`Do I have a correct list of what my leopard gecko will need?

[logan1234]

Please tell me if the under tank heater is good and good watage/power for a 10 gallon tank. Also tell me if this is a good or bad setup

Tank: http://www.walmart.com/ip/Basic-Aquarium-empty-10-gallon-Fish-Aquatic-Pets/10312733
Top screen: Grreat Choice

Substrate: Amazon.com : Zilla 11608 Terrarium Liner, 10-Gallon, Brown : Pet Terrariums : Pet Supplies

Hide on warm end: Amazon.com : Exo Terra Reptile Cave, Medium : Reptile Supplies : Pet Supplies

Hide on cold end / moist hide: Amazon.com : Zoo Med Reptile Shelter 3 in 1 Cave, Medium : Leopard Gecko : Pet Supplies

Heater (Tell me if the 8x6 is good for a 10 gallon tank): http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002AQCKA/ref=twister_B00ZK0JZ42?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

Thermometer: http://www.amazon.com/Zoo-Med-Digit...441641968&sr=1-2&keywords=thermometer+zoo+med

Water dish: http://www.amazon.com/Exo-Terra-Wat...42079&sr=1-2&keywords=food+dish+reptile+small

Also please tell me a good thermestat thats not too expensive for a leopard gecko tank with the heat pad Im using.



NOTE: Read Elizabeth Freer's Caresheet!. This main list I made is not really good, so just keep reading and buy once you know exactly what you need.

 

[IHaveNoIdea]

Terrarium instead of aquarium would be much better. Your gecko might be scared from reaching him from the top. + 10 gallon is really a minimum, 20 gallon really makes a difference.

 

[kholtme]

Get a 20 gallon long style tank, most pet stores will have $1 per gallon sales so you can get it for $20 during the sale. Then for a 20 gallon long get a 11 x 17 uth. A good thermostat is the hydrofarm, its about $35. Paper towels or tile are great for the floor. The problem with that carpet is its holds a lot of bacteria and your geckos teeth and nails will get stuck in it. You are going to need 3 hides. One warm dry hide, one warm moist hide, and one dry cool hide. That thermometer is one that many use here!

 

[logan1234]

I don't have have a pet store near here so I was going to get the tank at walmart. The closest store is pet supplies plus.

 

[logan1234]

And won't paper towels be a fire hazard?

 

[amsdadtodd]

Paper towels are not a fire hazard when used with the appropriate heating pad. The tank sealant would fail at a much lower temperature than that where the paper towels would catch fire. I use them for all of my leo's tanks without any problem. One of mine used to like to either chew or claw any loose piece he could find, but he outgrew that.

Todd

 

[logan1234]

Would 10 gallon be good for now?

 

[logan1234]

And I've heard that you only need 2 hides, A Warm dry and a colder moist
Also do I have to have a thermestat or are they just optional?

 

[ColdFire6778]

Hi! I've been doing loads of research and I'm going to get a leopard gecko soon, this is the supply list I've made.



。Cage~ Aqueon

。top~ Petco Heat Resistant Screen Top at PETCO

。water dish~ ZOO MED™ Repti Rock Reptile Dish | Food & Water Bowls | PetSmart

。calcium dish~ Lee's Mealworm Dish at PETCO

。calcium for dish~ Zoo Med Repti Calcium with D3 Reptile Supplement at PETCO

。heat mat~ http://t.petco.com/product/6353/Zoo...Tank-Heaters.aspx?Ntt=Uth&OneResultRedirect=1

。dimmer for heat mat~ http://www.electricbargainstores.co...00NLH-BL.htm?gclid=COau1NnW1scCFc6PHwodBSkK_Q

。warm hide~ http://t.petco.com/product/114642/Petco-3-Level-Reptile-Hideaway.aspx

。cool hide~ http://www.ebay.com/itm/Exo-Terra-Gecko-Cave-Large-/181830395637?_trksid=p2141725.m3641.l6368

。moist hide~ http://www.ebay.com/itm/Exo-Terra-Reptile-Den-Medium-/181833104508?_trksid=p2141725.m3641.l6368

。moss for moist hide~ http://t.petco.com/product/108967/Z...te.aspx?CoreCat=MM_ReptileSupplies_Substrates

。humidity monitor~ http://www.amazon.com/Chaney-Instru...KDO8/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1308941437&sr=8-3

。temp monitor~ http://www.amazon.com/Zoo-Med-Repti...id=1441275629&sr=8-1&keywords=Zoomed+temp+gun
OR... Http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...N=B00837ZGRY&linkCode=as2&tag=onlinegeckos-20



。mister~ http://t.petco.com/product/119980/C...ptiles.aspx?CoreCat=ReptileFC_humidityControl
(WARNING: only use sparingly- geckos can get respiratory disease if the humidity is too high!! Use mostly for keeping moist hide moist, watering plants<if lives plants are used> , and as an emergency shedding aid {if some shed skin is stuck on gecko})

。cricket shaker~ http://www.ebay.com/itm/Exo-Terra-C...f2fbb&pid=100338&rk=19&rkt=29&sd=181833104508

Note the light dimmer- I may use a hydrofarm later but really I dont see the purpose of investing money into a thing like that when you can use a light dimmer for less than half the price and when there's more important things to invest money into when it comes to reptiles. The thermostat's purpose is to make sure the heat map doesnt get to hot or cold, also, just in case you were wondering. The dimmer pretty much does the same thing, but not automatically-which, I am fine with, because I'm willing to check the heat mat temperature often. Keep in mind this is my opinion as some people may think that this isn't the best route to go and that' it's better to just get a thermostat, but, like I already said, I'm probably going to get one later. Also not listed above, I am going to be using slate tiles for substrate because they are easy to clean, little claws and teeth can't get caught in it, and some people say it's good with distributing an even layer of heat. Also, slate and rocks like this are found in leopard gecko's natural habitats so this could be more beneficial for them. Lastly, Temperature guns are wayy more accurate than any other means of heat measuring. Hope this helps;-)
P.S. Though leopard geckos really only need a warm hide and a moist hide, its best to also get a cool hide so they can take refuge to a cool spot that isnt wet when needed. Also as people were saying earlier, a 20 gallon terrarium is better for leopard geckos, but a 10 gallon for 1 gecko is perfectly fine.

