Hello

[Pokeefe88]

I just stumbled upon this forum and I wanted to say hi.

Since I want to get a leopard gecko sometime this summer. I thought it would be a good idea to enter a forum so I read up on some of the problems I will face when I get my own. I am thinking of putting mine in a 10 g tank with repticarpet, with an UTH and a 75 watt red light.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Hello ~

Welcome to Geckos Unlimited!

Good that you are doing your homework prior to buying your leo. A 10 gallon tank is really too small for a leopard gecko. Get a 20 gallon long (30 inches long) and your pet will be happy for life. It is also very difficult to establish the recommended thermal gradient within a 10 gallon tank. Best practices state: 92-95 F on the warm side and 70s on the cool side.

Please read here for other extremely important information: http://www.geckosunlimited.com/comm...pard-gecko-care-recommendations-nutshell.html

 

[Pokeefe88]

I read through 6 books or so and I bought the herpetoculture of leopard geckos by philippe de vosjoli, ron tremper and roger klingenberg, dvm. However some of the books had misguided information and were out dated so I just used common sense.

What about the Exo-Terra Glass Terrarium 18"x18"x18" are those to small then? I liked the idea of doors opening on the side of the tank instead of an on top opening.

Also I wanted to get my gecko from Reptile Supplies and Live Reptiles for sale at Reptmart. Your Online Reptile and Supply Superstore as the pet stores by me don't really take the best care of their leopard geckos and look really skinny.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

I read through 6 books or so and I bought the herpetoculture of leopard geckos by philippe de vosjoli, ron tremper and roger klingenberg, dvm. However some of the books had misguided information and were out dated so I just used common sense.

What about the Exo-Terra Glass Terrarium 18"x18"x18" are those to small then? I liked the idea of doors opening on the side of the tank instead of an on top opening.

Also I wanted to get my gecko from Reptile Supplies and Live Reptiles for sale at Reptmart. Your Online Reptile and Supply Superstore as the pet stores by me don't really take the best care of their leopard geckos and look really skinny.

Leopard geckos really prefer a long tank over an 18 x 18 x 18. Height is wasted on them unless you construct a series of ramps. Heating a taller tank is more difficult than heating a longer tank since you need 70s on the cool end and 92-95 F on the warm end. Taller tanks are for arboreal geckos. A leopard gecko is terrestrial.

Respected breeders at reptile shows are the best bet. That was you can get hands-on experience and avoid shipping.

 

[Pokeefe88]

I just like the doors on the side instead of on top, I'll look around and see if i can find a 20 g Long with side doors before i buy a tank. I will look at the reptile show the next one by me is this next weekend, I hope I can go so I can have a look around. I didnt like the breeders last time... well they weren't really breeders. They just bought leos to sell at the rept. show. So most of the leos weren't in the best condition.

Thanks for the tips, I will keep them in mind. I will let you know what I end up with. Is a 20 g. long too big for a juvenile?

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

I just like the doors on the side instead of on top, I'll look around and see if i can find a 20 g Long with side doors before i buy a tank. I will look at the reptile show the next one by me is this next weekend, I hope I can go so I can have a look around. I didnt like the breeders last time... well they weren't really breeders. They just bought leos to sell at the rept. show. So most of the leos weren't in the best condition.

Thanks for the tips, I will keep them in mind. I will let you know what I end up with. Is a 20 g. long too big for a juvenile?

Remember, doors are convenient, but a "tall" tank with limited floor space is not what your leo needs. I don't think a 20 gallon long is too large for a juvie.

 

[Pokeefe88]

Okay, I will do what's best for my gecko not what benefits me because then why would I get a gecko? Thanks for your help and advice. I really appreciate it!

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Any time, Pokeefe88. You are welcome!

(Cresties are arboreal and appreciate vertical tanks.)

 

[Pokeefe88]

You can call me patricia or trish.
If I want an arboreal gecko I would get a gargoyle gecko.
They appeal to me & the ones ive seen are friendly a adorable

 

[geckocrazyy]

hi, Im Not trying to sell you anything, but i have some beautiful leopard gekcos for sale, with a tank and a bunch of stuff. dont know if your interested but you sound like a great home!

 

[Pokeefe88]

hi, Im Not trying to sell you anything, but i have some beautiful leopard gekcos for sale, with a tank and a bunch of stuff. dont know if your interested but you sound like a great home!

I need to find a job first, I have a summer job at the moment and I don't know how much money I will have by the end of summer and I'm worried about my funds (for my leo's food) running out before I can find another job. So I want to wait until I have that.

I hope to make a great home! How would I get the leopard gecko and tank (is it a 20 long?)? I live in Woodridge, IL

 

[geckocrazyy]

I need to find a job first, I have a summer job at the moment and I don't know how much money I will have by the end of summer and I'm worried about my funds (for my leo's food) running out before I can find another job. So I want to wait until I have that.

I hope to make a great home! How would I get the leopard gecko and tank (is it a 20 long?)? I live in Woodridge, IL

I Could Ship Whatever one there. You Can buy a huge thing of mealworms that will last your gecko for at least a month. i have 4 girls, soo. if you take all 4, their tank is a 4x4. if you take one, i think i might have a 10 or 20 long...

 

[Pokeefe88]

I Could Ship Whatever one there. You Can buy a huge thing of mealworms that will last your gecko for at least a month. i have 4 girls, soo. if you take all 4, their tank is a 4x4. if you take one, i think i might have a 10 or 20 long...

Thats alright, thank you for the generous offer. I'm still doing some last minute things, like what substrate to use...which has given me a headache after I started reading the forum on that.. :/ I will figure that out however.

 

[geckocrazyy]

Thats alright, thank you for the generous offer. I'm still doing some last minute things, like what substrate to use...which has given me a headache after I started reading the forum on that.. :/ I will figure that out however.

Well, the best substarte for me that all my geckos (leopards/cresties/fat tails) love is the same stuff you use to line your cabinet with. you can get a huge roll at publix, and its cheap, good for their feet, and stylish!

 

[Pokeefe88]

Well, the best substarte for me that all my geckos (leopards/cresties/fat tails) love is the same stuff you use to line your cabinet with. you can get a huge roll at publix, and its cheap, good for their feet, and stylish!

Interesting, I wouldnt have thought of that, how is that for clean up though? Change it out every week?

 

[geckocrazyy]

Interesting, I wouldnt have thought of that, how is that for clean up though? Change it out every week?

Every few months, very easy pickup, i use lysol wipes, works fine!

 

[Riverside Reptiles]

hi, Im Not trying to sell you anything, but i have some beautiful leopard gekcos for sale, with a tank and a bunch of stuff. dont know if your interested but you sound like a great home!

I see that you are new here as well. So here is fair warning. We do not allow ANY type of sales in these forums other than in the classifieds ads. We're pretty much all breeders here with animals for sale. So it would make the forums very cluttered if everyone (we have 25,000+ members) were making posts like this. Keep your sales private (PMs or emails) or in the classifieds only please.
Thanks and welcome to GU.

 

[Riverside Reptiles]

@ Trish, I don't know that I agree that leopard geckos somehow prefer a long tank as opposed to a square tank. IMO square footage is square footage despite the particular shape. It's the total floor space that matters when it comes to a ground dwelling animal. That being said, I do agree that the 18" height is somewhat wasted vertical space. But that too is not really an issue if that's what you like. The negatives of it can be overcome, and can even become a benefit if you wanted some vertical space for a naturalistic set up. What people seem to forget is that the heat gradient can work vertically as well as horizontally. Anyway, welcome to GU. I'm glad to see you doing research BEFORE making purchases. Please utilize the leopard gecko forum by reading previous post first and then asking specific questions as needed. If in doubt, ask more questions. The search function will yield you a plethora of answers to many of your questions as well. Thanks and welcome again.

 

[Pokeefe88]

Thank you Ethan, I wouldn't dream of trying to buy any animal (especially a reptile) without learning all that I can about them. I still learning even though I have been researching for at least 2 months if not longer. I got every book I could from my local libraries to read all the varying information. I eventually bought the Herptoculture of leopard geckos; that was mentioned in the substrate sticky

I will have a carefully laid out list of what to buy from the brand and store I want to get it from and what I will need (thats what I am working on now.) I figure by july I should have that finished. I have decided to go with the 20 long tank as I am not creative enough to make a rocky mountain mold for my gecko to climb on.

***
Trish