New leopard gecko owner

[Silvermoon]

---

LOG IN TO CLOSE THIS AD   

---

So I was getting some feeders for my bearded dragons when this person asked me if I would take their leopard geckos. They never hold them and only had them a little while and didn't want them anymore and since the reptile rescue shut down they didn't know where to take them. I have actually ended up with a few different reptiles this way and so I took them since I always seem to have extra cages laying around.

I'm not sure on how to sex them or how old they have to be (is it like sexing bearded dragons?). So right now their names are Natsu (yellow one) and Gajeel (white and black one). They are very shy so I'm taking it slow with just putting my hand in the cage for them to get used to me. I held them to take a quick picture of them before putting them in their new cages, which I'll attach if anyone can maybe help me guess an approximate age or their morph.

They look skinny to me but they are eating their crickets and drinking. I figure I'll let them try some dubia roaches soon and some mealworms. Any advice for a newbie leopard gecko owner?
Right now the are in 20 gallon long tanks with a UTH. I have them on paper towels at the moment but would it be ok to use tile as a substrate like I do in my bearded dragon cage?

[acpart]

welcome to GU! They look to be in pretty nice shape. The yellow one is probably a Murphy's patternless and the black and white one is a Mack snow (it will probably get yellower as it matures). They look to be still fairly young and reasonably proportioned for their age. I mostly recommend you use google to read some care sheets and see pictures to be able to sex them. It's roughly similar to beardies except that I find leopard geckos have a more defined "V" of preanal pores. They may be too young to sex. Enjoy them!

Aliza

[Silvermoon]

Thank you for the info! Natsu will make a noise and then bite my finger when I put my hand in his cage but Gajeel will come over and lick my finger then roam on my hand for a little bit. It's slow going but will definitely be worth it in the end I'm sure! They are quite different from my beardies I'm learning.

[Elizabeth Freer]

Welcome aboard, Silvermoon!

Leopard geckos become sexable at about 6 months old. Males can be distinguished from females by a distinct v-shaped row of pores and by bulges right under the vent.

• Click: Sexing Leopard Geckos

[PoppyDear]

Thank you for the info! Natsu will make a noise and then bite my finger when I put my hand in his cage but Gajeel will come over and lick my finger then roam on my hand for a little bit. It's slow going but will definitely be worth it in the end I'm sure! They are quite different from my beardies I'm learning.

Their names are quite cute! I hope the learning process goes well! And to briefly answer your question, yes you can use tile, as long as it isn't a loose substrate as you risk impaction. Best of luck!

[Silvermoon]

---

LOG IN TO CLOSE THIS AD   

---

Their names are quite cute! I hope the learning process goes well! And to briefly answer your question, yes you can use tile, as long as it isn't a loose substrate as you risk impaction. Best of luck!

Thanks! Their names are from an anime, Fairy Tail. Thanks for the response! That's why I use tile in my beardies cage I don't want to take the chance on any impactions but I didn't know if it would be ok with the leopards and their UTH (my beardies have a MVB) since I have read they need the belly warmth whereas my beardies do best with their MVB.