Leopard Gecko for 10 yr old?

[Zoo Nanny]

My nephews 10th birthday is next week and I'm trying to decide if I should get him a leo. Currently he has 2 fire belly toads, 1 whites tree frog and three American toads. He also each year for the past three has been volunteering with a group in RI raising tadpoles for release.
I would like to continue to foster his love for herps but am worried that maybe the jump into geckos is too soon. My sister does help him with the care but he does do most of it. What do you think? I haven't passed this past my sister or her husband yet.

[EmbraceCalamity]

Problem with giving kids leos is that they live for 15-20 years if cared for properly, and often that poses an issue down the road. Will he remain interested in them? What will he do with it when he goes off to college?

Can you trust him to monitor temperatures and make sure the gecko is getting proper supplements (calcium and Vitamin A deficiencies are common problems)? And what about all the supplies? The leo is cheap. It's the rest of it that's expensive.

I know people who have kids that have leos and do well. But just giving it as a gift isn't a good idea imo. Frogs and toads are very different from geckos. He should be introduced to them and gain some knowledge about them before he's presented with one. If you just buy him one and he decides he's not interested or can't/doesn't want to put the work into it, then you'll just end up with a leo you don't know what to do with. So, in short, it's not a bad idea for kids who like herps to have leos. But I don't think buying him one for his birthday is the way to go unless he's already expressed interest and has done lots of research.

~Maggot

[Gungirl]

I would say if his parents want one and are willing to take care of it 100% ( in case he decides he doesn't want it) then fine go for it.

[Zoo Nanny]

I think his mom would go for it. She's trying to help him with his interest. His older sister is an excellent golf player and has lost interest in her turtle. James has adopted the turtle and does all her care. He's not big into sports but loves searching for critters. He also loves to spend his days in the summer with her going to reptile stores and the zoo. He has a very keen interest in herps and is always searching on the computer reading, watching videos and reading books on reptiles.
As far as the set up I would purchase all that is needed. If down the road he chooses not to pursue his interest I would adopt the leo or find an appropriate home. Luckily I have a number of friends, customers and past co-workers that are herp enthusiast.
So I guess I'll call my sister tomorrow and see what she thinks. Thanks for the input.
What he really wants is my BTS! Maybe down the road but I think he would get bored with Precious. Precious likes to burrow so is hidden 75% of the time.

[EmbraceCalamity]

I think his mom would go for it. She's trying to help him with his interest. His older sister is an excellent golf player and has lost interest in her turtle. James has adopted the turtle and does all her care. He's not big into sports but loves searching for critters. He also loves to spend his days in the summer with her going to reptile stores and the zoo. He has a very keen interest in herps and is always searching on the computer reading, watching videos and reading books on reptiles.
As far as the set up I would purchase all that is needed. If down the road he chooses not to pursue his interest I would adopt the leo or find an appropriate home. Luckily I have a number of friends, customers and past co-workers that are herp enthusiast.
So I guess I'll call my sister tomorrow and see what she thinks. Thanks for the input.
What he really wants is my BTS! Maybe down the road but I think he would get bored with Precious. Precious likes to burrow so is hidden 75% of the time.Well leos are nocturnal, so they sleep most of the day. But I guess it wouldn't be a bad idea. Just make sure he's got an interest in leos. I love most herps, but I was talked into getting a beardie years ago, and they're really not my thing.

Maybe get an adult? There are lots of adult leos for sale or free on Craigslist and eBay classifieds that people decided they didn't want. Plus then it'll be a little less fragile than a baby. And if you have any questions about what they need, feel free to ask. :)

~Maggot

[Zoo Nanny]

Thank you. I think I may call a rescue and see if they have one looking for a home. There are two herp rescues not too far from me. The benefits of living half way between Boston and Providence.

[beardeds4life]

A rescue though might need some special care. I would say it would be fine. Maybe it would be fun to buy him the setup and give that to him for his birthday and then take him to a reptile show and let him pick one out (with a price cap of course...). Personally I would think that would be more fun for him. Then he would have time to read care sheets and stuff.

