Outgrowing a 20 gallon long?

[cheddarness8]

At what size does a single leopard gecko get too big for a twenty gallon long tank? Can that happen? I understand that a bigger tank isn't always the best choice for most ectotherms due to heating requirements, but I want to make sure that Kirk is comfortable.

Right now he is just about eight and a half months old, and as of yesterday, he was 10.1 inches long and 90 grams in weight. At what point does it become unfair to house an animal of that size in a 30" x 12" x 12" tank? Not to mention that I assume he's still growing?

He does lots of climbing and crawling at night and I like to think he has plenty of room, but I thought I'd check with you gecksperts. Needless to say, when I purchased Kirk this summer, I was not expecting him to grow like this.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

At what size does a single leopard gecko get too big for a twenty gallon long tank? Can that happen? I understand that a bigger tank isn't always the best choice for most ectotherms due to heating requirements, but I want to make sure that Kirk is comfortable.

Right now he is just about eight and a half months old, and as of yesterday, he was 10.1 inches long and 90 grams in weight. At what point does it become unfair to house an animal of that size in a 30" x 12" x 12" tank? Not to mention that I assume he's still growing?

He does lots of climbing and crawling at night and I like to think he has plenty of room, but I thought I'd check with you gecksperts. Needless to say, when I purchased Kirk this summer, I was not expecting him to grow like this.

Kirk is a very handsome leo! He is actually a thigmotherm :idea:. Good to hear he is very active.

Can't exactly answer your question. But for sure at 8 mo he is still growing.

My mature female in a 20 gallon LONG measures about 9 inches. As of 2 Feb 2013 she weighs 78 grams.

Exo Terra has a nifty tank, of course with front doors: 36 x 18 x 12 inches (tall).

 

[SORROW89]

http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog...bs/vision-cages-and-tubs/-/v400-vision-cage/I think once they become adult it's time for something bigger and better. I I've been looking at this one. What you guys think. It has undertank heating.
Vision cages and tubs http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog/vision-cages-racks-and-tubs/vision-cages-and-tubs/
this model Vision cage
size: maybe this size: 48 x 26 x 14" OR V600 Vision Cage

 

[cheddarness8]

Elizabeth, good thing we're both right. A thigmotherm is just a specific type of ectotherm. Thanks for the tip about the other tank, though. I might look into that larger Exo-Terra tank. Shame I spent all of that time on the naturalistic setup I have now! Maybe if he doesn't get too much bigger I can keep him in what he has now, but at this rate, I'm worried he'll top 11 inches in the next few months.

Sorrow, those are really awesome tanks, but I think they're more in line for what a professional might own. If you have the budget for one of those, go for it, but as a pet owner of a single gecko, I know I don't.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Elizabeth, good thing we're both right. A thigmotherm is just a specific type of ectotherm. Thanks for the tip about the other tank, though. I might look into that larger Exo-Terra tank. Shame I spent all of that time on the naturalistic setup I have now! Maybe if he doesn't get too much bigger I can keep him in what he has now, but at this rate, I'm worried he'll top 11 inches in the next few months.
......

The 36 x 18 x 12 Exo-Terras were priced at $200 in January 2013. A good solution for your 20 gallon LONG might be to rescue a leo in need of a forever home.

Keep GU posted about Captain Kirk and his growth. BTW, could he be a giant morph?

 

[cheddarness8]

I suppose it's possible, but really unlikely, that Kirk might be a giant morph. He's just a chain pet store gecko, and I know giant morphs come from very specific bloodlines. Still, I guess he is in the size range.

 

[Amuna1225]

I suppose it's possible, but really unlikely, that Kirk might be a giant morph. He's just a chain pet store gecko, and I know giant morphs come from very specific bloodlines. Still, I guess he is in the size range.

Wouldnt that be crazy to get a giant morph from a pet store chain? :yahoo:

 

[cheddarness8]

That would be really neat, Amuna. Unfortunately, with a pet store gecko, you really don't know the history or bloodlines of the animal, so it's hard to say what he might have in his genetics. He might be a mix of albinos, giant, or het for nearly anything. XD When I picked him out, he was active and didn't appear sickly, and that's all I was really looking for. The fact that he's so large and brightly colored are just some surprising, but welcomed, bonuses.

I guess the next few months will tell if he makes it any closer to 11 inches, or tops 110 grams. He has four more until he's officially a year old.

 

[Saskia]

Ron Tremper classifies as GIANT to anything that tops 80 grames, and he was the "founder" of the giant gene.... when it first appeared it was a random mutation, so why not???

 

[cheddarness8]

XD Maybe you guys are right, and I'm just being a party pooper.

It does seem kind of strange to say that he's not a "giant," even though he's 10.4 inches long (I re-did the length today) and weighs 90 grams at eight months of age.

 

[XoVictoryXo]

what a cutie! I think he is a giant!

 

[SORROW89]

I'm NOT A professional. She's my only gecko too. That's why they should be more spoiled and have all the good stuff. I want my baby girl to be happy and all the space chasing crickets can give her six-pack.:yahoo:

 

[cheddarness8]

XD I try to spoil mine as well, but it doesn't mean I can necessarily afford the best of everything. If you can, though, good on you- I say go for it.

I'm thinking about making a new naturalistic interior for my tank (sob sob), one some levels to give "giant" Kirk more room for his big butt. If I have the time and resources to try it again, it might be worth it.