Need Help Make sure my setup is correct

[Drewhop]

We picked up our first gecko yesterday I have been doing research for a lil while now. Just found this site a few days ago tho. I have seen several setups but want to make sure I am setup correctly for best care and overall health.
The tank is a 10 gallon tank.
What we have is 2 different hides. When you see the pictures they will help a little more.

On the left side of the picture is a coconut that is placed over top the warm side of the tank as well as providing a humid hide for shedding On the left side we have a exo-terra under tank heater that is 8x8.

In the middle of the tank we have a small log that he seems to like to curl up to during late evening. On the right side we have his other hide which is on the cool side of the tank. We also have a dish of water on the cool side of the tank.

So basics are Right side of tank has 8x8 exoterra heater.
Left side has no heating.

I want to make sure everything is correct so I can change anything if needed.

Here are the pics any and all advice or critisism is welcome and very much appreciated.

Thanks again for taking the time to help us out.

Andy

 

[pjg250]

10 gallons should be fine as your leo is still pretty young, but you might want to upgrade to 15 or 20 soon.

Also, I like to keep a dish of mealworms in the tank all the time, and you also might want a dish of calcium just sitting out.

Personally, we have 3 hides for our girl (hot, humid, and cool), but if you can get by with two that should be fine.

You'll also probably want to invest in a probe thermometer (get one from a convenience store and not the pet store because they are usually cheaper.

 

[clarkee_04]

The gecko needs some fattening up, and in the second picture does anyone else see very small signs of MBD

 

[Drewhop]

10 gallons should be fine as your leo is still pretty young, but you might want to upgrade to 15 or 20 soon.

Also, I like to keep a dish of mealworms in the tank all the time, and you also might want a dish of calcium just sitting out.

Personally, we have 3 hides for our girl (hot, humid, and cool), but if you can get by with two that should be fine.

You'll also probably want to invest in a probe thermometer (get one from a convenience store and not the pet store because they are usually cheaper.

I never thought about the probe thermometer from regular store. Anyone purchased one that would ge a example of what I need to find.

Also I read a little bit of info on MBD I dont know exactly what I am looking for. Our gecko does not favor or walk funny and does not have any problems running around. What can I look for?

I was told the gecko is about 4 years old. They seemed to have gut loaded there crickets but I do not know how often they were feeding it. I know they did not have a calcium dish in there.

Can I just use the calcium that i dust the crickets in to fill a small bowl for him to eat?

 

[leonewbie]

The probe thermometers they sell them all w*****t for about $9 in the pet section
I didn't see any signs, but then again, it's possible. You can use a clean milk top and use calcium minus D3 and keep it in the tank all the time, then dust with calcium with d3 a few times a week. I also recommend using a tupperware or some sort of container with moist paper towels or moss (bought from store, not from outside) as a humid hide to aid in shedding

 

[Drewhop]

The probe thermometers they sell them all w*****t for about $9 in the pet section
I didn't see any signs, but then again, it's possible. You can use a clean milk top and use calcium minus D3 and keep it in the tank all the time, then dust with calcium with d3 a few times a week. I also recommend using a tupperware or some sort of container with moist paper towels or moss (bought from store, not from outside) as a humid hide to aid in shedding

For the moist hide should it only be put in once I see him start to shed or leave it in constantly? I was planning on useing the coconut for the moist/humid place but he seems to enjoy it in there constantly.

 

[clarkee_04]

Give her some waxworms once a week, and in a bit you should have a fat, healthy gecko!

 

[leonewbie]

For the moist hide should it only be put in once I see him start to shed or leave it in constantly? I was planning on useing the coconut for the moist/humid place but he seems to enjoy it in there constantly.

I leave my moist hides in there constantly, sometimes they just love to hang out in the moss of the humid hide He may love that hide because he feels secure int there or it's just his preference...i'd use something else for his moist hide then

 

[ariana]

my leos seem to like to burrow in the moss...
sometimes ill see them poke their heads out and be completely hidden otherwise.
i think a moist hide should be in there all the time IMO