My first Leopard Gecko!

[illmatik]

Hi guys. I've owned a Golden Gecko for about 12 years. Sadly he passed away this week. In his honor I decided to get another gecko, this time a Leo.

I loved the Goldie but I wanted something that I could watch feed and also that wouldn't mind being held every once in a while; the Leo was an obvious choice.

I got it at a local reptile store with a good reputation. The owner of the store said he is about a 10 month old juvenile. Only to me, he looks huge! He was easily the biggest dude in the tank, but the rest were supposed to be younger than him. If he's 10 months old, does this mean he will get bigger?

Also, I'd love any suggestions for a first time Leo owner.

Right now, he's in a 10 gallon long tank on fine sand. I've got a dual lamp going on, 12H of bright white and 24H of thermal red (for heat). The temps on the hot side got to about 82F, which doesn't seem hot enough so I'm going to buy an under tank heater first thing after work. With the undertank heater I'll switch the lights to 12/12.

Again, I'm new to this so I'm open to any and all suggestions. Thanks!

Here's some pics of my new buddy, Pablo! (Any SF Giants fans? )

 

[PhoenixCoconut]

Very beautiful! He may get a tad bigger Take him off sand RIGHT AWAY and put him on paper towel or reptile carpet, and def. get him an under tank heater. Cool little (BIG) Super hypo tang. :main_yes: (what do you have for hides?)

 

[Jusselin]

get rid of the sand and the lights....lights will stress them out. Put a UTH on thur and get your hides right...warm hide - humid hide - and cool hide......paper towel is better than repticarpet, cuz his toes wont get caught up in the carpet...


good luck with your buddy!

 

[PhoenixCoconut]

I use reptile carpet often and have no problems w/losing or hurt toes.

 

[illmatik]

Thanks for the suggestion guys. Gonna take a trip to the store after work...I'll grab an undertank heater, either carpet or some nice tile, and another hide.

Any suggestions as far as food? I dangled a mealworm in front of him yesterday... he licked it and basically walked away and said "No thanks". I know they take a few days sometimes to get comfortable before they eat, but I still wanna try and feed him something today just in case he's ready.

I'm gonna grab some crickets... I'll throw them in a feeder tank and get them gutloaded. I wanna see if he likes crickets or mealworms better and go from there... hopefully he's a good hunter!

 

[PhoenixCoconut]

Ya try crickets they always work, but make sure you can get him off of those stinky, loud, chirpy bugs

 

[PhoenixCoconut]

Oh and if you have a red light it will work fine because they don't see it. (I use those sometimes.)

 

[artes]

They can see red light, it just doesn't irritate them (usually, you do have a few weirdos it irritates). I use a red or a purple light with the UTH when its colder than normal. I personally vote for tile for your substrate - it conducts heat very well. It also looks nice.

Your gecko is very cute! A great first one. He might still grow some, but he's pretty close to full grown I would think.

 

[PhoenixCoconut]

They can see red light, it just doesn't irritate them (usually, you do have a few weirdos it irritates).

THat what I meant sorry!! :main_yes:

 

[Jusselin]

I use reptile carpet often and have no problems w/losing or hurt toes.

I dont doubt you, i have heard stories though

 

[PhoenixCoconut]

Ya I was just looking around and there were quite a few stories I will prob. switch over soon (to paper towel)

 

[Jusselin]

i have tile in mine....so easy to clean too

 

[Jusselin]

what really changed my mind about sand or repti-bark and stuff like that is when i went to the vet one day and saw a HUGE test tube full of sand and stuff from a poor leos tummy....cant imagine the pain.

 

[artes]

/chants Tile tile tile! Come to the dark side of tile Phoenix. We have cookies.

 

[Jusselin]

lol

 

[Dimidiata]

Ok guys um forgeting something . Lets talk suppliments
You will need, pure calcium, calcium+3D and vitamin powders(or just rephashy). Both mealies and crickets make a good staple(both in conjunction) and supers,silks and horn worms are good treats.

 

[Jusselin]

silkies a treat?

I use them as a solid

 

[Dimidiata]

or that

 

[Jusselin]

I want to lol

 

[Jusselin]

......