New leo owner!

[Mardy]

Your setup looks fine for now, I'm sure you'll want to make changes to it later on, maybe when the gecko gets a bit larger. You should have an under tank heating pad on the bottom of the tank. If so you can skip the basking light. That gecko looks like an albino, albinos are more light sensitive, and their eyes & skins can actually be hurt by prolonged exposure to UV. A tank of that size does not give the gecko proper way to hide away from the UV light.

Having an UTH with proper floor temperature (90-95 on the hot spot), and a good multivitamin +D3 supplement routine is all you need for a healthy leopard gecko's growth.

Repti carpet traps bacteria, it's one of the reasons why I dislike them. But you're going through what I went through initially, the live & learn stage. Like I said I also bought a kit. Anyways for now you're likely fine with what you have, with some adjustments here and there. When the gecko grows up, you may want to think about getting a 20 gallon setup with slate/ceramic tiles.

 

[DrenneRvc]

Your setup looks fine for now, I'm sure you'll want to make changes to it later on, maybe when the gecko gets a bit larger. You should have an under tank heating pad on the bottom of the tank. If so you can skip the basking light. That gecko looks like an albino, albinos are more light sensitive, and their eyes & skins can actually be hurt by prolonged exposure to UV. A tank of that size does not give the gecko proper way to hide away from the UV light.

Having an UTH with proper floor temperature (90-95 on the hot spot), and a good multivitamin +D3 supplement routine is all you need for a healthy leopard gecko's growth.

Repti carpet traps bacteria, it's one of the reasons why I dislike them. But you're going through what I went through initially, the live & learn stage. Like I said I also bought a kit. Anyways for now you're likely fine with what you have, with some adjustments here and there. When the gecko grows up, you may want to think about getting a 20 gallon setup with slate/ceramic tiles.

This is VERY good news!

I do wanna upgrade, either my next paycheck, or the one after. I wanna be very loving and caring for him, so whatever he needs, I will always get.

I've turned the light off. Another question tho my friend, I have a "black nightlight bulb" it's a 75 watt incandescent reptile light, can I use this without hurting his eyes? Is there any light I can use without hurting him? PS: I do have a UTH; and according to digi therm, its running about 86. Looking to get thermostat l8r tho! Thanks for all your answers, I am very glad to have found an amazing forum with such great quality posters such as your self and maggot.

 

[Mardy]

I'd definitely skip using the blacklight. If you need light at night for viewing purposes, go with a night-glo moonlight. But with a tank of that size, go with something like 15-25w. 75w is too much for a 10 gallon.

Also your UTH should heat the floor temperature to at least 90. 86 is not quite ideal. If you are more close to 88-89 then I'd say you're ok. But 86 is quite a few degrees out of the ideal 90-95 hotspot temperature.

 

[DrenneRvc]

I'd definitely skip using the blacklight. If you need light at night for viewing purposes, go with a night-glo moonlight. But with a tank of that size, go with something like 15-25w. 75w is too much for a 10 gallon.

Also your UTH should heat the floor temperature to at least 90. 86 is not quite ideal. If you are more close to 88-89 then I'd say you're ok. But 86 is quite a few degrees out of the ideal 90-95 hotspot temperature.

hm, okay, i'lll look into trying to raise the heat, thank you.
night-glo moonlight, i'll try to order 1 or get one at petsmart.

Again, Thanks friend. you've been a lot of help!

 

[Mardy]

hm, okay, i'lll look into trying to raise the heat, thank you.
night-glo moonlight, i'll try to order 1 or get one at petsmart.

Again, Thanks friend. you've been a lot of help!

You're welcome, helping more hobbyists take better care of their geckos make me happy. Give yourself some credit for willing to do the research and ask questions, and more importantly, willing to improve and make things better for your gecko pet. Too many people just don't care and not willing to learn and change.

 

[DrenneRvc]

Sorry, had another inquiry !

I fed him earlier, around 6pm EST, he ate 3 crickets. I'm wondering if I should put some meal worms in his tank tonight before I go to sleep... any thoughts on that would be nice.

Also, should I have a regular feeding schedule, like once in the morning / once at night?

 

[Mardy]

A gecko that young should be fed daily. So if you have an escape proof mealworm dish, then yes it would be nice to leave some mealworms for him to snack on later. I do have a set schedule I go on, but this is something you'll have to work out for yourself. You don't really need to feed him twice a day if you do leave mealworms in a dish for him.

So feeding at night is fine.

