My First Gecko [Housing]

[C14H22N2O]

I'm sorry if any questions I ask have been answered in previous forums; I've been lurking for hours, I swear! :main_lipsrsealed:

Before I shell out the bucks for a gecko, I have a handful of housing questions/concerns built up in my head.

About how much does a setup cost? From what I gather, I need...

1. 10 Gallon Tank (20 if I think I'll want another in the forseeable future)
2. Heat Pad (as opposed to a heat lamp, which would annoy me)
3. Substrate (Paper towels... woodchips... slate... etc.)
4. Hiding Places

I *think* that's all or most of what I would need. Now, onto my questions/concerns...

1. I would want to put the gecko in my room. It's the warmest room in the house (which I gather to be a good thing, it can get cold). But I don't have a whole lot of space... I'm not against reorganizing my room, but my parents would be--since I'm currently doing so to make room for a new work desk. Basically, I want to know how I could go about having a multiple gecko setup. I know not to keep two males in the same tank... would it be a good idea to buy a 20 gallon tank to start? (and maybe later, another 10 or two, if need be)
2. Substrate... fish tank rocks? The only reason I bring that specifically up is 'cause they come in different colors... lol But other than that, what do you guys recommend? I think slate looks cool...
3. Do I really need all of the verticle space supplied by 10 and 20 gallon tanks? Basically, could something with the same width and depth of a 10 or 20 gallon tank suffice?
4. Racks. I think this kinda ties into the above question... if I don't need the verticle space, then rack-type trays seem a viable option. But my larger question about racks are... how long do you keep your gecko in a rack? I ask because, at some point, I want to at least dabble in breeding, but don't want to have a trillion fish tanks all over the place... on the same token, I don't have the room for a rack of a trillion trays. lol

I have so many questions, but I'm still organizing them in my head so I don't post them in the wrong place. Thank you in advance for your help and advice.

 

[acpart]

I'll try to respond to some of these questions; you can find lots of other specific information using the search function:

tank size: 20 gallon long is most flexible since you can keep a single or several geckos in one. If you get a 10 gallon and then decide to have more than 1 gecko you will end up having to get a 20 gallon anyway.
You're right that the height of the tank isn't a factor. For that reason I use stacking tanks (which I don't actually stack) which are available at a good price from glasscages.com. They are generally half the height of a regular tank. Glasscages delivers to lots of places and their prices are very good. THeir stackable tanks are front opening which is a lot easier to deal with than tanks that access from the top

substrate: there are plenty of discussions about substrate here. I use ceramic floor tile which I get from Home Depot for very little money. Using fish tank rocks is only a problem if the worms and crickets get in there because they (especially the crickets) die in the rocks and can cause problems and odors.

Heat: belly heat is best for geckos so Under Tank Heaters are best

HIdes: buy them or make your own from tupperware, margerine tubs, terra cotta plant pots or other stuff (google will show you lots of ideas)

Tanks vs. racks: opinions vary. I do have one rack for overflow hatchlings but personally I prefer tanks because I like to see my geckos and I like them to see me. I have several shelf units with a tank on each shelf which is almost like a rack --my hatchling tanks are 20 longs divided into 3 sections with 1-2 hatchlings in each section. There are sturdy, relatively cheap 5-6 shelf units at Home Depot

WHere to get all this stuff:
Pet stores are probably the most expensive. Here are some other options:
craigslist, yard sales, Ebay
check out some of the on-line reptile supply places like lllreptile, big apple herp, reptile depot etc. (once again, google will give them to you). The prices are cheaper but you have to deal with shipping. If you do some comparison pricing and get everything possible from one place it will offset the shipping.

Good luck. Keep researching and it will become clear when to actually get the gecko.

Aliza

 

[C14H22N2O]

Thank you so much. I am again sorry if I asked anything that has been previously answered. I think I re-ask only to reassure myself. All the info get jumbled in my head and I can get a little confused as to what I, personally, would need or what would suit me as opposed to what worked for person x, y, or z.

 

[Baker14]

2o gallon would be a better idea than a 10 gallon since the bigger the better. Even if you have a 20, it would be best to get a 30-40 gallon for two leos. Leos are solitary meaning they dont need company and can and will stress each other out. The only true reason to keep multiple leos together is for breeding or to save space(which does apply to you).
Substrate: Loose substrate like fish tank rocks, sand, woodchips, etc.. come with many problems and health issues. When loose substrate is eaten by the leo, they CAN become impacted which is a blockage in the intestines leading to death. ALong with impaction, loose substrates harbor bacteria because they are a pain to clean and all the liquid from poops goes down to the bottom and is un able to be picked up.

