New Gecko Owner

[SteeveHoudini]

Hi, just a brief intro! My names Kay, my leopard gecko’s name is Steeve. I just have some questions for you amazing people.

I have been gifted (for lack of a better word) a leopard Gecko. I would like to state that I know the bare minimum on how to care for one. He was handed to be by a neighbour who had one and overheard me say that they are cool/cute reptiles one time.

I am unsure how old he is (or even if he is a he)

Please also do not judge. My neighbour had said it was me or she would take him to a dead end pet shop. I don’t know a lot of LG’s but I’ll be damned if I’m gonna let him go there.

So my question really is, with the little time I had. Is my set up okay? Are my temps okay? Humidity? Literally anything you can think of are they okay? I will list what I know about them below.

Tank size 46cm by 95cm (I’m unsure the gallon)

Cool side temp- around 27 degrees
Hot side/basking spot - 30.9 degrees

Humidity- 44%

Please feel free to ask more questions!

Many thanks
Proud owner or Steeve!!

 

[acpart]

Congrats on your gecko and welcome. The cage size is fine. Are you heating from above with a light or from below with a heat mat? I ask because there isn't much difference between the hot side and the cool side. Ideally ground temperatures on the hot side are closer to 33C, but what you have will do, and cool side temperatures are lower. Often using a heat mat with a thermostat keeps the hot side at that temperature and the cool side is more like the ambient temperature in the room. Don't worry about the humidity. As long as you're not spraying the enclosure, it will be what it will be. How are you measuring the temperature? If you're using a thermometer that looks like a compass, it's probably not accurate. The best way to measure is either using a laser temperature gun (google it) or a digital thermometer with a probe.

What is your gecko eating? Are you using calcium and vitamin D3 as supplements?
There is an extensive care sheet on the forums here by Elizabeth Freer which you may want to try to find. You can also google "leopard gecko care" and read a bunch of information. Usually the information that keeps repeating is accurate.

Feel free to ask more questions as needed.

Aliza

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Welcome aboard, Kay & leopard gecko SteeveHoudini!
What name, brand, & frequency of multivitamins are you currently using?

For an image click: Sexing Leopard Geckos
Please share a photo of Steeve's underneath vent area.

A leopard gecko's gender can be confirmed when that leo is over 5 inches (12.7 cm) in total length. That may happen when a leo nears 6 months old. Males can be distinguished from females by a distinct /\-shaped row of femoral pores above the vent & by two hemipenal bulges below the vent. To see their vents, potential male femoral pores, & hemipenal bulges gently press their bodies against glass. They will squirm IF you turn them over.
Added 17 November 2022: Giorgos Makrakis shares that males have small black spots on the /\-shaped femoral pore line. At its size (over 5 inches/12.7 cm) males also would have developed at least slight swellings below the vent that indicate 2 hemipenal bulges.

 

[SteeveHoudini]

Congrats on your gecko and welcome. The cage size is fine. Are you heating from above with a light or from below with a heat mat? I ask because there isn't much difference between the hot side and the cool side. Ideally ground temperatures on the hot side are closer to 33C, but what you have will do, and cool side temperatures are lower. Often using a heat mat with a thermostat keeps the hot side at that temperature and the cool side is more like the ambient temperature in the room. Don't worry about the humidity. As long as you're not spraying the enclosure, it will be what it will be. How are you measuring the temperature? If you're using a thermometer that looks like a compass, it's probably not accurate. The best way to measure is either using a laser temperature gun (google it) or a digital thermometer with a probe.

What is your gecko eating? Are you using calcium and vitamin D3 as supplements?
There is an extensive care sheet on the forums here by Elizabeth Freer which you may want to try to find. You can also google "leopard gecko care" and read a bunch of information. Usually the information that keeps repeating is accurate.

Feel free to ask more questions as needed.

Aliza

Thank you!

I was giving a ceramic fixture with a basking bulb at 60W I believe. It’s in a cage so Steeve cannot touch the bulb.

For measuring temps. I have 2 temperature prongs. One is under his hot hide and the other is under his cool hide. I have a temp gun but it doesn’t seem very accurate as it changes drastically within seconds.

I am feeding him mealworms and crickets at the moment. I was given calcium with D3 I believe. It’s a brand called Nutrobal.

