Leo Setup

So, I jumped into the leo wagon lol. Brought home a cute little leo, purchased from my good friend Pat with Action Reptiles. I am curious to see some cool 10 gallon tank setups for them? Right now she's just on paper towels, basic water and food dish, and a hide. Also a mini UTH on a dimmer for a hot spot. Any tips?

Also, are they social? Should I be buying another female leo from Pat? Hehe....
http://i56.tinypic.com/24b7s4n.jpg

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Originally Posted by LGray23

So, I jumped into the leo wagon lol. Brought home a cute little leo, purchased from my good friend Pat with Action Reptiles. I am curious to see some cool 10 gallon tank setups for them? Right now she's just on paper towels, basic water and food dish, and a hide. Also a mini UTH on a dimmer for a hot spot. Any tips?

Also, are they social? Should I be buying another female leo from Pat? Hehe....
http://i56.tinypic.com/24b7s4n.jpg

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Females can be grouped together as long as there's enough floor space and hides but they have to be around the same size or the bigger one will bully the smaller one I don't have no pics of a set up cause my geckos are in tubs

Might I add she a cute Lil girl looks like she smiling

I have my one in a 10 gallon tank at the moment, I do own a 30 gallon tank with a ball python in it at the moment. He will most likely be moved to the rack if he doesn't calm down though. Is the 10 gallon too small for one? Also, if I were to buy another female it'd be from my friend Patrick where I got this one....they were all the same size....

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Originally Posted by LGray23

I have my one in a 10 gallon tank at the moment, I do own a 30 gallon tank with a ball python in it at the moment. He will most likely be moved to the rack if he doesn't calm down though. Is the 10 gallon too small for one? Also, if I were to buy another female it'd be from my friend Patrick where I got this one....they were all the same size....

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I don't see anything wrong wit a 10g but 2 geckos in a 10g I double is recommend and same size females do well together I have 3 females in a 32qt tube and the youngest female will bully the others for food I have to seperate her when there wormin in there or feed the other 2 first

Same set-up as me, but I keep mine in tubs. Some do keep them individually but alot of breeders keep them at a 1.2 to 1.3 ratio. If kept 1.1 the male will stress out the lone female. Two females would be fine near the same size and with enough hides.

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Originally Posted by MidSouthMorphs

Same set-up as me, but I keep mine in tubs. Some do keep them individually but alot of breeders keep them at a 1.2 to 1.3 ratio. If kept 1.1 the male will stress out the lone female. Two females would be fine near the same size and with enough hides.

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I don't leave my males with my females I know how I feel to b in a house full of women
Jk but I don't want no untimed breeding

Haha agreed, I keep all of mine individually.

Thanks for the reassurance that my setup is okay...I was worried she'd be stressed out. I <might> get another female...we'll see how my boyfriend takes to the idea lol. What do you guys think of the "can-o-superworms"? I put three in there earlier and she hasn't touched them, think I'd have better luck with live mealworms/superworms? I figured I'd try the canned stuff since it's kind of easier, but don't mind getting live ones every few days as needed.

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Originally Posted by LGray23

Thanks for the reassurance that my setup is okay...I was worried she'd be stressed out. I <might> get another female...we'll see how my boyfriend takes to the idea lol. What do you guys think of the "can-o-superworms"? I put three in there earlier and she hasn't touched them, think I'd have better luck with live mealworms/superworms? I figured I'd try the canned stuff since it's kind of easier, but don't mind getting live ones every few days as needed.

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geckos are hard they like things thats moving i breed my own mealies but i got the from petco like a 500 count for like 7 bucks and keep em in the fridge

In my experience with Leo's I always housed them separately (even females) simply because like any animal it's easier to monitor feeding and health. I never tried can-o-worms or whatever but I always left a dish of live mealworms in the setup at all times and they seem to take them with gusto. Great picture btw!

Leah, a few things:

Leos normally do not need social interaction with other geckos. Most people keep them separate, lots keep them in breeding groups or pairs but there is always risk of aggression and don't forget, just as in ball pythons, you won't know who had a regurg or who defecated, etc. I don't think anyone will frown upon keeping 2 together, but it's not ideal.

Secondly, they need live prey. They will not eat canned food. Most are fed a diet of mealies. Some feed crickets, but crickets smell, die fast, and often carry parasites more often. Dubias are a great feeder as well, but more pricey if you arent breeding your own. For just one, I recommend keeping a thing of mealies in the fridge.