 

[DrenneRvc]

A gecko that young should be fed daily. So if you have an escape proof mealworm dish, then yes it would be nice to leave some mealworms for him to snack on later. I do have a set schedule I go on, but this is something you'll have to work out for yourself. You don't really need to feed him twice a day if you do leave mealworms in a dish for him.

So feeding at night is fine.

Mardy, you're truly a blessing! I wish I could do something to pay you back.
(which will probably be me ordering my next gecko once I am ready from your site! )

I just had 2 more quick questions. I was reading through posts in the Health section and for some reason, and some of it was actually quite scary!
I dont know what normal poop looks like from them and I'm not sure what urates is?
TY so much!

 

[Mardy]

Um I don't have a picture of a normal poop, but a normal poop consists of urate (the white part), and the brown part (waste) like any other poop. Urate is leopard gecko's way of letting go of water. They don't urinate, they let out urate. Urates are white, if you press on them they get smashed like powder.

 

[DrenneRvc]

Um I don't have a picture of a normal poop, but a normal poop consists of urate (the white part), and the brown part (waste) like any other poop. Urate is leopard gecko's way of letting go of water. They don't urinate, they let out urate. Urates are white, if you press on them they get smashed like powder.

Beautiful, I actually witnessed this today then. Just reading those threads scared me, and I'd like to be prepared for anything!

This will be my last question for the night, and again thank you for answering everything.

Tho it has only been two days, he doesnt seem to drink anything (from what I've seen) He was in the hide for a bit, then was running around a lot too, but I dont see him drinking out of the water bowl. Is that normal? The water bowl is pretty low, I've seen him walk over it to catch a cricket.
any words?

 

[Mardy]

They don't drink much, they get most of their moisture needs from their food. So it's normal to not see him drink water. But it's still important to have a water bowl and fresh water. They do drink, just not often.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

How are you supplementing with calcium, vitamin D3, vitamin A acetate, and multivitamins? What are you feeding the crickets and mealworms?

Temperatures for all leos regardless of size:
88-93 F (31-34 C) ground temp at warm end inside the warm dry hide
no greater than 85 F (29.5 C) air temp - 4 inches above ground on the warm end
no greater than 75 F (24.5 C) air temp - 4 inches above ground on the cool end

Leave the UTH on 24/7. Can turn off overhead heating at night.

Good idea to pick up a 30 x 12 x 12 inch tank at the next Petco $1 per gallon sale.

 

[DrenneRvc]

How are you supplementing with calcium, vitamin D3, vitamin A acetate, and multivitamins? What are you feeding the crickets and mealworms?

Temperatures for all leos regardless of size:
88-93 F (31-34 C) ground temp at warm end inside the warm dry hide
no greater than 85 F (29.5 C) air temp - 4 inches above ground on the warm end
no greater than 75 F (24.5 C) air temp - 4 inches above ground on the cool end

Leave the UTH on 24/7. Can turn off overhead heating at night.

Good idea to pick up a 30 x 12 x 12 inch tank at the next Petco $1 per gallon sale.

using FLUKERS calcuim with d3 dusting on crickets.
I was not able to find (even asked sales person at the store) without d3 to put in tank, will order online today and get rush shipping.

How do I find out about those sales? mailing list?

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

using FLUKERS calcuim with d3 dusting on crickets.
I was not able to find (even asked sales person at the store) without d3 to put in tank, will order online today and get rush shipping.

How do I find out about those sales? mailing list?

Fluker's calcium with D3 is not the best because of the higher vitamin D3 content. Zoo Med's ReptiCalcium with D3 is better. Good idea to pick up Zoo Med's Reptivite multivitamin with or without D3/vitamin A acetate. If you have calcium with D3, get the Reptivite without D3.

Recommend dusting lightly only 2x per week and as recommended on the Reptivite instructions. Check the Leopard Gecko Caresheet linked right below in my signature for thorough specifics.

Maybe Petco has an idea about those sales. I do know that they happen several times a year. Great deal for us gecko keepers :banana:.

There is some controversy, though not new, about the advisability of leaving plain calcium carbonate in the tank 24/7, just so you know. That is why I recently altered my recommendations to a very small bottle cap of plain calcium carbonate in the tank 24/7 for back up only. A leo should not be constantly licking it. Best for calcium to be taken with food.

