New to leos (sorta) and need pre-buying help

[Jester]

Improvement

Berry ultimately it is up to you, but I think you should really think if you can give that little animal what it deserves. You're right, you have been improving, but if I were in your situation, I would look for a different animal, until either my mom changed her mind, or I got my own place.

If you don't mind me asking, why can't you get a bigger tank? Is it a space issue or a money issue. If it's space I have another idea.

 

[Melonhelmet]

Ok, for a few years the tank will stay, but I went to a pet store and pointed out how fat the geckos were, so it will be fed 3 times a week. This is an AMAZING reptile guy, and he said a 10 gallon is small, but will keep a leopard gecko. Space is the problem, and my mom isn't going to go bigger. But no sand and feedings 3 times/ week. Happier? And I saw the cutest baby! He was blizzard mixed with high yellow, and seemed to have hints of a line on his back. SOOO cute!

No Im not happier. If its a baby they need to eat everyday. Maybe you shouldnt get a leopard gecko, maybe something smaller like a house gecko or an anole.

 

[Allee Toler]

"And I saw the cutest baby! He was blizzard mixed with high yellow, and seemed to have hints of a line on his back."

There are no mixes... I have no idea what you even said. I've never heard of such things. There's blizzards called "banana" blizzards. No blizzards mixed with high yellow. ?

And I agree. Get a house gecko. At least to build up some reptile experience.

 

[berry]

WHY DO YOU NEVER UNDERSTAND????????? READ THE POST CLEARLY, INSTEAD OF LOOKING FOR MORE FLAWS!

The baby will be fed daily. Both mine and my brothers will then (well, my brothers starts now) will be fed 3 times a week!

By mix I mean the father was a blizzard, and the mother was a high yellow.
I actually said banana blizzard in the store. It seemed to have a faint line on his back in white.

I will try to change the ten when get gets older, but it will be about 4 or 5, not 1. I'm sorry, but a 10 gallon is OK. You can read that anywhere. You can hear it anywhere from a good reptile person, who would say a 10 is fine, but a 20 is better. Well no duh a 20 is better, it's bigger! You don't get it, the 10 takes up the absolute last of the available space in my room, apart from where I walk, and it's not going anywhere else. I will provide a jungle climbing branch, as there is lots to climb on.


So to refresh the changes:
sand to tile.
once a week to 3 times a week for adults.
heat lamp to uth.

 

[Melonhelmet]

WHY DO YOU NEVER UNDERSTAND????????? READ THE POST CLEARLY, INSTEAD OF LOOKING FOR MORE FLAWS!

The baby will be fed daily. Both mine and my brothers will then (well, my brothers starts now) will be fed 3 times a week!

By mix I mean the father was a blizzard, and the mother was a high yellow.
I actually said banana blizzard in the store. It seemed to have a faint line on his back in white.

I will try to change the ten when get gets older, but it will be about 4 or 5, not 1. I'm sorry, but a 10 gallon is OK. You can read that anywhere. You can hear it anywhere from a good reptile person, who would say a 10 is fine, but a 20 is better. Well no duh a 20 is better, it's bigger! You don't get it, the 10 takes up the absolute last of the available space in my room, apart from where I walk, and it's not going anywhere else. I will provide a jungle climbing branch, as there is lots to climb on.


So to refresh the changes:
sand to tile.
once a week to 3 times a week for adults.
heat lamp to uth.

Im sorry, but its not okay. A 10 is a size that people SAY you can use. But people also SAID thhe titanic would not sink. I know that some caresheets say you can and all, but I had my female in a 20 gallon when she was younger (like a baby) and it still seemed too small so I bought her a 24x18x18
exo-terra. A jungle climbing branch? Like those thin exo-terra ones? I dont think that could sapport a leo, nevermind the leo accually being able to use it.

However you could do a polystyrene fake floor and background that provides multiple levels to the ten gallon . If you would like a like let me know, if we are certain that you will just not stop with this.

I still say a 10 is too small, but If we cannot change your mind then ask me for the background thing.

or look for another reptile.

 

[leoaddiction]

Eeesh, What a pleasant surprise to see on my return on gu, hahaha.

Okay, Berry, you have to listen to what other people are tryin to tell you. This is an advice forum, and we give you advice on how to correct/improve your techniques. Critisim will be part of that, and you have to learn to live with it and to handle it properly. Instead of thinking that people are putting you down, look at the advice in it, and use it. If people are telling you to get a pet rock, then maybe you can look abit deeper into the comment and realise maybe a leopard gecko is too much care for you to handle right now and you would be puttin the animal in danger.

