New Gecko Owner With A Few Questions

[SubNoiZe]

Hello all, I purchased my first leopard gecko last week and have a few questions.

My gecko is housed in a 10 gallon tank with an under tank heater. The lady at the petshop told me that I needed a light as well, so I purchased what she recommended (a 60 watt Zoo Med Daylight Blue Reptile Bulb). When this light is on, my gecko never comes out and I am thinking that perhaps it might be too bright for him. Can anyone suggest another type of bulb that will provide better viewing and give a little more heat to the tank? I have thought of either getting the Moonlight bulb, or perhaps the Infrared bulb (which from my understanding do not give off too much light).

I know that my gecko is skittish because I have only had him for such a short period of time, but should I start handling him more now? I don't want to stress him out too much since he is new, but he hides when I walk into the room (he only comes out when the light in his tank is turned off).

What should the humidity be in his tank?

Thanks for all the help. I am sure that I will have more questions as time progresses.

 

[Jaiden23]

First off, welcome to GF!

Now, there really isn't any need for any type of light at all as long as you are using your under tank heater. The only time I would ever recommend using a lamp is if your UTH isn't keeping the tank warm enough. Do you have a probe thermometer to measure the surface temperatures? The warm side of the tank should be between 89-93 F and the cool side should be around 75

If you choose to, however, you can use a light for better night viewing. For this you will want to use a moon or a lunar light bulb, as this shouldn't interfer with the gecko at all.

As for handling, the usual rule is that you leave them alone for about a week, and then start to handle them for short periods of time, about 5 minutes a day until they start to become more used to you.

It may take a couple weeks before she starts really coming out of her hide. Usually with a shy gecko, the more you handle them, the more they will become comfortable with you.

As for humidity, you want it below 40% or the gecko may get a respiratory infection.

Hope this helped! :main_thumbsup:

 

[SubNoiZe]

First off, welcome to GF!

Now, there really isn't any need for any type of light at all as long as you are using your under tank heater. The only time I would ever recommend using a lamp is if your UTH isn't keeping the tank warm enough. Do you have a probe thermometer to measure the surface temperatures? The warm side of the tank should be between 89-93 F and the cool side should be around 75

If you choose to, however, you can use a light for better night viewing. For this you will want to use a moon or a lunar light bulb, as this shouldn't interfer with the gecko at all.

As for handling, the usual rule is that you leave them alone for about a week, and then start to handle them for short periods of time, about 5 minutes a day until they start to become more used to you.

It may take a couple weeks before she starts really coming out of her hide. Usually with a shy gecko, the more you handle them, the more they will become comfortable with you.

As for humidity, you want it below 40% or the gecko may get a respiratory infection.

Hope this helped! :main_thumbsup:

thanks for commenting back so quick!

my humidity is around 50%, so what could I do to lower this? I haven't been misting the tank, but I do have a 4 inch water dish in there with him. Should I reduce the amount of water in the dish?

With the light in the tank, my temperature is around 85 degrees. But again, when the light is on, he NEVER comes out. After 4-5 minutes of the light turned off, he comes out of his hide and roams around the tank. So what kind of light can I buy that isn't too bright but can give the tank a bit more heat since I am not too sure that the UTH gives it enough.

The day I brought him home from Petsmart, he ate 8 crickets (pinheads). From what the sale associate said (from looking at his sheet), he is about 5 months old. It was really funny watching him stalk the crickets, before he pounced he would wag his tail violently back and forth. My 3 year old thought it was the funniest thing ever.

I bought about 40 crickets when I got the gecko and have been gut feeding them for about a week now. I also go some meal worms a day later(which died on the way home when I stopped by the grocery store to get a few items, I am guessing from the heat here in NC), but I have a few of them in his calcium dish and he munches of them every night.

I have wanted a gecko since I was 17 years old (I am 27 now) and am quite excited that I now have one. I want to provide the best care that I can since I want him to live a long time with me. Starting next week, I will spend more and more time holding him, which I have only done twice since I have brought him home, each time for about 3-4 minutes.

If anyone would like to provide me with anymore advice, please do so. You all are the veterans, and I want to make sure that I am taking great care of my little guy!

EDIT:

Here are a few pics I took the day after I brought him home:

 

[gothra]

Welcome to GF! Your new gecko is very cute~

I don't use any type of lighting during daytime, they are not needed as geckos requires belly heat; so an undertank heater covering about 1/3 of the tank will suffice. Make sure the surface temps on warm side measures 90-92F, never over 95F though.

