New baby Leo questions

[Pepper]

Alright, so I introduced myself a few..seconds ago, and I have a few questions.
I have used the search button to look up any info. I missed, but I still have a few questions on my guy/gal in particular.

I got him/her, the 25th. My mom wanted to rescue him from the pet store, although I tried telling her that this will only make them buy more, but she wasn't hearing it, she couldn't stand to see a tiny skinny baby kept on sand!
Of course the people were clueless on their care and told us he was 6 months old, needed to be on sand, and was out during the day time so he would need 12 hours of UVB.

I showed them on THEIR own care sheet where it stated...
"Leopard gecko's are not like other reptiles and do not require UVB lighting, although it wouldn't hurt, they are nocturnal...Leo's should not be kept on sand when they are young because of the risk for impaction"

With me he is on reptile carpet, has an under the tank heater, along with an overhead red bulb, dry hot hide, moist hide, cool hide, he doesn't eat out of a dish, but he did eat crickets dusted the first day I got him, and has snatched up a few gut loaded mealworms I let crawl near him! Water dish, some fake plants,branch and some rocks, it's simple, but I'll be adding and improving as time goes along.

Well I doubt this little guy is 6 months but I want some good advice, I'll post pictures, so here are my questions...

How old do you think he/she is?

He came without part of his tail, he still has a main part of it, but maybe 1/4 of it is not there, but there is a little nub coming out of it, will it regrow?

I havn't handled him much, only for a minute or two a day, never taking him out of his tank, just picking him up and letting him rest on my hand.
Should I give it a while before holding him? How do I start getting him used to me, 5 min a day??

Here's pictures, little blurry didn't want to stress him so I made it quick.
He has gained a little bit of mass since he's been here, these are when I got him.

You can see the nub in this picture.

Oh and for anyone interested here is my baby Tiger Salamander, Watson.
Got him on the 4th, this was him then.

This is him now.

 

[sitting_duck]

Both the leopard gecko and tiger salamander look cool. That salamander certaintly fattened up in your before and aftter pics.

 

[acpart]

It's possible that your leopard gecko is a very poorly nourished 6 months, although I think 3 months is more likely, judging from how many of the spots have disappeared. The tail will probably grow some more and judging from the nub, it must have lost that part of the tail pretty recently. It sounds as if you're doing fine with your set-up and plans to hold it for short periods of time to get it used to you.

Aliza

 

[Pepper]

I sure hope he isn't 6 months old! I was thinking about 3 months too.

At about 6 months old, what is the approx. size of a Leo? Does anyone have any pictures?

Also, he seems to eat pretty good, maybe 5 or a few more dusted crickets a day, I usually try to put them pretty close to him so he sees them quickly so they don't go hide under something, but is there a better way to feed crickets, and I have been taking off 1 or 2 back legs, just because I don't think he'd have a chance with them hopping around..
He won't eat mealies out of a bowl, but will snatch up a few if I drop them near him and they start crawling...but, when I powder them, he'll run up to them, lick them, and walk away.

 

[Snowy & Petra de Gecko]

ACPart

ACPart has given good advice and in reading some of her other replys she knows her stuff.

 

[myjoyoverflows]

I wouldn't know what to add to what's already been said, but I wanted to say that I'm impressed with what you know and how you're doing, all things considered. Sounds like you're doing everything just right!!!

 

[Pepper]

Thank you I've been an animal nerd since I was a little tiny kid so being able to actually care for reptiles and amphibians is wonderful

 

[nats]

I'm not much for salamanders, but that last pic of him is cute :main_yes:

 

[Brawler]

as far as another way to feed crickets so they dont escape, you can try feeding in a seperate container, something smaller like a shoe box sized plastic box or i use one of those 2gallon plastic critter keepers, it was something i was told by a breeder when i first got into herps, and its something i've done since, it seems to get them used to being held faster as well.

 

[2bacop]

I sure hope he isn't 6 months old! I was thinking about 3 months too.

At about 6 months old, what is the approx. size of a Leo? Does anyone have any pictures?

Also, he seems to eat pretty good, maybe 5 or a few more dusted crickets a day, I usually try to put them pretty close to him so he sees them quickly so they don't go hide under something, but is there a better way to feed crickets, and I have been taking off 1 or 2 back legs, just because I don't think he'd have a chance with them hopping around..
He won't eat mealies out of a bowl, but will snatch up a few if I drop them near him and they start crawling...but, when I powder them, he'll run up to them, lick them, and walk away.

My leo is 6 months old you can see her as my icon her tail is a little fatter now.

 

[rubym]

We smash the heads on our crickets. They still move around but if they do escape they can't come back and bite the gecko. Cute little guy. Judging from your salamander it won't take long for your baby to fatten right up. They are both adorable.