Now for the advice...
First and foremost, a 10 Gallon long will not sufice the gecko's adult hood. I Kept my babies and juvies in 10 gallons, but switched to 20 longs at about 8-9 months of age. Yes, you can read anywhere that a 10 gallon will eb ok for the gecko. Also, you can read anywhere that sand is ok for the gecko, and that it can survive on only crickets it whoe life. But these are all debatable topics. A leopard gecko will SURVIVE in a 10 gallon tank its entire life, but you should consider what it needs. It would require a moist hide, a warm hide, and a cool hide. On top of that, you ned a water bowl, a food dish with calcium powder, and if you want to put decor, that aswell. All this will have to accomodate the size of a 8-12 inch adult leopard gecko..

A 10 gallon tank is only 20X10.. 8 inches of gecko, 8 inches of moist hide, 5 inches of col and warm hide.. that al adds up. Then what room does teh gecko have to move? You can compare it to the room you currently have, Okay? You said theres only room for you to walk, and available space for a ten gallon. Imagine living there twenty four hours a day, seven days a week.. How would that be? I'm sure you can survive, but not Thrive.

I suggest to kep your 10 gallon for your baby, but to buy a 20 long right away, and make some space for it later on. To feed your baby daily, and your adult every otehr day to 3 times a week. Dust the babies' food a couple times per week, and adults once per week to every second week. Always keep water int he tank, and use your thermometer to judge what teh temperature is. Daytime temps should be close to 90 degrees ferenheit. Put the thermometer on the floor, not on the glass, they need belly heat nto ambient air temps.

We are all here to give you advice. If you are going to ignore it and make a large deal out of the fact that these people are tryign to help you, then you should resign from the forum. Do not persist and tell us our information is wrong, we have done our research and taken great care of our pets, now its your turn to do the same.

If you cannot handle these respinsibilities, then we do urge you to try a different specie of gecko. Search teh forum, tehre aer several smaller and less maintenance geckos out there.. good luck.

 

[berry]

Ok, my mom finally said she would look at garage sales and search kijiji and craigslist for a 20 if I paid, and to accomadate (sp?) it I am no longer going to have a night stand.

 

[Melonhelmet]

Ok, my mom finally said she would look at garage sales and search kijiji and craigslist for a 20 if I paid, and to accomadate (sp?) it I am no longer going to have a night stand.

Berry, I know how the no room thing feels. I gave up my computer, my nightstand, my lamp, my shelves, and once I get my cornsnake (I need a job first, to bad there aren't any around) Im going to be getting rid of my TV.

I think this is part of the reason people think reptile keepers are crazy is because we are always giving up stuff we like to make room for them.

Its great.

 

[berry]

Ugh, I feel so bi-polar!
Every time I confirm the crestie, I find something wrong with getting it. Then I settle on something, and I find a new way to get a crestie. You probably won't be too sad to find out I have a new idea to get a crested gecko, which, no offense, is my preference. I remembered my mom trying to put my brother's lid on my tank, and though wait! Why don't I just switch with him? Then I can have a locking lid, and his lizard will not have a problem, as it's the same length and width, but easier to open. I think doing this will officially allow the crestie to work!

 

[Allee Toler]

If you want a crestie, get one. Just make sure you have the set up done 48 hours before bringing the little guy/girl home to have all the temperatures and humidity levels correct. Also take pictures of the tank, and show them to the Crestie forum. They will tell you what to tweak, which is great when you think about it.

As for the space, I live in a room with bunkbeds, my fiance, and my fiance's best friend. In ONE room. My fiance has a bearie baby (in a 4 feet by 2 feet tank), My two current leos are in a 20long together on my dresser (TV's on the floor), and I had to go buy a plastic storage shelf at WalMart just so I can get 3 more bins to keep my future 1 male and 6 female breeding group in. Not to mention my bathroom counter has the incubator, and the baby bins are on my night stand.

My other roommate has cats, so I can't keep my reptiles out there. And my fiance's best friend wants a python. So we're trying to find room for it. Our room is 15x12. Three full grown adults live there, with a ton of tanks, two dressers, tv on the floor, nightstand, tons of storage shelving, etc.

