So, I have a 5 month old leopard gecko. Currently in a 20g long, because this tank is so short, I can’t install my UVB light safely. My plan was to move him in to an (approximately) 50 gallon tank with UV, dhp, and use Arcadia’s supplements (which have to be used with UV lighting) but it look massive compared to him, so I’m wondering if I should wait.
5 month old Leo in a 50 gallon tank?
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SpottedDragon
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in my opinion, as long as you can maintain proper temps, humidity, and hiding place requirements - then you should be fine. Mine are both in cages with a bottom foot-print of 4 feet x 2 feet (roughly the same as a 120 gal tank give or take a 1/4 to 1/2 inch). The male moved to his at about 8 months old, the female was just over a year, mostly because I had to save up for each. They both started as hatchlings in a 40 gal with no issues.
The only thing I'd suggest is to make sure whatever you feed your gecko in, make sure its near whatever hide he chooses to spend the most time in, same with at least one water bowl. I feed mine directly at the edge of their hot sides, where they spend the most time and use a clear dish so they can easily see the bugs moving around. It took a few months to train the male to eat from a dish (something he still occasionally refuses to do), the female picked it up right away and will sit in her dish when she's hungry.
The main key is making the whole habitat is dialed in to their needs. and as a baby, clutter it up. you can add extra hides / cork rounds / tunnels etc
The only thing I'd suggest is to make sure whatever you feed your gecko in, make sure its near whatever hide he chooses to spend the most time in, same with at least one water bowl. I feed mine directly at the edge of their hot sides, where they spend the most time and use a clear dish so they can easily see the bugs moving around. It took a few months to train the male to eat from a dish (something he still occasionally refuses to do), the female picked it up right away and will sit in her dish when she's hungry.
The main key is making the whole habitat is dialed in to their needs. and as a baby, clutter it up. you can add extra hides / cork rounds / tunnels etc
Elizabeth Freer
Well-known member
Hello ~
It IS possible to safely provide UVB within a 20 gallon long: 30 x 12 x 12 inches tall.
Here's the link. Please let me know whether you have questions.
For link 157 click: ***** Best Practices using UVB through mesh with a 20 gallon long enclosure: 30 x 12 x 12 inches tall for a leopard gecko . . . . . . GU's Marillion, Fran Baines DVM, & Elizabeth Freer -- June 2021 (updated) *****
It IS possible to safely provide UVB within a 20 gallon long: 30 x 12 x 12 inches tall.
Here's the link. Please let me know whether you have questions.
For link 157 click: ***** Best Practices using UVB through mesh with a 20 gallon long enclosure: 30 x 12 x 12 inches tall for a leopard gecko . . . . . . GU's Marillion, Fran Baines DVM, & Elizabeth Freer -- June 2021 (updated) *****
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Elizabeth Freer
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Welcome to Geckos Unlimited, mrgrimm!
Even though the currently recommended size for a leo enclosure = 36 x 18 x 18 inches tall, it's really possible to use 19 inches in height to create a naturalistic setup for a leopard gecko with a 70% fertilizer-free topsoil/30% play sand mix substrate, Arcadia's ShadeDweller 12 inch long UVB fixture, & halogen lighting.
More often crested geckos are set up in vertically oriented enclosures.
1. What's the night room temperature low where your enclosure will be? For either gecko, 65-68*F = an acceptable night temperature drop. With those temps, neither gecko requires additional night heating.
2. Do you have an Aqueon brand enclosure & mesh top? IF you don't know, Facebook's top-notch Reptile Lighting group has experts who determine mesh type by counting pixels in a photo. Knowing the % mesh blockage allows you to determine the distance between UVB fixture & the basking area.
Please begin a New Thread right here. Then I'll chime in by copying/pasting my replies + including link 157.
Elizabeth Freer
Well-known member
I, too, like hexagon enclosures. There seems to be a "bar" across the glass maybe 4 inches up from the base. Is that a door? Nothing beats a front door for convenience.
Yes this hexagon enclosure has a door
Elizabeth Freer
Well-known member
YES! Depending upon room temperatures, cresties probably need a halogen heating lamp to keep ambient temps in the low to mid 70's F. I recommend Fluker's 8.5 inch dome for that bulb.
Heating pads will not work in this situation. Halogen lighting is much better. However, in the USA & other countries, many halogens are being phased out. You may need to depend upon reptile lighting stores for halogen bulbs.
Please don't use compact fluorescents to provide UVB. Compact fluorescents are NOT safe. Instead use Zoo Med's Repti Calcium with D3 lightly dusted on crickets @ 1 feeding per week dusted on all prey at that feeding + Pangea at another 1-2 feedings per week OR Pangea with Insects - 2 ounce size as a full-time diet.
Will you be feeding your crestie bugs or Pangea with Insects? Pangea supplies an adequate amount of vitamin D3 & other nutrients to keep MBD away. Just be certain to feed it within the expiration date. That date is on the opening strip at the top. Place a "sticky" on the package when you open it OR keep the top strip with the date.
Have a perching strip (bamboo) suspended from the screen top (with plastic-covered wires from a hardware store) as long as the bulb isn't too warm. My crestie has a 25 watt incandescent bulb overhead in a room that's about 70*F day & night. Somewhere in the enclosure keep a longish cork bark tube or fat bamboo tube placed diagonally. Even if he has to back out, your crestie will use that as his sleeping bag.
Be sure to feed your crickets a 24/7/365 gut load diet to prep them for your gecko. I've had good results using finely ground Zoo Med's Natural ADULT Bearded Dragon Food for their food. That diet really creates a more nutritious cricket!
How often do you change the soil in the enclosure
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