Reptile & Amphibian Forums

heres the stuff ive got...

1. 10 gallon tank (saving for a 15-20 gallon.) (theres only one gecko)
2.Zoo meds reptisun UVB light
3. Esu Reptile dayglow/Redheat(night)
4. screen Top
5.1 hide on the hot side 1 hide on cool side.
6.water bowl
7. calcium dish(do i need it if i dust crickets with the dust?)
8.substrate(sand)

Thanks for your time
Dom.
-----
My Ball and Corn rule
Boda 3' normal ball
Snow 15" Snow corn

Hey,
Everything sounds good except the sand. Sand, especially in young leos, can cause impaction, when they eat it (intentionally or by accident when hunting)
You should use paper towel or newspaper, or else tiles or shlf paper. Something they cant eat

And for the dusting, i've been told to have a small dish of pure calcium in the cage, and dust the crix or mealworms, with a vitamin suppliment (phosphorus free)

Thats all i know lol

The bulb i have is coted with red phosphors.

I hear sand was okay.
-----
My Ball and Corn rule
Boda 3' normal ball
Snow 15" Snow corn

do NOT use sand. i used sand as a substrate for an adult leo and he ended up rather sick. impaction is not a good thing. i now use astro turf. very cheap, easy and can be found at any hardware store.

-----
1.0 Leo Gecko's *Astrid* - was told he was a her at first
0.0.1 Pictus Gecko *Raine* - too young to sex
1.1 Hollond Lop Bunnies *Panda, Oreo*

>>1. 10 gallon tank (saving for a 15-20 gallon.) (theres only one gecko)

One ten gallon is great for one gecko, adult or hatchling sized. Actually, I prefer a 5.5 gallon for the hatchlings that I've aquired, they seem to eat more readily when in a smaller space.

>>2.Zoo meds reptisun UVB light

No need for a UVB light if you have a Calcium Supplement that contains D3 like "Miner-All", that's what I've used. Also, you could use T-Rex: "Leopard Gecko Dust". I use that occasionaly and some (Monte, I know for a fact) love this powder.

>>3. Esu Reptile dayglow/Redheat(night)

This is okay for viewing, but for heat you need an Under Tank Heater, I use Human Heating pads that you can get from any Drug store for $15 or so.

>>4. screen Top

Some people use the Screen tops. I don't. But if there is a way that the gecko can lift himself out of the encloser, then you need the screen tops. I've never had a gecko escape because I don't put anything tall enough in there for them to reach the top of the cage.

>>5.1 hide on the hot side 1 hide on cool side.

This is good, but you need a Humid Hide on the warm side, or in the middle of the tank (I put it on the warm side). Take a Tupperware container that is the appropriate size for your gecko and fill it half or 3/4 full of peatmoss (you can get it from any Hardware/Gardening store) and spray it until it is moist. And continue to spray it once a day, or, if you don't live in a dry climate, than once every two days, but I wouldn't go longer than that.

>>6.water bowl

I include a water bowl in all of my tanks. Just make sure that it is shallow enough for the gecko to get in and out of just incase it falls in, you don't want it to drown or be unable to get out.

>>7. calcium dish(do i need it if i dust crickets with the dust?)

In addition to a dish of pure calcium (make sure on the back it says that it is Phosphorus free and has D3 in it), you would also need to dust the crickets/mealworms with the dust every feeding for hatchlings. Every other feeding for Juviniles and Once ever 2-3 feedings for adults.

>>8.substrate(sand)

Sand is an absolute no-no. Do not use any particulate substrate as it will cause intestinal blocking (impaction) if it is injested while trying to eat the insects. There is no reason to risk the life of your animal. Use paper towels (cheap!) or shelf liner ($3 a roll at the Dollar Store). Newspaper can leave the ink on the bellies of the geckos, so I've heard.
-----
Geckos will someday rule the world!

4.7.2 Leopard Geckos
2.1.0 Chihuahuas
2.1.0 Rottweiler Mix
1.0.0 Siamese Cat
1.0.0 Dwarf Hamsters

Josh
----------------------------------

In one of the pictures theres a leo out of its cage. I thought you couldnt take them out unless absolutley nessasery.

What if i put some rocks over the sand?
-----
My Ball and Corn rule
Boda 3' normal ball
Snow 15" Snow corn

>>In one of the pictures theres a leo out of its cage. I thought you couldnt take them out unless absolutley nessasery.

I don't know where you got that information, but I wouldn't count on it. I routinely take my geckos out for a little exploration (i.e. crawling on me) and they seem to enjoy it. It gives them a "change of scenery".

>>What if i put some rocks over the sand?

Why would you want to risk the life of your animal? Just go buy a roll of Paper Towels (like $1) and it'll last you for a few weeks.
-----
Geckos will someday rule the world!

4.7.2 Leopard Geckos
2.1.0 Chihuahuas
2.1.0 Rottweiler Mix
1.0.0 Siamese Cat
1.0.0 Dwarf Hamsters

Josh
----------------------------------

Oh yeah, on the humid hide, make sure you cut a hole in the side ot top to allow the gecko to get into it. I forgot to mention that part, lol.
-----
Geckos will someday rule the world!

4.7.2 Leopard Geckos
2.1.0 Chihuahuas
2.1.0 Rottweiler Mix
1.0.0 Siamese Cat
1.0.0 Dwarf Hamsters

Josh
----------------------------------

I heard someone on this forum say that leos are from desert areas and sand is nautral to them.

Is there and other substrate i can use besides paper towels and liners?
-----
My Ball and Corn rule
Boda 3' normal ball
Snow 15" Snow corn

>>I heard someone on this forum say that leos are from desert areas and sand is nautral to them.

