Potential Leo Owner

[Chevalrose]

So I'm interested in possibly getting a leopard gecko...but there is A LOT of information out there. I have some questions.

1) Somewhere along the way I read that sometimes they'd rather be in pairs or more than solitary, yay or nay?

2) One of the main confusions is crickets/vs mealworms. Would it be beneficial to feed mealworms once a week (or even just keep them available in a dish) and feed crickets 2-3x a week?

3) There is only one supplement needed to be given right? Calcium + D3 on the feeders and a dish in the cage. Or is there another type of general vitamin supplement needed to be given, and if so how often?

4) What age is the best to get...especially if this is your first? Do they "bond" better if they are obtained young?

Thanks in advance for answering my questions. I want to make sure I get all the facts before I go ahead and get one!

 

[RampantReptiles]

1)Nay, pairs are not necessary and unless you want eggs and little geckos running around you would need female pairs.

2)Yep more variety the better, mealworms in a dish but dont let them sit for a week. Gutloaded insects are what you want to feed your gecko so freshly fed feeders(fed healthy stuff) is what you want to feed.

3)I use a vitamin supplement and calcium dish in the enclosure for egg laying females. Supplement with vitamin or calcium every feeding or every other feeding.

4)I cant say that a lot of owner bonding is involved in leopard geckos. I prefer older because they are generally easier to deal with but there are cases when people have handled them badly when they were young and the gecko is just afraid of people. Or there are just some geckos that are rotten apples. Raising them from baby to adult requires more work but then you know how they were treated when they were young and might reward you with a very nice leo. Having a baby leo involves training in a way, you have to teach it to trust you and they cant be handled for long periods of time. Short frequent(2-3x a day) visits with your little guy is what they need to learn trust.

Baby leopard geckos I think do better when fed daily when you are feeding a mainly cricket diet. You will go through a lot more crickets with a baby than an adult, they need a lot of food to grow!

 

[STUTFL]

And once you've had your leo a bit you'll discover there are a ton of other feeders out there to use if you or the gecko tire of crickets or mealworms.

 

[STUTFL]

And while a lot of pet store leos will be kept with some sort of basking lamp in the tank, an under-tank heater (UTH) is what you'll want to use for heat. Leopard geckos are nocturnal, and adding more than the natural light in your home will make them much less active.

 

[rubym]

I would suggest a single gecko to start out esp if you are just wanting a pet.

I find that alot of mine get tired of eating only one type of food item. I try and provide variety. Most of mine like crickets,mealies,super,silkies and roaches' I keep calcium without D3 in a bottle cap in the tank at all times. I dust every other day with calcium with D3 then I dust with Reptivite once a week.

In my experience hatchlings are a little more high maintenance then your older juveniles or adults.

I personally would go with a gecko from a reputable breeder as a first. Most reputable breeders know their animals and hopefully sell you one with a better personality.

I would also make sure that I did plenty of research before I made the purchase and have everything set up and ready to go when you get your new little one.
Best wishes