New Here and My 75G Setup!

[Mr. JoBangles]

Hello everyone. I'm new here but have been reading and gathering advice and knowledge for quite a while. I love this site and it has really helped me a lot. I currently have two Leos. One is an adult and the other is a youngster but is growing quite fast. I know and have heard stories of putting two different sized geckos in the same tank but these two are best of friends. I have pictures of them cuddling with each other and everything. lol. I do keep my eyes on them if you are wondering. Also, I know the majoirty of this site frowns upon the use of Sand substrate and I know i'm taking a chance using it but right now they both seem to be healthy and digest their food well. I do plan to get some tile to replace the sand eventually. They were both in a 29 G Tank until 2 weeks ago when i came across an amazing deal for this 75g. They love it and appear to be more active since i've aquired it. It has 4 hides including one humid hide (where they spend most of their time). I have the biggest UTH i could find and it does it's job. Keeps it at 95 degrees on the warm side consistently. I also purchased a waterfall last week. It's mainly just to add decor. Serves no purpose other than that, being they are desert lizards. In fact i leave it off more than on because they like to climb on it. lol. I will make another thread soon to introduce you to my new lil friends (JoBangles and Zebra). =)

And here are the pics of the Setup. Any constructive criticism or advice is plenty welcome. Enjoy!

 

[camsgeckos]

Everything looks great but I would change the substrate. I would take the sand out bc it always poses a possibility of impaction. So to be on the safe side I would use paper towels.. I know it doesnt look as nice but its safe for the animals and thats what matters! Other than that, good looking setup!

 

[camsgeckos]

Oh and one more thing.. The rock on the far right. Is that a heat rock? If so it needs to be taken out because heat rocks are very dangerous to your animal and can cause them to get burned.

 

[Mr. JoBangles]

Thanks! Yes it is in fact a heat rock. It was given to me along with the tank. I haven't plugged it in not one time since i've had it though. It's just basically there for decor and for them to lay on it. Why are they so dangerous anyway?

 

[codyc_13]

GEEZ. People dont understand how impaction works. Just cause they SEEM to be fine and digesting there food RIGHT NOW doesnt mean they are fine. impaction happens slowly over a period of time, Kindof like plaque build up in arteries. everything can seem fine until one day they become completly impacted. sortof like a heart attack from plaque build up. my stepdad had 0 I mean ZERO symptoms of a heart attack, he was in good shape ran everyday, not overweight played baseball. BUT BOOM one night he woke up having a heart attack. went to the ER and had a 90% blockage of the artery.

 

[Mr. JoBangles]

GEEZ. People dont understand how impaction works. Just cause they SEEM to be fine and digesting there food RIGHT NOW doesnt mean they are fine. impaction happens slowly over a period of time, Kindof like plaque build up in arteries. everything can seem fine until one day they become completly impacted. sortof like a heart attack from plaque build up. my stepdad had 0 I mean ZERO symptoms of a heart attack, he was in good shape ran everyday, not overweight played baseball. BUT BOOM one night he woke up having a heart attack. went to the ER and had a 90% blockage of the artery.

Thanks for your concern and advice. I do admit i'm new to these lil guys but i'm still learning everyday. As mentioned in my original post...."i do plan to replace the sand with tile".

 

[Krow]

Yes, get rid of the sand SOON, & as long as you dont turn on the heat rock it fine, but if you turn it on it will get to hot & if the leo lays on it, it could burn its feet. Other than that, looks nice!!

 

[LizMarie]

Nicely Decorated..

Hot Rocks are bad because they don't provide a heat gradient, difficult to maintain the correct temperature and create hot spots that can burn any reptile that is laying on it.

I would also suggest getting a digital thermometers to check the floor temps at least one for your hot side. The dials you have are ok for an estimate for your ambient temperatures, which are important to.

I don't agree with sand but your old enough to make your decisions and weigh the pro and cons but becareful housing juvies on sand. Even the people that are Pro sand advise owners NOT to keep leos under 6inches on sand and even after 6inches many people recommend Washed out Play sand vs. the popular Calcium Sand

One is an adult and the other is a youngster but is growing quite fast. I know and have heard stories of putting two different sized geckos in the same tank but these two are best of friends. I have pictures of them cuddling with each other and everything. lol.

We all think that way but we really need to think of the leos in this situation, it isn't the safest thing to house to different sized leos together. I don't even think I agree entirely with housing leos together period.

Do you have a positive ID on their sex? If that youngster is a female and the bigger one is a male your looking for problems because she can become gravid (pregnant) at a very young age and it can cause complications because she may not be big enough to handle it and I doubt you want little eggs anytime soon.

I also purchased a waterfall last week.

Waterfalls are nice has a decoration but if you ever put it on pay attention to your humidity level. These can raise the humidity level too high and you can have issues like respiratory infections.

 

[Mr. JoBangles]

Hot Rocks are bad because they don't provide a heat gradient, difficult to maintain the correct temperature and create hot spots that can burn any reptile that is laying on it.

Thanks for that answer. the rocks came with the tank but i never turned them on thanks to this site. The guy previously used them for his 2 iguanas.

I would also suggest getting a digital thermometers to check the floor temps at least one for your hot side. The dials you have are ok for an estimate for your ambient temperatures, which are important to.

I have one in there that reads a pretty consistent 93-96 degrees on the hot side. I have the probe under the hide. Is that the best place for it? I have 3 thermometers and one hydromometer. I have a digital on the hot side, a dial in the center (for ambient air temps) and a stick-on on the cool side.

