We got a baby Leo, what now?

amErika · #1 (**permalink**) 03-22-2002, 06:03 AM

Rolento innocently went to buy a light bulb and some Flukers crickets. This baby leopard gecko jumps out of the enclosure and refuses to go anywhere but home with Rolento. So our new baby is in a 10 gallon tank with purple cali-sand. It has a shallow water dish and a shallow food dish. I have been feeding it 5-7 live micro crickets and ZooMed leo gecko food and Flukers dried mealworms with the same calicium and vitamin powder i use with my beardie. It has a hide that is over an under tank heat pad and under a heat lamp. Please give me any comments or suggestions. Temp, more hides, something to climb on?

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reptilemama · #2 (**permalink**) 03-22-2002, 05:03 PM

Well, first, get rid of the Calci-sand. I know it looks neat and it says it's good for them, but it's really not, especially for babies. It has been known to cause impaction. Most people recommend keeping babies on paper towels until they are 6 inches long. Is it eating the fluker's and zoo med stuff? I'd honestly be surprised if it did, most leos won't touch the stuff. Live cricets and mealworms are best, as many as she will eat in 5-10 minutes. Temps should be 88-90 at the basking spot, and in the high 70's to low 80's on the cool side. I usually put a hide on each side, and make a humid hide for them, too. Just use a plastic container, cut a hole in the lid, and fill it partway with moist spagnum, peat, or bed-a-beast. Keep it on the warm sde, and keep it moist. This will help her shed. Have fun with her, they are great pets!

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amErika · #3 (**permalink**) 03-22-2002, 06:03 PM

I have to say that i hear mixed opinions about every kind of substrate. We have decided to go with calci-sand. Umm...the ZooMed and Flukers stuff was just to see. Didn't think it would eat them either. It doesn't come out of the hide and eat when I am around. I have cleaned a poop a day though. Should I be worried about the constant hiding?

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reptilemama · #4 (**permalink**) 03-22-2002, 06:18 PM

No, don'tworry about it hiding. It will take a little while for it to settle in. Ans ince they're nocturnal, they usually sleep most of the day, anyway. Please reconsider the calci-sand, at least til it's older. Of all the substrates out there, I've heard the most bad things about calci-sand. Talk to any experienced reptile vet and I'm sure they can tell you of at least a few reptiles they've seen with problems from calci-sand. Paper towel is by far the safest. It may not look as good, but don't you want your baby to be as safe as possible?

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faze · #5 (**permalink**) 03-22-2002, 06:34 PM

i have to agree with reptilemama on the calcisand lose it asap and i very very highly doubt the leo is gonna eat the canned stuff actaully i still gotta can of it sitting in a drawer at the house that none of my leo's even looked at also if you dont wanna use paper towels the astroturf also works good and its a lil more apealing to the eye [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif[/img]
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Clownfishie · #6 (**permalink**) 03-22-2002, 06:47 PM

Personally, I do use sand in my leo's tank -- BUT (and this is a big but), both of my leos are over 6". I wouldn't recommend it for a baby... too risky. Go with either the paper towel or the astroturf that was mentioned until your baby is a little bit older. Then, if you like, you can put the calci-sand back in. I prefer ReptiSand myself (I think that ZooMed makes it) -- it's a lot finer, and I haven't had any problems with it...

If you'd like a bit more info, check out the thread called "Finally Did It!" (or something along those lines)... someone else just got a pair of baby leos, and I put a nice long post of advice in there [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img]

Good luck with your new addition, leos are great! Just be prepared -- they're kinda like Lays potato chips -- you can't have just one [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif[/img] [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

Jen
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faze · #7 (**permalink**) 03-22-2002, 07:10 PM

id have to agree with clown on the reptisand over the calcisand because (a)ive found that
the calcisand will leave a stain on the herp and (b)as clownfishie mentioned reptisand is a finer grain
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amErika · #8 (**permalink**) 03-23-2002, 06:53 AM

OK Ok The per store does not have astro turf. Where do i get it?

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Clownfishie · #9 (**permalink**) 03-23-2002, 09:27 PM

Hmmm -- my LPS carries it.... but if yours doesn't, maybe try checking at a home depot type place? They might have it -- or Home Hardware, or something along those lines. The pet store has it specifically for reptiles, but I'm sure that the regular stuff is fine too (and also much cheaper I'm sure [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img])

It'll be a little nicer looking than the paper towel -- and since leos are wonderful and do all their pooping in one spot, it'll still be nice and easy to clean up [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img]

Jen
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#10 (**permalink**) 03-24-2002, 05:52 PM

You can save the calci-sand til the Leo gets bigger but never ever use any type of sand on Leos younger than 6 inches. You need two types of hides, a moist one: A tupperware containre with a hole cut in it lined with wet paper towel and a dry one: anykind of cave of log or something like that. The moist hide is very important to ensure proper shedding. Do not mist the tank.
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