Hello from the UK

[LeviLeopard]

Hello, I live in the UK.

I am the proud owner of my first Leopard Gecko which I bought on Saturday. I have been researching and learning lots of stuff since then! Turns out the shop didn't advise me properly!! I have now corrected the mistakes! I have replaced the sand with bark. I bought moss for a moist hide, a UV light and I am gut loading the crickets and meal worms!
I have been told my Gecko is a normal wild morph. I would like to know whether the people on here agree. I don't know how old he is, I just know that he is a juvenile. This means I can't really tell if he is a boy or a girl yet but some one in a reptile shop I went to today thinks he is most probably a boy. He is 19 grams, just had him checked out today at the vets. He is getting more lively by the day so hopefully I am doing something right!

Looking forward to getting to know you all!

xxx
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[lisaowens]

welcome i am new to but i could be wrong when i say this bark will not be the best thing for your leo most people recommend paper towel when they are young i have mine on tile. how big is yours mine is around 4 in. so about 3 to 4 months old. they don't need uv light either

 

[lisaowens]

do you have a calcium dish in the tank? and calcium with d3 to dust the food with and a multi vitamin to dust as well? the calcium in the tank should not have d3

 

[LeviLeopard]

Hello,

The bark in his tank are large pieces, I sifted out the small bits. I am looking around for slate tiles at the mo as I feel it would be better for him in the long run.

I phoned the shop and they said he is aboout six months old. Haven't measured him yet though.
I bought 100% calcium yesterday so that is now in his tank. The dust I use with the crickets has D3 and multivitamins in it. I also gut load the meal worms with dandelions and strawberries and the crickets have carrots at the moment.
The shop said they don't need UV light but the vet and the guy from the reptile shop said they did!! They should make their own D3 and apparently it will improve his appetite.

 

[LeviLeopard]

Whoop!! Slate tiles now ordered!! I got the samples and they were cheap as chips! They should be here within 3-5 working days.x

 

[lisaowens]

leopard geckos don't bask they are nocturnal they only come out at dark. don't use the uv if by chance he does come out it combined with the vitamins can give him an overdose. you can use a basking light during the day if you need the extra heat but switch to a night light at night. if you have not had him long he may not eat for a few days but still offer food to him. as far as the multi and d3 mix i could be wrong but i think it is best to have them separate the calcium and d3 and then a mullti i believe i read that d3 cancels out a vitamin in the multi when mix together. mine gets cal d3 twice a week and multi twice a week on different days if i am wrong with anything please someone correct me.

 

[LeviLeopard]

The UV is just a light, is has no heat emissions. I have a heat lamp for the day combined with a heat mat under the tank. At night, the heat lamp glows, don't think I need a red light but will double check with my sources. My gecko likes to climb his repto-ladder and sit under the heat lamp on his hammock sometimes. I think he has plenty of places to keep warm, a hammock and a rock. He also has two moist hides, one under the heat lamp and one on the cooler side of the tank.

I dunno if it's true about other multi vitamins cancelling out the D3 in the dust, but if that is the case, the UV light will help him to make his own D3. He is eating well as far as I can tell.

 

[LeviLeopard]

I have been told by a reptile breeder that LG's skin is 80% UVB absorbant. They do absorb UV in a natural habitat because they are out around dusk and dawn. I don't need a red lamp because the temperature at night in the wild would naturally drop anyway and I still have a heat mat.

I was also told that the chances of my LG ingesting bark is extremely slim because the pieces are so big. However, I do have slate tile on order.

xx