Just adopted a leopard gecko

Wow, been a while since anyone's posted to this thread! I just adopted a leopard gecko yesterday from the rescue I volunteer for. While I've been taking care of these guys for quite a while at the rescue, I'm very new to owning one.

Its currently in a 10 gal aquarium until its 40 gal arrives on Wednesday. I've researched husbandry from a host of different sources, but like anything else the care techniques vary greatly by source. Although its still going thru its acclimation period, I did offer it a cricket. Of course, I didn't expect it to eat. I'm curious what other keepers feed theirs and how they "decorate" their enclosures. What kind of things do your geckos enjoy for stimulation and/or food?

Due to being in a 10 gal aquarium its difficult to do temperature zones (obviously). Daytime ambient is around 81F and basking spot is only 86F. I'm using a 40w incandescent flood bulb for basking heat, and a T5 HO 5.0 for UVB. Not enough room for a CHE yet unfortunately. Night temps dip down around 68F. What are the ideal day/night ambient temps? Basking temps? Like I said... different sources are all over the map in that regard. When the new enclosure gets here, I'd like to get it zoned out properly. Oh... and whats the best substrate?

He's gorgeous .
Moths are a favorite food item with the geckos in my house!

TammyJ said:

He's gorgeous .
Moths are a favorite food item with the geckos in my house!

Click to expand...

Thanks Tammy! I finally got him to eat a cricket about a hour ago. No shortage of moths around here. Would you mind showing me your enclosure? Love to get some ideas.

Congrats!

-With all the debate on substrate, I'd love to hear what works for people long term. I've chosen to go with paper towels for the time being. It works, and its cheap and easy.
-I feed mine gut loaded roaches. I breed three species of roaches just for this purpose.
-I keep a water dish in the enclosure. All the fear of the slightest humidity is dumb and unfounded.
-I decorate with rocks, hides, and thick branches.
-My reptile room drops into the high 70s at night, so I don't know what the lower limit is. My night temps seem to suit this species just fine.
-I have a basking lamp and LED during the day, but don't see them using it ever. I don't bother with UV for this nocturnal species. Roaches are dusted with Repcal with D3 about 1/2 of the time, and un-dusted the rest of the time.

Tim Carlisle said:

Thanks Tammy! I finally got him to eat a cricket about a hour ago. No shortage of moths around here. Would you mind showing me your enclosure? Love to get some ideas.

Click to expand...

My house itself is their enclosure...we live together in perfect harmony as a rare example of interspecies habitation. We are all free to come and go and to pursue our diverse needs and preferences...lol.
Sorry, I couldn't resist that.
We call them Croaking lizards here in Jamaica, and about 90 percent of humans here are terrified of them or kill them on sight or both, sadly. So I am an enigma to be approached with caution! I love them and I accommodate them gladly.

TammyJ said:

My house itself is their enclosure...we live together in perfect harmony as a rare example of interspecies habitation. We are all free to come and go and to pursue our diverse needs and preferences...lol.
Sorry, I couldn't resist that.
We call them Croaking lizards here in Jamaica, and about 90 percent of humans here are terrified of them or kill them on sight or both, sadly. So I am an enigma to be approached with caution! I love them and I accommodate them gladly.

Click to expand...

Do your neighbors not understand how many bugs and mosquitos those geckos eat very single night? Why would anyone harm them in a climate like yours. I'd be breeding them and releasing them all over my house by the dozens. I take care of my lizards out here. I feed them and name them. Keep the road runners and racers away from them. Etc...

Tom said:

Congrats!

-With all the debate on substrate, I'd love to hear what works for people long term. I've chosen to go with paper towels for the time being. It works, and its cheap and easy.
-I feed mine gut loaded roaches. I breed three species of roaches just for this purpose.
-I keep a water dish in the enclosure. All the fear of the slightest humidity is dumb and unfounded.
-I decorate with rocks, hides, and thick branches.
-My reptile room drops into the high 70s at night, so I don't know what the lower limit is. My night temps seem to suit this species just fine.
-I have a basking lamp and LED during the day, but don't see them using it ever. I don't bother with UV for this nocturnal species. Roaches are dusted with Repcal with D3 about 1/2 of the time, and un-dusted the rest of the time.

Click to expand...

