Recommendations/Questions about where to get my first Leopard Gecko

[Minka]

Hi, I'm brand new here and was wanting to get some information on where I should get my first Gecko.

I looked at Geckos at Petco, there was one really cute one I liked, but I feel like I shouldn't buy at a pet shop. Do the rules that apply to puppies and kittens apply to geckos? Are the ones that are sold there from some kind of Gecko mill that pumps them out left and right? Would my chances of getting a sick one be pretty high?

I then decided to see if I could go the noble route and adopt/rescue one, but I didn't quite find that many rescues who had geckos up for adoption. There were a few listed on craigslist but then I'd be playing the healthy/sick game again.

It seems like most people simply buy from a breeder. I'm a bit hesitant about that, mostly because I think it's been stuck in my head 'rescue and adopt, there are so many pets without homes' but maybe it's not the same for Geckos? I guess it's pretty alright to get one from a breeder on a clear conscience?


So what should I do? Pet shop, adopt or breeder??

 

[Aimless]

adopt is choice #1, if you're looking for a pet and it's feasible. if it's not feasible, go through a breeder! pet stores are, IMO, the last choice.
you CAN get a healthy animal at a petstore; the red girl in my avatar came from a small local pet store. however, you are taking a significant risk for disease and for the promotion of "pet trade" practices that might be morally unpalatable for you.

have you looked for a herpetological society in your area? they are often affiliated with rescues, or rescue themselves, and can be a good resource.

 

[GeckoManiac91]

I got mine from a very small pet-store and the manager breeds all his leopard geckos himself! I personally agree that big chain pet-stores are not the best option! Finding a good breeder either online or in your area is probably the best way to assure your gecko will be healthy!

 

[acpart]

Let us know where you're located and you may find breeders PM"ing you with their "wares".

Aliza

 

[Minka]

Thanks guys! I'm going to ask Petco tomorrow where they get their geckos, but I think most likely I'm going to adopt. I found a rescue in another state that ships and I found quite a few more rescues and individuals who are adopting out near me.

Oh, and I live in the DFW area in Texas

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Thanks guys! I'm going to ask Petco tomorrow where they get their geckos, but I think most likely I'm going to adopt. I found a rescue in another state that ships and I found quite a few more rescues and individuals who are adopting out near me.

Oh, and I live in the DFW area in Texas

There must be reptile shows in the DFW area. There you can no doubt speak with the breeder and see his/her selection up close.

There are 3 leo caresheets on GU. A very thorough one is linked right below in my signature. One caution: Do NOT buy prepackaged Leo Setups for many reasons.

 

[Minka]

Could you tell me what those reasons are? Because when I calculated tank + screen + UTH + lamp + bulb + thermometer, the kit was cheaper.
?__?

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

There must be reptile shows in the DFW area. There you can no doubt speak with the breeder and see his/her selection up close.

There are 3 leo caresheets on GU. A very thorough one is linked right below in my signature. One caution: Do NOT buy prepackaged Leo Setups for many reasons.

Could you tell me what those reasons are? Because when I calculated tank + screen + UTH + lamp + bulb + thermometer, the kit was cheaper.

?__?

Because some of the things in the kit are poor quality and others are not what your leo really needs.

First off, it is recommended by many leo keepers that a single leopard gecko be housed in 20 gallon LONG tank: 30 inches x 12 x 12. Otherwise you will need to upgrade. Unless he is a giant morph, that tank will be satisfactory for most of his life.

It is very difficult to achieve a proper thermal gradient from one end to the other end in a 10 gallon tank and to fit in 3 hides and have any space left over for him to move around.

The bulb may or may not be useful. Ceramic heat emitters or Night-Glo Moonlight bulbs are recommended.

Tiles or paper towels are the ideal substrates.

Analog (circle) thermometers tend to be inaccurate. Having an accurate thermometer (and a thermostat) is as crucial as providing your leo the proper food.

Check out post #36 immediately following my Leo Caresheet for a suggested listing of leo setup supplies. Post #26 will give you the supplies Tony bought with links to his sources.

Right at the beginning of the caresheet is a Petco link where you can add your address to find out when the next Petco $1 per gallon sale happens.

 

[Minka]

The kit I'm looking at is made by Zilla, and is a 20 gallon long, with UTH, screen top, lamp fixture, bulb and analog thermometer/hygrometer (plus a couple other things I don't care about).
All of those items bought separately come out to more than the kit itself costs. (Regardless of whether I buy a lamp vs a heat emittor.)
I've got access to an infrared thermometer, so don't worry, my temps will be precise.
Knowing that, is there any reason I shouldn't get the kit?

I've pretty thouroughly looked at that caresheet, and when I looked at the Petco link last night it gave me the local ad but I saw nothing relating to the dollar per gallon sale. This morning the link simply says 'there are no ads for your location' and upon double checking, there is for sure no info on that page relating to that sale.

