Hi!

[PH700]

Introductory hello!

The reptile bit-
First time reptile owner here. I just got a young (under a year?) leopard gecko, currently unnamed. She is around 5in long and in a 10gal tank with a UTH, "moonlight" heat lamp (only way I could get her to good heat levels in the basement), warm hide, cool hide, working on a moist hide, water bowl, reptiCal with D3, and one side of her tank taped off with black construction paper for some privacy. Today is her second day and she has eaten one mealworm so far (I leave some in a dish for her to eat as desired with the reptiCal on the other side) - slightly worried.

I just got a 20gal long tank for when she gets bigger, and still have to get a multivitamin and pure calcium (to leave in the tank instead of the reptiCal with D3).




Non reptile-
Full time student (Ag/Animal Science), part time farm-hand, I have an almost 1yr old fur tornado named Jack. I love to hunt, fish, hike, camp, all outdoorsy stuff. I love drawing and almost went to college for it. Engaged but it's long distance until I finish my degree. Absolute favorite TV shows are Bones and New Girl. Thats about it!

I have a ridiculous amount of experience with just about every type of warm-blooded animal, yet nothing with ectotherms (besides fish) - so having a lizard makes me both excited and nervous.

 

[JessJohnson87]

Welcome to GU! If you haven't already, http://www.geckosunlimited.com/comm...-macularius-demo-video-4-jan-2013-update.html, this is a good caresheet on leopards. Seems like you've got everything under control already but figured I would post it anyways, always a good read.

Don't worry about it not eating right away, it takes them a couple of weeks to settle in but leaving a few mealworms in the dish, enough to notice if any are missing, is a good idea. Limit physical contact because this could stress it out. I made my moist hide out of a plastic food container. You can pick up calcium carbonate at health food stores, it's pure calcium but most recommend not leaving any in the tank, they can get too much calcium. As far as a multivitamin, most use the Zoo Med Reptivite without D3, I use the Repashy Calcium plus because its an all in one. I also recommend getting a digital thermometer, those stick on ones are not very accurate.

 

[PH700]

Awesome! Don't leave any calcium in there? Seems I have gotten a lot of wrong information. My temps are probably around right on the warm side, but are a couple degrees too warm on the cool side. Shes been sitting in the middle or on the warm side for the most part since I added the light.

Holy cow feeding looks really difficult. Definitely misinformed there. I was told mealworms or crickets (or both) with a dusting of the repti-cal when feeding but vitamin dust twice a week. This looks like the feeders get special food and vitamin food and they get dusted but not often? I have no idea how much she weighs. I am not even 100% sure she's a "she", because I don't know how old she is. Definitely feeling a bit overwhelmed and underprepared

The moist hide and better thermometers I can do no problem, I guess I should also switch her to the 20gal even though she is little? But the feeding looks insane

 

[JessJohnson87]

You can keep her in the 10 and yeah I felt the same way when I read that care sheet but don't get too stressed. I feed mine roaches, mealworms, hornworms, crickets and occasional wax worm for a treat. Vitamin should only be twice a month and the calcium with d3 twice a week if you're not gut-loading but lightly dust only like 2 of the food item. You don't have to feed that much of a variety. You can leave pure calcium in there for the juvies but I wouldn't put a lot in the dish, just like a small bottle cap with the bottom covered. I have the Zoo Med digital thermometers with the probe.

 

[PH700]

She just ate three more mealworms!One of them just shed and was squishy - she ate that one first.

The guide didn't have any exclusions to gutloading besides phoenix worms - should I get stuff to gutload or not?

Right now I just have mealworms in their stock cup.

 

[JessJohnson87]

I feed mine the adult bearded dragon food, worms, crickets and roaches and give them the water crystals plus collard leaves or carrots. Hornworms have a special diet since what they eat in the wild is toxic to animals if they ingest the worm. If you want to reduce the frequency of using the supplements, then yes I recommend gut-loading. Leave the mealworms in a container with the food for 24 hours and throw a piece of carrot in there for hydration. I don't gut load my worms but I have gut-loaded roaches and crickets.

 

[PH700]

I am going to pick up some crickets once I can get to the store again then. So maybe a mixture of (loaded) crickets and mealworms with the calcium/d3 dusted twice a week and the vitamin twice a month? Or would
that be too much with the gutloading?
(You are awesome by the way)

 

[JessJohnson87]

If you gut-load, dust with the calcium once a week since the food will have all the nutrients they need. I use a different supplement and it's designed to be used with gut-loaded insects.

 

[PH700]

Okay, great! No vitamins at all or still sparingly?

 

[JessJohnson87]

Just sparingly.

 

[PH700]

Got it, thanks!

 

[Yoshi'smom]

Welcome to GU!
Nice little Tremper Albino.
Your little one looks like my kid Numinex.
My Numi is a Rainwater Albino.
Different strain but similar!
Sounds like Jess got you started.
Always ask if you need anything!
Here's my kid:

 

[PH700]

Thank you! I checked the morphs and that is what I thought she was too!! I love her colors more than I can say. Yours is a cute one