For night time viewing, I use infra-red bulb. The geckos can't see the red light so they will come out and roams around. You can put your hand in his tank and let him walk on/across your hand to earn his trust.

Last thing, beware that geckos are addictive!! You'll have your second, third geckos very soon!

 

[SubNoiZe]

Welcome to GF! Your new gecko is very cute~

I don't use any type of lighting during daytime, they are not needed as geckos requires belly heat; so an undertank heater covering about 1/3 of the tank will suffice. Make sure the surface temps on warm side measures 90-92F, never over 95F though.

For night time viewing, I use infra-red bulb. The geckos can't see the red light so they will come out and roams around. You can put your hand in his tank and let him walk on/across your hand to earn his trust.

Last thing, beware that geckos are addictive!! You'll have your second, third geckos very soon!

before I get anymore, I want to make sure that I am adequately caring for this one. I can see how they are addictive though...

I have one UTH that is turned portrait (vertical) in my tank. Should I get another one?

thanks again for everyone's advice!

EDIT::

could anyone sex my gecko from the pics above? Or should I get better ones. Please tell on what I need to look for when sexing my gecko...

 

[Jaiden23]

For your humidity, you want to make sure your water dish is on the cool side. If it is already on the cool side, then either try a 3 inch water dish (if you can find one) or just don't fill it all the way up. Usually, once the temperature is set correctly then the humidity works itself out.

What are you using to measure your temperature? You want to make sure you're getting the surface temperature and not the air temperature, as there will be a huge difference in the readings. If your surface temp is 85, then you can use either a red or black bulb, as your gecko won't be able to see these lights, yet they should really help to raise those temperatures for you.

Also, what substrate are you housing him on? It looks like you may have him on sand, which your pet store owner probably told you was alright. That is actually very risky for your gecko, as they can ingest any loose substrate and become impacted. Even the calci- or repti- sand isn't safe for leos. I'd recommend repticarpet, tile or even paper towels to help prevent future health problems for your new little guy (or girl)

Your leo has some very nice markings, if I were better with morphs I'd tell you what you have there... but I'm still a little iffy on leo genetics. I'm sure one of the breeders here will let you know what he is. Reguardless, it looks like you picked out a nice one! It certainly sounds like he's eating well!

 

[SubNoiZe]

For your humidity, you want to make sure your water dish is on the cool side. If it is already on the cool side, then either try a 3 inch water dish (if you can find one) or just don't fill it all the way up. Usually, once the temperature is set correctly then the humidity works itself out.

What are you using to measure your temperature? You want to make sure you're getting the surface temperature and not the air temperature, as there will be a huge difference in the readings. If your surface temp is 85, then you can use either a red or black bulb, as your gecko won't be able to see these lights, yet they should really help to raise those temperatures for you.

Also, what substrate are you housing him on? It looks like you may have him on sand, which your pet store owner probably told you was alright. That is actually very risky for your gecko, as they can ingest any loose substrate and become impacted. Even the calci- or repti- sand isn't safe for leos. I'd recommend repticarpet, tile or even paper towels to help prevent future health problems for your new little guy (or girl)

Your leo has some very nice markings, if I were better with morphs I'd tell you what you have there... but I'm still a little iffy on leo genetics. I'm sure one of the breeders here will let you know what he is. Reguardless, it looks like you picked out a nice one! It certainly sounds like he's eating well!

I am using a gray-colored Reptile carpet. I knew from my research before I bought him/her to know that sand was a bad idea. I will take a pic of my tank and let you see how I have it set up so you can get a better feel of things. I have the light over the moist hide. The UTH is under the hide as well. He always hides in the moist hide as well. Give me a few mins and I will have a pic.

Thanks again for all your help. And if a breeder would like to help me sex the gecko and help with the morph, that would be great!

 

[SubNoiZe]

Okay, I took a few quick snaps so that the overall layout of my tank can be seen and/or critiqued. I am pretty sure that my thermometer isn't the right kind that I should have, but it reads about 83 degrees now (its the one that is near the moist hide) and the hydrometer (on the cool side of the tank) reads about 52 (which I am guessing that I need to reduce the amount of water in his water dish until I can get back to the pet store and buy a smaller one).

again, if anyone can sex and/or tell the morph of my gecko, please do so. I appreciate all the help I have received so far. It looks like I have found a great forum to give me advice to make sure my gecko is in fact healthy. thanks to all.

here are the pics of my tank:

 

[Jaiden23]

Nice looking setup, I'm guessing it's a 20 gallon long?
That's actually the same water dish I'm using in my 20 gal at the moment, but I never fill it all the way or I end up spilling it into the tank when I change the water, my balance isn't the best haha.

