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 #815086


Jbmkerr
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 My Tank

Hi everybody, Im new to keeping geckos so im hoping you all can give me some tips saying as it looks like you all know what your doing :P anyways this is my tank, its a 20gal-long. i am using a reptile carpet as it sounds like sand will harm these lizards...? i have a bowl in the center for water and a log hiding place and some fake plants around that, there is a 18’’ UVA/UVB lamp over the left side (where the hide is) and a 100w heat spot lamp over the right side (i will be getting a basking rock when i pick up the lizards) the lamp is producing a temp of around 85 on the cool side and about 95-100f at the ground below the heat lamp (tested with a pyrometer) is this too hot? maby a lower wattage bulb? also what, if any, kind of lighting should i be using at night? i am buying 2 juveniles, 1m, 1f. what would be the best to start feeding them with, im thinking small crickets or waxworms. Thats pretty much all i know so please let me know what you all think. Thank you!!!





06/02/06  02:58am

 #815260


Hoppy
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   Message To: Jbmkerr   In reference to Message Id: 815086


 My Tank

Hi welcome to the forum,

Your set up looks lovely...before you buy your leos do you know that they prefer to be alone...some have success with just females however you can’t sex them when babies. I thought you should know and feel free to ask questions on this subject as I can only vouch for a single as that is what I have.
I couldn’t see a humid hide in your tank, do you have one? In case you don’t know its a box (margerine container will work) with paper towels or peat for humidity to help leos shed... It is vital your tank has one.
Leos when shedding climb into them to help remove their skin like a snake. You keep misting it each day to keep it moist.

I hope this helps and your tank is going to make a leo very happy..lol

HOPPY



06/02/06  09:48am

 #815385


Jbmkerr
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   Message To: Hoppy   In reference to Message Id: 815260


 My Tank

Wow i totally didnt know they liked being alone i guess i’ll just get one then cause i definatly dont have anywhere to put another if they like to be seperate and i will definatly get the humid hide made right away. thanks
06/02/06  12:08pm

 #816609


Hoppy
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   Message To: Jbmkerr   In reference to Message Id: 815385


 My Tank

Your very welcome.

You should introduce yourself as new to the forum on the other part of the leo forums too. One is community (this one) for pics and all information. the other is just the leo forum and its for all kinds of questions about health ect..

I’m glad I caught you before your purchase...I was worried.

HOPPY
06/03/06  01:19am

 #817396


Jbmkerr
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   Message To: Hoppy   In reference to Message Id: 816609


 My Tank

here is an updated pic of the tank now with the humid hide, and calcium dish



06/03/06  04:18pm

 #817652


Mike420
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   Message To: Jbmkerr   In reference to Message Id: 815086


 My Tank

They dont require uvb light since they are nocturnal, and wont be getting much of it. You dont need both of the lights either. I prefer a heat pad, and another light to provide a day/night cycle. They dont really need anything at night, unless the temps get below 70F. Like I said, I use a heat mat for nighttime, if I even need it. The temps also sound too high. The warm side should be 85-90, but no higher than 90. 95-100 sounds way too high. If you are using the stick on thermometers, they arent so accurate, and can be as much as 20 F off. I like to use either a gauge thermometer, or a digital, which is best. Also, to get the most accurate readings, of where your gecko will be almost all the time, is on the ground. So put the thermometer on the ground.
So thats it, they need 2-3 hides, preferably 3, but 2 should be fine. Also, the calcium dish your using is pure calcium right? NO d3 and multivitamins, they should be dusted on the crickets only 2 times a week, and pure calcium 5 times a week, incase you didnt know.
As far as feeding, crickets, mealworms, lobster roaches or silkworms are good staples. They should only eat wax worms as a treat only 1-2 a week, at most. Since they are very fatty and can be addictive.
Other than that everything is great!! Welcome to the forums and great job on doing research and seting up the tank before getting the leo. A lot of people dont do research and use sand, and have a bad set up, but youre doing good!
06/03/06  06:30pm

 #818272


Jbmkerr
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   Message To: Mike420   In reference to Message Id: 817652


 My Tank

awesome sounds good. k ive nocked it down to a 75 w. bulb one bright UVA one for day and a nocturnal low light for night this seems to be making perfect temps all day (88day, 80night). Im using a high end pyrometer that we actually used to use at work (food service industry) with an air temp probe placed at ground level i’ll post a pic on here tomorrow if i have time, still works perfect the only reason its been retired is our policy is to replace them every year.

the dish is filled with pure calcium, and i’ll definatly follow what you say about dusting them i was doing 1 a day (cal+D3) but i’ll cut that back.

