Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Right now I currently house a couple Tokays, and I was thinking about trading for some Leo's. I have many different styles of terrarium down pat. And I think I know what I want to do for some Leo's but after looking at many old posts I have become kind of indicicive on a few topics.I was planning on using .25 to .5 inch pea gravel and coco husk bed a beast mixed with course peat for a substrate.But I may just use a sheet of coco-fiber to cover the bottom.I was also going to use live plants (various species I have left over from a phelsuma cage) on 1 side to give a humid side of the tank with possibly a hide in there somewhere.And succulent arid plants on the other side for a dry part, which will probably take up 3/4 of the tank.WHAT IS THE GRADIENT OF HUMIDITY THAT WOULD BE RECCOMENDED, And do you think that the above substrate would suit an adult Leo?has anyone just used large gravel like that?
any thoughts or inspirational pix would be highly appreciated.
thanks!!

-Andy

No gravel, it can impact a leos stomach. Try to use substrates like papertowel, reptile carpet, or slate. A leo will need a minimun 10 gallon tank and a heat pad and rheostat. One half of the tank should have temps of about 88 F and a surface temp of the same. You need a hide on the warm side and cool side so they can regulate their own body temp. Leos need belly heat, so the heat pad is important for digestion. Leos are pretty easy to care for, and you'll probably find they're alot nicer than tokays ( i always read that tokays are mean little things, lol). Not sure about the EXACT humidity, but it should be low. Instead of a whole side of the cage being real humid, take a rubbermaid container and fill it with peat moss or potting soil. This will give the leo a place to go and shed. Having the whole side humid might cause respritory infections since leos need relatively low humididty. Leos need calcium/vitimin supplements on their food, which can be gutloaded mealworms, crickets, or superworms. You can also feed pinkies, silkworms, waxworms or butterworms for variety. Good luck if you do decide, leos are great and im sure you'll love them. Later
Mac

Do you plan on keeping a few tokays? I love the little guys, and they can be quite tameable if given the right attention. I have mine to the point where I can pick them up with my bare hand and cup them in my hand without as much as a heavy breath. Mine haven't even attempted to snap at me in months, and I handle them frequently. If you are interested in some tips on tameing them, let me know. I have a little system that I developed that was quite successful. Let me know
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Ten million dollars on a losing campaign, Twenty million starving and writhing in pain, Big strong people unwilling to give, strong in vision and perspective, One in five kids below the poverty line, One population running out of time...

1.1.0 Ball Pythons
0.0.1 Gray Banded Kingsnake
1.6.0 Leopard Geckos
1.0.0 Veiled Chameleon
1.0.0 Viper Gecko
1.1.0 Pictus Geckos
0.0.1 Colombian Tegu
1.1.0 Collared Lizards
1.1.0 Blue Tongued Skinks
1.0.1 Tokay Geckos
1.3.0 Crested Geckos
1.0.0 Red Tailed Boa
0.0.1 Yellow Phase Green Tree Python
1.1.0 Bearded Dragons

Thanks for the offer, but I'm only 14 and my parents barely let me get my 2nd leo, though I'd love to get some tokays, I think their one of the most coolest looking geckos. Later
Mac

Here is shot of a tile substrate with a hide for each of the (two caves and one humid hide). A number of hides eases competition and scuffles. I have three leos in a 20 long. The humid hide is under the log. RR

Another shot of the humid hide under the half log. RR