Tank size for a special needs gecko- is this okay?

[inkmouse]

I was given a gecko in terrible condition about 5 months ago. She was bone thin, had a vitamin A deficiency, and infection and skin build up in her eyes- the result of which is that she was fully blind for a while and now seems to have vision, but it is limited.
The problem is with her housing. At first I put her in a 10g long, pretty normal for a single gecko. She had difficulty finding her food, water, calcium dish... Even her hide. She frequently paced around her cage and would tail-wag when she heard me in the room.
I moved her food, water and calcium closer to her hide. When that didn't work I moved her to a 10g tall as it has a bit less "floor" space.
At this point she did go into her hide, but still didn't seem to find the water or food and still frequently "circled".
Finally I put her in a small tank. And I mean small. This sucker is like 4-5g. She can now find her food and water and hide, completely stopped "circling" and comes out to greet me occassionally.
She is still recovering and we have a ways to go.
I know that this isn't traditionally the ideal amount of space, but she seems to feel more secure. She will ocassionally walk the perimeter of her tank and then go back into her hide.
Could it be that she felt afraid with all that empty space and not being able to see?
Do you think this is an okay situation for her?
Her temps are perfect but she doesn't get a moist hide with her in her tank as she was hanging out in it when she wasn't shedding and her eye infection wouldn't heal. She does get to use it, but is monitored as she is prone to infection and they've finally started to fully heal.

Please give me any feedback and opinions. Tesla is a funny little girl and I want her to make a full and stress free recovery.

Thank you!

 

[SORROW89]

I was given a gecko in terrible condition about 5 months ago. She was bone thin, had a vitamin A deficiency, and infection and skin build up in her eyes- the result of which is that she was fully blind for a while and now seems to have vision, but it is limited.
The problem is with her housing. At first I put her in a 10g long, pretty normal for a single gecko. She had difficulty finding her food, water, calcium dish... Even her hide. She frequently paced around her cage and would tail-wag when she heard me in the room.
I moved her food, water and calcium closer to her hide. When that didn't work I moved her to a 10g tall as it has a bit less "floor" space.
At this point she did go into her hide, but still didn't seem to find the water or food and still frequently "circled".
Finally I put her in a small tank. And I mean small. This sucker is like 4-5g. She can now find her food and water and hide, completely stopped "circling" and comes out to greet me occassionally.
She is still recovering and we have a ways to go.
I know that this isn't traditionally the ideal amount of space, but she seems to feel more secure. She will ocassionally walk the perimeter of her tank and then go back into her hide.
Could it be that she felt afraid with all that empty space and not being able to see?
Do you think this is an okay situation for her?
Her temps are perfect but she doesn't get a moist hide with her in her tank as she was hanging out in it when she wasn't shedding and her eye infection wouldn't heal. She does get to use it, but is monitored as she is prone to infection and they've finally started to fully heal.

Please give me any feedback and opinions. Tesla is a funny little girl and I want her to make a full and stress free recovery.

Thank you!

That's too small. She's gonna need at least a 20 long so that she has a cool-hot side. I think she'll be alright after a while on her own. Just hand feed her the food.

 

[SC Geckos]

That's too small. She's gonna need at least a 20 long so that she has a cool-hot side. I think she'll be alright after a while on her own. Just hand feed her the food.

You are sure persistent (SORROW) with the whole "must have at least 20 gallon long to get proper heat gradient". lol! The only way that could be somewhat true is if you are using lights for heating instead of a UTH. If you use the proper size UTH, there is no problem at all in creating the correct heat gradient in smaller enclosures. 20 gallon might work for you and several others including myself in the past. But it does not make it a fact across the board. Over the years I have used 20G long, 10G, and now tubs ranging from 6qt all the way to 41qt and when set up properly, even a little 6qt tub can have the proper heat gradient. If this is your opinion that is fine but I would suggest you state it as such.

Now to the OP, If she is a special needs animal and through trial and error the small cage has worked out, then stick with that. One adult leopard gecko does not "have" to be housed in a 20 gallon long or larger. Many people think larger enclosures are better but that is not always the case. Some geckos (from my experience...most) prefer a smaller enclosure and seem to do better IMO.
If this gecko is doing better in the small size tank then keep her there. If she gets better and you do decide to upgrade to a larger tank I would start with the 10 gallon and see what happens. I think you are doing a fine job.

 

[KTyne]

I agree with Brad... If it's working and your temps are good stick with it. You are the only one that can truely see and tell how your Gecko is doing.

