New to geckos. Need lots of help. :)

[Crunchewy]

We just got our son a gecko yesterday. The shop suggested we buy a desert gecko kit which had 30" long tank, heat lamps (2), a rock house and two water dishes. Oh, and a carpet like thing for the floor.

I'm seeing mixed info here about what we should have for the gecko. Should we definitely avoid sand? Is the carpet type thing OK, then? I wish it could be sand seeing how he's a desert gecko, but if that's not good for him then it's not good for him.

The shop also told us to buy a UV bulp, claiming that these geckos need UV. Is that true? The kit came with a day lamp and a night ('red') lamp. The shop said to use the night lamp 24 hours and the UV lamp during the day. I'm starting to wonder if they shop has led us wrong.

At least according to the thermometer that came with the kit, we have a heating problem. The temperature is not quite 80 degrees on the hot side (I put the thermometer about halfway up the glass and underneath of the heat lamp).

What else do we need to do for the gecko? Also, what kinds of things can you put in the tank for the gecko to climb on?

Is it correct that we should wait a week before trying to handle the gecko? Longer?

The gecko sleeps during the day and comes out after the lights are out at night. Must admit that I am bummed that he doesn't seem to be up when my kids can see him. Will he start coming out while the lights are on on his own, or do we need to wake him up (and is that OK to do???)

Lastly for now, should feed him crickets or mealworms or perhaps a mix? How many crickets and how often? The shop said we put in a dozen every two days. Also they told us to *not* feed him until he'd had a few days to acclimate. Is that correct or should we give him crickets tonight? We just got him yesterday.

Any and all help is most appreciated. Trying to have a happy and healthy gecko here.

 

[Dimidiata]

We just got our son a gecko yesterday. The shop suggested we buy a desert gecko kit which had 30" long tank, heat lamps (2), a rock house and two water dishes. Oh, and a carpet like thing for the floor.

The heat lamps are not very good for leopard geckos

I'm seeing mixed info here about what we should have for the gecko. Should we definitely avoid sand? Is the carpet type thing OK, then? I wish it could be sand seeing how he's a desert gecko, but if that's not good for him then it's not good for him. The carpet is MUCH better then sand, wich is extremely dangerous to keep with these guys as it causes impaction

The shop also told us to buy a UV bulp, claiming that these geckos need UV. Is that true? The kit came with a day lamp and a night ('red') lamp. The shop said to use the night lamp 24 hours and the UV lamp during the day. I'm starting to wonder if they shop has led us wrong.
Once again, no lamps needed, they dont require UV light in the same way some other lizards do, they are nocturnal and dont bask during the day so it wouldnt really hit them.
At least according to the thermometer that came with the kit, we have a heating problem. The temperature is not quite 80 degrees on the hot side (I put the thermometer about halfway up the glass and underneath of the heat lamp).
You need a floor thermometer, not a air thermometer. 80f is fine for air temps but floor temps on the hot side need to be 90-94

What else do we need to do for the gecko? Also, what kinds of things can you put in the tank for the gecko to climb on? You will need the fallowing, 1 Under tank heating pad. THIS IS MAJOR IMPORTANTCE. This is how we keep our geckos warm since they use ground temps more then heat lamps.
You will also need 3 suppliments. Calcium, Calcium with D3, and reptivitamins. You can buy it all seperate or buy Rephashy calcium+ wich is all in one, less exspensive and easier to give. You need 3 hides. 1 cool, 1 warm and 1 humid. A ground temp thermometer and a dimmer switch for the heating pad to adjust its out put

Is it correct that we should wait a week before trying to handle the gecko? Longer?
I would say a week is good to let them settle in, just take it slow. Not all leos like to be handled, and some just dont warm up to it
The gecko sleeps during the day and comes out after the lights are out at night. Must admit that I am bummed that he doesn't seem to be up when my kids can see him. Will he start coming out while the lights are on on his own, or do we need to wake him up (and is that OK to do???)
They are nocturnal, what do you think!
Lastly for now, should feed him crickets or mealworms or perhaps a mix? How many crickets and how often? The shop said we put in a dozen every two days. Also they told us to *not* feed him until he'd had a few days to acclimate. Is that correct or should we give him crickets tonight? We just got him yesterday.
I would try feeding him and see if he eats, if not then remove the crixs. I use superworms only but a mix of crickets and mealies is ok
Any and all help is most appreciated. Trying to have a happy and healthy gecko here.

