[NOOB] What do I need?

[halffrozen]

First off, I am new to Reptile keeping completely.

Fish wise though... I currently have a 75g Green Terror tank, 40g Shell Dweller tank, 40g Bolivian Ram tank and a 10g puffer tank.

I am really REALLY wanting a leopard gecko. Always wanted to try lizards and what not.

I currently have a brand new 20 gallon long tank that I will be using.

I have researched a bit on the general things needed, but I would like to hear from you guys, what I should buy for my setup in particular.

Please list the things I will need. Like, brand model and all that.

 

[katie_]

A UTH
A probe thermometre
paper towel/tile for substrate
3 hides
dishes

 

[Embrace Calamity]

Katie's list is good, but you also need a calcium supplement to prevent your gecko from getting a severe calcium deficiency called Metabolic Bone Disease. This one is best: T-Rex Leopard Gecko Calcium Plus Supplement Reptile Food Supplements Use it to dust every feeder. This will also help prevent a vitamin A deficiency, which is a common problem in insectivorous reptiles.

Also, I'd suggest four hides with a 20 long - one on the hot side, one in the middle, one on the cool side, and a humid hide in the middle. 20 longs have such excellent temp gradients that if your leo needs to cool down, it will most likely use the middle instead of the end - but should still have both options available.

As a note, never take advice from the people at pet stores. They might mean well, but the reality is they generally don't have any real knowledge and are only trained to make a sale, not give you proper info. Many people have taken advice and ended up with sick, injured, or dead reptiles. If you have any questions at all, please come onto the forum and ask. There are so many knowledgeable people here that are more than happy to help.

~Maggot

 

[halffrozen]

Thank you guys, for the information!

I picked out a pair at a local Specialty Pet shop for $100, for both.(Haven't bought them yet, want to get their tank ready first) One is a Hypo Carrot Tail Tangerine looking one, and the other is just as cool(so sorry, I have no idea when it comes to morphs yet.. lol) I am a hardcore fish guy, and had NO idea Leo's were such a popular pet. I may switch hobbies! ha!

I got some questions:

1 - Anyways, is there a specific heater size I should look at buying? I am looking to take up only 1/3 or less of the tank size, since it is so long, and I live in AZ.

2 - Also, how about the thermometer? Is there one better then the other? Also, how many for my tank? And where should the be placed?

3 - Would it be ok to not have a screen top and use acrylic with large holes in it?

4 - Would covering the bottom in a woven fabric type material called "woven geotextile" work?(you should probably Google it, but the company I work for supplies this stuff in the millions of acreages.)

That is all the questions I have for now, I know these are the basics that one would know when reading up on Leo care and all that... but I just want actual current feedback, not info from an article or whatever that hasnt been updated in years. Technology changes!

 

[Embrace Calamity]

Thank you guys, for the information!

I picked out a pair at a local Specialty Pet shop for $100, for both.(Haven't bought them yet, want to get their tank ready first) One is a Hypo Carrot Tail Tangerine looking one, and the other is just as cool(so sorry, I have no idea when it comes to morphs yet.. lol) I am a hardcore fish guy, and had NO idea Leo's were such a popular pet. I may switch hobbies! ha!

If you've got two, you better get a second setup prepared. Leos are not social creatures and don't enjoy being kept together. They might be okay together, but don't expect it. If they end up being a male and female or two males (can be sexed at about four months), they have to be separated. And even two females are known to harm each other or bully one out of food. Most people agree that leos do best kept separately. But if you're going to keep them together (which some people do successfully with the right leos), you'll need very large hides to accommodate both of them as they grow to help prevent them from fighting.

1 - Anyways, is there a specific heater size I should look at buying? I am looking to take up only 1/3 or less of the tank size, since it is so long, and I live in AZ.

I'm not sure what size of UTH you'd need for a 20 long in AZ. Heating is a lot of guess and check. Hopefully someone else can give you a better idea.

2 - Also, how about the thermometer? Is there one better then the other? Also, how many for my tank? And where should the be placed?

Get either digital or a temp gun. Digitals read the air temp directly above the surface (if kept on the floor), while temp guns check the actual surface temperature. Ideally, you if you're going to be using a UTH, you should get a thermostat, which comes with a digital thermometer attached that you set right on top of the UTH. It'll either turn it on/off or turn it down (depending on type) based on the temp you set it at. This one is suggested: Amazon.com: Hydrofarm MTPRTC Digital Thermostat For Heat Mats: Patio, Lawn & Garden

3 - Would it be ok to not have a screen top and use acrylic with large holes in it?

I imagine that would be fine, and would probably make heating easier, as it'll keep it all from going out through the screen.

4 - Would covering the bottom in a woven fabric type material called "woven geotextile" work?(you should probably Google it, but the company I work for supplies this stuff in the millions of acreages.)

Depends what's in it and if there are any places where the leos could get their toes caught.

~Maggot

 

[halffrozen]

If you've got two, you better get a second setup prepared. Leos are not social creatures and don't enjoy being kept together. They might be okay together, but don't expect it. If they end up being a male and female or two males (can be sexed at about four months), they have to be separated. And even two females are known to harm each other or bully one out of food. Most people agree that leos do best kept separately. But if you're going to keep them together (which some people do successfully with the right leos), you'll need very large hides to accommodate both of them as they grow to help prevent them from fighting.

They are male and female. I have a spare 10g needed, but they have been there at the store together for months now(a new, kind of remote store)

I'm not sure what size of UTH you'd need for a 20 long in AZ. Heating is a lot of guess and check. Hopefully someone else can give you a better idea.

I will try and get a small to medium sized one I guess. I keep my house around 75 in winter and 79-80 in summer.