Also, make sure you have a humid hide, a dish of calcium in the enclosure (recommended without D3) and dust with calcium/D3 every or every other feeding. Dust every week once with multivitamins.




Enjoy your gecko! Good luck!

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Originally Posted by Jessica Loesch

Leah, a few things:

Leos normally do not need social interaction with other geckos. Most people keep them separate, lots keep them in breeding groups or pairs but there is always risk of aggression and don't forget, just as in ball pythons, you won't know who had a regurg or who defecated, etc. I don't think anyone will frown upon keeping 2 together, but it's not ideal.

I figured as much, I'd never keep my snakes together...I just didn't know if geckos were the social type. If they normally are not, then IMO it's not worth the risk.

Secondly, they need live prey. They will not eat canned food. Most are fed a diet of mealies. Some feed crickets, but crickets smell, die fast, and often carry parasites more often. Dubias are a great feeder as well, but more pricey if you arent breeding your own. For just one, I recommend keeping a thing of mealies in the fridge.

I have access to live mealworms. I figured today I'd try the ones that came in the can, they are whole and everything, just dead lol. They can survive being stored in the fridge? :confused:

Also, make sure you have a humid hide, a dish of calcium in the enclosure (recommended without D3) and dust with calcium/D3 every or every other feeding. Dust every week once with multivitamins.

Do you recommend any specific types of the calcium and multivitamins? I'd rather buy online than go to petco to be honest...but I had no idea what to look for. I did buy some Zoo Med Repti Calcium today, but now that I look at it it says it has "safe" levels of D3.



Enjoy your gecko! Good luck!

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Leah:

Mealworms stay .... not necessarily "dormant" in the fridge, but that is how one normally stores them so they grow very slow and do not turn into beetles. I leave a small bunch out at a time with some carrots to gut load them with nutrients and then feed them dusted.

I don't have any suggestions as what to buy online, and the Calcium I have has D3 in it, and its pretty controversial, but in the end there is no proof that either or will hurt them any which way but they do need at least a source of D3 somewhere.

I have the Fluker's line, I think repashy makes some, and I am sure there are many more. I would look on some leopard gecko breeder sites such as designer gecko, and see if they have any info on what they recommend. If you find a good choice, let me know :)

And about the live, leos just like the movement. Kinda like some snakes like live food. Except you can't really convert a leo lol. They are a little more ... picky? I dunno.
I actually have one that isn't feeding right now and I'm not sure what is wrong, but she is very thin and I'm worried so I've been feeding her yogurt. They will lick things off your finger, but that's about it.

I know this is a lot of questions, but how often should I offer meal worms? How many should I offer at a time? Also, I've offered some greens, what else should I be offering? Like you mentioned the yogurt, what about fruit and the sorts? This is why I never do impulse buys, I feel bad and should already know all this :oops: Today I've left her 3 superworms and some greens...

Leos are carnivores. They do not eat greens or fruit. They will eat paste type foods like yogurt if they are sick and need food, only reason I'm feeding it :) I should have clarified that :)

I think the rule is something like 2 per inch or something, but I'm not really sure.

Take out the greens and leave in the supers :) Maybe even a few more!

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Originally Posted by Jessica Loesch

Leos are carnivores. They do not eat greens or fruit. They will eat paste type foods like yogurt if they are sick and need food, only reason I'm feeding it :) I should have clarified that :)

I think the rule is something like 2 per inch or something, but I'm not really sure.

Take out the greens and leave in the supers :) Maybe even a few more!

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Thanks so much, you've been a huge help. I'm not sure why I was under the impression they would eat greens, I think I'm starting to mix up her diet with the tortoises!

I wish they did, it would make things easier :)

And you'll have to teach me tortoises now :)

Your turn lol!

My guys all eat superworms, I let them eat as many as they want. I don't leave them in the tanks (they escape bowls better than mealies!), I hand feed them. When they stop eating they are full and will go again in a few days. Mine are all adults though. I see if anyone wants to eat nightly but they "average" an every other or every third day schedule. Babies/juvies will eat daily...again though, offer as much as they want. They really are good at knowing when to stop.
I keep mine in their own 20 long tanks, lots of room and solitude, it works well for all of us.