I've decided to go with a 70/30 topsoil/play sand mix to start with. I read they like to dig, and I decided to make mine bioactive. I've seen it basking on a piece of slate in the early evening, but I keep the T5 on for 12 hours. I actually saw it drink yesterday. I was filling his water dish and spilled a few drops on his slate. He ran up and was licking at the water droplets. I've seen some folks put a little calcium powder in a flat dish, so I tried that. He actually took a couple licks from it. Was also able ti pick him up and hold him for a few minutes with no problem. I guess it helped that I handled him a bit during his time at the rescue. He's acclimating much better than expected!

Tim Carlisle said:

I've decided to go with a 70/30 topsoil/play sand mix to start with. I read they like to dig, and I decided to make mine bioactive. I've seen it basking on a piece of slate in the early evening, but I keep the T5 on for 12 hours. I actually saw it drink yesterday. I was filling his water dish and spilled a few drops on his slate. He ran up and was licking at the water droplets. I've seen some folks put a little calcium powder in a flat dish, so I tried that. He actually took a couple licks from it. Was also able ti pick him up and hold him for a few minutes with no problem. I guess it helped that I handled him a bit during his time at the rescue. He's acclimating much better than expected!

Click to expand...

Oh, I do the cap full of calcium powder too. I figured it won't hurt anything, and it may help.

I'll never use sand or soil as a substrate after what I've seen at my vet friend's practices. I'm well aware that there are reptiles kept on both of those all over the world that are still alive, but I've seen so many that aren't alive anymore. Just not worth the risk when there are other safe options.

Tom said:

Oh, I do the cap full of calcium powder too. I figured it won't hurt anything, and it may help.

I'll never use sand or soil as a substrate after what I've seen at my vet friend's practices. I'm well aware that there are reptiles kept on both of those all over the world that are still alive, but I've seen so many that aren't alive anymore. Just not worth the risk when there are other safe options.

Click to expand...

What options (besides paper towels) would you recommend? I'd like something safe for it to dig in.

Actually, I'm rethinking my approach now. I might start out by trimming down an old rubber foam mat and using that (at least temporarily). I've been reading that it's best to use something like paper towels, floor tiles, etc. so that you can monitor its health. I've used these mats for torts before and they work really well.

When I once kept a giant green anole, and also for my iguana that I had for 26 years and who just died peacefully, I just used newspaper as the base sometimes and then covered it with driftwood, rocks and leaves. I had the anole for about 9 months and then released him.
I've never caged a gecko though.
I have noticed that lizards like to drink when the water is dripping or running, I guess it's like when it's raining.
Almost every person I meet or know here hates snakes and lizards. It's a learned emotion and I try to turn it around, but with just about zero success... children live what they learn from their parents and teachers. Our zoo here keeps trying too with the schools, and I am seeing some good signs sometimes but it's not enough.

Just finished the new enclosure. Took me 3+ hours just to assemble the dang thing. lol

Tim Carlisle said:

Just finished the new enclosure. Took me 3+ hours just to assemble the dang thing. lol
View attachment 400039View attachment 400040

Click to expand...

Wow! Lucky leo!!! I used to keep these. They are so easy to care for and great if you’re a night owl. Mine were always super active at night. Mine ate crickets occasionally but I most fed dubias and meal worms 2-3day a week. Mine thought wax worms were the best treat but I didn’t feed them regularly

Renee_H said:

Wow! Lucky leo!!! I used to keep these. They are so easy to care for and great if you’re a night owl. Mine were always super active at night. Mine ate crickets occasionally but I most fed dubias and meal worms 2-3day a week. Mine thought wax worms were the best treat but I didn’t feed them regularly

Click to expand...

What substrate did you use for them?

Tom said:

What substrate did you use for them?

Click to expand...

Paper towels over stone tiles cut to fit their tanks. Probably wrong. But it’s what I knew at the time.


ETA: I just read the thread I see you use paper towels too.

Renee_H said:

Paper towels over stone tiles cut to fit their tanks. Probably wrong. But it’s what I knew at the time.


ETA: I just read the thread I see you use paper towels too.

Click to expand...

I just haven't found anything that I like better or trust.

Tom said:

I just haven't found anything that I like better or trust.

Click to expand...

I used a foam rubber mat and spread lef litter to make it look a little more natural.