 

[DrCarrotTail]

Special needs animals definitely need to be judged on a case by case basis. That makes it hard to decide if what you're doing is best from that specific animal from a description but I would agree that what you're doing sounds great. IMO as long as the gecko as a couple places to hide where it can warm its belly on a 90 degree heater and get off the heater if it needs to it's basic needs are being met. I would agree with Brad that mine seem more secure in smaller enclosures than spacious ones and I keep all but the biggest of mine in 6qt tubs.

 

[KTyne]

Agree that smaller enclosures are sometimes better. My adopted Leo was doing bad and wasn't settling into our home after a few weeks of living in a 40 gallon. She was jumpy and bolted any time I went near her tank.
I switched her to a 32qt tub and she settled in within a couple of days.

 

[sausage]

i agree too. if what you have seems to help her at the moment then stick with it. Just keep a good eye on her body temp and the tank temp, buy one of those infrared thermometer for better accuracy.
once shes better it would be nice to give her more space.
good luck and i hope she recovers.

 

[Ozy]

+1 ^^ I think if she seems more comfortable and her temps and what not are good, then let her be. My Ozy is a weirdo.. She actually does NOT like smaller enclosures. When I first got her she was REALLY little and I had read on several care sheets that babies feel more secure in smaller spaces. So I got her a 10 gallon, the proper size heat mat and all that. Brought her home, put her in there and she literally just pawed at the glass for 2 straight days. Wouldn't go in her hides or anything. Just kept trying to run up the glass. Took all that stuff back, got her a 20L and then she was completely fine. She also won't poop on any surface that is not completely smooth. LOL! Geckos are individuals, is what I'm getting at.

 

[inkmouse]

You are sure persistent (SORROW) with the whole "must have at least 20 gallon long to get proper heat gradient". lol! The only way that could be somewhat true is if you are using lights for heating instead of a UTH. If you use the proper size UTH, there is no problem at all in creating the correct heat gradient in smaller enclosures. 20 gallon might work for you and several others including myself in the past. But it does not make it a fact across the board. Over the years I have used 20G long, 10G, and now tubs ranging from 6qt all the way to 41qt and when set up properly, even a little 6qt tub can have the proper heat gradient. If this is your opinion that is fine but I would suggest you state it as such.

Now to the OP, If she is a special needs animal and through trial and error the small cage has worked out, then stick with that. One adult leopard gecko does not "have" to be housed in a 20 gallon long or larger. Many people think larger enclosures are better but that is not always the case. Some geckos (from my experience...most) prefer a smaller enclosure and seem to do better IMO.
If this gecko is doing better in the small size tank then keep her there. If she gets better and you do decide to upgrade to a larger tank I would start with the 10 gallon and see what happens. I think you are doing a fine job.

I have a small UTH for her and I monitor her temps. Your post helped me tons. I've had Cresties, Gargs, Rankins and Beardies but this is my first Leo and I want to make sure she is healthy and happy.

 

[SC Geckos]

I have a small UTH for her and I monitor her temps. Your post helped me tons. I've had Cresties, Gargs, Rankins and Beardies but this is my first Leo and I want to make sure she is healthy and happy.

That gecko seems to be in very good hands. Keep me posted on how she does.

 

[inkmouse]

Thank you guys for so many helpful tips! Louise, I'm gunna try to move her into a bigger tank in a couple months I think. She seems to be getting some eyesight back and it getting a bit more confident. Not sure if I mentioned it before, but I rescued her from my old roommate that had bred her at one point. She was housed with about 5 other females and a male in a 20g tank. He said she "wasn't a fighter" and frequently got picked on and that she'd been in this condition before and somehow survived. I was more of a Rhac person (cresties and gargs) but I had to take her. I thought about rehabbing and rehoming but I looked up her morph and she seems to be a Tremper albino or something similar, and I don't think it's fair to send her away to pump out babies. I fell in love with her anyways. I'll post a picture in a little bit and I'll see if I can find an older one of her... She truly was on death's door. I couldn't even find a pic online as bad off as she was.

 

[katie_]

I keep all the geckos in 10's. 20x 10
whats a 10 tall...?

 

[inkmouse]

They make 10 gallon long and 10 gallon tall aquariums. The "long" ones have more floor space and are shaped more like a rectangle while the "tall" are more box shaped.

 

[Embrace Calamity]

They make 10 gallon long and 10 gallon tall aquariums. The "long" ones have more floor space and are shaped more like a rectangle while the "tall" are more box shaped.

No, you're thinking of 20 gallons. 10 gallons are all the same. 20 gallons come in "long" (30"x12"x12") and "tall" (24"x"12"x16"). IMO, I wouldn't keep a leo in anything smaller than a 20 long.

~Maggot

 

[sausage]

Hows she doing?