I don't agree with sand but your old enough to make your decisions and weigh the pro and cons but becareful housing juvies on sand. Even the people that are Pro sand advise owners NOT to keep leos under 6inches on sand and even after 6inches many people recommend Washed out Play sand vs. the popular Calcium Sand

The sand does look nice but i'd rather not cause any harm to my Leos by sacrificing looks of the setup over their health. For this i will change to something more appropriate asap.

We all think that way but we really need to think of the leos in this situation, it isn't the safest thing to house to different sized leos together. I don't even think I agree entirely with housing leos together period.

Do you have a positive ID on their sex? If that youngster is a female and the bigger one is a male your looking for problems because she can become gravid (pregnant) at a very young age and it can cause complications because she may not be big enough to handle it and I doubt you want little eggs anytime soon.

They have lived together for 4 weeks now with no complications so far. I always have my eyes on them. I do not know the sex of the juvie yet and to be honest, i didn't even think of it possibly being a female and becoming preggo. Thanks for that advice as well. I will definately take that into consideration. I need to learn not to trust what the Pet Stores say but the lady seemed knowledgable.

Waterfalls are nice has a decoration but if you ever put it on pay attention to your humidity level. These can raise the humidity level too high and you can have issues like respiratory infections.

The Humidity is usually 35% with the Waterfall off and 40% when it's on. Does this seem safe or no?
Thanks again.

You've all been a great help! :main_yes:

 

[froggz]

Your willing to learn, and thats whats important.

I would put in some sort of a divider until the younger is large enough to join the other, as long as the sexes are compatible. You would have to get another heating pad, but even if they are compatible two warm spots are never bad. I would personally do it just because if she is perhaps mistaken for food a bite from an adult could do alot of damage. You say you always have an eye on them but it only takes an instant.

I use paper towel for my tanks, unless they have tile. Leo's short legs and small feet just weren't made for sand.

 

[stellascura420]

Nice setup (apart from what everyone else has previously mentioned). I wish I had a tank that big!

 

[Olimpia]

As far as the substrate goes, iif you want something nicer looking than paper towels I suggest ecoearth. I haven't heard a single bad thing about it yet and it still let's you have that natural look. Love how you have it decorated

 

[Olimpia]

(I'm on my phone so I can't edit my last post) let me just add though that Ron Tremper recomends sand as long as the gecko is over 6 inches and if the sand is very fine (not calcisand or anything like that). And since the guy has waaaay more experience than the majority of people on here, I'm gonna go ahead and trust him.

 

[Mr. JoBangles]

As far as the substrate goes, iif you want something nicer looking than paper towels I suggest ecoearth. I haven't heard a single bad thing about it yet and it still let's you have that natural look. Love how you have it decorated

Thanks for the kind words and advice! What exactly is eco earth and where can I find it?

 

[kathleen]

Your other alternative would be cage carpet it comes in tan and green is washable and
you could buy a couple so you can change them out. I'm thinking of going to tile in the
near future but the Zilla cage carpet has served me well. We hate sand here

 

[Alliemac]

Eco earth can be found with the other reptile substrates in the pet store. It comes in bricks that you rehydrate in water or loose. I use it in all my humid hides and one of my ball python tanks (humidity issues).

Love your tank! It looks very pretty.

 

[daleo]

i have to say i like the setup! great job!

dale

 

[Olimpia]

Thanks for the kind words and advice! What exactly is eco earth and where can I find it?

Yep, like someone already said you can get it at pet stores. I personally get it at Pet Co because they sell it in bricks of 3 for $11, so it's better than buying it at $4.50 the brick at other stores. With a tank as big as yours you might go through a brick and a half at a time, so it's something to think about. But it looks like dirt made from coconuts, so it gives the tank a super natural look. I have an album of my tanks somewhere on my profile thing, if you wanted to see how it looks.

 

[LizMarie]

I have one in there that reads a pretty consistent 93-96 degrees on the hot side. I have the probe under the hide. Is that the best place for it? I have 3 thermometers and one hydromometer. I have a digital on the hot side, a dial in the center (for ambient air temps) and a stick-on on the cool side.

That's fine. I didn't see the thermometer in the pic that's why I bought it up but now I see it.

The sand does look nice but i'd rather not cause any harm to my Leos by sacrificing looks of the setup over their health. For this i will change to something more appropriate asap.

Good. You can use Ceramic/Slate Tile, Reptile Carpet, Paper Towels, Kraft Paper, Non Adhesive Shelf Liner, Eco Earth which is Coconut Fiber (I personally use it in my Humid Hide), plus there are a few others.

They have lived together for 4 weeks now with no complications so far. I always have my eyes on them. I do not know the sex of the juvie yet and to be honest, i didn't even think of it possibly being a female and becoming preggo. Thanks for that advice as well. I will definately take that into consideration. I need to learn not to trust what the Pet Stores say but the lady seemed knowledgable.

While you can always have your eyes on them like Froggz said it take an instant to lose a tail, breed, etc. The only ones that can be housed safely are females and even then some females don't like to be housed together. Male/Female couples WILL breed sooner or later, Male/Male couples WILL fight sooner or later. It might not happen immediately because one still hasn't fully matured.

The Humidity is usually 35% with the Waterfall off and 40% when it's on. Does this seem safe or no?

That's fine.

 

[LizMarie]

Yep, like someone already said you can get it at pet stores. I personally get it at Pet Co because they sell it in bricks of 3 for $11, so it's better than buying it at $4.50 the brick at other stores. With a tank as big as yours you might go through a brick and a half at a time, so it's something to think about. But it looks like dirt made from coconuts, so it gives the tank a super natural look. I have an album of my tanks somewhere on my profile thing, if you wanted to see how it looks.

I also have a tank so you can see what it looks like. I'm someone that knows when they see it it, I hate looking around reading labels, lol

Eco Earth 1Pack

Eco Earth 3Pack