[EmbraceCalamity]

Thank you. I think I may call a rescue and see if they have one looking for a home. There are two herp rescues not too far from me. The benefits of living half way between Boston and Providence.You can check petfinder.com. That's a pretty useful site. Also, for supplementation, I'd suggest Repashy Calcium Plus. It's made to dust every feeding with, so you don't have to worry about overdosing or deficiencies. Best route to go for a ten year old.

~Maggot

[Zoo Nanny]

That's not a bad idea. I could get him the set up for his birthday and the animal for Christmas. The two rescues close by both have vets that treat the animals so any animal that would be adopted out is healthy. Or I could contact a few of my friends to see if they know of anyone looking to rehome geckos.
A customer of mine breeds Crested Geckos. I have never worked with these. Are the care needs of this breed more detailed? I did take care of hers but she left me detailed instructions each time as she always had at least 15 or more at different levels of development from egg to senior.

[Zoo Nanny]

Ok so now all I have to do is talk with my sister. She'll be easy but her husband is a major league wimp who is afraid of his own shadow. He went camping with us once in Maine. We went hiking and startled a grouse. He panicked when the hen went into her display attempting to lure us away from her nest. The rest of us were laughing so hard we were all crying watching him run down the path screaming like a little girl with the tiny little grouse chasing him away.

[EmbraceCalamity]

That's not a bad idea. I could get him the set up for his birthday and the animal for Christmas. The two rescues close by both have vets that treat the animals so any animal that would be adopted out is healthy. Or I could contact a few of my friends to see if they know of anyone looking to rehome geckos.
A customer of mine breeds Crested Geckos. I have never worked with these. Are the care needs of this breed more detailed? I did take care of hers but she left me detailed instructions each time as she always had at least 15 or more at different levels of development from egg to senior.Only problem I could forsee with cresties is that they require higher humidity levels, which couldn't be achieved in a regular tank and screen top without some adjustments. And they'll need a vertical tank instead of a horizontal one. I don't think their care is that difficult though. I guess it depends on which he's more interested in.

~Maggot

[Little Wise Owl]

Well leos are nocturnal, so they sleep most of the day. But I guess it wouldn't be a bad idea. Just make sure he's got an interest in leos.

Mine's weird then. He comes out to see if you have food at any time of the day.

[EmbraceCalamity]

Mine's weird then. He comes out to see if you have food at any time of the day.Well they're not technically nocturnal. They're actually most active at dusk. They're active during the day some, but generally won't be out and about that much unless they're hungry or something.

~Maggot

[Zoo Nanny]

I think it comes down to the individual animal and their activity level. We had four at the zoo that were used for ed animals. Two were always awake and active and were used for most of the programs. The other two slept constantly it seemed.

[beardeds4life]

You can check petfinder.com. That's a pretty useful site. Also, for supplementation, I'd suggest Repashy Calcium Plus. It's made to dust every feeding with, so you don't have to worry about overdosing or deficiencies. Best route to go for a ten year old.

~Maggot

Petfinder.com isn't at all useful for reptiles. It really only is things like dogs and cats. It has a FEW tortoises and stuff but that is pretty much it. Check into something before you recommend it. ;)

[EmbraceCalamity]

Petfinder.com isn't at all useful for reptiles. It really only is things like dogs and cats. It has a FEW tortoises and stuff but that is pretty much it. Check into something before you recommend it. ;)Oh, really? So I guess that "Scales, fins, & others" section wouldn't have geckos on it. I bet if you type in "geckos" under breed, you won't find any either. Kind of like this:

Pet Search Results: Adoptable gecko Pets in Columbia, MD: Petfinder (http://www.petfinder.com/pet-search?animal_type=&pet_breed=gecko&location=16901&distance=0)

Wow! Look at all those not-geckos! For the hell of it, let's try "lizard" too:
Pet Search Results: Adoptable lizard Pets in Tonawanda, NY: Petfinder (http://www.petfinder.com/pet-search?animal_type=&pet_breed=lizard&location=16901&distance=0)