The odd thing, my love for reptiles is too much to worry about my 2 feetx6 feet walking square in our room. Because of our reptiles, we couldn't afford our half of the rent (rent's only 655!) so we brought in the best friend to pay half of it. But we love our reptiles THAT much. =]

 

[Melonhelmet]

If you want a crestie, get one. Just make sure you have the set up done 48 hours before bringing the little guy/girl home to have all the temperatures and humidity levels correct. Also take pictures of the tank, and show them to the Crestie forum. They will tell you what to tweak, which is great when you think about it.

As for the space, I live in a room with bunkbeds, my fiance, and my fiance's best friend. In ONE room. My fiance has a bearie baby (in a 4 feet by 2 feet tank), My two current leos are in a 20long together on my dresser (TV's on the floor), and I had to go buy a plastic storage shelf at WalMart just so I can get 3 more bins to keep my future 1 male and 6 female breeding group in. Not to mention my bathroom counter has the incubator, and the baby bins are on my night stand.

My other roommate has cats, so I can't keep my reptiles out there. And my fiance's best friend wants a python. So we're trying to find room for it. Our room is 15x12. Three full grown adults live there, with a ton of tanks, two dressers, tv on the floor, nightstand, tons of storage shelving, etc.

The odd thing, my love for reptiles is too much to worry about my 2 feetx6 feet walking square in our room. Because of our reptiles, we couldn't afford our half of the rent (rent's only 655!) so we brought in the best friend to pay half of it. But we love our reptiles THAT much. =]

Its odd what reptiles do to people. Im supporting 7 herps with no job. I do alot of work around my neighborhood.

I buy 200 crickets a week and around 25 butterworms a month. thats 10$ a weak and around 60 dollars a month for everything.

 

[Jester]

I know what you mean melon, I have quite smaller needs for my reptiles mainly because I have 2 but there are sacrifices I don't hesitate making. I was saving up for a new comp, as soon as my gecko got sick I spent 1 grand at 2 pet hospitals and countless hours awake checking on her, making sure she didn't relapse.

My dad gave me a hard time about spending so much money on a $60.00 gecko, but I don't mind waiting another year or so before I can upgrade.

There is something about the relationship all pets have to their owners, I wouldn't trade it for the world.

 

[Melonhelmet]

I know what you mean melon, I have quite smaller needs for my reptiles mainly because I have 2 but there are sacrifices I don't hesitate making. I was saving up for a new comp, as soon as my gecko got sick I spent 1 grand at 2 pet hospitals and countless hours awake checking on her, making sure she didn't relapse.

My dad gave me a hard time about spending so much money on a $60.00 gecko, but I don't mind waiting another year or so before I can upgrade.

There is something about the relationship all pets have to their owners, I wouldn't trade it for the world.

My mom gets it. She had a gerbal when she was little that died because her parents said "its only 15$ just buy a new one if it dies".

And OMG I just saw my long tailed lizards mating

 

[Allee Toler]

Lol. I don't have a job... I moved across the nation (FL to CA) with no job. Just so I can have my reptiles. My parents hate them. And my Fiance's family is here... so it's not just for the reptiles, though they were a big factor. Lol.

My Fiance pays for everything. Just about no one is hiring. So I babysit every couple days to make $40 to feed my lovvies. They eat better than I do. Lol. Money wise, we BARELY make it each month. Our grocery budget is only $50 a month. But we make it work. Our gecko budget is $30. Lol. Once all our bills are paid, foods bought, reptiles fed, etc. We have about $10 left. So if I get sick and need medication, it's not going to happen. It's the price you pay when you move out on your own. I'm only 18, almost 19, Nick's almost 21, and we've been on our own since Feb. There's been nights when we split a bag of chips and a bag of ramen. Lol. But that's life. We live off of ramen, noodles in a cup, dollar menus, water, and vitamin supplements.

Thank GOD our electric bill is only $56-$59 a month. Even with all our lamps, heat pads, heat tape, etc. Lol.

Anything for a reptile. They're my children.

 

[Riverside Reptiles]

Berry, my apologies that some people on here may have been rude to you. There are certainly some people in here that are not acting in the spirit that this community is based on. Unfortunately, I can't read every thread. And just became aware of this one. As was mentioned, a good way to find the information that you're looking for is to simply to research previous threads of which there are hundreds. You also need to understand that many here are very passionate about geckos and sometimes get carried away with their responses. I'm glad that you are trying to be open minded and learn from the advice that's been given despite the fact that some of it was not exactly polite.

I'm not going to point my fingers at anyone in particular. But there are some people in this leo forum that have pretty limited experience that are acting like they have all the answers. Just because you have a lot of posts, doesn't make you the king/queen bee. That may fly on some of the other forums, but not here. This forum has always had a zero tolerance for negativity and will continue to do so. If you can't post advice in a positive way, don't bother. It's ok to be critical. But there's a big difference between positive feedback and being a jerk about it.

