New to the site and to herpetoculture

[Rancor]

Hello, I am new to the world of reptiles and have recently been wanting to learn more and get into it. I have decided that I will probably get a leopard gecko probably two females (I have read the females are easier to keep together usually) I have done some research and I know I still have plenty to do before I start accumulating all the components. I have a few questions though about different cage set ups.

So I was thinking I would probably get a 20-30 gallon tank. I've seen a lot of people say for two Geckos you should get a 30 and others say a 20 is fine.

Next I really find sand aesthetically pleasing but I have read up on sand causing impaction which of course I do not want to happen, but I was visiting a pet store the other day just looking at tanks and I saw something called Zoo med vita sand. I have heard alot of people love the brand Zoo med so I was curious is this sand actually okay for geckos to be on? If not that is fine my back up plan for a substrate would be non glossy slate tiles.

I haven't thought much about the other decorations yet I have looked at a couple different hides I might want to use, but those will come after I decide on the tank, but do Leos enjoy fake plants hanging from the sides or anything? if so which material do they prefer.

Finally I plan on buying my Leos once I have done all my research and have all the items for my tank acquired. I will most likely buy them at a reptile expo ( in either Indiana or Illinois) I don't really trust the pet stores here as they keep 6 or more Leos in a small tank on sand so I'm worried of diseases or impaction. Is there certain leos I should try to avoid at an expo or should they all be okay?

 

[acpart]

Welcome to GF. Here are a few answers to your questions:
a 20 gallon long tank is 30"x12"x12"high; a 30 gallon (more properly a 29 gallon) is the same width and length but is 18" high. A 40 gallon would be the next size up and is 36"x18"x18". I feel that a 20 gallon long is fine for 2 leopard geckos.

I don't recommend the vita sand. I have had good results in one of my enclosures with a mixture of coco fiber, a small amount of desert sand and leaf litter. You can do a search on the forums for "bioactive substrate" to find out about other peoples' experiences.

Here are some things to do to get best results at a reptile expo:
--go to the expo website and see if there's a list of vendors. Check out their webpages. You can, if you want, check the vendors out by going to faunaclassifieds.com and searching for their names in the Board of Inquiry (BOI) to see if other people have registered good or bad experiences with them
--DO buy from vendors who have their geckos clearly labelled with morph (and price --though some don't put the price on the deli cup for reasons I really don't understand); vendors who appear knowledgeable about their geckos, answer your questions politely and completely and can provide you with complete genetic information
--DONT buy from vendors (in my opinion) who have just a few leopard geckos along with a huge variety of other species and tell you that they got the leo in trade from someone and don't really have much information; vendors who have a large group of tiny babies all crowded together that they're selling for $10 each; vendors that are rude, can't or don't want to answer your questions about their geckos.

Good luck getting your first leopard geckos (if you enjoy them, they will undoubtedly not be your last ones)

Aliza

 

[cowana]

There is actually a 30 gallon aquarium. It is 36"Lx13"Wx16"H. There is also a 29 gallon. A 20 Long is plenty adequate for 2 Leos if you don't want anything bigger.

Definitely stay away from sand. It is nasty stuff and causes a lot of problems for Leos. The ones that are supposed to be "healthy" and are labeled calcium or vitamin, are actually the worst. If you do want to do a natural looking vivarium a bioactive tank like Aliza said is the way to go. They take a good bit of research and effort to set up (and maintain), but are pretty cool once they are going.

If you are planning on getting hatchling or juvenile geckos loose substrate of any sort isn't recommended. They tend to lick everything and they're digestive track is so tiny it gets impacted easily. If you get young ones I personally would start them on paper towels, newspapers, tiles, etc and when they're older you can put them in a bioactive tank if that interests you.

Welcome to the world of Leos... You'll love them!

Amy

 

[Rancor]

Thank you both for the help. I will most likely just be getting some non glossy slate tiles from Home Depot or somewhere like that. When I am ready to get the Leos should I get them from an expo? I am concerned with getting them from a pet store like +++++ or ++++++++ due to the fact they keep so many in a small tank and they are kept on sand. I am unsure if I live near any reliable reptile stores either. I would order online, but $35 shipping is a bit pricey for me.

 

[acpart]

Go to an expo, or check out local breeders.

Aliza

 

[cowana]

You are welcome! And I agree and would go to an expo or see if anyone local to you is breeding. There is a list of breeders on the forum... I will see if I can find it and link it here for you. It isn't exhaustive but a good starting point.

Also, Aliza has a wonderful and informative e-zine www.geckotime.com that has great articles, like your first trip to a reptile expo. I highly recommend checking it out!

 

[cowana]

Here is the link to the list of breeders...

http://www.geckoforums.net/showthread.php?t=62924

 

[Tongue Flicker]

Hello there, welcome aboard!