Hello Everyone; Im new here!

[Welsh]

Hey everyone. The name's Brendan Welsh. I am 15 year old who is extremely interested in getting a Leopard Gecko.

Im researching everything about them right now; and I really hope to get one soon. I've got about 100-150$ to spend on a Gecko and Housing. Any suggestions on what size tank, and what other stuff I need and where to buy it from?

Im from Folsom California, so I think I might purchase from GoldenGateGeckos; but I don't know what to get, or how much to spend on one!

I've never owned a reptile before, so wish me luck.


Thanks!
Welsh

 

[PaulSage]

Welcome to the forums, Brandon. You should be able to find lots of information here on getting ready for a leopard gecko, but should you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask!

(and you can't go wrong buying from GGG )

 

[Welsh]

Would buying from PetCo be a bad idea? I don't know if I can afford the 45$ shipping


Edit: I think I decided that I want a now, but GGG doesn't have any right now

 

[NewportGeckos]

Many breeders and owners have bought geckos from Petco, but Petco does not (on average) take care of their animals properly and there is a much larger chance the gecko you receive will be sick than if you were to buy from a breeder. If the gecko does have a problem, the money you would spend on shipping may go to a vet bill or medication. Breeders also have more selection, more history on the gecko, and can give you tips on how to make the individual gecko thrive. However, there are many cases where geckos bought from Petco do just fine, and it does save them from uneducated owners!

Another idea if you don't want to pay shipping is to attend a reptile show. You may even meet Marcia from GGG there!

Now as far as the tank for your gecko, you could go as cheap as a sterilite container or as fancy as a naturally decorated ten gallon. What matters most is that the gecko has a heat source, food, water, and a place to hide. If there is any specific questions you have, we'd all be glad to answer them.

 

[Welsh]

Im going to get a nice decorated 10 gallon I assume.

What kind of heat source, food, water and a place to hide would you suggest?

I also like the Tangerine Albinos and Jungle Giants that I saw on ryanroth.com. Are they expensive?

Also, are there anyone reptile expo's coming up near Folsom, California?
EDIT: Woo! http://www.upscalereptiles.com/

Coming to sacramento soon! 9th and 10th of September!

Edit 2: Are leopard geckos tame? I've only held one before, and it was slow and calm.
Im intimidated by most lizards, but I will get over that soon enough.

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

Hi Brendan! Welcome to GeckoForums.net! I will be at the Sacramento show, and will have many more geckos than offered on my website. There will also be other very good breeders at the show, so please don't get your first gecko from Petco! I'm sure if I can't fix you up with something you want, another breeder will be able to. All of of us here would like you to have a healthy, happy gecko!

 

[nora]

nice to see you made it here brendan... =D

you'll grow attached to these people and place in no time.. they are extremely helpful.. (and dont believe people when they tell you that marcia is a mean old gecko lady... she's really a mean old GRUMPY gecko lady.. hahah j/k)

 

[PaulSage]

What kind of heat source, food, water and a place to hide would you suggest?

I think most people start out using an under-tank heater controlled by a thermostat or rheostat for the heat. For food, mealworms, crickets & superworms make a good staple diet, but many supplement with wax worms & silk worms and roaches (all properly gut-loaded of course). I have never given a gecko a water dish, however many keepers do. I just mist the bedding in their humid hide as well as the top of the hide itself, allowing the geckos to lick up water drops / condensation. For hides, you can use just about anything from carboard tubes to random tupperware, although you will want to make sure that at least one of the hides is a "humid hide" to assist the gecko in shedding.

Edit 2: Are leopard geckos tame? I've only held one before, and it was slow and calm.
Im intimidated by most lizards, but I will get over that soon enough.

Baby leopard geckos can be a little spastic until they're used to being handled, but as long as you work with them regularly, most become quite "tame".

I hope that helps!

 

[Welsh]

Eek! Im worried about my Leopard Gecko escaping out of my hands and under my bed. Haha.

I just went to petco, to look around; and they sold a complete kit with a 20 gallon tank; including vitamins (anyone use them) and sand and trees.

Im really thinking of tricking out my tank really cool. I want my Tank to look presentable, so I would perfer a Heat Rock over a Under-Tank heater; unless thats a better choice. (Can your Gecko get burnt on the heat rock?) Also, what do you guys prefer for ground?

Im going to try doing what this guy did to his Tank maybe.
http://koti.welho.com/jkoski3/terraario/pages/HPIM1927.html

any suggestions on how to do this? I've got time until I get a gecko now (probably september; or maybe sooner online; depending on money.) I might just go to Elk Grove to Pets to Go; if that sounds like a good idea. Errr, Marcia, do you have an on-location place where people can purchase Geckos; so they don't have to be shipped?