Now, honestly, i wish youd have done a tad bit more research before getting a pet. Then again, nobbody seems to know how to do that these days, however since you did decide to research it at all i give you some credit. I certinly hope you can get things straightened out before your gecko gets sick(the suppliments are very very very important). Welcome to GF, we are glad to have you here.

 

[Crunchewy]

We tried to do research ahead of time (including a book on leopard geckos), but all the info was confusing. I only found this forum now. We asked questions at the shop (it was a place specializing in tropical fish, reptiles, etc). Also it was a desert gecko kit and they said to get that, so I guess we presumed it would have what was needed for a desert gecko since it is a desert gecko kit! The kit came with the heat lamps. Also the thermo that came with it seems to be designed to be mounted halfway up the glass. Again, it's distressing that there would be a boxed kit for desert geckos which had exactly the opposite of what is needed. In any case I guess we will have to correct it.

Just to be clear, are you saying that we can't expect the gecko to come out at all with light in the room? I mean, I can appreciate not coming out except at night, but we won't be able to see him in light?

EDIT: the book my son got said to use T-rex calisand. Not a good idea, then?

 

[cwheeler]

EDIT: the book my son got said to use T-rex calisand. Not a good idea, then?

That is a correct. Calisand or any sand isn't good for your new friend.

Untreated slate tile
paper towels (Currently my substrate of choice)
repti carptet/newspaper (I list these last as repticarpet snags claws sometimes, and newspaper is printed in ink)

As for coming out into the light...My girls tend to come out as dusk is approaching, cause it is feeding time. It's still a bit light outside, so you can see them, but they are active. On the flip side, when I do my cleaning, exams, etc. is during the day, and they wake up, doing the leopard thing, and then head back to bed. The sun won't cause them to burst into flames ala vampire style, but imagine your happiness level if someone woke you from your nap and expected you to be social.

As for handling, at least a week. Start slow. Place your hand in front of them. Clean the cage. Let them know you aren't after a meal. Drop your hand down onto the tank palm up and let them walk onto your hand if they wish, to check you out. Tail wags signal you should pull out and try again tomorrow. Main thing is not to go in and grab the leopard, stresses em out and can lead to tail loss and a poor friend relationship.

I also note you did not mention a moist hide for your friend. This is imperative to a healthy leopard. Search moist or humid hides on this forum, it'll get you the info you need.

Hope it helps.

 

[Dimidiata]

Yeah sand=no. If you need pictures we have a bandwagon of them(graphic). As stated above they tend to start getting active around dusk. For the most part during the day you can exspect them to sleep, a lot. Its just their nature. I would say that after 7:00 you can probably handle them without being to interuptive of their sleep. Im not home during the day(I too am nocturnal XD) And im up most of the night so me and rango hand out. Also, when you clean the tank(atleast once a week or so, plus spot cleaning poop) you can reargange some of the stuff and you will see them explore it a little bit, great time for pics. Also, climbing, they love it. A sturdy surface to climb is all they require. As far as desert lizards go, i wouldnt be too broad on it. There are Tons of dessert lizards, and they all come from diffrent types of desserts. In leos case its the dry grass lands surrounding the desserts. Their is sand, but its mostly clay and dry rock. When we keep them on sand in tanks its not really normal for them, they lunge at a cricket and get a mouth full of sand, swallow some and get impacted.

 

[tiedxupxinxknots]

Yeah, i agree with most of the comments stated above, but you will be able to see the gecko during the day at some occasions, but they mainly sleep during the day because they are crepuscular animals, mine are active right now actually and its only 5pm, and i also noticed that they are active in the mornings.

I also wouldnt recommend moving things around just so they could explore, atleast not yet since it is still adjusting to its new home, and moving everything might stress the gecko out.

 

[Dimidiata]

I only shift the climbing aparatuses hides and water bowl are kinda stuck where they are do to positioning. And yes, i wouldnt change anything until he/she is settled in.

