Planning and Questions

[jasonceo]

OK I'm getting things ready so I can get my first leopard gecko and of course I would love some feedback and help. Here it goes:

Tank
20L 30X12 with screen cover: I went with this because I figure if I wanted a second gecko at some point (2 females) this is a decent size and I had one sitting around.
Also going with tiles (slate or textured porcelain) for the substrate with tiny bit of sand underneath to make sure tiles are even and no air pockets present. Also a piece of paper towel, once the bathroom is established, for easier cleaning.

Heating
Here is where I am unsure. I have considered a UTH but with a 20L it would take a large one to cover half the tank which means more money. So I am considering getting heating rope instead since I saw someone said they used it with tile and had good results. Not to mention I like the idea that I can create more of a gradient along tank bottom by using more or less rope. How long would be good enough? I was thinking 14.5F/25W. Also how does the rope attach (thinking I'm going to use Zoomed)?
My plan is to use a thermostat to control the heat and I was thinking of using the Repti Temp 500 specifically. Oh and a separate digital thermometer with probe.

Lighting
I would like to get a bulb to light the tank during the day but not heavily. It will be mostly as an accent since my room isn't dungeon and has some light. I did purchase a plug in dimmer and one of those clamp work lights previously so my plan was to use that. Any bulb suggestions?
I also plan on setting up a red light for night viewing but I noticed that most generate some sort of heat. Will this cause a problem with the tanks temperature rising severely? I do plan on having it on a dimmer as well. Both lights will be set on a timer. Any bulb recommendations would be great.

Hides & Decor
I will have a moist hide, a dry hide in heat and dry hide in cold. The moist hide will use Sphagnum moss. I will also have a piece of Mopani wood for some mild climbing.

Feeding & Water Dishes
I am going cheap with 2" flat PVC caps that I will cut down to size (an idea I found on here, thank you). Also I plan on making one for the calcium dish. I may even cut holes in tiles to place the dishes in the holes so they are easier to get to. Also are these typically placed on the hot or cold side?

Any feedback or answers to my questions would be great. Sorry it was long but I am trying to be thorough and not make mistakes. THANKS

 

[acpart]

In general everything sounds great. A suggestion for the bathroom area: instead of paper towels I use a 4.25" bathroom tile that you can get from Home Depot, often for less than 20 cents. That way you can stick with the same tile and not have to replace paper towel or have the gecko push the towel all over the cage. Just lift up the tile and scrape off the poo. When it gets too stained, clean with water.

I use heat mats in some of my 20's and heat rope in others. I use the zoomet UTH for 10-20 gallon tanks and it works fine. I use the 14' heat rope. I was taping it down with duct tape and electrical tape but both lose effectiveness after awhile. I found another product at HOme Depot that's better. It's some kind of duct tape like stuff, and comes in a roll like duct tape but it's smooth and shiny like aluminum foil and is adhesive with paper backing that you pull off. It sticks much better. For added support and to direct the heat upward I tape a sheet of aluminum foil over the taped-down heat rope (or UTH), so the heating element is sandwiched between the bottom of the tank and the aluminum foil. THis has worked well and raised the temp in one particular tank that never seemed to get hot enough in the winter.

Aliza

 

[2bacop]

everything sounds great! you put the water dish on the cool side because water has a tendancy to evaporate on the hot side.

 

[jasonceo]

acpart
Good suggestions with the heat rope. I'm definitely leaning more in the rope direction and I will look for that tape if I definitely do it. I guess a tile would be easier to maintain as well.
2bacop
Nice common sense answer on the water. Sometimes it's the simple things you don't see.

 

[Snowy & Petra de Gecko]

Where do you put the mealworm dish

I would like to know where do you put the mealworm dish.

Currently, mine is on the cool side of the tank and when I put the mealworms in there they move around for a little while and then they just lay there.

I was wondering if the temp is too cold on the cool side for them.

So would a warmer temp for them be a good idea?

 

[Haligren]

In general everything sounds great. A suggestion for the bathroom area: instead of paper towels I use a 4.25" bathroom tile that you can get from Home Depot, often for less than 20 cents. That way you can stick with the same tile and not have to replace paper towel or have the gecko push the towel all over the cage. Just lift up the tile and scrape off the poo. When it gets too stained, clean with water.

That's INGENIOUS! I've been using paper towels but she likes to play with them more than poop on them. A piece of tile would be perfect! I didn't think of that. Thanks!

 

[crank]

lightin...


i got a new leo too, and i got a heating pad for one side of the tank, and i got the lighting... i have a lue lite for the day time and a red lite for at nite... and it works pretty well, but the guy at the pet store said that i would neeed a florecent lite eventualy is this true and how would i set it up? cuz i put the light ontop of the tank, flat on top cuz its a metal 1...so if i put the florencent on the under side of the lid wouldnt it block out the blue and red lites? or do u put it on the side... or do i even need 1, u can msg me or reply below... thnx for all the help... we can learn so much on the GF... :main_laugh: