Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi all. I am getting a "hand me down" leopard gecko probably right after the holidays. I haven't really asked what the reason is for getting rid of it but i think it boils down to lose of interest from the kid and a mom that doesn't want to keep it. Anyways, i've never owned a gecko before BUT i do have some experience with other reptiles. (currently own a bearded dragon, mali uromastyx and veiled chameleon) so,, i've been reading a bit here and there and have a few questions. What is the coolest night time temp for them? (plan on keeping it in my sons room--68-72 degrees at night), do they required uvb light? (i've read mixed info on this)and what substrate would you suggest? (i'm thinking either sand or that reptile carpet stuff),,, please feel free to pick apart my ideas and set me straight. Also, could someone please point me in the right direction of some good care sheets online?? Thanks,,Merry Christmas, Lo
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1.0.0 Mali Uromastyx (Angus)
1.0.0 Bearded Dragon (Eddie)
1.0.0 Veiled Chameleon (Stevie Ray)
2.0.0 Dogs (Black German Shepherd-Nicholas, Black Lab-Cooper)
1.1.0 Budgies (Kia and Simon)
0.0.25 Various Fishies (Freshwater)
2.1.0 Hubby and kids (Boy and a Girl)

1. UV light is not necessary - They are nocturnal

2. Use the carpet or paper towels - sand is an impaction risk

3. care sheet:

http://www.kingsnake.com/rockymountain/RMHPages/RMHeopard.htm
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2.0 Leos (Spot - Normal but oh, so sexy; Jessie - hypotang)
3.2.4 Fattails (Henri, Suwannee, Valencio, Dixie, Isis, Zipper, Pheonix, Hissy, and Snickerdoodle)
0.0.1 redfoot tortoise (Sherman)
0.0.1 sulcatta tortoise (Tinacious aka Tiny)
1.1 Dogs (Zubin and Brenda)
0.1 cat (Mimi)

ok,,, so, here's what i'm thinking,,, i've got a glass tank (36"x18"x12",, i've got shelf liner (non-adhesive) for the bottom (i use this in my beardie tank too--the whole no impaction thing),,, they don't stick to walls so i don't need a lid (and no animals that will climb in there) crickets for a staple food,, other insects (silkies and occasional wax worms as treats),, a regular light bulb for heat (will assure proper temperature),, water dish,,hides in the cool and warmer parts of the tank,,,,,,,,, so here comes the questions,, do i need a red bulb?? do these give off heat? do i keep both hides moist inside? do i dust the crickets with calcium? or do i put some sort of calcium supplement in another dish and if so what is it exactly?,,, any other suggestions or comments? thanks again, Lo
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1.0.0 Mali Uromastyx (Angus)
1.0.0 Bearded Dragon (Eddie)
1.0.0 Veiled Chameleon (Stevie Ray)
2.0.0 Dogs (Black German Shepherd-Nicholas, Black Lab-Cooper)
1.1.0 Budgies (Kia and Simon)
0.0.25 Various Fishies (Freshwater)
2.1.0 Hubby and kids (Boy and a Girl)

The shelf liner should be fine. I would have a humid hide on the warm side. For this I use a ziploc storage container but you can use a rubbermaid, a butter dish etc. Cut a hole in the top or side for the gecko to climb in and out of (not a big hole, just one big enough to get through) and fill the tub half way or so with either moss, vermiculite, bed-a-beast, coconut bark, papertowels - something that will hold moisture. This is a place the gecko can go to get humidity to shed. Spray this every day or two to keep it moist.

A red bulb does give off heat but it is not necessary if it is not getting too cold at night. Only use it if you need the heat. A better idea would be an under the tank heater which you can leave on at all times. The gecko can get on it if it needs warmth.

Also some use a bulb during the day to give the geckos a day/night cycle. Others claim the light is too harsh so do not use them but use an UTH instead. personally I have used a light on one of my leos and he has no problems at all. I actually took it away and started using an under the tank heater and he started acting really strangely so I went back to the light. My other leo loves the under the tank heater. So that is really up to you as the jury gives mixed results.

