joining the gecko club

[lady_bug87]

I just found out (kinda by fluke) that my brother's girlfriend has a gecko that she is dying to get rid of. She works in a daycare/ school and bought it as a school pet. Well for whatever reason the school didn't approve it so she had to take it home.

She's had it a year almost and was thrilled when I told her I would take it from her. I do have a few questions though.

- she doesn't feed it any kind of repashy or anything and I'm not sure if she's dusting the worms with calcium, how detrimental is that?

- I know little else about how this thing is being kept. I do know that its coming to me with a glass enclosure. Should I quarantine it in its original Viv or should I use one of my own?

- What kind of substrate is preferred? I will probably keep it on paper towel for a month or so to monitor it. I do have some soil perilite mix I can combine with sand, does that work?

Is there anything else I should know besides basic temps and humidity?

[Starbuck]

what kind of gecko is it?

[lady_bug87]

I'm assuming leopard gecko

[Starbuck]

They are super easy :) My leps are on sand, but i know lots of people that keep them on paper towel or even coco fiber (not super wet though). Mine won't eat any kind of repashy or baby food, but they go nuts for wax worms as a treat. Other than that mine eat mainly crix, though i have used mealworms on occasion, I just prefer crix. Mine i dust about once a week. I have an undertank heater on 1/3 of the tank, and a pretty powerful light bulb as well.
I think you could use the soil/perlite/sand combo without issue; mine doesnt ever dig unless she is laying eggs. Hopefully she comes to you in good condition :) Enjoy your new gek, and welcome to the club!

[lady_bug87]

Thanks! When I finally get the little booger I will know a lot more. I'm pretty sure I will have it next week...

[Jules1618]

Welcome, they are super easy to care for

[lady_bug87]

That's what I've been hearing. I was just wondering mostly about not offering the repashy

[KORBIN5895]

Why would you ?

[moshirimon]

Leopard geckos do NOT eat repashy or any fruit/vegetation. They are exclusively insectivores. You shouldn't have a hard time at all, easiest reptile to keep in my opinion, as well as very beautiful and rewarding.

People take them for granted because of their availability in the pet trade but they really are a fascinating, unique species .

[Terranaut]

Leopards are fantastic, lots of personality, easy to care for and good eaters. Mine eats meal worms, crickets and roaches. No fruity mix at all.
I dust my insects with calcium and twice a week use a vitamin instead. She is healthy as can be. I also keep her on dirt and cypress with a couple rocks and a log hide.

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j9/terranaut0/photo-1623.jpg

[moshirimon]

Terranaut, do you order your roaches?

[Terranaut]

No I have a colony. My beardies eat them as well. Actually I have a colony of crickets I started accidently. Must have over 1000 in there now.

[moshirimon]

Lol been wanting to start one up, my geckos love them.. But the idea of roaches getting away in my house..

[Terranaut]

Sent you a pm. Roaches in the house is not a big deal in Canada. They will not breed unless its about 90° and I have been able to get both I dropped to drown themselves in a dish of water within hours of losing them. I just set it on the floor and went to bed. Woke up to dead roaches floating in the bowl. They are easy to keep and don't jump so they are hard to lose. Get them :)

[moshirimon]

Hah! They're attracted to water? Perfect. Definitely gonna give this a shot, thanks for the link :D

[Lankyrob]

I dropped my colony of dubia roaches in my kitchen once, about three ndred in total and i can pretty much guarantee that i didnt get them all back in their box.

Never found any live ones in the house since.

[lady_bug87]

Why would you ?

Because she's nice and kinda desperate to get rid of it. And she isn't bat crap crazy like his ex.

Leopard geckos do NOT eat repashy or any fruit/vegetation. They are exclusively insectivores. You shouldn't have a hard time at all, easiest reptile to keep in my opinion, as well as very beautiful and rewarding.

People take them for granted because of their availability in the pet trade but they really are a fascinating, unique species .

Haha shows how much I know about geckos! I'm just assuming its a Leo I haven't actually seen the thing

[lady_bug87]

Leopards are fantastic, lots of personality, easy to care for and good eaters. Mine eats meal worms, crickets and roaches. No fruity mix at all.
I dust my insects with calcium and twice a week use a vitamin instead. She is healthy as can be. I also keep her on dirt and cypress with a couple rocks and a log hide.

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j9/terranaut0/photo-1623.jpg

Great thanks Dan!