Get either digital or a temp gun. Digitals read the air temp directly above the surface (if kept on the floor), while temp guns check the actual surface temperature. Ideally, you if you're going to be using a UTH, you should get a thermostat, which comes with a digital thermometer attached that you set right on top of the UTH. It'll either turn it on/off or turn it down (depending on type) based on the temp you set it at. This one is suggested: Amazon.com: Hydrofarm MTPRTC Digital Thermostat For Heat Mats: Patio, Lawn & Garden

I see this thing recommended all over the place, and I will most likely get it.

I imagine that would be fine, and would probably make heating easier, as it'll keep it all from going out through the screen.

Good to hear!

Depends what's in it and if there are any places where the leos could get their toes caught.

Short description from wikipedia:

Geotextiles are permeable fabrics which, when used in association with soil, have the ability to separate, filter, reinforce, protect, or drain. Typically made from polypropylene or polyester, geotextile fabrics come in three basic forms: woven (looks like mail bag sacking), needle punched (looks like felt), or heat bonded (looks like ironed felt).

~Maggot

Thanks for the quick response!

 

[Embrace Calamity]

1) How old are they? If they're male and female and are juveniles, they need separated immediately. They will breed as soon as the female is physically ready but before she's big enough for it to be really healthy (think a 13 year old girl). And if they're adults and you don't want babies, they need separated. Even people who actually breed leos rarely house them together because of the stress it puts on both of them and the risk of injury.

2) If your house stays that warm, and you're going to be using an acrylic top, you shouldn't need much heating. I'd actually be concerned about the cool side being too warm. Keep an eye on temps and see what happens. You have a temporary heat source in the meantime though, right?

3) I don't know about the textiles. I'd suggest looking up bronxzoofrank (his username on here) and asking him.

~Maggot

 

[halffrozen]

1) How old are they? If they're male and female and are juveniles, they need separated immediately. They will breed as soon as the female is physically ready but before she's big enough for it to be really healthy (think a 13 year old girl). And if they're adults and you don't want babies, they need separated. Even people who actually breed leos rarely house them together because of the stress it puts on both of them and the risk of injury.

2) If your house stays that warm, and you're going to be using an acrylic top, you shouldn't need much heating. I'd actually be concerned about the cool side being too warm. Keep an eye on temps and see what happens. You have a temporary heat source in the meantime though, right?

3) I don't know about the textiles. I'd suggest looking up bronxzoofrank (his username on here) and asking him.

~Maggot

1) Not entirely sure, but I am posting pictures in this post, so look down there.

2) I will most likely get a small zoo-med UTH with that controller with it.

3) Will do!

I just went into the store to donate a few fish, and put them on hold. Put half down for now.

Here is the male:

And the Female:

 

[Embrace Calamity]

They're juveniles, but not babies. They need to be separated.

Do they have all of their claws? It's hard to tell in the pics.

~Maggot

 

[halffrozen]

I read mixed things when it comes to how many you can house, and even then, it often relates to 10 gallon tanks...


They did have claws when I got to hold them. Not very large ones, but tiny-tiny ones...

 

[Embrace Calamity]

I read mixed things when it comes to how many you can house, and even then, it often relates to 10 gallon tanks...


They did have claws when I got to hold them. Not very large ones, but tiny-tiny ones...

Yes, babies, not juvenile or adult male and female. That will be detrimental to the health of likely both of them but at least the female as she will become gravid too young.

~Maggot

 

[halffrozen]

So, between the two I had pictured, which one would be the one to choose based on their looks/coloration?

I want to do it right, and the more I read into the articles about housing 3-4 in one tank, they ended up saying that those numbers should only be for an all female tank.

So, I will only be getting one for now!

I am fine with that, may be better anyways, I won't have to worry about breeding.. and I can easily hold one rather then both.. lol(I would have to hold both with them being together, I would feel bad for the other one)

 

[Embrace Calamity]

So, between the two I had pictured, which one would be the one to choose based on their looks/coloration?

I want to do it right, and the more I read into the articles about housing 3-4 in one tank, they ended up saying that those numbers should only be for an all female tank.

So, I will only be getting one for now!

I am fine with that, may be better anyways, I won't have to worry about breeding.. and I can easily hold one rather then both.. lol(I would have to hold both with them being together, I would feel bad for the other one)

I dunno which I'd choose. Just take whichever want you want more.

Why would you feel bad for the other one? They're not gonna be like, "Aw, the other one's being handled. I'm so jealous!" They're reptiles, not dogs.

~Maggot

 

[halffrozen]

That is my mentality, whether it is true or not.

 

[Embrace Calamity]

That is my mentality, whether it is true or not.

Whatever floats your boat. Don't handle it for a week after you get it to give it time to settle in.

~Maggot

 

[halffrozen]

Yupp.

 

[halffrozen]

Just got this...

Waiting on everything else from Pet Mountain

 

[halffrozen]

All the stuff came in by the way, haven't been on here in a week or so... but the tank was set up for now all ghetto like till I can find a local source for black slate.

I had no idea the Leopard gecko tanks were so easy to maintain(heating/humid) wise. Hot hide/side is 90, humid hide is 99% humid, went down to 95% from last night this morning and the cool side is 75.

I really wish I had some better hides for now, but I got nothing.

Here is the tank this morning.

And my new friend. I picked him/her up from ++++++++. Has all limbs, tail is fine(not too skinny), eats fine, I love when it shakes it's tail right before it eats the cricket. Has both full snakes eyes.
Also had a very healthy poop this morning.

 

[Embrace Calamity]

Oh wow, that new one's gorgeous. I hope you didn't put them together though. >.>

~Maggot

 

[mtmountainman]

The last pic looks like a juvenile albino patternless leo. Did you go with a different gecko than the first pics you posted?