Please give me a list of stuff to get.

[Chris_Kingto]

hey. so im trying to get stuff to start a terrarium. can you guys give me a list of what to get for a terrarium. it would be really helpful. i don't know what substrate i should use for a young leopard gecko. and what is the best substrate. i heard sand is very deadly. i dont own a gecko yet but plan to after i am done with my terrarium. so please help me. No body helped me in this site so far. Thank You

 

[LIZARDLOVER]

Depends on if you're going for a more naturalistic or more simple (aka cheap) set up. Simplistic requires:
-10 gal or larger (preferably 20 long)
-Paper towel (to line the bottom of the tank)
-A 10 gallon or otherwise appropriately sized heat mat (zoo med, exo terra, any brand works)
-An appropriately sized (small for a baby) water dish and food dish
-Various caves or "hides", I'd recommend a minimum of one on the hot side and one on the cool side, though more is ok.
-Plants and other decor items (if you so choose)

For a naturalistic setup, just replace the paper towel with tile or repti-carpet, basically a soft mat instead of paper towel. Also add more caves or plants and decor items. NOTE: Make sure any decor items you add are pet safe, and for plants I'd recommend fake as opposed to real. Some real ones can be toxic, and most are too finicky to keep anyways (I had some once..... the gecko used them as a ladder and killed em all).

Other things to keep on hand are calcium supplement and a spare tub to hold your leo in while you're cleaning his tank or giving him a "check up". A lid obviously should be included with the tank. Despite what others will tell you, a light is not needed. They are nocturnal animals and thus don't need UVB or UVA, lightwise all they need is a day/night cycle provided by your room light or light from an adjacent window. That's pretty much all you need to get started Best of luck and PM me if you have any more specific questions!

 

[NickDP]

You'd also want a humid cave, for when they are shedding.
Also you'd probably want to get some kind of thermostat or a dimmer for the heat mat

 

[LepoInc]

I'd go with ceramic/slate/vinyl tiles since they heat much better and are really a much better choice over repti-carpet

 

[Chris_Kingto]

do you have a heat lamp if you already have a heat mat? and thanks for the list of things!!!

 

[NickDP]

do you have a heat lamp if you already have a heat mat? and thanks for the list of things!!!

Some people do in order to get the right temperature, or the gradient in temperature they need

Edit: for me its enough with a heat mat

 

[Dinosaur!]

do you have a heat lamp if you already have a heat mat? and thanks for the list of things!!!

technically, unless the air temps drop below 65 (I'm pretty sure that's right) a heat lamp isn't needed so long as the floor temp is high 80s to low 90s. correct me if m wrong though.