Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello
I have recently acquired my first leo, we've had him for 4 days (unsure of sex but will use "him" for ease). We got him from a very reputable place and he's captive bred. He is getting more inquisitive and outgoing by the day but he's still a little nervous. Our friend (who has been looking after geckos and many other exotic pets for at least 5 yrs and is trained in animal management)told us that this is normal because he's new and he's still a baby, which is understandable.
I wondered how long it takes before he'll be totally comfortable with his new home?
Also he's been eating but only 1 insect per night. I've tried him on crickets, he killed one and ate it's abdomen but left the head and legs (presumably these aren't as nutritious as the fleshy abdomen anyway). I later held a cricket in front of him with tweezers. He was very interested and pounced on it straight away, but after he killed it he looked like he hated the taste and was licking his face for about 30 seconds afterwards. We left a moth larva in a dish for him but he didn't eat it. We're using nutrobal to dust them but didn't on the first night we fed him, during which he loved the larva we fed him. Considering he's a baby (around 6in long at the moment) I would expect him to be more interested in food. Do they get more interested in food when they get more used to their home?
Also, we currently have him in a 10g tank but I'm of the opinion that animals can never be given too much room and we've put a few hides in his tank and the floor space is a little limited now. I'd also like a tank with a front opening so I can get into his tank without swooping down from above as I'm aware that this can make them quite nervous. How long would you leave it before moving him into the new tank considering he's already moved home once this week?

It is normal for all leos to eat less as they adjust to new housing. It's now been a week, tho, so he should be eating more by now. If he is not, he may have parasites, which can occur even in animals from reputable breeders. I strongly suggest getting a vet to do a fecal on all new acquires. I'd give him several months before moving him again- maybe get a new tank after he's reached adult size? Are you feeding him crickets that are too big for him?
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1.0 Hypo stripe, Het RW from JL (BJ)
1.0 HypoTang from Crested (Apricot)
1.0 Tremper Albino from Petsmart (Cloud)
0.1 Hi-Yellow Leopard gecko from Petco (Beatrice)
0.1 Stripe female (rehabilitated rescue)(Pepper)
0.1 Jungle het RW hatched by me! (Jungle Bunny)
0.1 SHCT Leopard Gecko from Petco (Brite)
0.1 Tangy Mutt Leopard Gecko from Petco (Rainbow)
0.1 RW Stripe hatched by me! (unnamed yet)
0.1 Leucistic rescue (Lucy?)
0.1 Tremper stripe from JMG (Delta)
0.1 SHCT hatched by me! (Blinky)
0.0.1 SHCTB hatched by me! (Sunny II)
0.1 Ball Pythons
1.0 Brazilian Rainbow Boa
Hatched: ~50 leos

Thanks
He's eating loads now! We've got him on meal worms with wax worms as a treat and he's getting big, strong and confident and his tail has become much fatter than it was when we bought him, which I love to see. I think we'll give him crickets when he's a bit bigger so that he can hunt them but while he's still young we're feeding him things we know he loves and can easily find. He exen comes out and stalks them like a cat even though they're in a mealworm bowl.
Was thinking the same thing where it comes to a new tank as he's quite happy where he is for the time being. I looked into making a DIY vivarium and know quite a few people who would be willing and able to make a large wooden viv with a sliding glass front, but will wait for a while to move our gecko.
I also spoke to the person we bought our gecko from and she said that he should be settled in by about 1month from when we bought him, which won't be long now.
Unfortunately I don't think any of the vets in the local area specialise in reptiles (Portsmouth (uk) ) but I will dig around so we know where to go if we need to.

Very cool! Glad he's doing well. Try to keep the waxworms to a minimum, and decrease as he fills out. They are pretty much the leo equivalent of a triple cheeseburger from McD's. Not good for you, but sooooo good lol. Leos have been known to refuse other food items and hold out for waxies. As far as vets, I cant help you there, being across the pond and all, but there are posters here from the uk as well, they may be able to point you in the right direction....
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1.0 Hypo stripe, Het RW from JL (BJ)
1.0 HypoTang from Crested (Apricot)
1.0 Tremper Albino from Petsmart (Cloud)
0.1 Hi-Yellow Leopard gecko from Petco (Beatrice)
0.1 Stripe female (rehabilitated rescue)(Pepper)
0.1 Jungle het RW hatched by me! (Jungle Bunny)
0.1 SHCT Leopard Gecko from Petco (Brite)
0.1 Tangy Mutt Leopard Gecko from Petco (Rainbow)
0.1 RW Stripe hatched by me! (unnamed yet)
0.1 Leucistic rescue (Lucy?)
0.1 Tremper stripe from JMG (Delta)
0.1 SHCT hatched by me! (Blinky)
0.0.1 SHCTB hatched by me! (Sunny II)
0.1 Ball Pythons
1.0 Brazilian Rainbow Boa
Hatched: ~50 leos