Your food selection seems great. I have one leo that prefers to eat crickets and another that will only eat mealies. So try both and see which works best. I have not tried silk worms but others speak highly of them. Many people are using lobster roaches now also, but I have never done so.

Your tanks sounds really good, and you can mist both sides but I would stick with one moist side with a humid hide and leave the other drier. That way the gecko can choose humidity levels as well as temps.

Hope that helps.
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2.0 Leos (Spot - Normal but oh, so sexy; Jessie - hypotang)
3.2.4 Fattails (Henri, Suwannee, Valencio, Dixie, Isis, Zipper, Pheonix, Hissy, and Snickerdoodle)
0.0.1 redfoot tortoise (Sherman)
0.0.1 sulcatta tortoise (Tinacious aka Tiny)
1.1 Dogs (Zubin and Brenda)
0.1 cat (Mimi)

if you guys are worried about impaction, why in the world would you put moist vermiculite in it's cage?
atleast sand is something that the animals have adapted to living with/ingesting small amounts of in the wild. the reason i bring this up is because the only time i've had something die from impaction, was a gravid female crested gecko getting ready to lay eggs, in vermiculite that she consumed some of.
just a thought.
most of your other information sounds good.

i kinda thought the same thing but i wasn't going to use that anyways,,, i'm thinking paper towels or that moss,,not peat moss,, spagnum (not sure of the spelling), thanks again for all of the info, Lo
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1.0.0 Mali Uromastyx (Angus)
1.0.0 Bearded Dragon (Eddie)
1.0.0 Veiled Chameleon (Stevie Ray)
2.0.0 Dogs (Black German Shepherd-Nicholas, Black Lab-Cooper)
1.1.0 Budgies (Kia and Simon)
0.0.25 Various Fishies (Freshwater)
2.1.0 Hubby and kids (Boy and a Girl)

I was only listing options that people use to hold in moisture, and your comments on impaction are very good. I remove the humid hide before feeding so as to give the crikets one less place to hide. This helps cut down on impactions as the geckos are not eating while the hide is in the enclosure.
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2.0 Leos (Spot - Normal but oh, so sexy; Jessie - hypotang)
3.2.4 Fattails (Henri, Suwannee, Valencio, Dixie, Isis, Zipper, Pheonix, Hissy, and Snickerdoodle)
0.0.1 redfoot tortoise (Sherman)
0.0.1 sulcatta tortoise (Tinacious aka Tiny)
1.1 Dogs (Zubin and Brenda)
0.1 cat (Mimi)

cool, just thought i'd mention it as a possible threat. good helpful information otherwise

Thank you for the compliment and for mentioning the impaction risk
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2.0 Leos (Spot - Normal but oh, so sexy; Jessie - hypotang)
3.2.4 Fattails (Henri, Suwannee, Valencio, Dixie, Isis, Zipper, Pheonix, Hissy, and Snickerdoodle)
0.0.1 redfoot tortoise (Sherman)
0.0.1 sulcatta tortoise (Tinacious aka Tiny)
1.1 Dogs (Zubin and Brenda)
0.1 cat (Mimi)

leopard geckos do not come from a sandy environment, they come from rocky hilly areas in south western asia( ie afghanistan.
they are adapted to rocky ground with dirt packed into the cracks, and what i find works well for my leos is a patchwork of thin flat granite stones across the cage, 2 warm 2 cold 2 intermediate hides, and a hammoc at the warm end. and for between the rocks i use orchid bark without perlite, it is large neough that my leos will not accidentally swallow it.
watch the temp if you use a light, when i used one, my hot end was way too hot.
if you use orchid bark the vermiculite isnt necessary as the bark hold moisture.
and for lining under the hides i use moss, it makes a nice soft and slightly humid bedding for them.
no matter what substrate you use, never feed in the tank, take the gecko out, put it in a plastic container to feed it this removes most oppertunities for impaction. if the gecko is nervous, whih is most likely when it is new to you, try holding it untill t calms down
i usually lie down on the couch and hold the gecko on my chest, i make a hide for it with my hands. this seems to calm them down