watts, it'll keep the cage a bit warm, but you definately should go ahead and get that UTH. Like I said, light cycles are kind of a personal preferance, they are nocturnal animals and it's not something needed as much as calcium powder is, for example. I find that a few of my females act, eat, and breed much better with individual cycles of 12 on and 12 off.

 

[avilamillar]

yes i think ill have the UTH next week because we dont have a pet store in town.

One more question: which supplements should i buy? which brand??

thanks

 

[JordanAng420]

I've always used the "Rep-Cal" brand. The one with the pink label is the calcium with D3. That's the one i've always used. I like it because you can make it into a paste and use it in emergency situations as well. They also make a multivitamin, called Herptivite, that should be used as well. That's just the company that I like the most, though.

 

[avilamillar]

Ok so ill just need Rep-Cal and Herpitive? how do i dose them?

thnks

 

[JordanAng420]

I leave the calcium in the cage all the time, and I dust with it at every feeding. I dust with the vitamin powder about every 2 feedings or so. Personally, I prefer this method because my geckos tend to not eat that much to begin with.

Some people only dust at every other feeding, and use the vitamin once a week. That's okay too.

 

[avilamillar]

Ok and the so the calcium that you have in the cage all time is the same you use to dust? is it with or without D3?

Thanks

 

[JordanAng420]

Yes, it is the same calcium- the one with D3. A lot of people don't do it that way, however, i've never seen or heard of a leo (or reptile, for that matter) with D3 toxicity from too much calcium with D3.

Others are welcome to contradict me if they choose, but from my experiance they seem to be able to regulate their D3 intake on their own.

 

[avilamillar]

Ok thanks, ill upload some pictures of my gecko today or tomorrow

So how the UTH is going to keep my temperature stable? does it has a thing to regulate the temperture?

sorry for all the questions but im new to geckos

 

[STUTFL]

By "worms" do you mean mealworms?

 

[avilamillar]

By "worms" do you mean mealworms?

Yeah mealworms i think, i bought them at *****, they told me geckos could eat crickets or those worms but if i want crickets i will had to buy cricket food

 

[STUTFL]

Yeah mealworms i think, i bought them at *****, they told me geckos could eat crickets or those worms but if i want crickets i will had to buy cricket food

'Kay - just had to make sure!

 

[avilamillar]

Ok hehe, and if i buy crickets what so i need to do to keep then alive?

thanks

 

[STUTFL]

Ok hehe, and if i buy crickets what so i need to do to keep then alive?

thanks

I'm probably a bad person to ask, my crix never lived for more than a few gecko-feedings. :sweatdrop:
They'll need a moisture source they can't drown in, some food to keep them alive and make them nutritious for the gecko, some places to hide (though it's nice if you can get them *out* if you need to) and ideally a separate container from the terrarium to live in - they'll gnaw and crawl on your gecko if he doesn't eat them all.

That's my very basic knowledge of the subject. :laugh4:

 

[Sandyballs]

don't put the moist hide on the hot side
it evaporates too quick and raises temperatures
also i've noticed my gecko sheds better on the cold moist hide.

 

[Sandyballs]

also crickets for me are harder to take care for than my gecko.
So i suggest you also buy mealworms...