That carpet looks nice, I don't usually see people using a gray color. Unfortunately most stores in my area only sell the green ones.

I see your little buddy has already managed to spread the moss from his moist hide around the tank :main_laugh:

Quite a few members here have used those type of themometers before and they don't usually seem very acurate . Try taking one off of the wall and laying it on the ground, I'll bet that your temperature will raise. You're better off getting a digital probe or a temp gun next time you're at the store.

I just love the coconut huts, they're so cute in a tank.

 

[SubNoiZe]

Nice looking setup, I'm guessing it's a 20 gallon long?
That's actually the same water dish I'm using in my 20 gal at the moment, but I never fill it all the way or I end up spilling it into the tank when I change the water, my balance isn't the best haha.

That carpet looks nice, I don't usually see people using a gray color. Unfortunately most stores in my area only sell the green ones.

I see your little buddy has already managed to spread the moss from his moist hide around the tank :main_laugh:

Quite a few members here have used those type of themometers before and they don't usually seem very acurate . Try taking one off of the wall and laying it on the ground, I'll bet that your temperature will raise. You're better off getting a digital probe or a temp gun next time you're at the store.

I just love the coconut huts, they're so cute in a tank.

I will take the thermometer and lie it on the floor and see what it reads.

My tank is actually a 10 gallon.

I would like to eventually get another gecko but I need to be sure on how to sex them so I don't end up with two males. Can anyone give me any advice on mine? Its sex AND its morph? please?

 

[Amber7399]

Well as far as the sexing goes. you will have to wait until he/she get bigger/older to be ablt to tell that, unless you buy from a breeder and now what it was incubated at. and for determining the morph you migh post a couple pic's in the morph and genitic forum. sorry couldn't be of more help. :main_huh: the lighing in one of pictures looks like there might be some carroting on it's tail? but can't really be sure good luck.

 

[SubNoiZe]

Well as far as the sexing goes. you will have to wait until he/she get bigger/older to be ablt to tell that, unless you buy from a breeder and now what it was incubated at. and for determining the morph you migh post a couple pic's in the morph and genitic forum. sorry couldn't be of more help. :main_huh: the lighing in one of pictures looks like there might be some carroting on it's tail? but can't really be sure good luck.

Thanks for the comment. What does carroting on his tail mean?

 

[Amber7399]

Here.. http://www.leopardgeckowiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Carrot_Tail

I am not sure... just what the picture looks like. i could be wrong

 

[SubNoiZe]

updated pics:

 

[SubNoiZe]

What does it mean when the gecko climbs at the sides of his cage? Is something wrong?

 

[Jaiden23]

What does it mean when the gecko climbs at the sides of his cage? Is something wrong?

It usually isn't anything serious when they climb at the glass. Chances are, the little guy is still learning his new boundaries.

It may also be seeing it's reflection in the glass. When I first got my girl she kept scratching at the back wall like she didn't like my choice in wallpaper:main_laugh: Once I put a nice backdrop on the tank, she completely stopped trying to climb the glass.

It may also just want out of the tank once in awhile, if that's the case then it should stop once you start regularly handling em.

 

[SubNoiZe]

It usually isn't anything serious when they climb at the glass. Chances are, the little guy is still learning his new boundaries.

It may also be seeing it's reflection in the glass. When I first got my girl she kept scratching at the back wall like she didn't like my choice in wallpaper:main_laugh: Once I put a nice backdrop on the tank, she completely stopped trying to climb the glass.

It may also just want out of the tank once in awhile, if that's the case then it should stop once you start regularly handling em.

i gave him/her a few head and body pets but it seemed that that wasn't what he wanted since he kept running from me, so i am gonna leave him alone for a few more days to let the gecko settle into his new home.

thanks for all of your help and comments. i put the thermometer on the floor of the tank and it was pushing 90 without the light on, so i have now taken the light off the top of the tank until i can get a moon light.

 

[Arctic16]

Is it just me or does that look like a regrown tail?

 

[Jaiden23]

Is it just me or does that look like a regrown tail?

I agree, it looks as if just the end of the tail was lost... possibly bitten off at one point? It doesn't really look as if the entire tail was dropped. I have seen petstores house mutliple species together unfortunately, and came across a baby leo whom had had half of its tail bitten off by a baby beardie.

 

[downthebeatenpath]

Yeah the tail looks to be regrown, but it has regrown very nicely, as for morph I'm not sure to be honest I have never seen one with that kind of coloring.