My first

[Y2KGTP]

Got him on the 14th...was told 8mo old...

 

[Untide]

Hey pretty high yellow! (I think)

Just a suggestion. Take him off sand ASAP! Use paper towel. Sand can actually cause something called impaction which can KILL your gecko!

Looks like my girlfriends old gecko heh.

 

[fallen_angel]

Yes, it's a popular misconception for new gecko keepers to think that sand is okay to use.

Very nice gecko

 

[Y2KGTP]

Yes, it's a popular misconception for new gecko keepers to think that sand is okay to use.

Very nice gecko

I used what the shop I got him from uses in their cages.....it's really super fine stuff....

why I joined here...looking for input on what to use and such.....

 

[fallen_angel]

Another popular misconception - that the pet stores know what they're doing LOL

They claim the calci-sand is good for them too, but it's really just as dangerous and I don't think that the geckos can even process the calcium in the sand.

Many people like sand because it looks nice, and so they use it anyway. But other safe choices are paper towels and tile (and tile actually looks very nice too). Paper towels don't look bad IMO, but it eventually gets pretty costly replacing them all of the time. At least with tile, you only buy it once and then it can be cleaned fairly easily

Here's a cage with paper towels:

same cage with tile:

Welcome to GeckoForums too

 

[Untide]

All sand can kill a gecko. Most pet shops don't keep their pets in proper habitate. You should either use Paper Towel, Tiles, or Repti carpet. IMO Paper towels is best since it's so easy to clean up. If your looking for a more "Natural" look repti carpet looks great! still pretty easy to clean as well!

^^

Fallen beat me to the punch here. haha. They are 100% correct too.

 

[Y2KGTP]

My main concern would be the tank heater. I have a 8w unit under 1/2 the tank. I believe the current sand material helps insulate the temperature a bit....b

would paper towel let more heat threw?

 

[fallen_angel]

Yes, you'd have to get a thermostat to regulate the temp, or you could put in some layers of tile or tile and paper towels until the temp is right on the surface.

 

[Y2KGTP]

All sand can kill a gecko. Most pet shops don't keep their pets in proper habitate. You should either use Paper Towel, Tiles, or Repti carpet. IMO Paper towels is best since it's so easy to clean up. If your looking for a more "Natural" look repti carpet looks great! still pretty easy to clean as well!

^^

Fallen beat me to the punch here. haha. They are 100% correct too.

I looked at the carpet, but wondered how often it would need to be replaced? Also was mentioned the Gecko can ingest the fibers after a bit.

I did not price it out, so not really sure on the cost. This is a 10 gal tank.

 

[fallen_angel]

The carpet can be washed in the washing machine I believe.. some people have problems with geckos getting their nails caught in it.

A 10 gal tank just takes two pieces of 12x12 tile I believe. You could get 4 and double it up so the heater isn't too hot on the surface. Add paper towels/newspaper in between as needed.

 

[Y2KGTP]

Yes, you'd have to get a thermostat to regulate the temp, or you could put in some layers of tile or tile and paper towels until the temp is right on the surface.

What should surface temp be? Ambient is 77ish on the cool side, and 82 on the heater side. I have a Infra-red temp guage for RC stuff I use.

 

[fallen_angel]

Warm/heated side needs to be closer to 90. Anywhere from 88-92 is good. The cool side is fine.

You said the heater covered half of the tank. It sounds like the heater is too big, that's why you're not getting much of an ambient temperature. You need a heater that only covers one third of the tank. But once you take the sand out, the temp might be just fine.

 

[Y2KGTP]

Warm/heated side needs to be closer to 90. Anywhere from 88-92 is good. The cool side is fine.

You said the heater covered half of the tank. It sounds like the heater is too big, that's why you're not getting much of an ambient temperature. You need a heater that only covers one third of the tank. But once you take the sand out, the temp might be just fine.

I guess I should correct my statement.....surface temp is around 90 on the floor, the air temp is 82o. I have a nice little infra-red temp gun.

 

[jason23]

Hey i had the same problem...wanted to use paper towels but was way too hot over the under tank heater.

After a bunch of experimenting i found something that works pretty good...I got a few flat rocks from outside (about 3/4" to 1" thick). Then i took a hand towel, folded it once and put it over the heater side...then arranged the rocks over that...then put the cave/dry hide over the rocks...they hang out in and around there all the time..temp is aobut 90 degrees (perfect) and rocks are natural for them..

Just make sure if you find rocks outside that you sterilize them and kill any possible parasites....I boiled mine in a big pot for 30 min, then scrubbed them down really good....then baked them at 450 on a baking sheet for another 30min...
CAREFUL! Those rocks are hot!! hot hot...put them outside to cool for awhile..

best of luck!

 

[2bacop]

I looked at the carpet, but wondered how often it would need to be replaced? Also was mentioned the Gecko can ingest the fibers after a bit.

I did not price it out, so not really sure on the cost. This is a 10 gal tank.

I dont have a problem with repitle carpet, but I also put my gecko in a critter carrier when she eats so shes not on reptile carpet them which is when I think most people have trouble with it.

 

[your gecko guy]

nice

 

[estott]

for most of my leopard geckos i use the paper towel, i use the reptile carpet for 2 of my leos that are in 10 gallon tanks the thing with the reptile carpet is as it gets older and you have washed it a few times the fibers in the carpet start to seperate thats when the leos get ther nails cought in it and they get there teeth cought in it when they strike at prey items, before the carpet gets to this point is when you need to change it. i can usualy get my reptile carpet to last a good while up to 6 months sometimes, depends on how often your leo wants to dirtys its enclosure lol..

 

[HillDog]

aww, cool =]

 

[dino221]

i use newspaper lol

 

[cj.thomas21]

Nice gecko I have one that looks just like it.