leopard geckos...

[DeesBalls]

im looking at alot of leopard geckos latly, and decided i might want to get one, just looking for some facts, 20 gal long for one? heat, humidity, uva/uvb ect?

i seen lots of people keeping them in tubs (like a rack) with no uvb, just wondering what the best to keep them in.

[alessia55]

All I know is that they are mega cute :yes: Get one!
Haha, yes yes, do your research first. Then get one and share lots of pics :D

[DeesBalls]

All I know is that they are mega cute :yes: Get one!
Haha, yes yes, do your research first. Then get one and share lots of pics :D

lol, watching youtube right now... (i know not the best source) but its a start... and you know i will take my share of pics!!

[beardeds4life]

I would get a 20 gallon long for 2 females. No u.v. heat pad 90 degrees etc.

[LISA127]

I like to keep the cool end in the low 70's and the basking area set at about 90 degrees. I use a UTH attached to a rheostat and use either newspaper or slate tile for substrate. You need to offer a humid hide and I usually put that on the warm end of the tank, or at least in the middle slightly off to the warm side. You can put some damp long fibred sphagnum moss in there or terrarium moss. Other than the humid hide the rest of the tank can be kept dry. Also offer a dry hide on each side of the tank. As for size of enclosure you can keep a single small female in a 10 gallon, though it does not leave much room for your hides. For a larger single male you can use a 15 gallon tank or a 20 long. For two females a 20 long.

I myself am looking to get back into leo's. I miss them.

[DeesBalls]

OK. Thanks for the responces. I will probably only get knew (look only 1 yea right). But I will probably use the 20 gallon long I have, what about a tub?

What are some cool morphs to get?

[LISA127]

It's personally preference. In most herps, I also like the normal morphs the best so I'm probably not the best person to ask...lol.

[StudentoReptile]

Leopard geckos are one of those lizards that do fare reasonably well in glass tanks. They also do great in tubs & rack systems. They're fairly resilient with most set-ups, which is one reason they're so darn popular.

IMHO, a single adult would do "okay" in a 10-gallon, but a 15-gal (12" x 24" footprint) or one of the fancy terrariums from ZooMed or ExoTerra with an 18x18 footprint would be a little better. Like others said, a 20-gallon long is great for a single adult or a pair of females.

If it wasn't for the fact that they're insectivores (its just not economically feasible for me to cater to an insectivore nor can I really devote any time or space to my own breeding colony), I'd probably have one or two right now. Little geckos are awesome, and of course, there's a good selection of morphs to play with as well. I don't follow the leo morph market much so I couldn't really comment much more on that, but I'm sure you'll stumble across something to your liking!

[beardeds4life]

what is your price range for it? you can spend 20 dollars to 20,000. I do NOT recommend the 18 x 18 exo terra tanks. That is not a feasible tank because you dont want one that high. You could also get a really big vision cage and make a naturalistic setup with some other species to.

[StudentoReptile]

what is your price range for it? you can spend 20 dollars to 20,000. I do NOT recommend the 18 x 18 exo terra tanks. That is not a feasible tank because you dont want one that high. You could also get a really big vision cage and make a naturalistic setup with some other species to.

Exo-Terra just started making them shorter, so for instance, you can get one that is 18 x 18 x only 12" high. (Exo Terra : Natural Terrarium Small / Advanced Reptile Habitat (http://www.exo-terra.com/en/products/natural_terrarium_small.php) )

I agree, previously a lot of the 18" and 24" high terrariums were just a waste of space for a lot of small herps, which is why I suppose they started coming out with shorter designs.

And also, if it was display purposes, you can add a lot of substrate and get creative with the enclosure to fill up that space without just having a relatively flat bottom and a full 18" space from any lighting.

[beardeds4life]

I wasnt thinking of the shorter line sorry! and you cant put much substrate in because the substrate barrier is only like 4 inches and you cant go above that

[StudentoReptile]

and you cant put much substrate in because the substrate barrier is only like 4 inches and you cant go above that

If you use the right substrate, you could slope it upwards toward the back. Or if you're using small pieces of slate rock to create a cliff wall...there's ways to play with the landscape.

[beardeds4life]

true but no with something like sand. The only thing suitable for them you could use would be excavator.

[DeesBalls]

thanks for all the replies, sorry i have not responded. i have been busy with the snake room last few days. any way...

price range probably only around $50-$70 or so. nothing really fancy just want on for a pet, i dont plan on breeding them or anything. the main thing is that i have so many roaches/crickets, i tend to "waste" alot of the crickets, so i kind of wanted somthing to feed them to, and leos are really cool loooking!!

as for caging, i would probably use my 20g long, but exo tera has some cool looking cages with sliding doors i was thinking of using.

[beardeds4life]

I would go with a tangerine or a sunglow.

[DeesBalls]

ill check those two out thanks,

[DeesBalls]

after a quick browse through kingsnake, i think im oging to get a blizzard :)

[beardeds4life]

:) I think a blazing blizzard will suit you better. They stay much much whiter.

[DeesBalls]

:) I think a blazing blizzard will suit you better. They stay much much whiter.

let me go have a looksee at them :)

after a fast google search, WOW! they are white as white can be, but seems they are aroun $125-$150, if i can find one for around $85-$90 i would... like i said, not looking for anything super awesome... this is going to be a "display" type of pet with a fancy cage and stuff. I will keep my eye out at the reptile expo though this weekend.

[beardeds4life]

a baby blazing blizzard should only cost you 30 50 at the very highest

[DeesBalls]

a baby blazing blizzard should only cost you 30 50 at the very highest

awesome, plus i already have a 20 gallon long, and ill just need some new dishes, and substrate.... what do you reccomend for substrate?

[GarterPython]

Our Breeders - Leopard Geckos (http://www.vmsherp.com/ViewLeopards.htm)

This is a good sight to see most of the popular morphs available. I know you said that you decided on a Blizzard but there are lots of other cool ones. Here is the link just in case.

[DeesBalls]

thank you, no harm in looking a little more.

[GarterPython]

Also I heard that Reptile Carpet is a good choice for them. I don't know for sure but this is what I heard. Hopefully someone with more experience with leopard geckos with anwser your question about substrait.

[LISA127]

The best substrate is newspaper, slate tiles cut to fit from Lowes or Home Depot, or even that non stick shelf liner. I don't like reptile carpet myself. Their nails get caught, and it doesn't feel clean to me. Do not use a particulate substrate.

[beardeds4life]

If it is a show cage you can use excavator. It is just as safe as newspaper because it is basically a rock. To clean you just vacum off the excavator. Reptile carpet in my opinion is fine. For dishes look at lllreptile.com I like there's.

[DeesBalls]

what is an excavator? and as for substrate, i do not like reptile carpet, and would LOVE to NOT use it, unless its the best for my gecko. i like maybe tile? or paper towel...

[beardeds4life]

Excavator is a hard clay substrate. It is basically sand that you moisten and put in the cage and it turns to rock. It is safe because there is no loose substrate. Every week you just vacum the surface off to get rid of all the poop ad any excavator that has come free. You can also do really need stuff with it.

Desert Iwagumi - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHc8EIFDcl8&feature=plcp)


Zoo Med 5lb Excavator Clay Burrowing Substrate (http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog/reptile-supplies/bedding/sand-gravel-and-excavator/-/zoo-med-5lb-excavator-clay-burrowing-substrate/)

[DeesBalls]

that stuff looks really cool!! i am very intrigued by it, maybe i will try that, but for a baby i might just use a 10 gallong with paper towel, and when she/he gets older ill try this stuff, this looks awesome to play around with!!