Planning for a Leopard

[NennaMeerkat]

I am planning on convenience my husband to get me a leopard gecko this weekend if I can snag a used 30 gallon aquarium+stand I am looking at.

Anyways I have some extra supplies left over from my hoggie after redoing her tank and I wanted to run things by you to see if they are acceptable/safe to use with a leopard.

Already Have:
2 small coconut halves hides
1 fake tree stump
reptile safe aspen bedding
1 small water dish

Going to get:
UTH appropriate for a 30 gallon tank
moss for moist hide
thermostat for middle of tank

Is there anything else I need? I also read this care sheet
LEOPARDGECKO.COM | Leopard Gecko Care (http://www.leopardgecko.com/leopard-gecko-care)
Which I assume is a good one? Or is there a better one?

[sickvenom]

get a small dish for worms and make sure your heating pad is big enough. most of the time you fill find that heating pads are labelled incorrectly for tank size. i would buy a little bigger and control your heat with a thermostat (even a cheap zilla will work). you can always cool down your tank but you can't heat it if your pad is at max.

[stephanbakir]

Sorry about that

[sickvenom]

A lamp to provide UV is also important

leopards are nocturnal. just make sure you dust it's food.

[stephanbakir]

How do you provide them with the UV i thought pretty much all lizards need?

[Lankyrob]

Nocturnal lizards in the wild get little or no sunlight and have evolved to not need the UV that most diurnal lizards need.

[sickvenom]

^

uv bulbs provide d3, which can be given to a leo via vitamin powder.

[stephanbakir]

That's pretty cool, gona edit my first one out so people don't follow the bad advice.

[sickvenom]

That's pretty cool, gona edit my first one out so people don't follow the bad advice.

actually, your advice wasn't 'bad.' a leo doesn't need a uv bulb, but it won't hurt it. and if said leo is out wandering around the cage during the day, a uv bulb will make its color very vibrant. some people use uv bulbs for display purposes even if their specimen doesn't need it for health reasons.

[NennaMeerkat]

Thanks for the advice about the bowl for worms but I prefer to stick to a cricket diet for any insect eating reptile since it provides stimulus to "hunt" rather than just munch into a big bowl. Only if my leopard doesn't show interest in crickets then I will move to worms.

Also instead of a 30 gallon I ended up buying a new 20 gallon long for cheaper new (everyone always overprices their stuff around here...). Got 2 log hides, this gnarly looking fake tall branch system thing, and a 20 gallon heating pad.

Still not sure on substrate though. Is reptile safe aspen okay to use for them or do I need to go a more "humid" route with reptile bark/moss? I know they need one hide that is a "humid hide" and I got something for that...but does their entire tank need to be humid or just when they are shedding?

[ilovemypets1988]

Thanks for the advice about the bowl for worms but I prefer to stick to a cricket diet for any insect eating reptile since it provides stimulus to "hunt" rather than just munch into a big bowl. Only if my leopard doesn't show interest in crickets then I will move to worms.

Also instead of a 30 gallon I ended up buying a new 20 gallon long for cheaper new (everyone always overprices their stuff around here...). Got 2 log hides, this gnarly looking fake tall branch system thing, and a 20 gallon heating pad.

Still not sure on substrate though. Is reptile safe aspen okay to use for them or do I need to go a more "humid" route with reptile bark/moss? I know they need one hide that is a "humid hide" and I got something for that...but does their entire tank need to be humid or just when they are shedding?

i use a basic setup for my leo, this is as follows:
a large log for her to climb on
repti sand substrate
obviously there are food and water and calcium bowls in there aswel
a terracotta plant pot with a hole in the side for the warm end and some bark (left overs) on the other end as hides and she does seem to be fine having just a basic setup.

please also note that i havnt mentioned the heat mat or anything like that as thas basic husbandry and also note that i have a moon light blue bulb for night viewing but you can use a red bulb if u wish, it doesnt really matter which if im honest

hope that helps u alittle

[NennaMeerkat]

Thanks pets that does help a bit. Gonna be sure to take it into consideration along with any other help I get along the way :) Always good to hear from someone who currently owns a leopard!

[ilovemypets1988]

Thanks pets that does help a bit. Gonna be sure to take it into consideration along with any other help I get along the way :) Always good to hear from someone who currently owns a leopard!

your very much welcome nenna, i had my gecko for free as someone was wanting "rid" of her and i knew nothing about keeping leo`s at that point but they are very forgiving creatures as i have made a few mistakes but she still manages to be fit and healthy which is all i ask, i do know people with beardies and they say that its been easier for me to have and learn on the spot about leos than its been for them to look after there dragons.

also may i suggest that u think about breeding feeder crickets or locusts as it maybe cheaper in the long run for you as no doubt, once you have 1 leo, your gunna want more lol

[NennaMeerkat]

LOL I may want more leos but at this point I have filled up every spot with tanks that I can...so for now I will not be getting anymore reptiles until a tank clears up. As for breeding crickets I have done so in the past when I had 15+ anoles for a college project. However for my Dragon and soon to be Leo I will just buy in bulk once a week. No real big deal and it gives me an excuse to show off KyJinn in the pet store when I go pick them up.

[ilovemypets1988]

LOL I may want more leos but at this point I have filled up every spot with tanks that I can...so for now I will not be getting anymore reptiles until a tank clears up. As for breeding crickets I have done so in the past when I had 15+ anoles for a college project. However for my Dragon and soon to be Leo I will just buy in bulk once a week. No real big deal and it gives me an excuse to show off KyJinn in the pet store when I go pick them up.

haha never thought of it like that lol

[sickvenom]

Thanks for the advice about the bowl for worms but I prefer to stick to a cricket diet for any insect eating reptile since it provides stimulus to "hunt" rather than just munch into a big bowl. Only if my leopard doesn't show interest in crickets then I will move to worms.

Also instead of a 30 gallon I ended up buying a new 20 gallon long for cheaper new (everyone always overprices their stuff around here...). Got 2 log hides, this gnarly looking fake tall branch system thing, and a 20 gallon heating pad.

Still not sure on substrate though. Is reptile safe aspen okay to use for them or do I need to go a more "humid" route with reptile bark/moss? I know they need one hide that is a "humid hide" and I got something for that...but does their entire tank need to be humid or just when they are shedding?

Variety is key. An occasional worm is good for their diet as they have a higher fat content than crickets. I usually buy a container and keep it in the fridge.

aspen won't hurt leos but but I don't use it. Moss, sand and bark are better.

[Boss Heterodon]

I would personally stay away from particle type substrates and stick to something more solid. I use slate tile and paper towels for my leo (slate on warm end, very good heat conductor). Leos tend to constantly lick their surroundings and I would be worried about accidental ingestion.

On the bright side, since they are very neat animals (they always choose the same corner to make their poopies in), I just put down an extra piece of paper towel folded in that corner, spot cleaning made easy :)

[NennaMeerkat]

I would consider slate tile and such but I am a sucker for more "natural" looking environments. Though you are right about them tasting everything. Maybe some of that coconut bedding or moss bedding would be best. Since it is basically one big clump if the leo tastes it whatever he might get will be minimal.

As for the food issue I guess you are right that occasional worms wouldn't hurt. Variety is the spice of life...that is why my dragon gets a variety as well as my rats when it comes to food. Not like keeping a little tub of worms in the fridge would hurt or be that expensive.