 

[SteeveHoudini]

Welcome aboard, Kay & leopard gecko SteeveHoudini!
What name, brand, & frequency of multivitamins are you currently using?

For an image click: Sexing Leopard Geckos
Please share a photo of Steeve's underneath vent area.

A leopard gecko's gender can be confirmed when that leo is over 5 inches (12.7 cm) in total length. That may happen when a leo nears 6 months old. Males can be distinguished from females by a distinct /\-shaped row of femoral pores above the vent & by two hemipenal bulges below the vent. To see their vents, potential male femoral pores, & hemipenal bulges gently press their bodies against glass. They will squirm IF you turn them over.
Added 17 November 2022: Giorgos Makrakis shares that males have small black spots on the /\-shaped femoral pore line. At its size (over 5 inches/12.7 cm) males also would have developed at least slight swellings below the vent that indicate 2 hemipenal bulges.

Hello & thank you!

I am currently using calcium powder with D3. The brand is Nutrobal. I give his food a dusting every other day.

I believe him to be around 4 inches long. From tip of his nose to base of his tail but I haven’t been able to accurately measure him as he’s essentially been in hiding most of the time!

I have him currently on kitchen roll so I can monitor if he uses the toilet. I’ve had him 4 days now, no stool

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Does Steeve have a water dish 24/7/365? I use tap water for all my geckos including 1 leo.

Nutrobal is an excellent multivitamin. What is your Nutrobal's expiration date? I will check my details on Nutrobal to see whether dusting every other day is recommended for a juvenile leo. What are the instructions on your container?

When you actually see Steeve, please measure his total length from the tip of his nose to the very end of his tail.

Tank size width 46cm by length 95cm. What is the height of this enclosure?

 

[SteeveHoudini]

Steeve does indeed have a water dish with fresh tap water given to him every day!

I’ll have to check his tank height and expiration date later as I’m currently at work!

Ive also been told that he has MBD. Poor little guy

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Which MBD symptoms has he now?
The medical term for Metabolic Bone Disease = Nutritional Secondary HyperParathyroidism. NSHP symptoms include leaning to one side when walking, walking on one or both "elbows", bowed limbs, belly dragging, & an underbite. Difficulty chewing should be closely monitored.

Can you take about a 60 second video of him walking around on some solid surface like a carpet?

 

[SteeveHoudini]

I have a video from when he was first handed to me in the enclosure his previous owner gave me and I have a picture of him up close and personal after I changed his subrates from bark to kitchen roll!

I would’ve uploaded a pic but it says the file is too big and I’m unsure on how to upload a video!

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

At the top of any new message that you write there are multiple icons from left to right. Do you see the icon that looks like a chain? I think your video link goes there.

Right next to the chain icon, one icon to the right, there is an image icon.
Have you tried to insert your photo there? IF that doesn't work, you may need to take another photo.

 

[SteeveHoudini]

At the top of any new message that you write there are multiple icons from left to right. Do you see the icon that looks like a chain? I think your video link goes there.

Right next to the chain icon, one icon to the right, there is an image icon.
Have you tried to insert your photo there? IF that doesn't work, you may need to take another photo.

Unfortunately I can’t seem to send a pic or video. I’ll have to try again when I get home. The UK is currently going through some sort of heatwave. Can I put a bottle of water in the freezer and put it in the cool side of his enclosure to keep his cool side cold because I can’t see to get it to go below 28 degrees!!

 

[SteeveHoudini]

Does Steeve have a water dish 24/7/365? I use tap water for all my geckos including 1 leo.

Nutrobal is an excellent multivitamin. What is your Nutrobal's expiration date? I will check my details on Nutrobal to see whether dusting every other day is recommended for a juvenile leo. What are the instructions on your container?

When you actually see Steeve, please measure his total length from the tip of his nose to the very end of his tail.

Tank size width 46cm by length 95cm. What is the height of this enclosure?

Expiration date it 01/23!

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Expiration date it 01/23!

Toss Steeve's expired Nutrobal!!!
Please buy Zoo Med's supplements instead of more Nutrobal. I recommend those because they can be tweaked more than Nutrobal can, especially with Steeve's MBD.

