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Moshtico

New member
Hello everyone, new to the forum and to leopard gecko's. Was not actually expecting to get a gecko, so here is the story. I am a big fish fan, I currently have set up a 210 gallon saltwater reef. I always have put out on Craigslist accepting any unwanted tanks. Well yesterday I was contacted by a lady who asked if I would pick up a couple tanks from her as well as her leopard gecko, she said if it didn't get picked up she was releasing it into the wonderful Ohio woods. So naturally I picked it up. It looks healthy, being housed in a 15 gallon tank with one hide, food bowl, water bowl, a reptimat and the only source of heat being an undertank heat mat. I have a couple of old 30 Gallon tanks so it will be getting an upgrade in size, as well as I plan to go buy some slate for a substrate and add a couple more hides and some lighting. I have never cared for a leopard before so this is all new to me. My experience is fish and tortoises, now my wife has experience with bearded dragons but that has been a while ago. As for a name we are debating between mhmm or scratch, as out 8 month old daughter either looks at it and says mhmm or scratches at the glass. Any advice would be great and if I'm doing something horribly wrong please yell at me.

Thanks,
Tyler
 
P

PoppyDear

New member
What a good thing to do, I am sure it would have died in those woods without your help! Your setup sounds pretty good, with a few minor tweaks it should be perfect. I will offer what help I can!

Firstly, the gecko does not need light as long as they have access to the following;
•Indirect natural light (To let them know it is day)
•An ambient room temperature of around 67°F-78°F
•An under tank heater

You will need to purchase a thermostat to control the heatmat, I like the Jumpstart thermostat; https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000...thermostat&dpPl=1&dpID=41EIwcVuXPL&ref=plSrch
Here's a temperature guide for all leopard geckos as measured with the probe of a digital thermometer (and controlled by a thermostat):
•88-92 F (31.1-33.3 C) ground temperature right underneath a leo's warm dry hide
•no greater than 82ish F (27.8ish C) air temperature - 4 inches above ground on the warm end
•no greater than 75 F (23.9 C) air temperature - 4 inches above ground on the cool end

As for the hides, you will need three;
•A warm MOIST side
•A warm DRY hide
•A cool DRY hide

The two warm should be above the heat mat, you can make a moist hide by cutting into a hole into an opaque margarine container or something of the like. Insert a few paper towels and mist it down, this will help your gecko shed its skin.
IMG_0234 (1).jpg

Slate is a fantastic substrate, however, if it happens to have grooves, place a thin layer of washed playsand beneath the slate to avoid hotspots. This is where the thermostat comes in handy, it will control the UTH.

I am assuming you will also need suppliments, I would look for Zoo Med Repti Calcium with D3 and Zoo Med ReptiVite multivitamins without D3. Once you have that, I can provide you with a feeding and suppliment schedule if you would like. Could you describe what your plan is when it comes to feeding and if you have used any suppliments as of yet?

I think I covered most of it, I am sure others will chime in if I missed something!

Take a look at this care sheet;
•Click: http://www.geckosunlimited.com/comm...-macularius-demo-video-4-jan-2013-update.html
•Scroll to post 87 for a brief look at the care sheet
 
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M

Moshtico

New member
Thank you for the fast reply and I really appreciate all of the info. As of now I have not gotten any suppliments. All that I received with it was a thing of meal worms. Next weekend is the monthly reptile expo for my area so I planned on swinging in over there to pick up more supplies and possibly different food.
 
P

PoppyDear

New member
Use Dubia roaches or crickets as the staple, personally I would reccomend the roaches as they are easy to breed (If that is something you are willing to do), quiet, don't die often and do not smell compared to crickets. Suppliment the diet with mealworms once a week or some other insect such as hornworms.

I will provide the suppliment and diet schedule just in case;


•Use Zoo Med Repti Calcium with D3 at 1 feeding per week. Lightly dust it on half the crickets or dubia, not every insect at that feeding.
•Use Zoo Med ReptiVite multivitamins without D3 at 1 feeding per week. Lightly dust it on crickets or dubia. Maybe only lightly dust half the insects at that feeding.

Weekly Schedule for Leos 18 months old +

Crickets or dubia >> Monday - Zoo Med Repti Calcium with D3
Crickets or dubia >> Thursday - Zoo Med ReptiVite multivitamins without D3
Mealworms >> Saturday - no dusting

Future weeks:
Continue on since all weeks are identical. . . . . .

Good luck at the expo! :)
 
M

Moshtico

New member
Thank you very much for the information, it will be a great help. Going to start work on it's new enclosure here soon.
 
Elizabeth Freer

Elizabeth Freer

Well-known member
Hi Tyler ~

Welcome aboard! Did this lady mention how long she had had this leo?

What is its total length? Wondering how old it may be.

Sexing Leopard Geckos 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.
 
Elizabeth Freer

Elizabeth Freer

Well-known member
Moshtico said:
Well it looks like scratch is a boy, he is about 7" from nose to tail.
Click to expand...
Can you share a photo?

Can you ask the lady how long she had him?

If he's less than 12 months old, it's good to feed him just about every day and all he can eat in 15 minutes.
 
M

Moshtico

New member
IMG_20170702_161330626.jpgIMG_20170702_160603233.jpgI asked and she said she had him for a couple months and then got a full time job. She didn't mention where she got him from.
 
Elizabeth Freer

Elizabeth Freer

Well-known member
Moshtico said:
View attachment 41999View attachment 42000I asked and she said she had him for a couple months and then got a full time job. She didn't mention where she got him from.
Click to expand...
This leo does look good. :cheer: to you guys for rescuing him from all those potential lions, tigers, and bears in the Ohio woods!

Can you add a couple hides (3 total) and some logs to climb on?
  • warm dry hide
  • warm moist hide
  • cool dry hide
Try Schedule 124 for leos 12 months old and younger first to see how she does. Feed all she can eat in 15 minutes.


#124--Weekly Feeding & Supplement Schedule for leopard geckos 12 months old & under​
  • Use Zoo Med Repti Calcium with D3 at 1 feeding per week. Lightly dust it on half the crickets or dubia, not every insect at that feeding.
  • Use Zoo Med ReptiVite multivitamins without D3 at 1 feeding per week. Lightly dust it on crickets or dubia. Maybe only lightly dust half the insects at that feeding.
  • Use plain precipitated calcium carbonate at 1 feeding per week. Lightly dust it on crickets or dubia. Precipitated calcium carbonate is 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

Weekly Schedule for Leopard Geckos 12 months old & under​
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 - precipitated calcium carbonate without D3
No food or free choice >> Sunday

Future weeks:
Continue on since all weeks are identical. . . . . .
 
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