Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi, I'm new to leos but hope to have my first one (or two lol) soon. I have read caresheets and bought a book all about leopard geckos. I think I am ready. I am going to a herp show on the 20th and hope to come home with a leo. I do have one question though. I have a cat that stays in my room. Moving him to another room is not a option right now. Since leos sleep alot during the day could I drape a sheet or something over the cage so the leo can't see the cat and the cat can't see the leo. If I did that I would have to allow ventilation though.

Thanks
Brad

As long as there is no way for the cat to get in the cage, I'd say it's fine. My cat loves to sit and watch the leos, but if he gets too close or decides to jump up on the cages, he gets sprayed with the water bottle. He learned real quick. Just be firm and your cat should learn. I noticed the leos don't mind as long as the cat's not right next to glass.
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Brian Skibinski
Brian@MilwaukeeReptiles.com
WYSIWYG

I think the cat will just lay on my bed and watch. If I see him trying to break in I will use the water bottle. lol

I have $310 to spend on a complete leo setup w/ leo. I found a 20 gallon long at petco for $60. Then I'll get the uth and a controller for it. I'll also get some hides and a peice of wood to climb alittle. I might do tile. I'll put the rubbermaid humid hide under a log.

I can't wait untill the herp show.

$60 for a 20 gallon long!?!?!?! you need to check other stores in your area.... that's nuts... you should be able to get it for less than $30 depending on your local stores. Try a place that speciallizes in fish, they usually have pretty cheap aquariums. At least look at a few pet stores.
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Brian Skibinski
Brian@MilwaukeeReptiles.com
WYSIWYG

oh sorry. It was $40. $60 was for something else.

My cats love to watch my lizards, my beardie HATES it, but the leos dont seem to mind. One of my males even seemed to enjoy teasing that cats. Whenever they were watching his tank he would come out and walk back and forth along the front, right up next to the cats nose cause he knew they couldn't get it!

The only time where it would be a big problem would be if you have a heat lamp, which the cat could knock over and start a fire, but since you are using a UTH it should be allset. I would get some cage clamps at the show too, just to be extra carefull though.

YOu sound like you are on the right track to happy leos!

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1.0 green iguana-Deitrich
1.1 Common Boa-Un-Named, Ursula
1.0 Ball Python-Anabell (go figure!)
1.0 Red Tegu-Uteg
1.0 Albino Cal King-Pig
0.1 Mexican Black King-Morticia
1.1 Bearded Dragons-Unnamed, Hanabil
1.0 Albino San Diego Gopher-Unnamed
0.1 Hermans tort-Esio
1.1 JCP-Milton, Medusa
1.1 Reverse Okeetee Corn-Unnamed
0.1 Snow Corn-Unnamed
1.0 Hypo Okeetee Corn-Unnamed
0.1 Motley Okeetee-Unnamed
1.0 Western Hoggie-Wyrm
0.0.1 Rose Hair Taruntla-Unnamed
2.0 Leopard Geckos-Reptar, Pogo
4.1 cats-Tucker,Poe,Abhib,Emerald, Felicity
0.1 Bullmastiff-Asha

Cool leos you have there. I will get the clamps for sure. The show is going to be awesome. I'm going to bring a kritter keeper w/ me for my leo.

thanks, they are my newest babies and next years breeders. I couldn't be happier with them
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1.0 green iguana-Deitrich
1.1 Common Boa-Un-Named, Ursula
1.0 Ball Python-Anabell (go figure!)
1.0 Red Tegu-Uteg
1.0 Albino Cal King-Pig
0.1 Mexican Black King-Morticia
1.1 Bearded Dragons-Unnamed, Hanabil
1.0 Albino San Diego Gopher-Unnamed
0.1 Hermans tort-Esio
1.1 JCP-Milton, Medusa
1.1 Reverse Okeetee Corn-Unnamed
0.1 Snow Corn-Unnamed
1.0 Hypo Okeetee Corn-Unnamed
0.1 Motley Okeetee-Unnamed
1.0 Western Hoggie-Wyrm
0.0.1 Rose Hair Taruntla-Unnamed
2.0 Leopard Geckos-Reptar, Pogo
4.1 cats-Tucker,Poe,Abhib,Emerald, Felicity
0.1 Bullmastiff-Asha

Brad,

Hey there. If you want to give the leo privacy, I'd use fishtank background (the kind you tape to the outside of your aquarium).. or you could use contact paper. I've never had a problem with contact paper leaving residue on my tanks. I use it on the lower 4" or so of a few of my glass tanks and all my sweaterboxes so the leo's can't see their nextdoor neighbors.

As for kitty. I personally never had good luck with my cat staying in my room. She would always lay on the screen tops because the tanks stayed so warm. She broke through many screens, but never injured the animals.. I think it scared her too bad when she'd fall. I eventually layed planks of wood (little pieces of 2x4" spaced an inch or so apart) on the tanks cause my cat did have free roam of the house. Of course if your cat doesn't weigh 10lbs, you might not have to worry .

Good luck! The shows are so much fun. Beware.. you will have lots to choose from. It's hard to make decisions there (FYI - leave the credit cards at home!! *laughs*)

Hope you have fun

Regards,
Hailey

He doesn't weigh 10lbs... he weighs 20lbs. lol He's this one german breed that gets HUGE. I'm going to have a hard time choosing one or two at the show.

That's funny.... I'd say you have a big kitten on your hands.

Do you know which leo breeders will be there? If you are going the first day and want the best.. I'd hit the booths that sell exclusively leo's. Alot of the vendors will have a mix of critters (meaning a handful of leo's amongst all their beardies or snakes).. but those who sell exclusively what you want are going to probably have the better morphs to choose from. At least that's been the case in my own personal experiences. I've not been to any of the huge shows... just the regular annual one's here in Portland,OR and Seattle,WA. And all this advice is assuming you've not been to any shows.. if you have then you've probably got it down. The shows are a lot of fun though... and it's nice to be surrounded by a crowd of fellow hobbyists.

My cat weighs 29 pounds guys so dont feel like you have a fat cat lol.

If you think your up to it go ahead and get 2 but you may have to seperate them if one is bullying the other or if you get 2 males.
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-Ryan

I have 23 geckos, 2 cats and 2 dogs and they all get along fine. The water battle has been the key!!! Any furry friend that gets too close to a tank gets a squirt!!! Just make sure to secure and or hide all of your electrical cords!!

Another Q. I'm looking at cage supplies and I'm kind of confused. There are thermometer, thermostats and rheostats. What is the difference between a thermostat and a rheostat? I'll be using a zoo med heat pad if that helps.

Thanks