Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey everyone I'm sorry if I'm asking things that get answered all the time but I just got a 4 year old male from someone who was getting rid of him, and I've got a few random questions that I was hoping I could get answered.

Do they sleep? I work third shift, which means I keep an opposite schedule than the gecko's previous owner, would this have a negative effect on his (the gecko's) sleep schedule? Should I keep him in another room where I don't spend much time when I'm awake?

He sometimes seems clumsy when he walks (tipsy, slow) is this normal?

His previous owner had a bunch of crickets right in the cage with him for him to 'hunt' as he wanted. Is this an ok method of feeding? His previous owner said he ate on average about 12 crickets a week. Instead of putting them all in the cage at one time, is there any way to keep them alive in a seperate container long enough to feed them to him periodically?

I haven't personally seen him eat, and my boyfriend hasn't either. I've been trying to keep tabs on the cricket population and I thought it was going down (meaning he's been eating) but since my boyfriend has offered his opinion that he hasn't been eating, I'm a bit worried. Should I feed him in a seperate cage at specific times in order to keep better tabs on his eating habits? Also, I didn't notice any poop in the cage but he did poop on my boyfriend yesterday.

I've read in several places that sandy beddings are unsafe for leos. His previous owner used crushed walnut shells and I got the same thing (previous to reading that they were potentially unsafe). Should I stop using them and what should I use in their place? I have a green 'lizard carpet' in the cage, is that enough? Also, I was told by the previous owner that with him I could get away with a 5gal. tank (since that's all I had), but I've since then read in several places that it must be ten gallon, I assume 5gal. is quite simply too small then (I'm getting a 10gal. anyway, just curious)?

Is it okay to handle the gecko often? I try for a little bit a few times a day (depending on my work schedule), but always end up putting him back when he starts to run or move around a lot, because I worry about him getting hurt.

Anyway, I'm also attaching a picture, can you tell me what kind of leopard gecko he is as well? And sorry for all the questions but thanks in advance for the help.

>>Do they sleep? I work third shift, which means I keep an opposite schedule than the gecko's previous owner, would this have a negative effect on his (the gecko's) sleep schedule? Should I keep him in another room where I don't spend much time when I'm awake?

They will sleep in the daytime, if you have a lot of lights on at night it is better to keep them in a low light or no light room. We tend to keep them in an office where the only light is computer monitors, but that is because the two humans that live here are on opposite schedules too.

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>>He sometimes seems clumsy when he walks (tipsy, slow) is this normal?

If he is just waking that could be. Keep an eye on it. It may not be getting enough vitamins (see dusting below)

>>His previous owner had a bunch of crickets right in the cage with him for him to 'hunt' as he wanted. Is this an ok method of feeding? His previous owner said he ate on average about 12 crickets a week. Instead of putting them all in the cage at one time, is there any way to keep them alive in a seperate container long enough to feed them to him periodically?

Not a good idea to leave crickets in there all the time, it stresses the geckos. A small container called critter keeper or cricket keeper is what most of us use. Keep a week's worth of crickets in there with gutload (get the kind with water included to save complication, we like "cricket yummies" Feed the gecko by dusting the crickets with a complete vitamin/calcium powder about 2x a week for an adult gecko. They sell shakers at most pet stores, but you can also use a plastic bag, think shake and bake chicken.

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>>I've read in several places that sandy beddings are unsafe for leos. His previous owner used crushed walnut shells and I got the same thing (previous to reading that they were potentially unsafe). Should I stop using them and what should I use in their place? I have a green 'lizard carpet' in the cage, is that enough? Also, I was told by the previous owner that with him I could get away with a 5gal. tank (since that's all I had), but I've since then read in several places that it must be ten gallon, I assume 5gal. is quite simply too small then (I'm getting a 10gal. anyway, just curious)?

PAPERTOWELS! The best for the gecko and for you to clean.

>>
>>Is it okay to handle the gecko often? I try for a little bit a few times a day (depending on my work schedule), but always end up putting him back when he starts to run or move around a lot, because I worry about him getting hurt.