This is an ongoing debate. But I'm just saying that if you want your gecko to possibly die of impaction, then go on and put it on the sand. I don't see the point in the risk.

>>Is there and other substrate i can use besides paper towels and liners?

You can use non-glazed tile, Terra Cotta tile. I've never really heard of anyone using anything else besides Paper Towels. I think I'm the only one that uses shelf liner for their leopard geckos. Lol
-----
Geckos will someday rule the world!

4.7.2 Leopard Geckos
2.1.0 Chihuahuas
2.1.0 Rottweiler Mix
1.0.0 Siamese Cat
1.0.0 Dwarf Hamsters

Josh
----------------------------------

a desert doesn't need to be full of sand to be a desert.
It is a lack of precipitation that makes a desert. The extreme north can be considered a desert, and theres no sand there

if you're itchy to use something that looks more 'natural' I'd suggest some brownish tile or felt with some big flat rocks strewn about.

either way its up to you, we can't come to your house and make you do one thing over another lol
-----

The following sentence is true.
The above sentence is false.

4.4 Leopard Geckos
1.0 Marbled Gecko
1.1 Red Eared Sliders
0.2 Siamese Mice

We just got a Leopard Gecko for my daughter and the pet store sold us "Reptile Desert Blend Lizard Litter". I thought it was some kind of sand but it says it's Ground up walnut shells and it passes easily through their digestive system. Has anyone heard of this or used this? Do you think its ok to use. Thanks

Again, no particulate substrate. They put anything on the package to sell it. And the petshop people will say about anything to peddle their wares. Just stick with a piece of cardboard, wrapped in papertowels and taped on the underside, and placed on the bottom of the tank so that crickets cannot get underneath the papertowels. Just make sure to cut the cardboard snug enough to touch the sides of the tank on the inside.
-----
Geckos will someday rule the world!

4.7.2 Leopard Geckos
2.1.0 Chihuahuas
2.1.0 Rottweiler Mix
1.0.0 Siamese Cat
1.0.0 Dwarf Hamsters

Josh
----------------------------------

i'm telling you from experience do not use sand. i used paper towel until my leo was full size, then decided for sand because i "heard" adults are fine on it.. was i ever wrong.. my leo became impacted and it took awhile for him to become heathly again. they can die in most circumstances as well.

i use astro turf. the fake grass like carpet stuff from any hardware store. i paid like 5 bucks for enough of it to fit two tanks. a twenty gallon and a ten gallon.

and whoever told you not to touch your leo is well lets say.. uneducated. they don't like to be out ALL the time, but you can take them out. just becareful they dont get loose and run away.

-----
1.0 Leo Gecko's *Astrid* - was told he was a her at first
0.0.1 Pictus Gecko *Raine* - too young to sex
1.1 Hollond Lop Bunnies *Panda, Oreo*

The sand thing is definitely an ongoing debate...I'm going to say my opinion just to let you know...I dont' want to start anymore arguments on the subject...

If you really want to use sand try to make it around a quarter of the tank or less and use slate or tile to fill up the rest of the space, also make sure to feed something that it won't eat on the sand (i.e. mealworms or superworms in a dish..NO CRICKETS on sand!). If you see it licking at sand at all, or sand in its stool, stop using sand...that probably means it's trying to get calcium out of the sand and will continue to injest it and may get impacted. I currently have one a 20L with 2 12" tiles and the remaining space on the cool side of the tank filled with sand. The 2 leos I keep in that tank use the sand as a bathroom area, and I have seen no sand in thier stool or observed any licking of the sand. Again, this stuff is just my opinion, and I don't want to start any arguments...I just think this is a safe way to use sand. If I saw any sand my girl's stool or them licking the sand, I would remove it! My other two enclosures have brown construction paper as a substrate...it looks A LOT better than paper towels!
-----
Christina

0.3.1 leos (soon to be 1.3.1!)
-0.1 tangerine het rainwater albino w/jungle background (Blinkers)
-0.2 jungles (Vahz & Skissor)
-0.0.1 albino (supposed Tremper)(Spitfire)
-soon to be 1.0 tangerine rainwater albino
1.0 australian shepherd/cattle dog (Foster...although he was being fostered before I got him...that has nothing to do with his name...It's after the beer!...lol since he's australian and I'm a college student!)

oh, I also would not put any hatchlings or small juvies on sand!
-----
Christina

0.3.1 leos (soon to be 1.3.1!)
-0.1 tangerine het rainwater albino w/jungle background (Blinkers)
-0.2 jungles (Vahz & Skissor)
-0.0.1 albino (supposed Tremper)(Spitfire)
-soon to be 1.0 tangerine rainwater albino
1.0 australian shepherd/cattle dog (Foster...although he was being fostered before I got him...that has nothing to do with his name...It's after the beer!...lol since he's australian and I'm a college student!)

Do you have pic of your setup? Sounds interesting.
-----
Check Out My Albums

1.0 Ball Python
"Aragorn"

1.0 Kenyan Sand Boa
"Gimli"

0.1 Australian Cattle Dog/Pointer
"Kira"

I've since moved the rocks and humid hide around a bit, as well as cleaned up the sand that got spread around (pretty much all by me...lol).

-----
Christina

0.3.1 leos (soon to be 1.3.1!)
-0.1 tangerine het rainwater albino w/jungle background (Blinkers)
-0.2 jungles (Vahz & Skissor)
-0.0.1 albino (supposed Tremper)(Spitfire)
-soon to be 1.0 tangerine rainwater albino
1.0 australian shepherd/cattle dog (Foster...although he was being fostered before I got him...that has nothing to do with his name...It's after the beer!...lol since he's australian and I'm a college student!)