New to the gecko game first day!

GeffGecko · #1 03-11-2011, 02:42 AM

Greetings I have a pretty good pet collection and today decided to add two baby geckos. Their were like 20 babies I tried to pick the nicest ones I saw. I have them in a 10gal right now. I am using jungle mix as bedding and a 75watt bulb(zoo med). My temp right now is 85. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I took some pictures these are from right after I put them in.

Here is the package I set up in the store just the basics for now

temp/hum

going to add these two branches after they are properly cleaned

I will put some moss in for the damp portion of the tank later tonight

Jasonp85 · #2 03-11-2011, 09:25 AM

Well first the bedding your useing for the little guys can cause them impaction id put them on papper towl till there bigger then swap to slate tile or repti carpet do u have a uth (under the tank heater) bc leos need belly heat you can get one for cheep. You might wanna start planing on a bigger tank too the 10 gal is ok when there small but not for two juvi or adults id sugest a 20 gal atleast. If your going to pick up a uth make sure its 1/3 the lemgth of your tank and you mount it on one side under ur tank needs a hot and a cold side u will allso need a moist hide to help them with sheding u can use a variaty of stuff for one a large coolwhip comtaimer tupawear large deli cup ect... . Gutload and lightly dust there crickets or worms with calcium with d3 and vit powder and put a small dish of pure calcium im the cage. You can find all this and more in the thread leopard geckos in a nut shell.

sajane · #3 03-11-2011, 01:16 PM

the 75 watt bulb is too hot unless you are hanging it high above the screen. if you use a temp gun right under it its going to be at least 120 or 130 degreees. my 25 watt is 103 degrees in the basking spot. the uth for belly heat is a better choice as the last post said. and everything else in that post was good advice also

GeffGecko · #4 03-11-2011, 02:15 PM

i have 3 bulbs I put the 40watt in last night. I have a heat rock but i still might pick up the heat mat. I breed Pacman frogs so I know about impaction which a lot of time comes from missed attempts at caching prey . I feed them in a feeding been with no bedding. I will buy some green mats to change out and i have a supplement for the food i also have treatment for tap water.

Jasonp85 · #5 03-11-2011, 03:12 PM

I've also heard horrer stories about heat rocks about them shorting and badly burning ur reptile

IslaReina · #6 03-11-2011, 04:51 PM

I would say definitely get am UTH no matter what. Also, it won't be long before the leos outgrow the 10 gallon, usually a 10 gallon tank is used for 1 gecko max. AND they are too young to sex. If they both turn out to be males, you have to separate them or they will kill each other. If I were you, I would get one more 10 gallon and separate them now just in case so you're not scrambling for equipment later, and before they outgrow the 10 gallon. Two geckos can be kept safely in a minimum of 20 gallons and only if they are both girls, IF they get along well.

You should have three hides in the tank, one on the hot side, one on the cool side, and a moist hide on the hot side, as you mentioned you are going to add a moist hide.

You mentioned that you feed them outside the tank in a separate container with now bedding, but I see crickets in the dish...? And no water dish?

You need a thermometer with a probe so it can measure the temperature directly above the substrate. You can get one cheap from petsmart or petco.

It looks like you picked some nice healthy babies

GeffGecko · #7 03-11-2011, 07:36 PM

Their is food in the tank because I put some in before I let them loose. Im def not using the heat rock. I use feeding bins for all my reptiles on a regular basis. I also have quite a few tanks at home . I put them in the ten gal just for the moment. That was their old water dish before i put water in it..lol Thanks for the help I might be taking them back anyway and ordering from a special breeder.

Jasonp85 · #8 03-11-2011, 07:43 PM

Y thoughs guys look nice

GeffGecko · #9 03-12-2011, 06:03 AM

I know i'm having a having a hard time making up my mind. Im just getting ready for back to back retile shows(Long Island,ny march27) and (white plans,ny april17) so I want to have some extra space. I guess a extra 20gal wont hurt. I plan on buying mature male and female or two females.

sajane · #10 03-12-2011, 10:37 AM

you have beautiful babies. i was going to get an adult male blizzard until I fell in love with a baby blizzard. I guess my girls will have to wait awhile.