Question?

[thekooliest]

Hi, first of all I am sorry because I posted this in general...and I just saw "General Care"...and I'm like dur

So...Continuing on!
Before I buy my leopard gecko I want to say on this forum what my setup will be like, and I want you to tell me how it sounds.

OK...I am going to buy 2 females and put them in a 24"x18"x12" tank with a lid (smaller if its OK) and with a paper towel substrate. I would have a heating lamp (the gecko can't reach this) and an under tank heating pad on the same side. That side will be maintained at a 88F, the other should be about 75F (so they can choose where to stay). At night I will turn of the light and let the heated side to cool down to 72F. They will have two huts one on the hot side, one on the cool side. The hot side will be a humid hut, with either moss or soil bottom. I will put objects in so they can climb and have fun. I will have a shallow water bowl refilled everyday. A tiny bowl (like a cap of a milk carton) of calcium supplements. The night before I will gut load the crickets
and mealies with a store bought gut loader (or just high vitamin cereal). The next day I will feed my Leos each 3 crickets and 3 mealies (I have no clue on how many, please correct me ). Maybe twice a month, as a treat, I will feed them a wax worm. And when needed I will give them vet appointments and clean the tank. Oh, and of course post pictures here (if my camera doesn't act stubborn).

The only question I can think of right now (other than how much to feed them) is if I wanted to get 3 Leos (2 females, 1 male), but didn't want babies, is it possible to prevent them from...making love? And would I need to bump up my tank size, if so to what dimensions?

If I have another question I will reply in the thread.

Thank you so much for reading and giving your input, if I finish my research (I almost have...you guys are the last touch) then I get them for my birthday. June 27th!!!

-Sam

 

[acpart]

You're off to a good start. The under tank heater should heat the floor of the tank to about 90 degrees on the hot side. It's less important what the air temperature is. It's not so important to have any light at all if the floor of the tank can be the right temperature. Some people might say that 24" is too small for 2 leos, but I assume that the width is 18" and height is 12". If it's 24" long by 12" wide, it may be a bit small. Most people have 2 leos in 20 gallon long tanks which are 30"x12". I add an upstairs level for my leos to give more room (search the fourms, it's on here). Depending on the size and age of your leos, 3 crickets might be just right or too little. I put in a bunch of crickets and let them eat whatever they want. Sometimes I take the leftover crickets out after awhile (which is what is recommended), sometimes I leave them in overnight for "snacks". If you get your females from different places, it will be best to quarantine them from each other for at least a month to make sure no one's sick. There is no way to keep a male leo from mating with a female if they are in the same cage and no one is doing leo vasectomys yet. I agree that breeding is not a great way to start your leo adventure.

I hope I've been able to answer everything clearly.

Aliza

 

[thekooliest]

Thank you, one more question and I am done for good.
Is petco or petsmart a good dealer.
Or should I go to a specialized place in reptiles?
And do I need a vet right when I get my Leos, or do I need to get one when they look sick?