HIding places: There should be atleast 3 hides per tank. One dry hide on the warm side, one dry hide on the cool side, and one humid hide on the warm side. A humid hide is a hide with moss or paper towels that are moistened to aid in shedding.

Hope I helped. xD

 

[acpart]

Thank you so much. I am again sorry if I asked anything that has been previously answered. I think I re-ask only to reassure myself. All the info get jumbled in my head and I can get a little confused as to what I, personally, would need or what would suit me as opposed to what worked for person x, y, or z.

When you find some advice that's useful, copy and paste it into a document. Then you'll have all the information together and you can read it over as much as you want without having to search for it again. I remember feeling this way when I was researching my first leo. Sometimes when you actually start doing it the whole thing becomes clearer.

Aliza

 

[C14H22N2O]

I think I'm doing good so far. Right now, I'm looking at the stackable 10x20x8 cages from Glasscages.com that have a hinged front door... as well as the 30x12x12 Visionarium Stackable Terrariums, also with doors on the front. I think either size should be good for a single gecko. (I'm out of town and about to get a new desk so I haven't done any measurements.)

As for substrate, I'm liking small marble floor tile... or possibly slate.

My current hurdle is a UTH system. Heat tape seems like a good solution. However, my real issue is that, from what I've been reading, I definitely need a thermostate to control the heat tape and regulate cage temperatures. The Helix Controls DBS1000 Proportional Thermostat (Grounded)

looks like a good choice... but (sorry if this next question is stupid) can it control the heat tape for more than one enclosure? If at some point, I want another gecko or two and need another cage, do I have to buy another thermostat?

I'm thinking not. I mean, there isn't a thermostate in every room of my house, lol. But would setting that up be easy? (Especially if I get into breeding and build my own rack; I would need a thermostat to control the heat tape for the trays on the rack, of course.)

It seems that the thermostate will be my most expensive purchase, but if I go ahead and invest the $100 or so into it, it would be worth it in the long run.

 

[Baker14]

You are doing good so far. The 10x20x8 would be a 10 gallon which is the bare minimum for one gecko, but I believe the minimum rally should be a 20. I find it difficult to put 3 hides, a water dish, a calcium dish, and a mealowrm dish all into a 10 gallon with still giving the leo enough room to move around and regulate his temperature. The other visionarium you mentioned would work perfect.
Next, for the heat tape, im not to sure how it works so I cant help you with that. I use heat mats and they have worked great for me. The Helix thermostat can control multiple tanks, Im not sure how amny, but I know they control more than one. Another idea would be to just use tubs, they are cheap, easy to clean, and all around great!

 

[Mel&Keith]

We use Johnson controllers to control our racks and love them! IMO they're the best thermostat for the money. We've never had any problems with them and they're easy to use.

10x20x8 is plenty big for one gecko. Just from what we've observed personally, Leos do better when housed individually so I would get two 10 gallons if you want 2 geckos.

 

[acpart]

If you decide you want something bigger from glasscages,they have what they call a "half-29" that they sell for $35 but don't post. It's half the height of a 29 tall which makes it about the size (width and depth) of a 20long: 12.5"x30". They sell a screen cover for an extra $10 which is a very good price. Here are 3 heat control possible solutions which are cheaper than the $100 top of the line thermostat:
1. for a 10 gallon tank I use a smaller UTH --the 1-5 gallon size. It doesn't have the coverage that the larger UTH's have but most geckos spend a lot of their time lying down in one spot, so if you put the hide right over it, it works and the temp seems to stay at about 90 without a thermostat
2. Use a rheostat which costs about $10. You have to keep adjusting it when the temperature in the room changes, but if you're right there all the time it's not so much of a problem.
3. Get an Alife thermostat that has connections to plug in 3 UTH's. It's under $50 and although some people have had problems with them, many of us have been just fine.

Another alternative to a heat mat is heat cable which you can configure any way you want. You'd still need to control the temperature.

Aliza

 

[C14H22N2O]

The Helix thermostat can control multiple tanks, Im not sure how amny, but I know they control more than one.

Awesome, that definitely makes me feel better about dropping the extra money for it. I'll have to do sommore research into it; I've been searching for more info about it here at GeckoForums.