 

[amsdadtodd]

I keep mine in 20 long tanks. Some people do use 10 gallon tanks, but it's really difficult to give them a good temperature gradient in such a small tank.

As to the hides, the more the better, but if only giving one moist hide, it really belongs on the warm side of the tank.

Thermostats are very useful, I would not recommend a new keeper attempt to use any heating device without one.

Todd

 

[amsdadtodd]

[MENTION=54899]ColdFire6778[/MENTION]
Save your money on that mister, it is a BAD idea for leopard gecko's! I use them for my snakes, but they are jungle animals, leo's are very much desert dwellers and the mister could only make them sick! To moisten my moist hide media, I remove it from the tank and spray the media with a spray bottle of distilled water, shake the media around, and return the hide to the tank. Generally, this is only needed once a day.
Another piece you have listed which I don't bother with is a top for the tank. Leo's can't jump, and I've never had a cricket escape from a 20 gallon tank, so I don't bother to cover them. I've never had a mis-hap because of that, and it's so convenient for cleaning, feeding, and adding water.

Todd

 

[kholtme]

A screen top is nice to have if you need to to raise air temps with a ceramic heat emitter, you can just place the dome on the screen. Also, 10 gallon is too small for an adult, get a 20 gallon long at the minimum. Also a thermostat is very well needed, and i would try without one.

 

[ColdFire6778]

Ok! i was researching on different sites and several said a 10 gallon's fine. But really, I was thinking about getting a 20 gallon anyways. Good point about the screen top, and I was thinking maybe a mister mostly because I have hermit crabs and some semi-tropical-ish snakes that would be benefited from a new mister, so I added that in mostly for me as a supply list, but I should've probably taken that out-I'll do that. Thank you for the advice [MENTION=51448]amsdadtodd[/MENTION] and [MENTION=52816]kholtme[/MENTION] !! :biggrin:

 

[logan1234]

I'll need the screen top, I have cats.

 

[logan1234]

I cant find a screen top for this 20 gallon: Aqueon

 

[logan1234]

List:

Tank: Aqueon
Screen: Can't find one

Water Dish: Amazon.com : Exo Terra Water Dish, Small : Small Water Dish Reptiles : Pet Supplies

Heat pad: Amazon.com : Repti - Therm Undertank Heater - Medium (30 To 40gal) : Pet Habitat Heat Mats : Pet Supplies (Please tell me what heat pad size would be good with the tank I listed)

Dry warmer end hide: Amazon.com : Exo Terra Reptile Cave, Medium : Reptile Supplies : Pet Supplies

Warm side moist hide: Amazon.com : Zoo Med Reptile Shelter 3 in 1 Cave, Medium : Leopard Gecko : Pet Supplies

Colder end dry hide: Please link me one that would be good for a young to adult leopard gecko.

Substrate: Paper towels

I need a temperature/humidity measurer all the ones i've seen have bad reviews.

And should I leave the heat pad on 24/7 and should the temperatures be the same 24/7?

And would the hydrofarm be a good thermestat

Please help me find a screen for the 20 gallon tank I listed, Please also tell me what size heat pad I listed would be good for the 20 gallon tank I listed, and please
help me find a coolder end dry hide and a good temperature/humidity measurer.

 

[kholtme]

tank: too small, get a 20 gallon long (12 x 36 x 12 inch)

Warm dry hide: that one is great

Warm moist hide: They changed the design of those and I have one and wouldnt recommend it as a warm dry or a warm moist, but it would work as a cool dry. this is what i use for my warm moist hide and it works great, i recommend it over the one you have listed. Exo Terra Gecko Cave, Medium | eBay

Cool hide: really anything will work if it offers some sort of shelter. The cool dry hide can be more open than the warm hides. The warm hides need to have one smaller entrance.

temp: the yellow zoo med you posted earlier is a good one, you dont need to monitor your humidity if you offer a warm moist hide 24/7.

Heat mat: i dont recommend zoo meds heat mats, ulthratherm or fulkers are a lot better and are reusable unlike the zoo med. Also for size you need it to cover half of the bottom of the tank that you get, so for a 20 gallon long like i recommend above, a 11 x 17 inch is perfect.

Also the tank you listed is a 10 gallon, and you need a 20 gallon LONG, if you get just a standard 20 it wont offer any more ground space, but only be taller than a 10 gallon, and you dont need a tall cage for leopard geckos.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

I cant find a screen top for this 20 gallon: Aqueon

Actually the minimum size enclosure for 1 leo (unless he has giant genes) is a 20 gallon long: 30 x 12.5 x 12.5 inches. Taller vivariums are harder to heat and not necessary for leos because they don't climb much. The LONG is much better.

 

[Tokaybyt]

List:

Tank: Aqueon
Screen: Can't find one

Grreat Choice - 20 long, 29, and 37 gallon screen

Grreat Choice - 20 gallon long aquarium

 

[logan1234]

kholtme if you look at the tank I listed there are multiple options right below the price and you can pick 20 gallon. Tell me if it is a good size please.