So What's The Most Basic...

[Texas Tom]

...things I need to know about these guys? My seven year old grandaughter is putting away the dolls and taking up geckos for a pastime. Here in N. Central Texas the Mediterranean gecko is about as numerous as the crickets, and that's a lot. She scooped a few a couple of months ago and they're still doing good. We bought a 5gal glass cage for them and it seems to be enough.

She now says she would like to have a Leopord gecko. I'm assuming we'll have to buy a seperate dwelling place for that one, probably a 10gal. one?

Is the already prepared food good enough? I notice one of the brand name ones only has flies in them. Will we need to buy mealworms also?

Is it correct that they are nocturnal, and will probably be hiding most of the day?

What about a heat mat? I read somewhere that these wouldn't be that great for this type of gecko.

Anything else that I should know or should consider before buying, would be much appreciated.:main_thumbsup:

T. Tom

 

[The Sunset Gang]

Yes you need a seperate tank. And a ten gallon is fine for one leopard gecko.
I feed Crickets once a week and I offer mealworms every night. I dust with rep cal multivitamin once a week and then calcium w/ d3 once a week and regular calcium is with the mealworms ever night. Freshwater is also provided.
As substrate goes, you will need tiles or paper towels so there is no chance for impaction. You do need a warm spot and a cool spot. The warm spot should be between 90-94 and the cool spot should be room temp so 72-76. I use a heat pad under the one half of my ten gallon to achieve the warm spot.
And yes they are nocturnal but sometimes mine come out to visit during the day. If you need anything else PM me.

 

[rhino43grr]

i would check out a care sheet:

leopard gecko: http://www.goldengategeckos.com/careleopard.html

mediteranean (house) gecko: http://www.house-gecko.com/

 

[moosassah]

Hi T. Tom--I have 2 boys (4&6) each with their own gecko. One thing to note some types are calmer than others (always the exception of course). The blizzards are known to be tough to handle. We have a normal & a jungle. Of the 2, the jungle is ridiculously tame.

I'd highly recommed finding a reptile show or a local breeder rather than going to your local pet store. You'll get healthier animals & save you some serious grief at home.

Oh, mealie worms couldn't be an easier food source if they tried. My boys are growing their own now.

 

[malt_geckos]

Steve Sykes also has a nice care sheet:

http://www.geckosetc.com/htm/care.htm

Here's another page that shows some of the different types of leopard geckos:

http://www.geckosetc.com/htm/morphs.htm

As moosassah said, there are deffinately some that are fiestier than others. We have some Blazing Blizzards and they wouldn't be good for a kid because they like to move and squirm.

We have some albino Jungles and they would be wonderful for kids. So, maybe a normal or a jungle type would work nice for your granddaughter. Good Luck!

 

[Ipsl]

My normal guy is so calm he's NEVER bit or even came at me aggressive.When I went to weigh him I wasn't being to most gentle, plus I just grabbed his moist hide and opened it after talking to him for a sec, he just let me pick him up and plop him down once he smelled/ tasted me.

Its real hit or miss from what I gather. Just like all animals.

 

[Ipsl]

My normal guy is so calm he's NEVER bit or even came at me aggressive.When I went to weigh him I wasn't being to most gentle, plus I just grabbed his moist hide and opened it after talking to him for a sec, he just let me pick him up and plop him down once he smelled/ tasted me.

Its real hit or miss from what I gather. Just like all animals.

 

[mmsi1002]

Yup, something about jungle/rainwaters, mine are both super tame also.

 

[rubym]

I have a tremper albino giant and she is the tamest little thing there is. She is just big and squishy and loves to snuggle up under my hair. Being larger then the rest she is easier to handle also.

Ruby

 

[Gecko]

If be prepared foods you mean the dead stuff I'd aviod those. I've never had a gecko that would purposely eat a dead bug (not including ones that learned hand feeding).