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I can't feed them as many as they want, a couple of mine will eat and eat until they regurg from eating too much lol.

Well, I should have said 'most' know when to stop...there is always an exception ;)
And...torts are great! Love my little Greek!

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Leah,

I'm much like you, i was wandering around the reptile expo here in Dallas and fell in love with my baby leo, named Glen.

http://img600.imageshack.us/img600/6344/imag0075e.jpg
I think it was his blue eyes that made me get him.

http://img825.imageshack.us/img825/4287/imag0105s.jpg
This is the setup i use. I'm not sure if it's acceptable or not, i didn't actually do much research on these little guys until i got home with him.

you can buy crickets in fairly large numbers and they sell little keeper cages for them that are pretty convenient. So you can but a 2weeks supply and gut load and keep a few always on hand. Also i Find that feeding a few 2-3 per day is better then a huge bulk at once. I and most of the others i know have always feed them crickets with vitamins on them and not had any issues.

As far as keeping them together as others said only females and make sure they have the space/hides.

Well I guess I will chime in also(don't know why you didn't hit me up if you had questions :rolleyes:).... She was eating meal worms and small supers mostly occasional crickets. She was house with 2 other females and never had an issue but they don't Need companions. Yes you need a humid hide to help them shed along with a calcium and multivitamin. Other than that you can decorate the enclosure how ever you like and multiple hides can never hurt. I'm sorry for not going over some of this as I forget you don't have any lizards in your small zoo... LOl Hit me up I have some items you can have for her also... :D

i love that picture! ive lately been becoming more interested in these guys, i think i would like to get a couple some day

LoneSt4r-

Set up doesn't look bad but I would definitely provide hides on both the cool and warm sides of the tank. They should have a UTH attached to a thermostat which provides belly heat between 90 and 95F. Also that water bowl is too high, try to find something that is lower to the ground or else the little guy may not be able get any water. I can't tell what is in the green dish back in the left corner but if it's carrots and greens, that's not really necessary because as stated before they are carnivorous. You're on your way! Congrats on your new pickup, they make great pets and can have tons of personality if you handle them enough.

I recently sold my geckos to pursue Ball Pythons further, but after reading this post it makes me wish I hadn't.. haha. Anyway Hope this help!

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Originally Posted by Action Reptiles

Well I guess I will chime in also(don't know why you didn't hit me up if you had questions :rolleyes:).... She was eating meal worms and small supers mostly occasional crickets. She was house with 2 other females and never had an issue but they don't Need companions. Yes you need a humid hide to help them shed along with a calcium and multivitamin. Other than that you can decorate the enclosure how ever you like and multiple hides can never hurt. I'm sorry for not going over some of this as I forget you don't have any lizards in your small zoo... LOl Hit me up I have some items you can have for her also... :D

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I texted you! As you already know....and you're phone wasn't working ;)

I appreciate all the advice everyone :)

Yeah i just used something i had laying around the house, definitely not what i want as far as water is concerned. Work's been kicking my butt i haven't been able to hit up a petstore for something more appropriate. The dish in the back has carrots for the mealworms i have there. He actually hasn't eaten any of them since he shed, and he's actually beginning to worry me. Any ideas?

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Originally Posted by LoNeSt4r

Yeah i just used something i had laying around the house, definitely not what i want as far as water is concerned. Work's been kicking my butt i haven't been able to hit up a petstore for something more appropriate. The dish in the back has carrots for the mealworms i have there. He actually hasn't eaten any of them since he shed, and he's actually beginning to worry me. Any ideas?

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Use an exactoknife to cut down the depth of the water dish.....

Ohhh! Good idea!

I would begin by feeding him mealworms by placing them in front of him in his tank one by one. Once he gets used to eating them he will eventually (most likely lol) find his way to the dish and recognize it as a meal and eat them on his own. If he's hungry he will look for food and should find them. Also, I would feed the meal worms the carrots before you put them into the tank. I usually just put a slight layer of powdered calcium on the bottom of the dish and the mealworms on top.

He's eaten before. I fed him 4 before i went to bed, and then 4 when i left for work. each time they were completely gone when i woke up/got home from work. Did this just fine for a week or two. then he shed and he hasn't eaten since. i know shedding is real stressful on reptiles, so while i know he'll eat when he's hungry, it still worries me.