Reptile & Amphibian Forums

hi there guys..ive got 2 beardys and love them.. have had them 4 months and got alot of help in bd forum..so hope you guys could help me with leo.first do they need uv light?????? ive read yes and no...what you keepers opinion...is it ok to handle regular???
should i keep one or two???????as unsure with webpages incase there just trying to sell 2...,.also i heard there not as fast as beardys..is this true???as i have a 8 and 4 yeasr old kids????anyway any help you give would be ver helpfull and a good web page that doesnt contradict would help...

first do they need uv light??????
As a nocturnal species they do not REQUIRE UV light, however most lizards will be a little brighter in color if they have it (Try taking a bearded dragon outside when it normally has a UV florescent [sp?])

is it ok to handle regular???

To a point... As long as the gecko isn't freaking out everything you handle them I don't see why not. Just make sure you don't stress them to the point that they start refusing food.

should i keep one or two???????

Two is fine as long as they are about the same size and not both males. Males will fight.

also i heard there not as fast as beardys..is this true???

Thay are not even close to as fast as beardies. I've seen my beardie run damn across the room for a cricket. Leos are generally slow moving, but can get going kinda fast if you let them, nothing you can't easily catch though.

I've got a pretty basic caresheet on my site, but it may help.

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Brian Skibinski
Milwaukee Reptiles

i have a 4 year old gecko and i havn't used a UV light, the logic behind that is that they hide all day cuz they're nocturnal like the previous post said.
And if you have kids its best not to let them handle the leos till they're bigger since juvies are really bloody skiddish. But they do grow out of it.
When it comes to tolerating handling it really depends on the gecko. I have one that sits on my hand and another with a hamster mentallity of just constanly walking to the edge of whatever she's on.

And they don't have to live with others, they don't require social interaction within their species its just Leos are addictiing and if you can get a good deal with 2 take it!
Good luck

I have a 3 year old and a 7 year old and they do fine with our leos. We have 20 of them now. Here's a picture of our biggest male with my 3 year old.