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

[logan1234]

I edited my caresheet, thanks.

So 24 hours before I feed crickets take enough for 1 feeding into a small container and put 4-6 pellets of Bearded dragon food and the collard greens.

24 hours before mealworms take them out and put them in a cup with a carrot and bearded dragon food

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

#112---How to handle/tame a leopard gecko?

Leos can be very skittish.

• When approaching his cage, always speak quietly. Move slowly so as not to startle him.
• Let your leo settle in. He should be eating and pooping regularly before trying this.
• Avoid sudden movements. They will spook your leo.
• Next visit place your hand in the cage; see whether he'll walk up to it.
• Try that on several different days.
• See whether he'll come up and sniff/lick your fingers. Maybe he'll climb on your hand?
• If this is going well, gently place your fingers underneath his belly and lift him.
• Judge your progress by your leo's reaction.
• Remember baby steps. Don't rush it.

 

[logan1234]

Does it matter if I use romaine lettuce?

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

I edited my caresheet, thanks.

So 24 hours before I feed crickets take enough for 1 feeding into a small container and put 4-6 pellets of Bearded dragon food and the collard greens.

24 hours before mealworms take them out and put them in a cup with a carrot and bearded dragon food

1, maybe 2, pellets of the beardie food + collards will be enough for your 24 hour pre-feeding gutload.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Does it matter if I use romaine lettuce?

Romaine lettuce is not nearly as high calcium as collard greens are.

 

[logan1234]

Could they be collard greens that are frozen that just need unfrozen?

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Could they be collard greens that are frozen that just need unfrozen?

Thawed frozen collards seems like a good idea.

I've not tried the frozen collards.

 

[JessJohnson87]

That's fine as well, just make sure to thaw them at room temperature or place them in a bag and then stick the bag in cold water. Frozen foods contain the maximum amount of nutrients versus canned products.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

PS:
At the D3 Repti Calcium feeding or the plain Reptivite feeding, just dust 1/2 the crickets with the powder.

 

[logan1234]

How would I put the egg flats in a 64 quart latching tote? I saw people put them in there cricket bins in different ways on youtube etc. Also how many egg flats in at once?

Also I'm planning on keeping 100-250 crickets in at a time. Were getting a 2 year old adult. So he may eat around 6 crickets per feeding, 2 feedings of crickets a week. So 12 crickets per week and 4 weeks in a month so 12x4=48 crickets a month. Please tell me if my calculations are wrong.
So IF that is right,(which please tell me if it's close or not), he should be eating around 50 - 60 crickets a month and the rest of the 100 we might buy might die. So the over all question would be would 100 crickets work for a month?

Question 3: I found that we have unfrozen collard greens, and we couldn't find frozen ones! So heres a couple of questions related to them.
Could I freeze fresh collard greens to let them not get old faster?


What size mealworms should I buy for an adult, and what size to breed them?

Just to be clear, i'm suppose to only feed crickets and mealworms apart?

 

[JessJohnson87]

For the egg crate, you can stack them vertically or horizontally. I would not stack them very high, will reduce the chance of cricket escapes a little. How many depends on the amount of crickets, for 100, you could do 4 or 5.

If you're getting an adult, 100 should be fine. If you keep them they way Elizabeth does under her cricket guidelines, you shouldn't have a very big die off. You will have some loss during shipping.

You can freeze collards, make sure to let them dry out some before you stick them in a freezer bag. Cut or tear them into smaller pieces before you put them in the bag. You could individually wrap a small amount in foil or the plastic cling wrap before sticking them in the bag that way you can just pull out a serving to feed.

I buy large mealworms for my adult male and I would get 100 to start off with, unless you're going to order them, then I don't know what the minimum count is for the order.

I would feed them apart. Sometimes I spice it up by offering 1 roach and a few mealworms but it's rare that I do that, when I do it's usually roaches and a hornworm. Usually I just feed mealworms at one feeding and roaches at another.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

How would I put the egg flats in a 64 quart latching tote? I saw people put them in there cricket bins in different ways on youtube etc. Also how many egg flats in at once?

Also I'm planning on keeping 100-250 crickets in at a time. Were getting a 2 year old adult. So he may eat around 6 crickets per feeding, 2 feedings of crickets a week. So 12 crickets per week and 4 weeks in a month so 12x4=48 crickets a month. Please tell me if my calculations are wrong.
So IF that is right,(which please tell me if it's close or not), he should be eating around 50 - 60 crickets a month and the rest of the 100 we might buy might die. So the over all question would be would 100 crickets work for a month?

In my 56 quart bins, I use 2 cardboard egg flats. I tear each of the flats down the center so that there are 4 halves in all. Place 2 flat on the bottom and the other 2 right on top of the first ones.

I do not cover the bins. The crickets don't escape.

It's hard to be this exacting. Try 100 1/2 inch crickets the first month.

Are you getting excited? I hope you'll share some photos as soon as possible!

 

[logan1234]

I'm getting excited and a bit nervous, since i'm only 13 and its my first pet that i'm going to mostly be taking care of.

 

[JessJohnson87]

I was the same age when I got my first leo Marley. It was exciting and nerve racking because they are a little bit more complex to take care of than a dog or cat. Soon I was adding a Uromastix and a Savnnah monitor to my little reptile collection, then that turned into a room dedicated to different herps, arachnids and little furry critters.

 

[logan1234]

The jumpstart hydrofarm thermostat wont work for the CHE so it looks like we are going to have to wait until maybe next weekend to get the leopard gecko

EDIT: Some of the lights won't come on and when we hold the set button it blinks numbers back and forth.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

The jumpstart hydrofarm thermostat wont work for the CHE so it looks like we are going to have to wait until maybe next weekend to get the leopard gecko

EDIT: Some of the lights won't come on and when we hold the set button it blinks numbers back and forth.

I know you'd like everything to be set.

Your new leo will be fine without overhead heat for a couple weeks as long as the under tank heat mat keeps the suggested temperatures 24/7.

 

[logan1234]

We bought another hydrofarm and we are sending the other one back that wasn't working. This one is ! And i'm getting my leopard gecko tomorrow or the next day maybe! . Here are some questions and please tell me stuff you feel that I should know that I may not. I may post more questions later today since I might get him tomorrow.

I know to get him 1/2 size crickets and up but is that medium or large at pet stores?

I don't know what exact size to feed mealworms so what size " and what size with that be at pet stores medium or large?

Where i'm going to be getting my crickets and mealworms is at a local pet store called eastern pet supply and one called pet supplies plus.

EDIT: I got the temperatures yesterday. The hydrofarm for the heatmat is at 90*F and for the CHE its at 80*F

Warm dry hide: 91.6*F

Cold end hide: 75.6*F

Air temperature on warm end: 80.6

P.S. I didn't read the moist hide since its next to the warm dry hide and should be near the same. Also I didn't read the colder end air temperatures since the cold end hide was at 75.6*F

 

[JessJohnson87]

Yeah the 1/2" crickets are what pet stores consider medium/large. The mealworms are large but some are on the small side.

Those are "large" mealworms that I got from a local pet shop. Ziggy can eat those just fine. Your temperatures sound really good and I'm glad the new thermostat is working.

 

[logan1234]

I left the thermostats on for while and here and the temperatures I got.

Warm end dry hide: 87.6-92.3*F

Warm end moist hide: 82.4 (Idk why its low, its right next to the warm dry hide.)

Warm end air temperatures: 80.4

Colder end hide: 76.3

Colder end air temperatures: 76.6

 

[JessJohnson87]

I've measured varying temperatures on my warm side as well. They will find the warmest place that will suit them and lay there, that's what mine does.