Can somebody quiz me???

[herpkid97]

Hello, I have finally decided what my first reptile will be.................. A LEOPARD GECKO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have been researching a lot about them and was wondering if someone could quiz me on Diet, Lighting, Heating, Care, Habitat and the works!

[Ophiophilia]

Do they need light?

What does their diet consist of?

How many days out of the week do you feed them?

What's the temperature on the cool side and what temp. on the hot side?

What's the best substrate to use?

What's the ideal size of a enclosure for one gecko?

How can you tell if it's male or female?

What's the best way to heat them?

What do you dust their food with?

	Geek Auto Linker or Gallon Geek Auto Linker Gallon - United States liquid unit equal to 4 quarts or 3.785 liters

[herpkid97]

1. Yes they need light, mostly for heating though. UV rays are contriversial but in many cases are not needed if one provides vitamin supplements. But light is usually used for viewing purposes.

2. Their diet consists of bugs (crickets and mealworms(staple), waxworms and sometime pinky mice as treats.) You would feed them 1 prey item for each inch that the gecko is long. The prey items width should be no bigger than the space between the gecko's eyes.

3. When they are young feeding every day or every other day is good.

4. The temperatures should never go under 75F....the cool side should have 75-80F ideally the hot side should be anywhere between aroun 81-88F ideally as much higher temperatures would be too hot.

5. Best substrate is non-looped Cage Carpet, Paper, and CareFresh brand, Coconut Husk substrate can also be an ideal choice. Sands are bad because they can cause impaction.

6. One gecko should be housed in a 10-15 gallon tank. Add 5 gallons for each additional gecko.

7. Females heads are more streamlined. The easiest way to sex them though is (when they are around 6 months of age) to see if you can see a V of anal pores near their vent. If they are almost invisible you have a female. Prominent and pronounced you have a male.

8. Using heat pads on the warm side is ideal. Heat lamps (not too hot) and NightGlo and such "nighttime bulbs' are also and option.

9. You dust them with Calcium+Vitamind D3 Dust. It is also ideal to place some of this mixture in a small bowl in the terrarium. A Multivitamin dust mixed with the calcium is also very good for the animal.

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[louise]

i dont know if those answers are right cause i never had a lizard but just by you caring enough to start this thread...i would bet you are gonna be a great lizard owner.

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[herpkid97]

Thanks
It's just too bad that I'll have to buy the geckos from PetsMart Because the other stores (local ones) had insane prices for the geckos and they didn't look too healthy either. I guess the employees at PetsMart know how to take care of them lol!

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[louise]

i wanna see lots of pics when you get it!

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[Ophiophilia]

Pretty good, kid.

I think your future gecko is gonna have a good owner.

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[tucuxi88]

Were are you located? Maybe there's a reptile expo you can go to. Should have a MUCH better selection than any petstore.

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[HERPHAPPY]

Originally Posted by herpkid97

Thanks
It's just too bad that I'll have to buy the geckos from PetsMart Because the other stores (local ones) had insane prices for the geckos and they didn't look too healthy either. I guess the employees at PetsMart know how to take care of them lol!

Or else they haven't had them long enough to mess them up?
Some stores (whether Petsmart or Petco or private petstores) are better than others, and some improve when their (usually underpaid) employees do!
But for sure go by how the animals look...as much as you may feel sorry for a sickly looking one, it's often a futile/heartbreaking/expensive place to start.
Glad to see you researching all the care...you should do well, and someday you'll be teaching someone else... (or maybe even rescuing...?)

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[herpkid97]

Originally Posted by tucuxi88

Were are you located? Maybe there's a reptile expo you can go to. Should have a MUCH better selection than any petstore.

I'm planning on going to the W.I.R.E. on Sept. 19th but I'm probably not gonna get my gecko there.

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[herpkid97]

Originally Posted by louise

i wanna see lots of pics when you get it!

Definetely will I'll make a thread of his/her growth in the Gecko Forum

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[SUAD]

Not bad. Leopard gecko neatness: Leopard Gecko FAQ

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[John_White]

True or False:

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[herpkid97]

1. False
2. True
3. True

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[John_White]

A.......perhaps, you should have "the talk" with your parents.

You won't get any offspring from breeding a male to a male (#2). ...Well, at least that's the way I understand it. Maybe things have changed and I should get "the talk" from someone in the know?

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[herpkid97]

w8 sry i thought u meant housing them together lol xD

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[HERPHAPPY]

Originally Posted by herpkid97

w8 sry i thought u meant housing them together lol xD

I was starting to worry about you too...

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[John_White]

Yea, sure you did.

	Geek Auto Linker or Gallon Geek Auto Linker Gallon - United States liquid unit equal to 4 quarts or 3.785 liters

[SUAD]

Originally Posted by John_White

A.......perhaps, you should have "the talk" with your parents.

You won't get any offspring from breeding a male to a male (#2). ...Well, at least that's the way I understand it. Maybe things have changed and I should get "the talk" from someone in the know?

Psssh...they can in San Francisco, all you need is the regular stuff plus a good adoption lawyer.

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[John_White]

Alright time to close this thread!

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