Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi, I just bought my first gecko a few days ago. It's soooo cool. I thought I had done all my homework before I got him, but my mind is a blank now. If anyone can help me with these easy questions, I'd really appreciate it. The little guy's picture is below too. I really have to work on taking better pictures though.

1. In another post, someone mentioned that they let their gecko sit on their shoulder while prepping food and refilling water bowl. Won't they jump off???

2. This morning he looked slightly pale. I read all about shedding, but can anyone confirm from the picture if that's what's happening?

3. When shedding, how often should I mist him? Everything I've read says 3 or 4 times for 20 seconds or so. It doesn't mention anything about how many times during the day.

4. I've heard from multiple people on feeding. Some say every day for juvies and others say every other day. What's right??? I'm doing around 4 a day right now and he seems to eat them.

That's it for now. Thanks and I look forward to meeting everyone here.

Joe

1. I dont' have an answer for your first question, but I'd have to imagine the leo jumping isn't a factor, otherwise they wouldn't do it. Also keep in mind that the leo that is sitting on the shoulder is an adult, not a juvy.

2. From the looks of your picture, I'd say it does look like he's getting ready to shed

3. Misting? where did you read that? What you want to do is to create a humid hide for him. Get one of those disposable tuperware containers, cut a hole in the side of it and put a good amount of paper towel inside. I usually use two sheets, folded into quarters and thn cut out a circle to fit the bottom of the bowl. I also use rather thick paper towels, so that number may not be true for you, but it's between 1/4 and 1/2 inches thick. Then you mist the HIDE once a day to ensure it stays humid. You don't want it soaking though, just damp. Keep this on the warm side of your tank. I accidently misted my leo one time, and he really REALLY hated it. Stood up as high as he could on all four legs, almost like a pissed off cat.

4. Now what are you feeding your leo. You said you're feeding him about 4 a day. 4 of what =) I used to feed my leo every other day, but then he started coming out the same time everyday looking for food. So i figured he must be hungry, and i've pretty much let him dictate his schedule. This works out to about 2-3 day of feeding, then a day off. But every leo will be different. As for how much in one feeding? The general rule of thumb i've heard is feed him no more then he'll eat in a 15 minute span. Hope all that helped.

Hi I agree with what you said about feeding. Daisy eats when she comes out looking for food. Seems to be 2 or 3 days in a row, then a day off, then back to eating. I tried the day on and day off, she didnt like that, she would search for food on the day off and go bonkers when the next day to feed came along. She usually eats 2 to 3 crickets a sitting, or every now and then a mealie or 2. The crickets are easier to feed and keep gutloaded for me and love watching her chase them down.

Also sorry for the long answer, but 1 thing, she loves to see me get the crickets out of their enclosure, put them in the shake and bake cup. She really starts to lick her chops then. When I take off the top of her home, she looks up, almost smiling for her dinner. Have a good day.

Well first off congrats on your new family member!

Answer to first Q: I wouldn't take the chance. I have three adults and none of them understand the table doesn't go on forever. I have to watch mine every time i get them out cause they will jump off of what ever they are on.

Answer to second Q: The picture you provided definately looks like it's going to shed. Don't worry unless he/she is like this for more than a week. (thats usually how long it takes for them to shed from going pale then revealing their true colors)

Answer to third Q: I don't where you got misting but i guess it could work just as well but i think this is a better solution. Get a butter tub or something of the sort. Cut a hole in one side and put moist paper towels or vermiculate/perlite in it. When your gecko starts to shed he/she can go in there and it will be moist enough to help wioth the shedding and all you have to do is make sure it stays damp inside. TIP: Put this humid hide on the warm side of the tank.

Answer to fourth Q: I'd say that's right. For juvies feed them everyday and for adults every other day. Make sure you have a calcium dust to put on the food.

Hope this helps, Katie
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Owner of 1.2 Leopard Geckos, 3.0 Fire Belly Toads, 1.1 Bahaman Anoles, 1.0 Japanese Fire Belly Newt
and 0.0.1 Turtle

Wow, you guys are great. Thanks for all the quick replies. Sorry I wasn't specific enough though. I'm feeding him crickets. BTW, my daughter just named him. How does Nemo sound? Guess she's seen the Disney movie once too often.

Anyway, I have another question. As far as hides go, someone recommended putting peat moss on the bottom. They say is all natural and won't cause problems with juvies. Does anyone have any experience with this?

Thanks again!

Peat moss works perfectly well. It's what I use. Just mist it every other day (or whenever it starts to look dry).
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-Marcus The Great

Hi, congrats on your gecko! Every day for juveniles, and usually more than 4 food items. Mine eat at least 6 crickets, though I am careful to feed smaller crickets to younger geckos. I mostly use mealworms though since they are cheaper and less smelly to keep.

A moist hide (empty disposable container, like a butter tub with a hole in the side or top and green moss inside) is more consistant than misting and closer to how they live in the wild. Then you keep the moss damp -- NOT wet -- and replace it if any mold starts growing. I use packaged green moss rather than peat moss 'cause peat moss is like fluffy dirt. Maybe other people have found it in more "moss-like" consistancy.

Nemo sounds like a great name! Especially if he/she's a bright one.

Also I've often put adult leopard geckos on my shoulder while cleaning. I can tell by feel exactly where they are and if they're restless I watch them closely. This works for me, however I have learned the hard way NOT to do this with juveniles or even most sub-adults. It was a terrible feeling to have one jump and then find it had permanent injuries due to my own bad judgement.

Keep having fun!
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Andrea A.

Just a quick answer to the hide substrate question-- we haven't tried moss, but for babies (hatching to about 4 months)we use a small hide with paper towels, kept moist at all times. Once they get past ABOUT 4 months, we use vermiculite. They seem to like it, and we have never, ever had any problems. Hope this helps

Angie

Is Latin for 'no one' or 'nobody', so it's sort of a silly name, but cute.
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Peter: It's OK, I'll handle it. I read a book about something like this.
Brian: Are you sure it was a book? Are you sure it wasn't NOTHING?

Hey,
To your first question yes some will jump off though the older ones seem not to. Your gecko does look like its about to shed but if he doesn't shed within the next week or two take him to where you bought him and ask them what is wrong. Now I never have misted my geckos cage not even when she is sheding and she is just fine. My gecko is about a year old and I feed her 5 crickets a day and like I said she is just fine. If you want to see a picture go to www.geocities.com/leopardgeckoden/gecko.html and have fun with your new leopard gecko.
Have fun,
gt2089

It's important NOT to mist leos & not to mist their cage contents when they're in the area. Leo's originate from an arid enviroment & the particulate water that misting puts into the air can cause respiratory infections in leos. Just provide a humid hide. If you're using moss in the hide, mist it when the leo is out of the area. If you're using papertowels, you can just wet them down in the sink. Best of luck!
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1.3.0 leos, Yoda, Geo, Tang, Ginger
1.0 Blue Tongue Skink Indigo (Indy)
0.1.1 frogs Buffy the Cricket Slayer, Butrose Butrose Froggy
1.1.4 firebelly newts Wayne Newton, Isaac Newton, Fig Newton, Juice Newton & Olivia Newton John, Helmut Newton
1.1.0 cats Gus & Mena