blondebrowncoat
New member
Thank heavens for this website. If I hadn't found this place, I shudder to think about where my gecko would be in five years...or even a few months.
I obtained my first gecko four months ago. It was, depending on how you see it, a fortunate spur-of-the-moment decision. I had just put in my two weeks notice with PetSmart due to absolute disgust with their sell over soul philosophy. I was so angry with the company, with the employees, with the overpriced squeaky toys...I was just angry. I had worked myself a bitter-pants rage when I walked past the gecko tank that day. As I did every shift, I peeked in each tank to make sure nothing was actively dying (I worked in grooming, herps weren't in my realm of responsibility.) When I got to the geckos, my bitter, Grinch heart nearly exploded with feels. Seven geckos, two large juvies and five babies, were stuffed into a five gallon tank.
I don't know, you guys. Something just snapped. My philosophy of "never fuel the monster with your money" vacated my brain. All I saw were seven little guys who had a very small chance of making it in this world. I looked in my wallet, saw I had eleven bucks in tips, and called the reptile guy over.
Dung was piled up so high in the corner there was no way the juvies could turn around without tromping through it, but they bolted anyway. He asked which one I wanted and I nearly said "ALL OF THEM!" but I knew about basic gecko care and knew it was a miracle they hadn't been torn apart by each other already, and I only had one tank at home. So I peeked inside and gave em' a look.
Gotenks was mine as soon as his handsome black eyes met mine. (I assume he's a he, he's developed quite the bulge.) He was black and white and just about four and a half inches long. Not starved, but getting pretty close. The guy put his hand in the tank, everyone else hissed, Gotenks just politely climbed in. Score! With my discount, the current sale, and a hook-up by the cashier I walked out with my new buddy for exactly eleven bucks.
You guys know the rest of the story. I went to a litnay of pet stores asking about uvb vs non uvb lighting, how much calcium to use, d3 vs not d3, to mealworm or not to mealworm. Every single person told me something different. One guy told me they only needed to eat once a week. Another told me d3 with the uvb bulb would make a "magic healthy gecko combo." Everyone obviously had no idea what they were talking about, and I started to panic.
What I've learned I've been doing wrong:
-do not leave supplements in a dish in the environment (the only thing people consistently told me to do was the opposite of this.)
-avoid mealworms (I've been feeding a mealworm/cricket combo)
-go for length in container, not square inches (my tank is 432sq. inches, but not long enough for heat gradients when he is larger.)
-UVB bulb should not be used in a tank less than four feet long even with appropriate hiding spots (?)
-I may not have the right multivitamin, nor the right calcium/phosphorus ratio. I'll address this in the forum.
I still have a ton of questions, but this website has clarified so many issues that I had with other advice I was given. I'm big on scientific backing, and this has been a great resource. I now know what size to plan for for his next upgrade (if I get the job I'm up for, in just a few weeks!) and have been reaffirmed that no, it is not a good idea to keep a male and two females year round in a fifteen gallon tank. :roll:
I look forward to chatting with you guys and learning as I go through the process of keeping my little guy (?) happy for a long time! :biggrin:
[Please let me know if you notice any glaring health issues in my pictures. He seems happy and healthy, but this is my first gecko and I don't want to overlook anything because of inexperience]
I obtained my first gecko four months ago. It was, depending on how you see it, a fortunate spur-of-the-moment decision. I had just put in my two weeks notice with PetSmart due to absolute disgust with their sell over soul philosophy. I was so angry with the company, with the employees, with the overpriced squeaky toys...I was just angry. I had worked myself a bitter-pants rage when I walked past the gecko tank that day. As I did every shift, I peeked in each tank to make sure nothing was actively dying (I worked in grooming, herps weren't in my realm of responsibility.) When I got to the geckos, my bitter, Grinch heart nearly exploded with feels. Seven geckos, two large juvies and five babies, were stuffed into a five gallon tank.
I don't know, you guys. Something just snapped. My philosophy of "never fuel the monster with your money" vacated my brain. All I saw were seven little guys who had a very small chance of making it in this world. I looked in my wallet, saw I had eleven bucks in tips, and called the reptile guy over.
Dung was piled up so high in the corner there was no way the juvies could turn around without tromping through it, but they bolted anyway. He asked which one I wanted and I nearly said "ALL OF THEM!" but I knew about basic gecko care and knew it was a miracle they hadn't been torn apart by each other already, and I only had one tank at home. So I peeked inside and gave em' a look.
Gotenks was mine as soon as his handsome black eyes met mine. (I assume he's a he, he's developed quite the bulge.) He was black and white and just about four and a half inches long. Not starved, but getting pretty close. The guy put his hand in the tank, everyone else hissed, Gotenks just politely climbed in. Score! With my discount, the current sale, and a hook-up by the cashier I walked out with my new buddy for exactly eleven bucks.
You guys know the rest of the story. I went to a litnay of pet stores asking about uvb vs non uvb lighting, how much calcium to use, d3 vs not d3, to mealworm or not to mealworm. Every single person told me something different. One guy told me they only needed to eat once a week. Another told me d3 with the uvb bulb would make a "magic healthy gecko combo." Everyone obviously had no idea what they were talking about, and I started to panic.
What I've learned I've been doing wrong:
-do not leave supplements in a dish in the environment (the only thing people consistently told me to do was the opposite of this.)
-avoid mealworms (I've been feeding a mealworm/cricket combo)
-go for length in container, not square inches (my tank is 432sq. inches, but not long enough for heat gradients when he is larger.)
-UVB bulb should not be used in a tank less than four feet long even with appropriate hiding spots (?)
-I may not have the right multivitamin, nor the right calcium/phosphorus ratio. I'll address this in the forum.
I still have a ton of questions, but this website has clarified so many issues that I had with other advice I was given. I'm big on scientific backing, and this has been a great resource. I now know what size to plan for for his next upgrade (if I get the job I'm up for, in just a few weeks!) and have been reaffirmed that no, it is not a good idea to keep a male and two females year round in a fifteen gallon tank. :roll:
I look forward to chatting with you guys and learning as I go through the process of keeping my little guy (?) happy for a long time! :biggrin:
[Please let me know if you notice any glaring health issues in my pictures. He seems happy and healthy, but this is my first gecko and I don't want to overlook anything because of inexperience]