New guy, preparing for first leopard gecko

[Noob]

All my stuff is in, I just need to finish moving and then I'll set the tank up! Thanks!

 

[lizardfreak]

A little tip,
Studies have actually shown that most leos benefit from UVB lighting (My herp vet told me this) Another tip, I know reptile carpet is not as pretty as sand but my leo got impacted by just living on sand and being fed in a separate container. Turns out she was licking the stuff up (even though she had calcium)
Better safe than sorry Eh?
Best of luck

 

[Noob]

I have the UVB lighting so I plan on using that. Were you using Calcium fortified Sand?

 

[Noob]

Ok, finally moved into my new place and all settled in. All I need is repti carpet and some papertowels to go in the tank and I'm all set to order the gecko, I plan on decorating as I go, but it's not a necessity at the moment.

Daytime temps in the tank range from 95F on the hot side to about an 85F on the cool side. The night temps go down to 80F on the hot side and 74F on the cool side. Are these proper temperatures?

Thanks,
~Ryan

 

[Noob]

Oh and this is a 20gallon long, I have the undertank heater for a 20 gallon. Last night it dropped to 73, is this warm enough or should I upgrade my heating pad?

 

[prettyinpink]

Don't worry about the temps at night. Usually anything above 60*F is fine.

I dont' know if it's just me but it sounds kinda hot at night in your tank. 80F sounds hot! Do you have the lights off at night?

 

[Noob]

Yeah, the lights are off. The past two nights it's gotten down to the low 70's so I think it will be fine. I am planning on getting a thermostat here shortly. I will hopefully be ordering the gecko this coming week. Will have more photos to come!

 

[prettyinpink]

That's great that you're testing everything out! Make sure to post pics when you get him/her

 

[Noob]

Got a Gecko!!

Alright so I was at a store today and they had this in with a mix of what appeared to be blizzards and just regular leos. Any idea on the morph of this guy? It was a great deal and I like it's colors and it appears to be really healthy, already has a fat tail. It has been so far really adventurous and pretty fiesty but is ok with being handled. Already pooped and ate, so that's all good. It's on just reptile carpet at the moment but I will put paper towels over that shortly.

I also purchased a thermostat, another thermometer for the cool side, and a light timer. I'll take more photos tomorrow. Still cannot determine the sex either so I will name it once I can tell! Thanks!

~Ryan

 

[Noob]

I'm thinking it could be a patternless but I'm not good with morphs yet.

 

[Tony C]

I'm thinking it could be a patternless but I'm not good with morphs yet.

Yep that is a Patternless, or possibly a Patternless Albino, a good eye shot would be needed to say for sure.

 

[M_surinamensis]

All I need is repti carpet

Repti-carpet is terrible stuff.

It's made from synthetic fibers, recycled plastic actually, drawn and formed into extremely fine microfibers, pressed into mats and cut to size.

It frays quickly but not cleanly, loops and partial frays are a common occurrence. These can catch, trap, constrict, damage and remove toes and teeth- or even limbs if it is allowed to go too long before being discarded. Incidental consumption of strands can also lead to impaction or digestive tract damage.

What's worse, the shape and size of the individual strands, stacked in densely the way they are, makes it pretty much impossible to truly dry after it comes into contact with animal waste or when it is washed. Water combined with an enormous microscopic surface area makes it a festering environment for bacterial blooms.

It's really a very poor product. Material fatigue happens quickly and it is impossible to keep reasonably sterile. If you are avoiding particulate substrates, go for the tile or slate options others have mentioned. Do not follow the bad advice of the single person* who suggested the repti-carpet garbage.

*if you have experience with reef forums, you are probably familiar with the phenomena. Sometimes people show up and participate by setting themselves into the role of an educator when they really aren't qualified or competent to be acting as an informational resource. Don't know enough to know how little they know, y'know?

 

[Tony C]

My experiment with repti-carpet was short-lived for many of the reasons Seamus cited.

 

[M_surinamensis]

My experiment with repti-carpet was short-lived for many of the reasons Seamus cited.

Ever check it out under a microscope after it had been used or cleaned? The fibers are so small and so densely packed that the cohesive properties of water actually prevent evaporation or draining away from the external surface. Snip a cross section of the stuff even after running it through a laundry drier or allowing it to sit for days and there is a clear band of moisture running through the entire center of it. Crank up the magnification enough- even using just a decent compound microscope- and bacterial blooms are pretty readily evident. Oxygen, water and a surface to grow on- those single celled organisms explode, especially adjacent to and underneath areas where animal waste is or had been present.

Most of them aren't going to be infectious species but it will harbor the virulent stuff just as readily as the benign.

 

[Tony C]

I never did think to look at it under a microscope. After being washed it really started to fray and catch toes/teeth so I tossed it out. I almost want to buy some more now just to have a look.

 

[prettyinpink]

Repti-carpet is terrible stuff.

It's made from synthetic fibers, recycled plastic actually, drawn and formed into extremely fine microfibers, pressed into mats and cut to size.

It frays quickly but not cleanly, loops and partial frays are a common occurrence. These can catch, trap, constrict, damage and remove toes and teeth- or even limbs if it is allowed to go too long before being discarded. Incidental consumption of strands can also lead to impaction or digestive tract damage.

What's worse, the shape and size of the individual strands, stacked in densely the way they are, makes it pretty much impossible to truly dry after it comes into contact with animal waste or when it is washed. Water combined with an enormous microscopic surface area makes it a festering environment for bacterial blooms.

It's really a very poor product. Material fatigue happens quickly and it is impossible to keep reasonably sterile. If you are avoiding particulate substrates, go for the tile or slate options others have mentioned. Do not follow the bad advice of the single person* who suggested the repti-carpet garbage.

*if you have experience with reef forums, you are probably familiar with the phenomena. Sometimes people show up and participate by setting themselves into the role of an educator when they really aren't qualified or competent to be acting as an informational resource. Don't know enough to know how little they know, y'know?

Annnnd I just tossed Beau's out. I've had trouble with Kirby's toe's getting stuck so I swtiched him to tile. Since beau's toes are so much smaller I figured they wouldnt' get caught. I haven't had any fraying either.

But I decided to toss it out. I'll put a small towel in there for now until I grab some tile for him. Thanks! :main_thumbsup:

 

[prettyinpink]

Yep that is a Patternless, or possibly a Patternless Albino, a good eye shot would be needed to say for sure.

Yup you've got a little patty! He's SO tiny! Wow! Here's pics of what he'll look like when he/she is older. I've got a Tremper Patternless
http://geckoforums.net/showthread.php?t=65186

 

[Noob]

So how long should I give the gecko time to acclimate to the new enclosure before I should worry? Going on day 2 and he hasn't left his cool hide nor has he eaten. I took him out today so I could clean the hide, the moss inside was smelling pretty bad so I changed it with paper towels, and he was really relluctant to come out.

Is this normal or is there something wrong with it?

 

[Noob]

I just have the carpet down to insulate the bottom so he doesnt burn himself, but I have papertowels over that. The little guy seems pretty pissy, he hissed at me when I moved him to change out his paper towel, does he just need more time to acclimate or what?

 

[Tony C]

Young geckos are naturally more defensive than adults, he should settle down as he grows.