 

[sbord_tom]

Under tank Heaters Are better for leopard gecko's because heat rocks get to hot (unless you have a heat controler) under tank heater's don't get to hot but make sure that you have somethig on the floor over the heat pad so your new leo does not get burned "a safe leo is a HAPPY leo"

 

[NewportGeckos]

A heat rock is not a stable heat source and can burn the gecko. A UTH or a light will work and can still be aesthetically pleasing. If the heat tape is under the glass, there should be no need to cover it with something as long as the ground above it is the correct temperature. Also please be careful on what kinds of materials you use inside the tank! Many substances are harmful if swallowed and anything the gecko can hurt itself on should not be used. As far as the substrate (or the ground of the enclosure), I would not suggest sand. The "sand issue" is a pretty controversial topic, but the truth is that it can cause impactation in your gecko's digestive track and therefore I have always used other mediums. Many breeders use paper towels or tile, but some natural mediums are ok to use. However, I would go with tile because it looks nice and is easy to clean when dirtied.

Leos do not naturally climb, so they will not need driftwood branches or other climbing objects, but if you wish to add something for looks just make sure the leo will not be harmed if it falls off.

Many types of reptile vitamins are sold, but not all make the cut. Favorites include reptical with and without D3 and herptivite. D3 is needed in the geckos diet to properly digest calcium, but because D3 poisoning is possible, many owners will get the calcium with the D3 and the calcium without it. Small containers are available on various herp websites and range from about 4-6 bucks.

 

[Welsh]

My checklist:

20 gallon Tank (Does brand matter?)
Slate Tile (What is the bottom of a 20 gallon measurements?)
Hide (Any suggestions?)
Water Bowl (The alternative; spraying water in the hide bedding, better or worse? With Slate would I need hide bedding?)
Heat Sticker (Where do I buy this?)
MealWorms (Can I buy these at PetCo?)
Crickets (Can I buy these at PetCo?)
5 lb. Insect Gutload from ProGeckos (Is this stuff good?)
Vitamins (What kind, and how do I give the Gecko them?)
Tree (Just for looks.)
Table (For tank)


Anything I am missing?
Anything I should change?
How much will this cost around?

I'd really like to be able to meet up with GGG and pick up a Gecko; but I might just wait until September. Are you coming near Folsom anytime soon GGG? The only reason I ask is because I can't really afford the shipping.

 

[Wretched]

Petco is Evil, but they pay me...

Many breeders and owners have bought geckos from Petco, but Petco does not (on average) take care of their animals properly and there is a much larger chance the gecko you receive will be sick than if you were to buy from a breeder.

Rather true. Tho if you must, go to the Petco in mountain View California. I work for them as thier Reptile Specialist. (PetCo training really sucks, I learned most of what I know out side of company)


PetCo's saving grace is that they do not differenciate between morphs. I got a really nice and loverly patternless there, as well as a pretty albino and my adorable Milla who is normal with a fer tangerine hints.

Yes, i work for 'The Man' but I need to eat, pay rent and support a gecko habit, as well as a very lovely human girl who's slowly becoming as gecko addicted as i am. Also, petco sels the babies at $25 a pop

 

[Wretched]

My checklist:

20 gallon Tank (Does brand matter?)
Slate Tile (What is the bottom of a 20 gallon measurements?)
Hide (Any suggestions?)
Water Bowl (The alternative; spraying water in the hide bedding, better or worse? With Slate would I need hide bedding?)
Heat Sticker (Where do I buy this?)
MealWorms (Can I buy these at PetCo?)
Crickets (Can I buy these at PetCo?)
5 lb. Insect Gutload from ProGeckos (Is this stuff good?)
Vitamins (What kind, and how do I give the Gecko them?)
Tree (Just for looks.)
Table (For tank)


Anything I am missing?
Anything I should change?
How much will this cost around?

I'd really like to be able to meet up with GGG and pick up a Gecko; but I might just wait until September. Are you coming near Folsom anytime soon GGG? The only reason I ask is because I can't really afford the shipping.

Get a simple 20L aquarium tank, buy a screen hood seperately, its muy cheaper than say a 'critter cage'

Waterbowl should be shallow so that yer gecko doesnt have to climb to get into it. Easy acess has always made my babies happy.

You can buy under tank heaters, crickets, mealworms at petco.

Suplements, both pure calcium and one with that D3 and more for bi weekly feedings. Simply dust your mealworms and crickets with the stuff, its made to stick to the critters (and everything else) The easiest wa is to toss yer crickets in a baggie, add a little of the vitamin dust and 'shake'.

