Possible Substrate

I can't exactly take all the credit, I got the idea from someone else a while back, a long while back on another forum.

Tile is GREAT. It is so easy to clean. Also comes in a bunch of colors.

If you find that you have problems with heat distributing evenly you can place papertowels underneath to fill in the little gaps underneath the tile. You can also use about a quarter inch of playsand underneath the tile. That works very well too and the geckos can't get to the sand. Oh and don't grout the tiles in. I have seen where people have done that and its impossible to clean to the point where its disinfected. Better just to lay them down.

Definately use non glazed, have you ever seen a wheel chair on wet concrete? Well you can imagine lol.

Here are some pics of enclosures with tile.

Just after cage cleaning
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3.../Geckos044.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3.../Geckos062.jpg

Different colors
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...s/IMG_3701.jpg

OH and if you feed mealies, use darker tile. My leos had the worst time seeing the mealies on the terra cotta colored tile. It was like hunting deer with a blind fold on.

Ya I think when I do finally get one of the sexy little guys ill get me some tile. I have another quick question since im still kinda learning and doing lots of research on leopard geckos. I will probably feed mealworms for the staple diet and other worms everynow and then for variety cause i really dont want to fool with crickets. My question is what is the deal with all the different supplements? I know to have calcium in the tank at all times but what are the other supplements I will need and how ofter do I give them cause ive seen lots of conflicting information of feed schedules.

dust your mealworms with t-rex leopard gecko insect/cricket balancer powder (available at petsmart and petco) and leave a dish of calcium in the enclosure at all times. you don't even have to dust every time--every other time or so is fine.

As far as feeders go, mealies aren't the greatest but they are good. I raised my first two girls on mealies and crickets.

Other feeders are silkworms, superworms (for adults), crickets, waxworms(high in fat not a good staple) and Roaches. Blaptica Dubia roaches are by far the best feeder I have ever used for any of my geckos. they are easy to breed, the don't smell, the dont make noise, they can't fly or climb smooth surfaces. Right now I have about 300 roaches and I orderd 50 back in July I think. Or maybe it was June. They have a great meat to shell ratio and my geckos go bonkers over them.


Supplements you need Calcium Carbonate, multivitamins and vitamin D3 for calcium absorption. I have found the easiest thing to do is get

T rex bone aid pure calcium carbonate (found at petstores and online at reptilesupply.com)

Then I use Reptivite
It is a multivitamin with D3. Also found online and at petstores.

The schedule I used for my leos was this

Hatchling/Juvie
Monday through Saturday dust with pure calcium everyfeeding.
Sunday use Reptivite
Dish of Pure calcium in the tank at all times.

For adults cut back on the d3.
I would feed calcium for 2 weeks then use multivitamin for 1 feeding.

Since then I have cut back multivitamin to one a month. I have found that they eat better, have better colors and are more active. With no signs of mbd. This is just for adults though, they don't metabolize D3 as fast as growing babies do so they don't need as much.

Hopefully this clears it up a little bit. I was horribly confused when I first started keeping leos. The info was all over the place and it was all conflicting. This is just my personal experience and what has worked great for me and my animals.

Kristy

Awesome, Kristy! Now I definitely have to get some tile for my fella. What size/type are those BTW?

Just a suggestion for staple leo diet: try phoenix worms. My guy, who can be very picky about his food, loves those little squirmers. My only problems with them are that I have to find a reliable supplier who ships on Fridays, and that Dapple will only eat them if I drop them in front of him one at a time....sigh. Other great food options would include the occasional wax worms, silkworms, and a monthly pinky mouse and superworms for adults.

Ok...I type way too slow

Those are 20 gallon long tanks.

I used two 12 x 12 inch tiles and two 6 x 6 inch tiles. There was no need to cut them. If you do find you need them cut, get your measurements and most lowes and home depot stores will cut upto 4 or 5 free of charge.

I think I have it figured out now. Provide small dish of calcium carbonate at all times. Dust every feeding with calcium carbonate and give the Reptivite multivitamin once a week correct?. Does Reptivite contain D3 with the rest of the vitamins or is it seperate? As far as the mealworms for the staple diet. I dont want to keep crickets and thats all that my local petsmart carries. There is another petstore that i have been going to that has crickets and mealworms so its easier for me to just run by and buy up some mealworms than to order stuff online and have to wait. I can see if they can order me some though and they may have silkworms ill have to ask next time. Ive got plenty of time to figure it all out cause I probably wont get a leopard till after Christmas.