 

[coreyegan7]

My gecko died 1-2 days ago but i heard you have to have a temp of like 95 or something, do some research

 

[Dimidiata]

lower 90s is generaly ok from what i know/use

 

[Crunchewy]

lower 90s is generaly ok from what i know/use

I'm going to get a heat mat for certain, but right now we just have the heat lamps. Last night I took the thermo off the side, took off the suction cups and just laid it on the floor of the tank. I'm not sure if that will give an accurate enough reading or not. In any case it was still only just over 80. So I took out the UV bulb from the other lamp and put in the day lamp. Obviously didn't turn it on last night. This morning I took the night lamp off and put the day lamp in it's place and then it definitely climbed and was getting close to 90 when I had to leave. I'll have my wife check it to see what it's reading now. The lamp put off a pretty strong smell. I presume that is going to go away. I hope so, but if not we're going to get a mat anyway, sooner rather than later.

Also last night we put in a dozen crickets and the little guy went to town! My kids (and my wife and I were very excited. It was fun. After I dropped them in and we put the lid back on, I noticed then that one of the crickets seemed to be dead, but the gecko was ignoring it, so I thought rather than bothering him by going in then to get it out, I would get it out in the morning. Anyway, he ate all but 3 of the others. Those 3 were hanging out on the underside of the mat. I thought maybe he wouldn't be able to get them, but this morning they seemed to be gone... and so was the dead one. Hopefully that isn't a problem, though in the future I'll know to take out any dead ones right away.

So the next question is when should we feed him again? The store had said about a dozen every 2 days. I'm wondering if since he ate all of them that maybe he'd want to eat again today, or should we wait until Wednesday, or some other period of time?

Oh, and should we hold off on adding additional hides for now, until he has a week to get more comfortable with his surroundings as they are now?

One thing I should point out is that the store said he was about 8 months old, which a friend tells me isn't that young, really.

 

[mango+cola]

No I wouldnt say that 8 months old is young, he must be getting pretty big already. My olders gecko is roughly 2 and a half, so we monitor what she eats now, but when she was a baby we used to give her what she wanted to eat, and when she stopped eating she was full. What I have always heard is that they will monitor their own food, they know when they are full, as long as he doesnt look like he is getting overly chubby then he should be able to eat quite alot. When our gecko was going through a growth spurt she would eat up to 25 mealworms a night, and is completely healthy, weighing in at 87g right now.
I think crickets are gross, but if they dont bug you then keep feeding him crickets, but maybe throw some mealworms in there too for some variety (in a bowl). I would feed him again tonight in my opinion.
Since he is already 8 months old, having things in his tank will probably not bug him, but when they are babies you are supposed to not have too many things in their tank.

 

[Crunchewy]

What size crickets should we be feeding him at 8 months? The ones we put in were pretty small. I'm wondering if they were too small now.

Also any suggestions on what heat mat to get? A friend said his experience was that some heat mats don't get hot enough.

 

[Dimidiata]

Adults circkets should be fine at that age, i wouldnt feed all of them at once, maybe a few at a time and make sure he gets them. Dont leave any in there after hes done eating.

 

[garner63080]

Honestly everything the store sold you is more for bearded dragons, which might have been a good choice if you want something that is active the same hours you are and likes to be held.

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[tiedxupxinxknots]

I would recommend that you get a zoo med one, those work ok, but most heat matts get to hot, so you will need a thermostat or even a dimmer, to control the temps.

 

[Dimidiata]

+1 for zoomed, i love the ones im using.

 

[Crunchewy]

A friend recommended using dried peat and misting it with water for a moist space. He just puts his inside one half of a "house". Is it OK to use peat or is there some other material I should use? I realize the better thing to do is to make a moist house or sorts out of a plastic tub - I'm just wondering about peat, because that is a material the local Petsmart has. Will he eat the peat when hunting for crickets and would there be any harm if he did? I.e. like can happen with sand?

Also I looked at the Zoo Med pads, which they did have. They come in different sizes. Our tank is 30x12x12. What size pad should I get? Also will it work OK with carpet on the floor?

 

[garner63080]

Just take an old sour cream tub and cut a hole in it. Put some paper towel in it and keep it moist.

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[Crunchewy]

I presume you don't mean a small one. Not sure we ever buy sour cream in large enough quantities. Maybe I'll just buy a plastic ziploc container at the grocery store and use that. Something about the same size. Do you cut the hole in the top, or into the side, or does it not matter?

Is peat moss a bad idea, or will that work OK? We already bought it, so if I can use that, I'll use it.

Another question. Since you aren't supposed to grab hold of the gecko (even gently?) how do you get him out in order to clean or swap out the flooring if he isn't willingly walking into our hands? I'd like to get rid of the carpet sooner rather than later. Do we just pick him up anyway?