Captain's Log, Stardate 13452.05

cheddarness8

New member
:) Hey again! It's been a while, but I wanted to stop back in and thank those on GU who have helped me, and show off Kirk as he's hitting the one year mark.

Photo%20Jun%2014%2C%205%2022%2023%20PM.jpg

(Photo taken 6/14/2013)

This time last month, he measured 11.15 inches and 122 grams. He has lost a bit of weight since then, but he is healthy, so I'm not too worried.

Thanks again for the fun community and great advice.
 

cheddarness8

New member
That is what my scale said. Even though I've used coins as known weights to try to verify its accuracy, but I have a feeling he is closer to 100 to 110 grams. I also am uncertain of how accurate my lengths are, considering angle, ect, but I believe he is somewhere between 10.8 and 11.2 inches.

We have discussed the giant gene issue here on GU, but I still don't know what to think. XD I have absolutely no history of his genetics, so he could be a whole mess of morphs. It's really hard to say. He seems large, but isn't around 11" in length pretty standard for male leopard geckos?

Anyway, I've tried to produce the most accurate results here so you guys can see. Any comments or insights would be helpful. :)

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Here he is on the scale with a weight of 107 g. He was heavier this time last month, closer to a reading of 120 g. Even this measurement was fluctuating because he was squirming. (Also, yes, I zeroed the scale with only the white weight dish on it beforehand, in case anyone asks. ;) )

Photo%20Jun%2016%2C%204%2005%2026%20AM.jpg

I've tried off to show his size in this photo, but the issue I keep having is the angle, the fact that he turns his head, twists his tail, ect. Nothing quite measures exactly the same in each photo. Hopefully, though, it is obvious he's around 11" (28 cm) here.

Does anyone here breed giants or super giants? Does this look accurate to you?
 
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cricket4u

New member
A gecko larger than the norm requires more than 30in. long of enclosure. Is he still housed in a 20 gallon long? Did he lose weight due to decreased appetite?
 
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cheddarness8

New member
Yes, he is still in a 20 gallon long, and I've been troubling over that for a while now. He has a nice shelved background, but I'm working on a new insert ASAP that will hopefully give him a lot more climbing and walking space. I would have done it much sooner, but an unexpected (aren't they always) financial situation has left me strapped for extra income.

I had to leave him with my mother for four weeks, and the weight loss was during that time. She did a great job, considering she has never cared for a reptile before, but yes, he did lose some weight. I'm currently working on slowly getting it back up.
 

Elizabeth Freer

Well-known member
Yes, he is still in a 20 gallon long, and I've been troubling over that for a while now. He has a nice shelved background, but I'm working on a new insert ASAP that will hopefully give him a lot more climbing and walking space. I would have done it much sooner, but an unexpected (aren't they always) financial situation has left me strapped for extra income.

I had to leave him with my mother for four weeks, and the weight loss was during that time. She did a great job, considering she has never cared for a reptile before, but yes, he did lose some weight. I'm currently working on slowly getting it back up.

Captain Kirk, being of giant descent, has grown larger than the "average" leopard gecko (about 9 inches total length).

For a reptile who is a ground dweller such as a leopard gecko, a minimum of 4x its total length should be provided. A reptile should have a zone, not a spot, in each of 3 areas: warm dry, warm moist, and cool dry. Its whole body must fit under each temperature gradient. If not, health problems can develop over time. At 11 inches total length Captain Kirk really requires an enclosure longer than 30 inches. He will greatly benefit from a longer enclosure at this time :D.
 
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