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geckos housing

F

finsnthings

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I am so excited I have just purchased my first pair of leopard geckos, I have some questions i want to make sure i have everything before my new babies come home. What size enclosre would be best they are juvies about 7 months old 14 grams each. I have the heating source and digital temp gauge and calcium and mealworms,crickets and everything else i could think of. I have 2 enclosres i could use one is a 10 gallon the other i am not sure of the exact size but is bigger than the 10 probably around 55 gallon as it is made of wood with screen door. I am just not real sure which would be best to use. And any other info on leopard geckos would be great.

Thanks Tori
 
i would try to seperate them at first to make sure they're both "clean" (free of parasites and generally healthy) before putting them together. (unless they have always been housed together, then in that case, i guess it doesn't matter all that much)

but, the general rule of thumb i like to go by is a gallon per gecko, so you've got two, a 20 Long would be perfect. for now, they can go in the ten gallon together so you can monitor them for about about a month to make sure they are hunting/eating ok. but the 55 will come in handy when they get bigger.

there are tons to be learned about leopards, any questions, feel free to ask or drop me a line!

-Karin
 
Thanks Karin, yes they have always been housed together, so I gues they will be ok. what would you suggest for heating. I have a ceramic heat emitter that I was going to use. do they need any other kind of lighting? Any specific decor they like better?

Thanks Tori
 
i don't use the ceramic heat emitters for these guys, cuz they are nocturnal, and i like to see them when they finally decide to do something, so i use either infrared bulbs or Blue MoonLight bulbs. Both are much cheaper than CHE's and they provide the same heat, but allow a bit of undisturbing light so you can see them and enjoy them as well.

as for decor...I've seen a lot of things used....from store bought magnetic caves, coconut huts, chinese take out containers, upside down cool whip containers, to home built lego hides. just make sure everything is clean and can't fall and squish em, or be eaten, etc.

a lot of people like fake plants, some people use real plant...i prefer the fake ones. (that way you don't have to worry about toxicity of certain plants, watering, lighting, or the leo digging the roots up)

as for subrate, i HIGHLY recommend paper towels over anything else...doesn't cause a risk of impaction, it's clean, safe, cheap, and easy to use. Especially helpful for the first few months of having your new leos, so you can monitor their poops and what not. (important indicator of illnesses).

hope this helps and good luck!
-Karin
 
KARIN! :)

Karin come on! 1 gallon per gecko? that would get really crowded!
i thought you used to say about 10 gallos per gecko! because you shoudl only keep about 4 geckos i a 40 gallon max!
of course keep in mind thats all females also! i wouldnt put two males in a little 40 gallon, ive seen it work in a custom made 60 gallon. Karin that has GOT to be a typo! :) anyway glad you refered me to this forum! hope your doig well we have to go to the next swap.

Tori, i would put them i the 40 gallon tank! if i were you i wouldnt put them into the 55 sounds like it has a screen on the side? they woudl climb that and possibly rip out their claws! mine love to climb up my shirts and such. but i stopped that after i noticed one lost a claw in my t-shirt. good luck ad let us kow what you decide to do.
 
LoL, VERY sorry...that WAS a typo... (who's ever heard of a 2 gallon tank being enough for anything???)

so yes, that is supposed to read 10 gallons per gecko...

geesh andy, give me a break! it was late and it's finals week...i'm cramming like there's no tomorrow..(and still failing). :D
 
herpspaz said:
LoL, VERY sorry...that WAS a typo... (who's ever heard of a 2 gallon tank being enough for anything???)

so yes, that is supposed to read 10 gallons per gecko...

geesh andy, give me a break! it was late and it's finals week...i'm cramming like there's no tomorrow..(and still failing). :D
Click to expand...

I forgive you! you sexy thang! whoops did i say that outloud? damn anyway i know how hard it is to be in school and working and how bad finals are! keep in mind that masters program is just as hard as the bachelors! :)
 
herpspaz said:
i don't use the ceramic heat emitters for these guys, cuz they are nocturnal, and i like to see them when they finally decide to do something, so i use either infrared bulbs or Blue MoonLight bulbs. Both are much cheaper than CHE's and they provide the same heat, but allow a bit of undisturbing light so you can see them and enjoy them as well.
Click to expand...

Hey Karin,

What kinda wattage does your infrared lamp have? I'm a little afraid to use mine, I bought a 75 watt infrared lamp since it was the only one the petstore had left (one single bulb), and it seems a lil on the hot side. I do use a thermostat though, since Michigan weather is so crazy (was 60 deg the other day, and now it's 9 deg outside). Also, do infrared bulbs tend to be hotter than the blue bulbs when comparing two bulbs of the same wattage? I might return the bulb and get a blue one instead if it is the same amount of heat.

-Dave
 
in my opinion and experience, i do believe that the infrared (red) bulbs to tend to get hotter than the blue ones. I generally use the infrared ones for my snakes now, and the blue ones for my leopards.

I use 50 watts for my ten gallons (laid right on top of the screen lid) and a 75 for my 20 galls, but clipped on the top edge of the tank, and angled down. (i don't use a lid for my 20's). (if you need a pic because my description is so bad, let me know).

i'm in chicago, and with the colder winters, i sometimes up all my bulbs 25 watts more, but i have to monitor it more closely. (pain in the butt).

hope that helps!
-Karin
 
Thanks Karin,

I'm kinda glad I got the 75 now infrared now. It actually makes a nice warm place to sit next to as well. I'll be using a thermostat, hopefully it'll work out all well, I'll test temps later today.

-Dave
 
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