Reptile & Amphibian Forums

When I get a chance this week I'm going to empty and clean the 10 gallon fish tank that my leo will inhabit. Well, at least he/she will inhabit it for a while. I'll probably end up eventually deciding that the minimum size tank isn't good enough...like I did with my bearded dragon and mali uromastyx. Anyways, at the same time, I'm going to start shopping for stuff and ordering stuff. Here's what I've got on my shopping list so far, and web addresses to where I found them.

-Screen cover: $9.99 - http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog/reptile-cage-supplies/screen-lids/-/esu-10-gallon-tough-top-screen-cover/

-Screen cover clips: $1.99 (x2) - http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog/reptile-cage-supplies/screen-lids/-/esu-screen-clips-for-up-to-50-gallon-cover/

-Heat mat: $11.95 - http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog/reptile-cage-supplies/heat-pads-and-rocks/-/exo-terra-small-heat-wave-heating-pad/

-Thermostat: $26.95 - http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog/reptile-cage-supplies/thermometers-and-thermostats/-/alife-reptile-electronic-thermostat-with-probe/

-Carpet: $6.19 (maybe x2) - http://www.bigappleherp.com/Reptile_Supplies/Product/ReptiCage_Double_Pack_Carpet_275210.html

-Hide 1: $7.95 - http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog/reptile-cage-supplies/plants-caves-and-accessories/-/small-pet-tech-boulder-cave/

-Hide 2: $3.99 - http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog/reptile-cage-supplies/plants-caves-and-accessories/-/coconut-hiding-spot/

-Water dish: $1.75 - http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog/reptile-cage-supplies/bowls-drippers-and-humidifiers/-/extra-small-rock-bowl/

-Calcium dish: $1.75 - http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog/reptile-cage-supplies/bowls-drippers-and-humidifiers/-/extra-small-rock-bowl/

-Cricket/worm dish: $2.49 - http://www.petco.com/product_info.asp?familyid=12459&sku=4512542116&tab=5&dept_id=2514&c1=2514&c2=&c3=&ct1=Feeding Accessories&ct2=&ct3=

-Decoration: $4.49 - http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCTprd_id=845524441780326&FOLDERfolder_id=2534374302030049&ASSORTMENTast_id=2534374302023694&bmUID=1101693678272

-Stuff for inside humid hide: $3.95 - http://www.bigappleherp.com/Reptile_Supplies/Product/BedABeast_278650.html

If you're wondering why I said x2 for the screen cover clips, since it's such a small aquarium. It's just piece of mind for me really, because sometimes I don't quite trust my mom's cat, and the tank will be right in the family room in the middle of the house. My other lizards are up in my bedroom where, if they did manage to get out of their cages (yeah, right), and didn't get hurt dropping to the floor, they'd be closed up inside my room still and it would be easy to find them.

I think the exo terra heat pad looks like a pretty good heat pad, but if anyone else has suggestions let me know. I was looking at the cobra ones, but I don't like that they don't have adhesive on them, because I would worry about tape coming off eventually and having it fall off the tank, leaving the gecko in the cold until I realized it.

Oh, also, about the lighting situation. I've decided to start out building the setup with just a heat pad and a flourescent light so I can see how the temps are with just them. Then after testing it out for a while (without a gecko...I'll wait till I get the bugs worked out), I can tell if I need an additional heat lamp, and if so, what kind/size, and if it will have to be on all of the time or not.

I know with the colors of the stuff and the decorations I've picked out, the tank is going to be fairly green and not very desert looking. I don't think it's going to matter much to the gecko, and I thought it would look nicer in the family room, plus it would be easier to maintain. I'll see how it goes. I know it won't stay the same forever. Also, those aren't probably going to be the exact hides I get. I'm going to go look around here to try to find some good ones. those were just an example so i could factor in the price.

Let's see. What else have I not covered yet? Oh yeah, the humid hide...yeah, that'll just be a spare rubbermaid container with a hole in it. That's part of the reason I wanted the fake vine, so I can drape some over it and you won't see it. I think I'm going to use bed a beast inside of it, but I might use something else if you think it's more appropriate.

If I come up with any more questions or anything, I won't be shy. Believe me, I'll probably be on here a lot when I first get the little gecko. I want to make sure I do everything right with this lizard. My bearded dragon was my first lizard, so husbandry was sort of a bumpy road for a while. The uromastyx was a rescue, so she's had a really really hard life already (and she has the huge 3rd degree burns to show for it)...there's a thread with pics up her up in the uromastyx forum...I think it's entitled something about Sam being fat or something like that.

Thanks for the help so far.

Sounds like you've really done your research. About the substrate..carpet? Just from what I've heard and knowing a few things about geckos I would switch to tile. It's very easy for a geckos toes to get caught in it and their nails to get pulled off. Also Tile is alot cheaper and easier to clean. Very natural looking too. Another suggestion, for the mealworm bowl try going to like a flea market or something and get a little bowl thats been shalaqued. It's alot cheaper about 99 cents. You can also use paper towels for the humid hide. I understand if you don't as they dry out quickly. Other than these things I've mentioned everything sounds good. Others might have a few suggestions. Good luck!
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Katie
Peach State Geckos
Breeding Mealworms
My Email

Woops! Looking back at my last post it looks like i made it sound as if the tile would pull the geckos nails off. Sorry, I meant the carpet...lol.
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Katie
Peach State Geckos
Breeding Mealworms
My Email

No, I understood. The cage carpet I'm referring to I have used before with my bearded dragon. it's not looped like most outdoor carpet, it seems more like whatever material they used to make it out of is just formed together. I've still got some in my basement right now, so I'll go check it out and see.

I think I'll check out the tile too though this weekend because I'm going to try to get to lowes and home depot and all those stores to try to pick out all of the lighting supplies and whatnot that I need for the new cages I'm building for my beardie and my uromastyx. What specifically do I look for and where would it be? Also, how do I get it down to the right size?

Thanks.

I was wondering, does the thermostat plug directly into the under tank heater? (I'm asking for you and for me. I'd like to know cause I don't have one.) I think as long as you have a thermostat to control the temp, it doesn't matter what type of heat mat you use. Good research. Before you know it you'll catch the Leo "bug", and own 20 of them

yes, I believe you just plug the heating element directly into the thermostat, and then it has a probe (just like a digital thermometer) that you put where the heat mat is, and then I figure I'll just set the maximum temperature I want it to reach. For me it's more of a safety issue, to keep it from overheating.

The thermostat I found (that's in the list) appears to be of pretty good quality for the price. I'll find out when I order it though.

Oh, and for the probe, I decided if I go with carpet or shelfliner, I'm going to cut a little tiny hole over where the heat pad is going to be. The hole will be just big enough to force the thermostat probe through, so i can run the wire underneath it and just have the probe sticking up right over the heat pad. If I end up going with tile or something I'll have to come up with a different plan, but I'm sure it will work out.

But the one thing I still find strange is lighting, because a lot of people say use a white heat bulb in the daytime, and yet many others say use a red bulb and have it on all the time, and still others just use UTH's. I figure I'll just experiment with a couple of things before I get the gecko. That seems like the best plan of action.

About the tile. I use the plastic bendy kind that way I can cut it to any size I need. You'll need two tiles for the side with the UTH as they conduct heat very well. Hope this helps you!
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Katie
Peach State Geckos
Breeding Mealworms
My Email