That's probably way too much for the guy, especially if he is already stressed from moving and all those crickets. Let him be for a week to settle in to the new environment, then stick to handling him only a few times a week. Although leos tolerate handling better than most reptiles, they still are considered display animals. We handle ours no more than 3x a week and she is tame as anything and asks to be picked up.

Try getting a care sheet off this site or getting a hold of a book, I like the leopard gecko manual. That should help any other ?s. Good luck!
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0.1 Albino Leo Gecko
0.1 Crested Gecko
1.0 Dear Boyfriend
Departed: Harvey and Spock

Ok, instead of moving him into a new room (I want to keep him in the warmest room, which is coincidentally the busiest one in the apartment) I can just cover the cage with something to block out the light, yes?

I've heard about the dusting before and I've been dusting with calcium but no other vitamins, I will get some multivitamins asap (I don't have a car and it's a good 2 mile walk to the pet shop).

Papertowels for bedding, check. Is the 5gal size tank too small?

Thanks for all the help!! I'm off to gather and relocate the crickets (amusingly, they've started to chirp). Poor gecko must be so stressed, lol.

Yes, 5 Gallon is too small. Go for a 10 gallon, that will be perfect!

Kelly
1.1.6 Leopard Geckos
1.2.1 Hedgehogs
1.0.0 Mediterranean Gecko
0.0.1 Bearded Dragon
tcshedgehogs.blogspot.com
tcsleopards1.blogspot.com

>>Ok, instead of moving him into a new room (I want to keep him in the warmest room, which is coincidentally the busiest one in the apartment) I can just cover the cage with something to block out the light, yes?

The problem with this solution is it may get used to having the cover on and feel very unsafe when it comes off. A lot of people have seen this when they get geckos from breeders using opaque boxes and they take them home and put them in all glass... We still have one gecko who can only stand 2 sides of her glass open and we have to block the other two.

Oh and geckos want a heat gradient, so moving it into a cooler room in not necessarily a bad thing, a UTH in a colder room is actually the ideal, IMHO.

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>>I've heard about the dusting before and I've been dusting with calcium but no other vitamins, I will get some multivitamins asap (I don't have a car and it's a good 2 mile walk to the pet shop)

You should be able to find a formula for leopard geckos and you'll be good to go then. I concur on the 10 gal, sorry I missed that when replying before.

>>Thanks for all the help!! I'm off to gather and relocate the crickets (amusingly, they've started to chirp). Poor gecko must be so stressed, lol.

Sounds like you're heading in the right direction, they can be pretty hardy for short periods of time. Good luck!
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0.1 Albino Leo Gecko
0.1 Crested Gecko
1.0 Dear Boyfriend
Departed: Harvey and Spock

Well I got Steve (or 'Dr. Steve Satan' to be exact - my gecko) moved into his new tank, and he seems to like it so far. I've got an old butter container on one end with damp paper towels, for the moist/humid hide, and his rock/hide/water dish on the other side where its warm. Only problem is, he likes to climb all over the rock/water dish and it gets the paper towels all wet, so I'm probably going to need to change that frequently. Otherwise my final concern is that the under-tank heating pad and red heating light don't seem to keep things warm enough, but it could just be me. I'll grab a thermometer next time I'm out so I can keep track of that.

Other than that, can they have faux foliage in their aquariums? Also I read somewhere about putting a dish of calcium in there. I've got the pure calcium powder that I dust his crickets with, so is a dish needed or not?

Anyway, thanks again for all the help I appreciate it.
Dr. Steve Satan on Myspace.

I'll try to answer all the questions but I may miss one...

Sleep, everything needs to sleep. Leos are nocturnal so just make sure he has a nice hide in which to sleep the day away. They come out at night and explore so you have a nice animal that will be awake when you are, just keep the lights low and they should not be a problem.

Handling, let him settle in and get used to his surroundings before handling him too much. That is leave him alone for the first 2 weeks, then enjoy some short daily handlings.

Food, don't leave uneaten crickets in the cage. They will stress the leo, and can actually start to bite/eat him. Put in 4-5 every 2-3 nights, and check to make sure they are gone in about an hour.

That 5 gallon would make a nice cricket holder, get the Leo a 10.

If I missed anything just ask it again