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

[ColdFire6778]

Here's a unique cool hide that the leos at my local petstore have in their terrarium, they love it Petco 3 Level Reptile Hideaway at PETCO also for tempurature Amazon.com: Etekcity Lasergrip 774 Non-contact Digital Laser IR Infrared Thermometer Temperature Gun, Yellow/Black: Home Improvement or.. Amazon.com : Zoo Med ReptiTemp Digital Infrared Thermometer : Pet Thermometers : Pet Supplies
Did you see my supply list of stuff I posted earlier? You're asking for different supplies that I had recommendations for...

 

[logan1234]

List:

Tank: Aqueon
(The tank is the 20 gallon out of the options)

Screen: : Amazon.com: Exo Terra Screen Cover, 20-29 Gallon

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

Heat pad: Can't find one for the tank, please list me one for the 20 gallon tank I listed.

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

Warm side moist hide: Amazon.com: Exo Terra Gecko Cave for Reptiles, Medium: Pet Supplies

Colder end dry hide: Could I just cut a hole in a plastic container?

Substrate: Paper towels

Temperature measurer: http://www.amazon.com/Zoo-Med-Repti...id=1441275629&sr=8-1&keywords=Zoomed+temp+gun

Thermostat (hydrofarm): http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-MTP...UTF8&qid=1441763355&sr=8-1&keywords=hydrofarm

If I have a 24/7 moist hide do I have to measure the humidity? And why if no?

 

[ColdFire6778]

The thing about the hyrgrometer is kinda controversial, some people say that it doesn't matter because humidity isn't really something that is very vital to leos, as long as it's comfortable for people they'll be fine, but other people say it's best to be able to measure the humidity just in case. If you're interested in a hygrometer that different people recommend (including me) here it is: Amazon.com - AcuRite 00613A1 Indoor Humidity Monitor - Weather Stations

 

[kholtme]

Logan you keep asking questions people have already answered. If someone post something that is wrong usually people will jump in and comment why they are wrong.

The tank (20 gallon option) is a 20 gallon long so that would be perfect for one gecko (if not a giant gene). For a 20 gallon long i already said a 11 x 17 inch, and said bean farm's ultratherm or fulkers are good brands. heres a link to bean farms ultratherm Ultratherm Heat Pads 11 x 17 in. - Undertank Heaters - Heating - The Bean Farm

Your list looks great if you add the ultrathrem or fulkers heat mat.

For your cold hide you can cut it out of a plastic container, and then use that forever or upgrade to something that looks better later if you find a cool hide you like. Actually you can use plastic containers for all of your hides if you wish. I started off that way and slowly upgraded to better looking hides when i found the ones i liked. Now my cage looks a lot more appealing, which i enjoy.

Good work on doing research before you bought a leopard gecko. It saves a lot of headaches doing it this way.

Another item you may need to buy later when winter comes (if it gets cold where you live) is a 10 inch dome and a che (ceramic heat emitter) to help get the air temps warmer. but you can wait to buy that until winter starts to come. Another addition to your list would be the zoo med digital thermometer with a probe. I believe you had it listed before. It would be good to tape the probe on the wall of the warm side 4 inches above the ground to measure air temps so you know if you need to raise your air temps or not.

 

[logan1234]

Sorry the reason I keep asking the same questions or repeating is because i'm asking on 2 forums at once.
Thanks for all the help, I tried my best to work the best and I found a flukers heat mat, on the other forum someone is saying a 6x11 would work with the tank so im confused for that part. I'm going to list both of them in this edited list.

List:

Tank: Aqueon
(The tank is the 20 gallon out of the options)

Screen: : Amazon.com: Exo Terra Screen Cover, 20-29 Gallon

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

Heat pad: Amazon.com : Fluker's Ultra Deluxe Premium Heat Mat, Small (6 x 11-Inches) : Pet Habitat Heat Mats : Pet Supplies
or Ultratherm Heat Pads 11 x 17 in. - Undertank Heaters - Heating - The Bean Farm

Dry warmer end hide: http://www.amazon.com/Exo-Terra-Rep...&qid=1441753217&sr=1-1&keywords=reptile+hides

Warm side moist hide: http://www.amazon.com/Exo-Terra-Gec...1830257&sr=8-2&keywords=exo+terra+cave+medium

Colder end dry hide: Would this be the correct size container? (I put a picture of it down bellow)

Substrate: Paper towels

Temperature measurer: http://www.amazon.com/Zoo-Med-Repti...id=1441275629&sr=8-1&keywords=Zoomed+temp+gun

Thermostat (hydrofarm): http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-MTP...UTF8&qid=1441763355&sr=8-1&keywords=hydrofarm

 

[ColdFire6778]

Everything on your list seems pretty good!!:cheer: I can't totally tell the size of that container from the picture but maybe if there is enough room for you to put your hand into the container, it should probably be good.;-)

 

[logan1234]

Yah if i cut off a corner for my wrist then my hand will fit. And did you see were I said about the heat mat. 2 people are telling me different things so i'm sorta confused. Any help? And later i'll put a pencil or something by it to help show the containers size.

 

[kholtme]

yeah the 11 x 6 will work with the tank, I mean any that is smaller than 12x30 will work on the tank, but it isnt about what size mat will work on the tank, its about what is the best for the health of the gecko. I recommend the 11x17 because it will cover half of the tank. Which is a standard you want to aim for. If you got the 11 x 6 it would be hard to fit a warm dry hide, a warm moist hide, both directly above the heated ground area, plus have heated ground area out side of the hides (which will most likely make your gecko come out of the hides more often so you can see it more.)

