Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I purchased a Leopard Gecko on Tuesday evening. I had a viv set up previously for my Veiled Cham who died I rearranged and made some changes as to accommodate my new gecko. He is still settling in and has not eaten yet, which I know is a product of the stress of relocation.
I am slightly worried about hydration, as I have neither seen him drink nor go in the water I have set out for him, and his first poop last night was pretty dry.
I also need to purchase a heat mat or pad for half the viv and was wondering what the best choice would be. The enclosure is glass, so do I put the mat over or under the bottom of the tank?
Lastly, he seems to have a dent in his head behind his left eye. He seemed healthy otherwise, active when held, clear eyes and nose, etc. and I thought maybe it's just a defect or something.
I have attached a photo of the viv and a link to a photo of his head. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Head Picture

Several things, some of which may sound a bit harsh (not an attack on you, just being direct about the way things should be in the hope that they get fixed quickly):

1) In the future, please have everything in your terrarium completely set up before you get the animal.

2) If you're going to use a lamp on the terrarium, it should not be centered like that. Reptiles need a range of temperatures from one end to the other, and centering the lamp means the range is either much smaller or nonexistent.

3) Under tank heaters do go under the tank, on the outside of the glass. The UTH will come with little rubber feet to put on the corners of the terrarium in order to raise it slightly off of the surface it's on. This is to allow airflow under it and prevent an unsafe buildup of heat. The UTH should not cover more than 1/4 to 1/3 of the area of the bottom of the tank.

4) Warm end of the tank should be between 88 and 92 degrees F. Depending on the temperature in the room the terrarium is in, you may need to use only the light or only the UTH to achieve this. (I have a light a UTH set up on a timer such that one comes on when the other goes off, but measure the temperature and adjust accordingly.)

5) The temperature is measured on the ground, not halfway up the tank. Putting a thermometer halfway up the tank in the middle is almost completely useless; at best, it gives you an idea of the ambient air temperature in the tank.

6) I've never seen a leopard gecko with a head that looks like that; if I had to guess, I'd think it might have been injured at some point. If it is alert, active, and not behaving strangely, it's probably not something to worry too much about, but I personally would have been asking a lot of questions about how it came to be that way before making a purchase, and probably would have avoided that particular animal.

Otherwise, your setup looks pretty good (thank you for using paper towels rather than sand - that's much better for your gecko's health). The only other thing I'd do is make sure the water is on the cool end, away from the lamp/UTH. I imagine that once you get your lamp repositioned so that there's a range of temperatures, your gecko will settle in and eat in short order.

Good luck with your new pet, and please both do some reading and keep asking questions here - an informed owner makes for a happier, healthier pet.
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0.1 Albino Leopard Gecko - Tigger
0.1 Crested Gecko - Pooh-Bear

Oh, one other thing: if you don't already have one, get a screen top for that terrarium; you'd be surprised how much they can climb, and s/he might just go right up that vine and out. It will also protect him/her from accidental dropping of objects and/or molestation by cats/small children/etc. Just a good safety precaution all around.
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0.1 Albino Leopard Gecko - Tigger
0.1 Crested Gecko - Pooh-Bear

Thanks for the suggestions ...

I do have a screen top and I keep it on the tank. I had the tank set up before I got him based on what I had read, since I researched before I went to pick him up. I am picking up a heat mat on the way home and will definitely get a digital thermo. to go with it. Should I get two, one for each side of the cage? I think I am going to change the light bulb to a red light as well. Concerning his head, I think I've decided to take him to the vet for a check-up just in case. I can return him if there is something wrong, and even if there isn't, I'd rather be overly cautious, especially since there is a great reptile vet right near me.

Happy to help, and good on you for the vet check! A lot of people wouldn't do that for a "cheap" pet.
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0.1 Albino Leopard Gecko - Tigger
0.1 Crested Gecko - Pooh-Bear

Of course I'll take him to the vet. I took my cham to the vet three times because I was worried about him ... the last one was pretty much them telling me that I could try to nurse him back to health or put him down, and I unfortunately opted to nurse him, I feel that he suffered more and I regret the decision. Everyone yelled at me for spending more on vet bills than I did on the animal, but it's about more than that. Plus I'm a sucker cause I fall in love with my pets.

Just a quick update. I took Leon to the bet and he has been rechristened LeonA haha The vet said she is perfectly healthy, the dent in her head appears to just be some muscle loss which can be built back up with a hearty appetite (which she is slowly starting to have). So all is well and thanks for the help!