Please order:
1. Zoo Med's Reptivite multivitamins withOUT D3,
2. Zoo Med's Repti Calcium with D3, &
3. Zoo Med's Repti Calcium withOUT D3 or NOW brand plain calcium carbonate from Amazon?

 

[SteeveHoudini]

Toss your expired Nutrobal!!!
Please buy Zoo Med's supplements instead of more Nutrobal. I recommend those because they can be tweaked more than Nutrobal can, especially with Steeve's MBD.

Please order:
1. Zoo Med's Reptivite multivitamins withOUT D3,
2. Zoo Med's Repti Calcium with D3, &
3. Zoo Med's Repti Calcium withOUT D3 or NOW brand plain calcium carbonate from Amazon?

I’m sorry! I meant 01/25! Not expired. My bloody fat fingers

I just got on order to come Saturday:

Zoo Med Repti Calcium With D3 Food Supplement
&
Zoo Med Repti Calcium Without D3

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Unfortunately I can’t seem to send a pic or video. I’ll have to try again when I get home. The UK is currently going through some sort of heatwave. Can I put a bottle of water in the freezer and put it in the cool side of his enclosure to keep his cool side cold because I can’t see to get it to go below 28 degrees!!

IF your UK heatwave is relatively short-term, I would not worry at all or freeze a bottle of water to place in his cool end.

Aliza has bred leos. Her leos experience much warmer temps during summer than mine does. I don't believe she does anything special when temps rise.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

I’m sorry! I meant 01/25! Not expired. My bloody fat fingers

I just got on order to come Saturday:

Zoo Med Repti Calcium With D3 Food Supplement
&
Zoo Med Repti Calcium Without D3

Can you also order:
Zoo Med's Reptivite multivitamins withOUT D3
Then we'll be able to tweak his multivitamins much more easily.

Nutrobal contains D3. I feel it is also important not to take excessive vitamin D3. We need to do all we can.
It's important that the products you order are not labeled 'food supplements'.

I have used Zoo Med's vitamin supplements for years! I have never used Nutrobal.
I live in NW Oregon USA

 

[SteeveHoudini]

Can you also order:
Zoo Med's Reptivite multivitamins withOUT D3
Then we'll be able to tweak his multivitamins much more easily.

Nutrobal contains D3. I feel it is also important not to take excessive vitamin D3. We need to do all we can.
It's important that the products you order are not labeled 'food supplements'.

I have used Zoo Med supplements for years! I have never used Nutrobal.
I live in NW Oregon USA

Oh okay! Great to know. Would the Repti calcium with d3 (food sup) be okay for now as it’s already been ordered! I wasn’t aware that could be an issue or should I buy another one with just d3?

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Oh okay! Great to know. Would the Repti calcium with d3 (food sup) be okay for now as it’s already been ordered! I wasn’t aware that could be an issue or should I buy another one with just d3?

Steeve needs
1. Zoo Med's Repti Calcium with vitamin D3 (green writing on container)
2. Zoo Med's Repti Calcium withOUT vitamin D3 (blue writing on container) This is plain calcium carbonate.
3. Zoo Med's Reptivite multivitamins withOUT vitamin D3

All those are vitamins, calcium carbonate, . . . . . .

Click this link & expand it when asked to see pics of the Reptivite supplements:
https://www.geckosunlimited.com/community/threads/55211/page-7#post-459052

 

[SteeveHoudini]

Steeve needs
1. Zoo Med's Repti Calcium with vitamin D3 (green writing on container)
2. Zoo Med's Repti Calcium withOUT vitamin D3 (blue writing on container) This is plain calcium carbonate.
3. Zoo Med's Reptivite multivitamins withOUT vitamin D3

All those are vitamins, calcium carbonate . . . . . .

Click this link & expand it when asked to see pics of the Reptivite supplements:
https://www.geckosunlimited.com/community/threads/55211/page-7#post-459052

Okay great! I have all 3 of those ordered! Should be here Friday/Saturday

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

What do you feed his crickets & mealworms?
What substrate are you keeping the mealworms on?

Next on the agenda is a photo of Steeve & a video.
We need to know the extent of his MBD in order to supplement him properly.
After you've tried your best to share those things, maybe I can find someone on Geckos Unlimited to help with those if I can't.