So yeah the 11 x 6 will work and fit the tank, but the 11x17 is a much better option and you will be glad you went with the 11x 17 after a while.

The container you posted is hard to tell the size, but it looks like it would work. Cut a small hole in the lid that the gecko can get in and out of, and put paper towels in the base for comfort. You could use a similar container for a warm moist hide too if you dont want to purchase a store bought hide yet, just keep the paper towels moist. The only thing is your gecko will feel more secure if the containers arent see through.

 

[logan1234]

so cut a hole on the top or the side? and is the list good now and i'm probably going to use the 11x17

 

[logan1234]

I know to elevate the tank at least 1/8 inch for air space and do I stick the heat pad to the bottom of the tank or just sit it below the tank on a surface?

 

[kholtme]

yep id say the list is good. And raise the tank up, and use aluminum tape to tape the heat mat to the bottom of the glass tank, to one side or the other, not the middle of the tank.

 

[Tokaybyt]

you can use these to elevate the tank. Also a tad better than the typical small vinyl adhesive pads that come with most heatpads for elevating the tank.

Everbilt 3/4 in. Self-Adhesive Vinyl Surface Bumpers (12 per Pack)-49565 - The Home Depot

 

[ColdFire6778]

I know to elevate the tank at least 1/8 inch for air space and do I stick the heat pad to the bottom of the tank or just sit it below the tank on a surface?

Yeah, as [MENTION=52816]kholtme[/MENTION] was saying, stick the heat pad to the bottom of the tank. If it sits on the surface below the tank, the heatmat will be almost completely useless. The heat wouldn't be as strong then, plus, the heat mat's high temperatures would mess up whatever the tank was elevated above.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Yah if i cut off a corner for my wrist then my hand will fit. And did you see were I said about the heat mat. 2 people are telling me different things so i'm sorta confused. Any help? And later i'll put a pencil or something by it to help show the containers size.

Like this:



Cut the entry hole a couple inches off ground, so that your leo sits on top of the paper towels (sphagnum moss or Eco Earth coco fiber). If you use Eco Earth coco fiber inside the warm humid hide, a hole off ground will keep the coco fiber inside.

Be sure to sand the edges of the entry hole so that all is smooth!

I know to elevate the tank at least 1/8 inch for air space and do I stick the heat pad to the bottom of the tank or just sit it below the tank on a surface?

For a 30 x 12 x 12 inch vivarium, the 11 x 17 inch heat mat is what you want.

Attach your UTH (under tank heat mat) underneath the vivarium, not inside, with aluminum tape. Sticky type felt pads that go on chair legs to prevent them from scratching the floor will be ideal. Those will provide adequate ventilation for your UTH.

If you decide on the Ultratherm UTH, get it through Amazon. Just in case you need to exchange/return it, you will be supported by Amazon. That is not true for all sellers.

 

[logan1234]

I'm going to use the container as a cold hide. And below your post it says no plain calcium, or with d3 or multivitamins inside a vivarium, does that mean no calcium dish?

 

[kholtme]

yep no calcium dish, only give supplements to your gecko dusted on its food. This way you can monitor the supplement intake of your gecko and also for proper digestion supplements need to be digested with food.

 

[logan1234]

This youtuber said in a video they need a slight drop in temperature at night, is this true? Or can I just keep it the same temp 24/7 with the heat pad? And what temperature do I set the hydrofarm thermestat at? And they said the hydrofarm will go 3 degrees above the setted temperature before shutting off. will this hurt them?

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

This youtuber said in a video they need a slight drop in temperature at night, is this true? Or can I just keep it the same temp 24/7 with the heat pad? And what temperature do I set the hydrofarm thermestat at? And they said the hydrofarm will go 3 degrees above the setted temperature before shutting off. will this hurt them?

Logan ~

Please see my edit (in red) to post #34. This same plastic hide will work for any of the hides. It's important that the moist hide be located on the warm end close to the warm dry hide in order for good humidity to be achieved.

A thermal gradient is necessary. The warm end should range between 88-92* F on the floor right beneath the warm dry hide as measured by a digital thermometer with a probe. Cool end ground temperatures should be from 70-75*F ish.

Zoo Med has a yellow digital with probe that costs about $10.

Set your Hydrofarm at 90*F. There will be no problem with that +/- ~3 degree variation.

Please scroll through my leo caresheet (linked below) to post #81 for an abbreviated version to get an overview of leo care.

 

[logan1234]

Tell me if I read wrong, but dont you feed food to 0-6 month olds every day? And I've heard that they know how much calcium to eat from the dish? and should I feed zoo med calcium with d3 mon-fri then on weekends with the zoo med reptivite?

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Tell me if I read wrong, but dont you feed food to 0-6 month olds every day? And I've heard that they know how much calcium to eat from the dish? and should I feed zoo med calcium with d3 mon-fri then on weekends with the zoo med reptivite?

I recommend feeding young geckos every day until they are about 1 year old. Use a leo's weight as a guideline too.

I like to monitor multivitamin, calcium with D3, and calcium intake. Every gecko is different. Fat soluble vitamins like D3 need to be taken with food for proper absorption. There's always a chance of overdose when leaving supplements in the vivarium.

It's never a good idea to use supplements every day. The exact recommended supplement dosage highly depends upon the food you feed your insects and worms.

Do me a favor. Scroll to post #81. That's some leo basics. It's only 2 pages long. There is even a setup video right at the beginning. Let us know what you think after you read that.