Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello
I will soon be buying a leopard gecko and I have a few questions

Concern one: I have a few cats, and I'm sure they'll be curious about my new little guy so I know I need to put some sort of top over it. I have a 10 gallon aquarium with an aquarium top (meaning made of clear plastic with some openings on the top and then the light. Should I go get a grated top and then just place the light ontop of that? Are 10 gallon aquariums bad, I hear they don't circulate air well?

I also wanted to know if they are climbers. I know they don't climb the glass but I was thinking about taking some chicken wire and creating another level for the gecko to get to. The wire would be covered with some sort of reptile carpet and I was thinking about using some drift wood to use as the "ramp". If they aren't good climbers then I can make a ramp out of chicken wire and reptile carpet. I was thinking about the advantage of having a 2nd level is he could be closer to the lamp light and therefore have an additional choice in temperature climate.

I have these fish tank large pebbles, they're not the little colorful things you find at pet stores, and they’re about 1/4-1/2 inch in size and all natural rock. Can I use some of this for decor? What about plastic plants? Can I use real plants (what kind?)

IS heat tape a good way to keep a cage warm? I know I need to get the accessory that controls the temp. Do I put the heat tape over the reptile carpet or under or does it matter depending which climate I am imitating.

What are the basic things I need for my new gecko to be happy? I'll get it whatever it needs.

Thanks for reading

first let me say thank you for reserching before you bring your leo home,alot of problems can be avoided that way.A 10 gal tank is fine for one adult leo but you will need a very secure screen lid so the cats can't get in.The best thing for heat is a under tank heater,its like a heating pad for people but is plastic and is sticky so it can stick to the underside (outside)of the tank,I don't know what heat tape is so can't give advice there.You don't need a light per say on your leo,they are nocternal and so don't need/like alot of bright light.I use a 40 watt black light for extra heat on cold days/nights,it doesn't bother their eyes and makes it easy to watch them at night.

You should never use pebbles/rocks,a leo can accidently swallow some and get an impaction,instead use paper towels or a nice rocky textered tile to line the tank.Keep one end of the tank around 85*F - 90*F,that is the end with the hiding area and humid hide in it.At the cool end ,75* - 80* is where you would keep their water/food and calcium dishes and maybe another hide.You can use what ever decorations you want,just make sure they aren't small enough to swallow or sharp enough to cut.A good live plant is pothos.I don't know about buuilding a second level but I don't think it would be necessary.

Here is a good web site with leopard gecko care.feel free to ask any question here,even if it sounds silly.there are wonderful intelligent ppl here who will give you much better advice than I can.

leo care

-----

(c) 2004 Neopets, Inc.

I understand you have to give your leo calcium, do you just sprinkle it on the crickets before feeding them to the geckos or do you buy food for the crickets that has calcium or do you do both? Do i add it to their water? i don't want to Over Dose or Under Dose my gecko. What about vitamin D3, so i sprikle it or add it in their water? For this heat pad you describe should i put it at one side of the tank or in the middle?

I will check out that site

I put my heat pad on one side of the tank,the same side as the hide and heat light.Most leo's will eat calcium right out of a shallow dish,but if yours doesn't then dust his food every day for baby every other feeding for adult.You should also get vitamin dust and dust his food a couple times a week.

What are you planning on feeding him?I started out with crickets but have switched to mealworms,they are cheaper and easy to keep.put them in the fridge and they keep for weeks,just make sure to gutload whatever feeder insects you do use.
-----

(c) 2004 Neopets, Inc.

so if you stick them in the fridge they still be alive but they'll stay in the meal worm stage for longer eh? gutload is to fatten the mealworths with as many healthy things for the gecko right?

they will live in the fridge for a long time,I take mine out every couple of days,let them warm up for an hour and then give them some apple and lettuce.I also mix flukers dry cricket food in with the bedding they come in so they always have something decent to munch on.
-----

(c) 2004 Neopets, Inc.

what do you feed your gecko mostly crickets or mealworms?

mostly mealworms,but I do feed a few (5-6) crickets a week.
-----

(c) 2004 Neopets, Inc.

and just on the other end of the feeding spectrium for me, I feed 15-20 crix each, every to every other day. and about 12 mealies a night each!
-----
Thanks, Briggzer