 

[acpart]

I think actually that the Zilla kit, while containing some things that you don't need (like the lamp) and some poor quality stuff (like the hygrometer) is better than the kits that used to be out there and made by other companies. You will probably need a rheostat or a thermostat as well. If it seems like a good deal, go for it.

Aliza

 

[Minka]

I do want a lamp (or heat emittor) simply because my roommates like to crank down the A/C to arctic temperatures, and it would make me feel better having one. If I set up the tank (partially) and notice I don't need the lamp at all, then no big deal, I just return it.
Thanks for the help everyone

 

[cricket4u]

Hi,

Just a suggestion, you may want to take your time and invest in a nice enclosure which opens in the front. You'll be at your gecko's level, therefore you will spare him the scare of a hand reaching from above. You will also have much easier access to everything. A closed off enclosure would also be best to prevent humidity and heat loss as well. Just something to take in consideration since you have yet to bring your future gecko home.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

The kit I'm looking at is made by Zilla, and is a 20 gallon long, with UTH, screen top, lamp fixture, bulb and analog thermometer/hygrometer (plus a couple other things I don't care about).
All of those items bought separately come out to more than the kit itself costs. (Regardless of whether I buy a lamp vs a heat emittor.)

This is much better than the "10 gallon kits" many people tend to begin with which include calci-sand! What size is the light fixture?

I've got access to an infrared thermometer, so don't worry, my temps will be precise.

You might also want to get a digital thermometer with a probe. Zilla has a yellow one for $7 that some members like.

Knowing that, is there any reason I shouldn't get the kit?

Guess not...except for cricket4u's suggestion below.

I've pretty thouroughly looked at that caresheet, and when I looked at the Petco link last night it gave me the local ad but I saw nothing relating to the dollar per gallon sale. This morning the link simply says 'there are no ads for your location' and upon double checking, there is for sure no info on that page relating to that sale.

Hi,

Just a suggestion, you may want to take your time and invest in a nice enclosure which opens in the front. You'll be at your gecko's level, therefore you will spare him the scare of a hand reaching from above. You will also have much easier access to everything. A closed off enclosure would also be best to prevent humidity and heat loss as well. Just something to take in consideration since you have yet to bring your future gecko home.

Exo Terra makes a 36 x 18 x 12 inch enclosure with front-opening doors. Then there are the wooden enclosures that cricket4u suggests.

Sooooo many choices

 

[Minka]

I almost got the 10 gallon kit because it was cheaper, but I talked to one of the employees and she basically said it was worth it to just go ahead and buy the 20 gallon now instead of later.
But anyways, the 10 actually has the same exact contents as the 20; what makes this kit different than the other ones you've probably seen is that this is technically the "tropical" kit versus the desert one. The desert one definitely sucks for leopard gecko purposes.

What are these closed off/wooden enclosures you are referring to?
Also, I would *love* to have a front door tank but they are Soooo expensive.

P.s. I'm making dang sure that I have everything ready before I take in a gecko. I want the transition to be as smooth and stress free as possible.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

I almost got the 10 gallon kit because it was cheaper, but I talked to one of the employees and she basically said it was worth it to just go ahead and buy the 20 gallon now instead of later.
But anyways, the 10 actually has the same exact contents as the 20; what makes this kit different than the other ones you've probably seen is that this is technically the "tropical" kit versus the desert one. The desert one definitely sucks for leopard gecko purposes.

What are these closed off/wooden enclosures you are referring to?
Also, I would *love* to have a front door tank but they are Soooo expensive.

P.s. I'm making dang sure that I have everything ready before I take in a gecko. I want the transition to be as smooth and stress free as possible.

Good advice from that petstore employee! What makes any 10 gallon tank a poor choice is that it is really impossible to establish a thermal gradient in a tank that is only 20 inches long.

Check post #63 right at the end of my Leo Caresheet. I am gathering more options, but may be slow. You can google wooden enclosures.

 

[Minka]

OH okay, I see. For some reason I couldnt envision what a tank would look like made of wood, lol.

This brings up another question for me though: does this mean Leos don't need a whole lot of air circulation? Because there were one or two fish tanks that had a non-screen top that I passed up because I thought they Had to have a screen up top to keep things fine and dandy. Is that not the case?

 

[MushuSpyro]

I'm no expert with air circulation, but with most wooden vivs, at the back they have a strip with tiny holes in for air circulation.

I think that's right anyway.

(got these off of google)
This looks like the back of a home made/custom made viv

And this looks like the usual vent of the back of a viv

 

[cricket4u]

It's not going to be cheap Minka, but this is why I said to take your time. A well designed enclosure requires careful planning, time and a bit of expense. However, in the end it will be so rewarding for you and your gecko. As the saying goes, "You get what you pay for."

Personally, I do not like the placement of the ventilation in the enclosures below. To my knowledge the ventilation on the cool end should be low and higher in the warm end. At least it works great for me. These adjustable vents in this link are a huge help as well. It can help control temps and humidity by closing one if needed.

3" Adjustable Air Flow Vent and Cord Hole Grommet in One