Also, I bet those sections for horses, barnyard animals, rabbits, birds, pigs, and "small and furry" are useless too, since it's only a site for dogs and cats. But, what the hell? Let's take a look at horses that aren't on there.
Pet Search Results: Adoptable Horse Pets in East Smithfield, PA: Petfinder (http://www.petfinder.com/pet-search?animal_type=Horse&pet_breed=&location=16901&distance=0)

I personally like this not-reptile:
http://photos.petfinder.com/photos/US/IL/IL387/16272555/IL387.16272555-1-x.jpg

Know what you're talking about before trying to act condescending. ;)

~Maggot

[Falconeer999]

I have an 8 year old daughter and she's somewhat interested in my leo, she'll watch her every now and then, but mine is definitely not all that 'kid friendly' in that kids like to touch. My leo will attack/bite if you get too close to her.

She does come out more during the day than she did as a baby - if her food dish is empty, she'll stand next to it and look back and forth from the bowl to me until I put some meal worms in there for her. My daughter gets a kick out of that. And I'll toss in some crickets now and then that she will hunt - a lot better than my lazy bearded dragon at it. Most of them time though she's sleeping when my daughter is awake so there's not much interest there.

[Wildside]

If my 7 year old can take care of a leo as well as she does I'm sure your 10 y.o. nephew with an already set in love for herps will do great. It'll be the most interesting species in his collection yet.

[Zoo Nanny]

Thanks everyone for the comments. And yes it will be the most interesting species in his collection. Now on to talk to his parents!

[Wildside]

Are you gonna get him a whole setup?

[Zoo Nanny]

Yes this way I can teach him how to use everything and the proper care for the animals.

[Wildside]

Very good! :applause:

[Zoo Nanny]

I did this with his fire bellied toads too. He was at my house when I was sitting some of the toads and fell in love with them. I bought him two last Dec and they are doing great. He was able to take right over with just a small lesson. Of course at the end of the lesson he said "I already know all that Auntie, I read it online" I had them set up in a small tank with a 75-25 ratio land to water. He has since gotten a 20 long and has it set up with some live plants. It looks awesome. He's the only other person in my family who has a such a huge love of all animals

[EmbraceCalamity]

I did this with his fire bellied toads too. He was at my house when I was sitting some of the toads and fell in love with them. I bought him two last Dec and they are doing great. He was able to take right over with just a small lesson. Of course at the end of the lesson he said "I already know all that Auntie, I read it online" I had them set up in a small tank with a 75-25 ratio land to water. He has since gotten a 20 long and has it set up with some live plants. It looks awesome. He's the only other person in my family who has a such a huge love of all animalsIf it's a possibility, I'd suggest getting a 20 long for the leo too. It's much easier to keep a good temperature gradient, and that way you don't have to worry about getting something bigger when it gets older (if you get a young one). Plus that gives you plenty of room for lots of hides (I keep four instead of the minimum three: one hot, one in the middle, and one cool, plus a humid hide in the middle-ish). Sometimes it's hard to fit in all three hides plus a water bowl plus decoration into a 10 gallon. Just a helpful suggestion though. :D

~Maggot

[Zoo Nanny]

Not out of the question, I may have an extra one not in use.

[beardeds4life]

If you dont check craigslist I have gotten free vivs off there.

[Zoo Nanny]

I check CL just about daily looking for cages. There and Freecycle are my wallets friends!
Well I spoke with my sister last night and the idea was nixed. At this point in time he has no room to put in another animal in his room. The rest of the house is off limits because they just took in an emaciated, parasite infested stray cat with an RI. All of the herp cages are in James's room with the door shut to keep the kitty away. Last week they found the kitty on top of the red bellies tank looking hungry. Oh well maybe next year. I'm going to keep my eyes open in case one comes up looking for a new home. I get a few calls per year from people looking to rehome their pets.
I do want to thank everyone for all of the suggestions, I really appreciated it.