Also the reason for the UVA/UVB lamp is i read on a couple sites/care sheets that uvb helps them produce vitamin C and D, also he seems to like it (seems being the keyword just going off what im seeing :P) he usually just hides partly under a leaf and lays in it (it gives off praticlly no heat)

Also just a question how much will a baby normally eat in a day i gave him 4 really small ones last night that he ate really quickly im sure he would have ate more if i let him, but a friend of mine said that babys will over eat and it can cause problems. anyone know more about this?
06/04/06  03:17am

 #818388


Hoppy
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   Message To: Jbmkerr   In reference to Message Id: 818272


 My Tank

Just a guess and error type thing on feeding.
When mine was a baby I started with 5 food items a day. If he ate them all I would offer 6 next time and so forth until I found his requirements.
All are different so its a great way to see.
Hope this helps.

Do you use a heat mat in your tank? They are terrific if you don’t...cheaper than high wattage bulbs...
I use the heat mat with a 50 watt bulb for day and heatmat and a night light just for my own viewing for a 20 gallon tank.
the heat mats are like 8 watts compared to the lights...
Thrifty helps...lol

great pics of your set up...can’t wait to see the leo.

HOPPY



06/04/06  08:34am

 #818434


Hoppy
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   Message To: Hoppy   In reference to Message Id: 818388


 My Tank

I wouldn’t use heat rock...sorry I just noticed you said about getting one.

Many member have found that the leo got burnt with it. You may want to post a question on them first as I have no first hand experience with this item and I may be well off track..

Just being Cautious as I wanted you to know there may be a risk.
HOPPY
06/04/06  09:32am

 #819077


Jbmkerr
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   Message To: Hoppy   In reference to Message Id: 818434


 My Tank

yep definatly no heat rock in there, i just ment a normal rock for him to lay on under the lamp but the log seems to work well. and i will for sure look into the mat, sounds alot cheaper on power for sure.
06/04/06  04:55pm

 #819674


Hoppy
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   Message To: Jbmkerr   In reference to Message Id: 819077


 My Tank

Glad to help...anytime

HOPPY



06/05/06  12:06am

 #819776


Jbmkerr
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   Message To: Hoppy   In reference to Message Id: 819674


 My Tank

Ya thank you so much you’ve definatly helped alot allready!!!



06/05/06  03:10am

 #820150


Neo the leo
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   Message To: Jbmkerr   In reference to Message Id: 819776


 My Tank

your setup looks better then mine. I can fit one of those big caves (I really wanted one) my tank is a 20 gal normal tank (like for fish)



06/05/06  01:40pm

 #828216


Masazwifey
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   Message To: Jbmkerr   In reference to Message Id: 815086


 My Tank

you def. need more hiding spots...and a humid hide on the warm side. i use a small damp sponge in my humid hide and it works great. dont feed them waxworms, because they arent nutritious at all. instead use small or med. crickets or mealworms. do not buy a basking rock, they can actually burn geckos. and your going to need calcium WITHOUT d3 anf calcium WITH d3. i use reptivite and rep-cal. the reptivite(no d3) should be left in a small dish in the cage 24/7. this way your gecko can lick the calcium when it needs it. the rep-cal should be sprinkled onto food aout 2-3 times a week. the reason u cant put the calcium with d3 in the tank is because geckos can overdose on it, but they do need it in their diet. so make sure you get both. i have had the same bottles for over 2 years now and they are still practically full. so its a good investment. also, you dont really need 2 lamps. one lamp on the warm side should be fine. i also would suggest getting a UTH (under the tank heater) so when you turn the light off at night, your gecko can lay on it if cold. make sure you find out if the geckos are both females...males will kill eachother and the female will also die if put with a male. you may also want to buy a few little fake plants to take up some space in the tank. i have 2, one in each corner, and my gecko loves them.
06/10/06  11:38pm

 #828281


Reptile_kyle
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   Message To: Masazwifey   In reference to Message Id: 828216


 My Tank

Nice tank! juvies are fun there still small but not to tiny to handle

heres a pic of my old tank.sadly i cracked it and didnt have time to repair it so i gave it to a friend. it was around 100gals

all mountained out



with out the mountains



06/11/06  12:33am


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