This also depends upon the food you feed your crickets. I know, sooooooo many variables.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

http://www.geckosunlimited.com/comm...-feeding-issues/68574-cricket-guidelines.html

Hassle-free Cricket Care
ElizabethFreer@aol.com
Geckos Unlimited/Pacific Northwest Herpetological Society
13 May 2013 (amended)
(www.GeckosUnlimited.com)

Take a suitably sized container, for instance, an extra large Kritter Keeper or a 56 quart Sterilite bin. Place a good quality all purpose poultry feed (Albers All Purpose Poultry Feed), dry oatmeal, and alfalfa hay on the bottom of the cage. Add your crickets. Next cover with a double layer of egg cartons. On top of the egg cartons place a paper towel. Spray the paper towel generously every other day. Keep crickets between 70 F and the mid 80s. They will grow faster if warmer, but seem to do fine at 70 F. If room temperatures exceed 85 F spray the paper towel daily.

Spraying the paper towel is a good way to provide moisture for your crickets and save them from perishing from too much moisture.

Feed crickets an All Purpose Poultry Feed (Albers' contains about 16% protein, 3% fat, & vitamin A acetate), dry oatmeal, alfalfa hay (“Hay-Kob”: 800-332-5623), collard greens, and carrots. General Mills' dry cereal whole grain TOTAL can be used in a pinch.

If your source is pesticide-free with good soil, dandelion flowers and greens can also be fed to the crickets. To make the alfalfa hay easy to chew for young crickets, soak the alfalfa hay in water prior to adding .

Do not feed insects puppy, kitten, dog, and/or cat biscuits/food OR tropical fish flakes. Those are way too high in protein and fat and potentially could cause hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver disease).

Do not feed freeze-dried or canned crickets to your geckos. Any gecko gets moisture from well-hydrated prey as well as the nutrients such prey provides.

By following these recommendations it is quite easy to keep your crickets alive and thriving easily one to two months past purchase.

Formally "gutload" crickets 48 hours prior to feeding off to geckos with T-REX Calcium Plus Food for Crickets.

Gutloading the Feeders versus Feeding the Feeders 24/7
The term gutloading causes some confusion. Feed your feeders a nutritious regular diet all the time to build strong feeder bodies. Then only feed a special GUTLOAD product to the crickets, for example, 1-2 days prior to feeding the crickets to your geckos. T-REX Calcium Plus Cricket Food is a good gutload food. Top off the crickets by lightly dusting with a multivitamin containing D3/vitamin A acetate and phosphorus-free calcium with D3 no more than 2x weekly total.


2 March 2013:
Captured directly from Hilde's post #134, 27 Feb 2013, on "spoiled by crickets" thread in the crestie forum:
"If you feed the insects a decent diet full time, not just a day before feeding them off, you really improve the nutrients they'll provide - build a better body, not just fill the relatively short intestinal tract."

 

[DrenneRvc]

Hello miss Elizabeth!
Thanks for the information and I'm looking over your caresheet again to re-asses everything.

I will make the switch from flukers to zoomed either by finding it in stores or ordering online if need be!

I recorded a video of him ffeeding earlier, hope you enjoy it
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=548202908576087&set=vb.100001591487639&type=3&theater

please excuse the commentary, I'm still very excited about having such an amazing creature!

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Hello miss Elizabeth!
Thanks for the information and I'm looking over your caresheet again to re-asses everything.

I will make the switch from flukers to zoomed either by finding it in stores or ordering online if need be!

I recorded a video of him ffeeding earlier, hope you enjoy it
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=548202908576087&set=vb.100001591487639&type=3&theater

please excuse the commentary, I'm still very excited about having such an amazing creature!

Cute video, Steve! Spunky leo you have there...good feeding response.

When the time comes, this should help you out: http://www.reptilecare.com/leopardgender.htm

 

[DrenneRvc]

Cute video, Steve! Spunky leo you have there...good feeding response.

When the time comes, this should help you out: Sexing Leopard Geckos

Hey, thank you Elizabeth! I'm glad I got one of the more healthier geckos from petsmart. During researching before buying I was very skeptic because so many people say petsmart is bad !

And thanks for the web-site, book marked for future use when the little guy is older. Hoping its a male because his name "Niklaus" has already grown onto me ;[
More videos to come once he becomes more satisfied and comfortable with his new home!

 

[DrenneRvc]

also wanted to post that, I left some meal worms in his tank over night (in a non escapable feeding bowl) and woke up in the morning with all 3 gone! I'm wondering if I should feed more than 3 tho? While doing this, I also put a paper towel in the corner of his tank where I'd like to see him using the restroom, and he did!!!

I'm so proud of the guy, I swear.

 

[Mardy]

I'd leave 5-10 mealworms in the dish, let them eat however much they want to eat. It's a growing gecko, he'll eat a lot and it's ok, they need the nutrients.