Introducing Luna

[Wesswess28]

I just got my first leopard gecko about 2 weeks ago. Things seem to be going will. He/she is about 5-6 inches, eating crickets and mealworms, and I'm pretty sure he/she is about to shed. I want to do my best to care for my new pet, so if anyone has any tips, it would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Rapmilo]

Sounds great! I'm working on my own enclosure (I'm doing a DIY) right now and will be getting my first Leo in about a month. Just make sure you provide the needed vitamins and supplements (calcium, D3, etc.). You should also gutload all your crickets.

Good luck to you in keeping your new pet!

 

[Wesswess28]

I have been gutloading crickets and I dust them in calcium as well as the mealworms. I think he/she is doing well and seems happy. He/she she's for the first time and only needs help getting the skin from around the back toes.

 

[Rapmilo]

Just some tips and heads up:

You should provide a steady amount of calcium (I recommend pure calcium without D3, as provided by Komodo and Zoo-med) inside the enclosure at all times, you can do this using a milk lid and filling it with some calcium. Leopard geckos will naturally lick calcium. Also you should make sure to provide a moist/humid hide on the warm side of the tank. Add damp paper towels (not toilet paper, they don't hold humidity) and replace daily. This could help Luna remove any excess shed. If the excess shed on the toes persist use a wet cotton swab and gently moisten the area around the excess shed. It's important to inspect the gecko before and after each shed to make sure that no extra shed remains on their toes.

 

[Wesswess28]

Well, the dish that i keep the mealworms in has calcium in it so there is a constant calcium source. And i do have a humid hide but i put moss in it and spray it twice a day, Luna seems to like it because that is where he/she is most of the time. I did lots of research to make sure the terrarium is a happy and healthy home.

 

[Rapmilo]

That looks like a great habitat for a leopard gecko. Although not necessarily required I recommend keeping three hides: a warm hide, a cool hide and a moist hide. But you could use a warm hide as a temporary moist hide whenever your gecko is ready to shed.

 

[Wesswess28]

Questions about my baby gecko

Is there any way for me to tell how old my baby gecko is? I got Luna from a pet store about 3 weeks ago, he/she seems to be about 4 to 5 inches long.
And also how fat should Luna's tail be to be considered healthy?
I have attached a most recent picture, hoping it may help answer my questions.
Please and thank you

 

[Kax]

Awww Luna is such a cutie! I love their little eyelids! And their knobby knees lol Well I too am kinda new to the world of leopard geckos. My little guy who I geckoknapped after I baby sat a whole batch of baby geckos last summer for a friend of mine who breeds them......Khaki or better known as Kax is about 9 mos old. My guess on Luna's age is 4-5 months? This is only based on my limited experience. Luna is so cute and looks really healthy to me! ��

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Welcome aboard, Luna!

She should have 3 hides: warm dry, warm moist, and cool dry. Homemade hides are just fine.

I recommend this schedule for a young leo.

• Use Zoo Med Repti Calcium with D3 1x per week. Lightly dust it on half the crickets or dubia, not every one at that feeding.
• Use Zoo Med ReptiVite multivitamins without D3 lightly dusted on crickets or dubia 1x per week. Maybe only lightly dust half of the insects at that feeding.
• Use some plain precipitated calcium carbonate (purer than oyster shell calcium). The NOW brand sold in health foods stores is ideal.

Feed finely ground Zoo Med's Natural Adult Bearded Dragon Food (or an equivalent high quality dry diet) 24/7 to the insects and worms to cover the basics. Add high calcium, low phosphorus veggies like collard greens, mustard greens, turnip greens, and pesticide-free dandelion flowers/greens in a dish off to the side for extra calcium and for moisture! Vary your leopard gecko's diet. Crickets, Blaptica dubia, hornworms, Phoenix worms, and silkworms are all good.

Nutritional Comparisons of Insects & Worms

• Click: http://www.geckotime.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/table-large.png

Monthly Schedule for Leopard Geckos 12 months old & under​

Week 1:
Crickets or dubia>Monday- Zoo Med Repti Calcium with D3
Crickets or duba>Tuesday
Mealworms>Wednesday
Crickets or dubia>Thursday- Zoo Med ReptiVite multivitamins without D3
Crickets or dubia>Friday
Mealworms>Saturday- plain calcium carbonate
No food or free choice>Sunday

Week 2:
Crickets or dubia>Monday- Zoo Med Repti Calcium with D3
Crickets or duba>Tuesday
Mealworms>Wednesday
Crickets or dubia>Thursday- Zoo Med ReptiVite multivitamins without D3
Crickets or dubia>Friday
Mealworms>Saturday- plain calcium carbonate
No food or free choice>Sunday

Week 3:
Crickets or dubia>Monday- Zoo Med Repti Calcium with D3
Crickets or duba>Tuesday
Mealworms>Wednesday
Crickets or dubia>Thursday- Zoo Med ReptiVite multivitamins without D3
Crickets or dubia>Friday
Mealworms>Saturday- plain calcium carbonate
No food or free choice>Sunday

Week 4:
Crickets or dubia>Monday- Zoo Med Repti Calcium with D3
Crickets or duba>Tuesday
Mealworms>Wednesday
Crickets or dubia>Thursday- Zoo Med ReptiVite multivitamins without D3
Crickets or dubia>Friday
Mealworms>Saturday- plain calcium carbonate
No food or free choice>Sunday

Week 5
Start the cycle over with week 1

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Is there any way for me to tell how old my baby gecko is? I got Luna from a pet store about 3 weeks ago, he/she seems to be about 4 to 5 inches long.
And also how fat should Luna's tail be to be considered healthy?
I have attached a most recent picture, hoping it may help answer my questions.
Please and thank you

View attachment 41211

Leopard geckos become sexable at about 6 months old. Males can be distinguished from females by a distinct v-shaped row of pores and by bulges right under the vent.

• Click: Sexing Leopard Geckos

 

[Wesswess28]

Thank you so much. I am really doing everything to make sure Luna is happy and healthy. That little tail gets fatter and fatter everyday

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Thank you so much. I am really doing everything to make sure Luna is happy and healthy. That little tail gets fatter and fatter everyday

You're quite welcome! Luna is a very fortunate leo!

 

[Wesswess28]

Update

I haven't posted in a few weeks, just wanted to give a quick update.
I recently discovered Luna is actually male so i renamed him, he is now Clyde. He is getting bigger everyday and is starting to become super friendly. He eats all the time and sure loves his crickets. I added pictures of him just being Clyde and also to make sure he is looking healthy. Any input from others would be greatly appreciated, whether it be that he needs to be fatter or random tips and tricks. Thanks in advance guys.