New to owning leopard geckos

[Janel]

Hello, Looking for advice. There is so much contradictory information out there about substrate, that I'm looking for some help. I rescued 5 leopard geckos from a young couple that couldn't take care of them any longer. they are 2-3 years old, 2 females, and 3 males all living together in a small 20 gallon tank. Looks like a red sand currently asa their bedding. Eating mostly meal worms and occasional crickets so I'm told. The females do lay eggs, and previous owners just tossed them.

I'm a vet tech, and have worked with sick geckos, but I'd like to know what's best to keep them healthy.
I have tortoises as well, so no a beginner per say with reptiles, but I'd like these to live healthy without problems.
What I have learned for sure, if that calc-sand is a NO. Paper towels are best. So what is the happy medium? I want them to have a natural substrate, that the females can dig and lay eggs. I use coco coir and repti-bark in my tortoises. Again I get mixed info on if I can use this or not. I just want what's best for these guys. I'm going to make a better and bigger enclosure for these guys, so if I should seperate them or any advice let me know. They say they have gotten along together for years.

 

[acpart]

Welcome to the forum. To start with, I recommend you read some care sheets if you haven't already. Here's mine: https://geckcessories.wordpress.com/leopard-gecko-care-sheet/
Here are some basic things you should consider:

a. 5 leopard geckos in a 20 gallon is way too many. Males tend to fight, especially if there are females around. I know you have said they get along. They may be too depleted to bother each other and if you give them better care, things may change quickly. A 20 gallon is really best for 2 geckos. I keep 3-4 in an enclosure that size (usually 3) because I add a heated 12"x12" second level. I highly recommend you keep the females together and get 3 more enclosures for the males. If you want to breed, keep 1 male with 1 or 2 females and be prepared to have housing and incubation for them. I feel it's a needless stress on the females to let them lay eggs and just toss them; I've had breeding females that I had to retire because the season depleted them so much.

b. Yes, calci-sand is a problem. I keep mine on ceramic tile with a container of moist coco fiber for egg laying, humidity and digging. I use the slightly rough textured beige tiles. Some people also have bioactive setups and usually use some sort of coco fiber mixture.

c. Be sure temperatures (low 90's on the floor of the hot side as measured with a digital thermometer with probe or temp gun) are correct and there is adequate supplementation (calcium and vitamin D3 -see care sheet).

Keep us posted and let us know if you have any more questions.

Aliza

 

[Janel]

Thank you so much for replying back to me.I will definitely check out that article. I will work on separating them right away. When I lifted the hide up to see them underneath there was a smaller gecko in there. so I have 6 in this little cage not 5. Whether the people knew they had 6 or not, it's super crowded and I want to rectify ASAP.

 

[acpart]

Wow! The smallest one is the best candidate for getting moved out of there first. They are in remarkably good shape given how they have been kept.

Aliza