As for the pet rock comment, as crazy as it sounds, pet rocks were quite a big hit in the 1970's. Easy to care for and long lived, they make for a great low maintenance pet indeed.

To those of you that DID offer positive, well thought out, and helpful information, thank you.

 

[Melonhelmet]

Berry, my apologies that some people on here may have been rude to you. There are certainly some people in here that are not acting in the spirit that this community is based on. Unfortunately, I can't read every thread. And just became aware of this one. As was mentioned, a good way to find the information that you're looking for is to simply to research previous threads of which there are hundreds. You also need to understand that many here are very passionate about geckos and sometimes get carried away with their responses. I'm glad that you are trying to be open minded and learn from the advice that's been given despite the fact that some of it was not exactly polite.

I'm not going to point my fingers at anyone in particular. But there are some people in this leo forum that have pretty limited experience that are acting like they have all the answers. Just because you have a lot of posts, doesn't make you the king/queen bee. That may fly on some of the other forums, but not here. This forum has always had a zero tolerance for negativity and will continue to do so. If you can't post advice in a positive way, don't bother. It's ok to be critical. But there's a big difference between positive feedback and being a jerk about it.

As for the pet rock comment, as crazy as it sounds, pet rocks were quite a big hit in the 1970's. Easy to care for and long lived, they make for a great low maintenance pet indeed.

To those of you that DID offer positive, well thought out, and helpful information, thank you.

Hey riverside:

 

[berry]

I'm back!!!!!
My dad just won't let me flip any tank.
So I'm setting up my tank Friday.
So, I have an inch of floor space on the back and one side of my tank. What do I fill it with? Tiles just wouldn't cover. This was the best I could get, 12 2x6 tiles. (I am using a 10 for the juvie) I have a uth set up from my crabs. A coco hut for the juvie. I'll be upgrading it as s/he grows, and adding a 3 in 1 rock cave thing. The lizards at the pet store love it. This guy at the store is great, so even though the color isn't great, I'm buying the cross. Remember the regular crossed with a blizzard that was striped that I mentioned? The one I call a banana blizzard, but I am not sure really is? I have a water dish, and hygrometer/thermometer. I will buy the 3 in 1, some plants (fake), and some other deco maybe. Oh, and a background. Plus I need a substrate for the bare space. Can I fill that with sand, or no?

 

[Melonhelmet]

I'm back!!!!!
My dad just won't let me flip any tank.
So I'm setting up my tank Friday.
So, I have an inch of floor space on the back and one side of my tank. What do I fill it with? Tiles just wouldn't cover. This was the best I could get, 12 2x6 tiles. (I am using a 10 for the juvie) I have a uth set up from my crabs. A coco hut for the juvie. I'll be upgrading it as s/he grows, and adding a 3 in 1 rock cave thing. The lizards at the pet store love it. This guy at the store is great, so even though the color isn't great, I'm buying the cross. Remember the regular crossed with a blizzard that was striped that I mentioned? The one I call a banana blizzard, but I am not sure really is? I have a water dish, and hygrometer/thermometer. I will buy the 3 in 1, some plants (fake), and some other deco maybe. Oh, and a background. Plus I need a substrate for the bare space. Can I fill that with sand, or no?

Prepare to have your post elope with a can opener and get cut open and dissected.

Setup:
3 Hides- Hot End, Humid Hide, Cool End
Water Dish
Small Dish Of Pure Calcium No D3
Substrate- No Sand, you could use non stick shelf liner cut to the size of the empy space maybe propped up on a cut peice of wood. size. Sand (ESPECIALLY CALCI-SAND) can cause impaction, which is a big hell hole.
A Infered Or Probe thermomiter- you need to measure the floor heat not the air, a normal gauge wont work.

Am I missing something?

 

[MellowMan24]

berry i'm proud you took all the advise these people gave you because i'm just starting out i dont even have a gecko yet i still look at my temps 3 times a day! not saying you should i'm just excited to finally get a gecko i'm still getting advise (i still need advise because i feel i dont know enough) your lucky you could get yours so fast after getting a new tank i got my tank set it up and i'm most likely not going to get a gecko until September! my motto is you can never know to much!
and for the pet rock thing everyone told you to get was mean but kinda funny

 

[jking]

HAHAHAHA a pet rock!!! That is priceless.