I would wait on a tank stand, they can be costly. Especialy if you are on a budget.

Make sure you have the heat pad on one side of the take so you have a hotter side and a cooler side. place hides in different temperature area's. dont forget to buy a thermometer.


I'm sure others will add things Ive forgotten or mis-stated.

 

[Welsh]

Your reply helped greatly.

What kind of thermometer? Anything fancy?
What kind of suplements do I need to get? Link me to it online please, because I really don't get the "D3" thing.
Gutfeeding, good choice for me? I'll get a little Cricket enclosure to put them in.
How big should the water bowl be?
The heat pad just goes on the side of the tank, right?
I should get one hide for each side of the tank, sounds good.

EDIT: How do you weigh/measure your Gecko; and do they bite hard?

Sorry for some many questions. Im just so excited and anxious. I don't want to wait, nor do I want to buy from PetCo, or pay 45$ shipping. Ahh!

Edit 2: ...I was also wondering if I need a place to put the mealies and cricks. Do I just use tweezers to drop them in, or just poor them into the tank? Also, when I feed the Mealworms and Cricks gutfeed; can they be combined? How often should I feed it one over the other? How do I put the vitamin sprinkles on the mealies and cricks? HELP! xD

Its 2:20 here, and I can't sleep in excitement about getting a reptile soon! Goodnight folks.

Would reptile turf work good in a tank? Like that astro-turf stuff? I really don't want sand; so...

 

[Welsh]

Is there any kind of diffrent foods Geckos should be fed as a baby? Can they have roaches as a baby? I think I might bread roaches too.

EDIT: Does anyone have AIM, MSN, or YIM so we can discuss quesitons in real time?

 

[Welsh]

I was thinking; if I got a baby gecko at petco, would it be fine? What would be wrong with it if it were so young? They couldn't have done anything I can't fix if its a baby, correct?

 

[gko reptiles]

Welsh - I have an AIM sn : chickflip86. I'm not on AIM all the time, but i have a broken foot right now so ill be pretty easy to reach. My best piece of advice for you is to go to PetsMart (or maybe PetCo might have it) and buy a book called "The Leopard Gecko Manual" by Philippe de Vosjoli. If you're not getting into breeding, this book is perfect for leanring the basic set-up/feeding schedule/supplements. If you dodecide to get into breeding, start getting info from other sources; but this simple book will get you through the setup process. I hope this helps!! if you have any other specific questions, feel free to ask!

 

[Welsh]

I've created a "shopping list":

• 20 gallon glass tank (No link)
• Tank Screen
  or this:
• Tank Cover 2
• Heat Strip
• Thermometer
• Food/Water Dish x2
• Hide x2 (one for Hot end one for Cold end.)
• Slate Floring (Probably from Home Depot, etc.)
• The Leopard Gecko Manual by: Philippe De Vosjoli

• 
  What's missing:
• Food: Crickets, Mealworms, Superworms, etc.
• Supplementation
• Gutfead
• Crickets, Mealworms, Superworms, etc. Containers
• Lighting?
  

 

[NewportGeckos]

Everything looks good so far If you'd like to save money on the hides (even if just temporary until you get a little more cash) anything from overturned disposable bowls to whip cream containers will work. I know you want a naturalistic setting, but wood hides are something you can easily get later.

Now as far as that heat tape, I have no idea about temperature or reliability. You may need to buy a rheostat, light dimmer, or thermostat to keep it from getting too hot. A basic light dimmer from Home Depot will probably be your cheapest choice. The thermometer you linked to isn't bad, but it's best to get a thermometer that can read ground temps directly over the heat source. I would check out www.mgreptiles.com for the ESU Thermometer. With correct placement and full battery they are accurate to about 2 degrees, and they are very inexpensive.

The best mealworm containers are basic sterilite storage boxes. Cheap, efficient, and easy to clean. As far as gutload try looking at a health food store for "red wheat bran". The red wheat bran I buy is around 37 cents a pound. All of my mealworms eat red wheat bran mixed with Vionate. Vionate is not absolutely necessary, but it has some good stuff in it if you have the money. Instead of vionate, you could also feed mealworms fresh greens, potatoes, apples, or carrots. All are good sources of different vitamins and minerals.

Matt at www.mgreptiles.com also carries the vitamin supplements known as reptical and herptivite. They can be found here.

Lighting is not necessary for a leopard gecko, as they are nocturnal animals and do not require UV. You can add I light if you have the money, but if not don't worry about it.

Lastly as far as buying the mealworms or whatever else you decide to feed, check out the supplier thread made by Val in the Feeders section of the forum. I think a quick read of the feeders forum and the supplementation forum will give you a good idea of gecko nutrition.