New Leo Owner

[wendyhoo9]

I was recently hooked on the forums due to my sister and her obsession with her ball pythons (thanks Tigerlily ), though my interests are more with geckos. I've been looking at getting a crestie pair at the All Maryland Reptile Show in a few weeks and have been excitedly preparing the new little one's first terrarium. I've hit an unexpected bump in the round in the form of a little year old leo. While she (after looking at all the pics, I'm 90% sure it's a she) seems very alert and quite tame she has some residual shed still on her toes. She did not have a humid hide when I got her and has been spending a great deal of time in the one I put together for her. She seems to be missing a few toes already and I want to help her get rid of the rest of her shed. Any tips on removing the skin gently?


Also, any tips for looking for my new cresties at the show?


Thanks!!!!

[Marla]

Gently rub her with a moist Q-Tip to help clear remaining shed, but after this one is done a humid hide ought to be plenty for her to be able to take care of sheds herself. They don't require high humidity normally to shed fully.

As far as the crestie, I would look for a minimum total length of 3.5-4" to make sure you're not getting too young a baby, a vendor who doesn't mind answering questions but doesn't let everyone handle the animals, all toes intact on all the cresties the vendor is offering (I wouldn't sweat tails much if missing on a couple), and a crestie that is already started on Crested Gecko Diet if you plan to feed that and is bright-eyed and alert. I'd check prices online and have a good idea what the going rates are for various ages, morphs, colors, and sexability but be willing to be a little bit flexible.


Welcome to the community! :

[tigerlily]

Hey now it's not my fault! It must be genetics so blame mom! To make reparations for slandering me, I will be happy to take one of your cresties when you have babies!!!

[tigerlily]

Did I mention I'm promoting reptiles as the new hypoallergenic pet?!?!

[Jeanne]

Did I mention I'm promoting reptiles as the new hypoallergenic pet?!?!

Me too! Have been for years!

[frankykeno]

Welcome to the forum Wendy and you're sister is evil!!! LOL She and her forum friends have me completely hooked on baby lizard pics (at which point I have to repeatedly knock my head on my computer desk and chant "I will NOT run out and buy a cutsey pootsey lizard and destroy this month's budget!" over and over). I just about get back to normal, when these evil lizard lovin ladies post even more amazingly cute pics!

I'm resisting...I really am....for now.....

LOL


~~Joanna~~

[tigerlily]

HEY! :eek: I am so not evil! (well not all the time! ) I only pointed her in the direction of cresties. I don't even have any, but seeing all the pics posted had me very tempted. I've been trying to get her to go with a bp morph so I have someone I can use for breeding! Not that I'm breeding them yet, but I so want to!! I'm doing as much research as I can. Wendy you so want those first, but if not I'll take a baby when you have them!

Just curious can you soak leos or should the wet qtip be enough to get that shed off? Of course I did point her here to find answers for her new baby. It's not my fault if she gets addicted to the site and reptiles is it?

[elevatethis]

Leopard geckoes are really not fans of soaking...I set my humid hides up with a wet paper towel as the substrate inside the container they crawl into and that is sufficient for a clean she every time. I personally don't think the wet q-tip idea is even necessary as long as they have a moist place to put their feet on.

However, be sure to offer a humid hide at all times. I spoke to a breeder recently and he said that when leos are exposed to excessively dry conditions over time, it can cause respitory issues. I use a overhead heat source, so I've got to be aware of that. If you use a heat pad or flexwatt or whatever, you shouldn't have too much of a problem with overly dry conditions elsewhere.

[Marla]

Welcome to the forum Wendy and you're sister is evil!!! LOL She and her forum friends have me completely hooked on baby lizard pics (at which point I have to repeatedly knock my head on my computer desk and chant "I will NOT run out and buy a cutsey pootsey lizard and destroy this month's budget!" over and over). I just about get back to normal, when these evil lizard lovin ladies post even more amazingly cute pics!

I'm resisting...I really am....for now.....

LOL


~~Joanna~~

Cresties are too cute to resist for very long! What else can you find that climbs like a tree frog, poses like a puppy, and looks like a wingless baby dragon?

[tigerlily]

Must resist! Cresties too adorable....but feel free to hound my sister! (runs while throwing sister to wolves bearing adorable cresties - sorry Wendy) :eek: