New leo owner!

[DrenneRvc]

Hello !

I am new to owning any type of animal other than a dog. I decided I had enough time, and money to try and care for a Leo! I went to "PetSmart" to get me one. (even tho I did hear it was better to get from a breeder )

I did a lot of research via youtube, google, forum boards and all that before purchasing.
I bought a starter tank kit to start out with, but I will be expanding to better habitats for my buddy.

While at petSmart, the employee really didnt know anything about them. I ask if male/female and how old and really wasnt told. I was wondering if just by looking at a picture, you could tell me, or tell me how to find out.

Any help is appericated, and I look forward to posting and reading more. Hopefully becoming apart of this Gecko forum board family!

-Steven

 

[Mardy]

At that age it's almost impossible to tell whether it's a male or female. It looks to be around 1-2 months old.

To sex a leopard gecko, you look at its underside where their tail connects to their body. I'm sure you can google it and see plenty of picture examples. It's near impossible to tell at that age.

 

[DrenneRvc]

At that age it's almost impossible to tell whether it's a male or female. It looks to be around 1-2 months old.

To sex a leopard gecko, you look at its underside where their tail connects to their body. I'm sure you can google it and see plenty of picture examples. It's near impossible to tell at that age.

Thank you very much Mardy! I'll look around once I return home to see what I can find out about it being male or female. Can't really name it if I don't know the sex (

Again, Thank you!

 

[Embrace Calamity]

You can't really confidently identify the sex of a gecko until they're several months old. Right now, he's going to just look like a female.

~Maggot

 

[DrenneRvc]

Thank you Maggot, for further clarifcation.

While I still have this thread towards the top, I had a few more questions.
These being about the heat/humidty of my tank.
(Note; I will share pictures as soon as I get home as I am at work right now)

My temp gauge from the picture my mother sent me looks to be like this.
-Analog-
Heat: 80-85
Humidity: Little over 20%.

Just wanting to make sure those are okay? I will be buying another temp gauge for the "cool" side of the tank, where I have the water.
Thank's friends.

-Steve

 

[Embrace Calamity]

Analog thermometers are no good. They're not usually very accurate, so you can't be 100% sure what your temps really are. You'll need to get digital thermometers. You should also get a thermostat to keep your temps stable.

Also, those temps are too low (if they're accurate). You want a warm side on the ground to be 88-93. Humidity is low too, but if you provide a humid hide, it shouldn't cause any real issues. It wouldn't hurt to raise it some though.

~Maggot

 

[DrenneRvc]

Analog thermometers are no good. They're not usually very accurate, so you can't be 100% sure what your temps really are. You'll need to get digital thermometers. You should also get a thermostat to keep your temps stable.

Also, those temps are too low (if they're accurate). You want a warm side on the ground to be 88-93. Humidity is low too, but if you provide a humid hide, it shouldn't cause any real issues. It wouldn't hurt to raise it some though.

~Maggot

Hello Maggot,

Thanks for a speedy response.
I've actually read on another topic that you've posted on about you recommending Digital temps. I will purchase two today.
The temp I do have is not on the ground, but much higher on the glass so I anticpate higher temps on the ground, however i'll figure out later and repost once having digital!

Could you explain how the thermostats work? Do they plug into my under tank heater (UTH) or? How do I control my UTH with the thermostat? I don't think I am understanding what the thermostat does/is.

Btw, I do have a humid hide and All morning she's been in it. Which I understand is okay, correct?

-Steven

PS: will post more pictures later of her!

 

[DrenneRvc]

I just watched a video on the thermostat, I have the understanding now

 

[Embrace Calamity]

You'll want to monitor the temps on the ground. Knowing the temps up in the air won't do any good while your gecko's on the ground.

For the UTH, you plug the UTH into the thermostat and then plug the thermostat into an outlet. Set the temperature you want it to be at (I do 90 during the day and 86 at night). It will turn the UTH on until it reaches the temperature you want, then it will shut it off. Once the temp falls back down a few degrees, it turns back on again.

The fact she's been in the humid hide isn't necessarily bad. It just means it's too dry in the air for her. It would be good to raise it up to about 40%, but that's not always easy to do with carpet in a regular fish tank.

~Maggot

 

[DrenneRvc]

You'll want to monitor the temps on the ground. Knowing the temps up in the air won't do any good while your gecko's on the ground.

For the UTH, you plug the UTH into the thermostat and then plug the thermostat into an outlet. Set the temperature you want it to be at (I do 90 during the day and 86 at night). It will turn the UTH on until it reaches the temperature you want, then it will shut it off. Once the temp falls back down a few degrees, it turns back on again.

The fact she's been in the humid hide isn't necessarily bad. It just means it's too dry in the air for her. It would be good to raise it up to about 40%, but that's not always easy to do with carpet in a regular fish tank.

~Maggot

Great informations, thank you.
I've had my family spray our water bottle in their a few times to raise humidity, so ill look up ways to do so.
Also its not carpet in a regular fish tank ;p

Thanks for the help

 

[DrenneRvc]

I wonder if getting a mister would be good?

 

[Embrace Calamity]

Well the picture looks like carpet, and it looks like a fish tank. What's the substrate and enclosure then? I suspect a mister would be a bit too much for a leopard gecko.

~Maggot

 

[Mardy]

Mister's unnecessary, it'd create too much humidity and high humidity could cause respiratory infections. Leopard geckos don't require high humidity, unlike crested geckos and such. Leopard geckos only need 20-40% max, so you should be fine as long as you do have a moist hide.

You'll find that most leopard geckos like moist hides, it probably just feels comfortable to them, and it imitates natural underground burrows where they would live in the wild more. There's nothing wrong with a gecko that stays in the moist hide often. In fact when they are young, they do tend to stay in the moist hide more so than when they get older. Hatchlings won't even leave their moisthide unless they want to eat. You do have a young gecko so I wouldn't worry about the gecko staying inside the moist hide.

Moist hides are usually slightly warm, not hot, not cold, so it's a good comfort zone for them.

 

[DrenneRvc]

Well the picture looks like carpet, and it looks like a fish tank. What's the substrate and enclosure then? I suspect a mister would be a bit too much for a leopard gecko.





~Maggot

It's a ZILLA kit I picked up
10 gallon terrarium
Fresh air screen cover 20" x 10"
and it came with terrauim repti liner

Mister's unnecessary, it'd create too much humidity and high humidity could cause respiratory infections. Leopard geckos don't require high humidity, unlike crested geckos and such. Leopard geckos only need 20-40% max, so you should be fine as long as you do have a moist hide.

You'll find that most leopard geckos like moist hides, it probably just feels comfortable to them, and it imitates natural underground burrows where they would live in the wild more. There's nothing wrong with a gecko that stays in the moist hide often. In fact when they are young, they do tend to stay in the moist hide more so than when they get older. Hatchlings won't even leave their moisthide unless they want to eat. You do have a young gecko so I wouldn't worry about the gecko staying inside the moist hide.

Moist hides are usually slightly warm, not hot, not cold, so it's a good comfort zone for them.

Good infos.

I did get a digital thermo, and I also sprayed my water bottle a little more to bring the humidity up, its now a little under 40%

He ate well today, 4 crickets ! He did come out his moist hide and walked around, laid under his hot side hide for a bit, and I put my hand in for about 2 mins, I know he is still new so didnt wanna over do it, as hes still getting comfortable with everything, but he came around my hand, checked it out, even got on top. (didnt lift him or anything ) Overall; I think hes doing good.

Temp at the bottom of the tank is 86 atm! I'm on my way to petsmart as soon as I'm done typing to pick up a thermostat.
My question tho, should I buy a new moist hide? I kinda made an ugly one, and would like a nicer looking one.
However, I'm afraid if I change it, he wont use the new one because hes some-what use to the old one?

 

[Embrace Calamity]

It's a ZILLA kit I picked up
10 gallon terrarium
Fresh air screen cover 20" x 10"
and it came with terrauim repti liner

You mean this?

If so, then, yes, that's pretty much a fish tank (might have a locking lid, but it's still virtually identical), and "repti liner" is just a fancy term for carpet. Spraying it might bring the humidity up, but only very briefly. Plus I'm not sure how good an idea it is to spray the carpet, since there is some concern about stuff growing on it as is. I dunno though.

Yes, you can buy a new humid hide if you want.

~Maggot

 

[DrenneRvc]

You mean this?

If so, then, yes, that's pretty much a fish tank (might have a locking lid, but it's still virtually identical), and "repti liner" is just a fancy term for carpet. Spraying it might bring the humidity up, but only very briefly. Plus I'm not sure how good an idea it is to spray the carpet, since there is some concern about stuff growing on it as is. I dunno though.

Yes, you can buy a new humid hide if you want.

~Maggot

that one, but yeah!!

Thanks will post more questions.

 

[DrenneRvc]

Can anyone tell me the best way to clean poop?

He just pooped a pretty big clump, I did scoop it out, but there is a little left behind on the substrate

 

[DrenneRvc]

Sorry for triple post; dropping a picture of him.
Click to enhance!

 

[Mardy]

Whatever hide you decide to buy, just make sure they work well for the geckos. We sometimes pick something that looks good to us, but they don't exactly work well for them (the geckos). When I first got into leopard geckos I also bought that kit above, and it didn't take long for me to realize I could've setup a terrarium much cheaper and better if I just bought what I needed individually. The basking light, stick on thermometer, repticarpet, and hide were replaced rather quickly.

Anyways when picking out a hide, make sure your gecko can feel cozy and safe. They don't like hides with multiple large holes that we can peak into, and those hides don't hold humidity well for a moist hide anyway. They also prefer a hide where there's only 1 entrance, not one of those hides with multiple openings.

Take a look at my site for some ideas. I made that page precisely because a lot of new hobbyists are misinformed by retail petstore employees.

 

[DrenneRvc]

Whatever hide you decide to buy, just make sure they work well for the geckos. We sometimes pick something that looks good to us, but they don't exactly work well for them (the geckos). When I first got into leopard geckos I also bought that kit above, and it didn't take long for me to realize I could've setup a terrarium much cheaper and better if I just bought what I needed individually. The basking light, stick on thermometer, repticarpet, and hide were replaced rather quickly.

Anyways when picking out a hide, make sure your gecko can feel cozy and safe. They don't like hides with multiple large holes that we can peak into, and those hides don't hold humidity well for a moist hide anyway. They also prefer a hide where there's only 1 entrance, not one of those hides with multiple openings.

Take a look at my site for some ideas. I made that page precisely because a lot of new hobbyists are misinformed by retail petstore employees.

I didn't end up buying a HIDE because the place I went to didn't have anything I felt safe with. They all had a very rough sorta inside that I felt like he might hurt himself with ?

I'm looking over your site as we speak. I've also attached a picture of my set-up. Let me know what you think so far please. The water / feeding bowl is actually behind the corner steps under the leaves, hope thats okay.
Click to enlarge!

ps; you can see him on the right side, sitting on the steps, the cool side.