We use Johnson controllers to control our racks and love them! IMO they're the best thermostat for the money. We've never had any problems with them and they're easy to use.

I was actually looking at those before I was looking at the Helix. The fact that it's easy to use is very appealing because I don't wanna set it up wrong and burn my house down. lol

10x20x8 is plenty big for one gecko. Just from what we've observed personally, Leos do better when housed individually so I would get two 10 gallons if you want 2 geckos.

Cool, cool. I like the idea of a stackable tank; I'd have to figure out a way to get a UTH on a tank that's above another though.

How are UTH, well, more specifically heat tape (flexwatt) mounted to the bottom of the case? From what I've read, there has to be space underneath the tank (like a centimeter or two for airflow). Is heat tape literally tape that sticks to the glass bottom of the tank? If so, that actually be awesome... (Yeah, I know that's a retarded question. lol)

Use a rheostat...

I would, but the temp in my room does flucuate a lot. It's the warmest in the house, but I get hot pretty easily and usually crack a window (it wouldn't be close to the gecko's cage though). I'd just feel more comfortable with a prodecural thermostat backed up by an on/off.

Another question, if I were to do a procedural like the Helix as my main thermostat and use an on/off thermostat as a backup, both would have to be able to monitor the temp in multiple tanks (at least two), right? Or, for now, would I be fine without a backup...? 'cause it does just seem to complicate things a little more.

 

[C14H22N2O]

Okay, so far, here's my shopping list. Luckily, I can get pretty much everything I need from LLLreptile.

- Visionarium stackable terrarium
- Helix DBS1000 Thermostat with grounded plug
- Zoo Med 10 to 20 Gallon Heat Pad
- Coconut Hiding Spot
- Zoo Med 4.25 ounce Wipe Out 3
- Rep Cal Calcium WITHOUT D3 (x2)
- Rep Cal Calcium & Herptivite Combo Special (x2)
- Exo Terra Medium Reptile Den
- Zoo Med 32 ounce Wipe Out 1

I can get live mealworms from Petco--that's awesome 'cuase I didn't really want to have to have them shipped everytime I needed more. I bought 2 of each of the calcium and supplements to last me a while; they keep well, don't they? I bought hides 'cause they were cheap and I liked the way they looked. lol

Am I missing anything? (Besides, flooring... I'm gonna get marble tile from Home Depot.)

I'm gonna use moist paper towl for the humid hide. I was gonna use moss, but I think that'd just create a mess I have to clean up...

 

[Baker14]

That sounds great! YOu have everything you need in that list! I use moss because it holds the moisture longer and in my opinions helps with shedding better. Both are fine to use though.

 

[Ccrashca069]

I would get the large Exo Terra Den. I don't use the wipe out stuff but I use a bleach/water solution once a month. For the humidity hides, I find that if you buy the crickets that are packaged from I think Zoo Med ( the plascit bowels with the screen lid at Petco and Petsmart) and use scissors to cut an opening, those work great and are cheap and easy to make. I have other hides as well such as the Exo Terra Large den and a few other hides.

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

You are asking some VERY good questions, and I think you are off to a great start! There is a controller that can control up to 4 heaters (HerpStat II?) but I don't have any experience with them. I use Johnson controllers for all my enclosures, and the Helix for my incubators.

 

[C14H22N2O]

I would get the large Exo Terra Den. I don't use the wipe out stuff but I use a bleach/water solution once a month. For the humidity hides, I find that if you buy the crickets that are packaged from I think Zoo Med ( the plascit bowels with the screen lid at Petco and Petsmart) and use scissors to cut an opening, those work great and are cheap and easy to make. I have other hides as well such as the Exo Terra Large den and a few other hides.

Cool; I'll get the large instead. I have a paranoia about bleach... lol I hate cleaning with it 'cause I always feel like I'm about to poison somebody or something. lol Though I might do a bleach solution cleaning once a month; I figure the wipe out stuff would be good for quick cleans, etc.

I'll probaby make some hides too, even if only for practice. lol It does look easy to do though.

There is a controller that can control up to 4 heaters (HerpStat II?) but I don't have any experience with them. I use Johnson controllers for all my enclosures, and the Helix for my incubators.

I think I might buy a Herpstat and then, later (probably when/if I decided to get another gecko) upgrade to the Herpstat Pro that can control 4 heaters. I like the way it can be monitored online... but it's like $319... so yeah, definitely not yet.

I'm gonna get all my prices together and I'll update you guys with any progress--and, of course, pictures once I get everything set up!