What to expect

[Nick_bp]

hey everybody, I was thinking about getting a leopard gecko but I want to know everything that I would need and how to set it up before I get one. I prefer to use tubs but if you can post links to other care sheets and whats best to feed and so forth. I have read about people starting colonies of bugs How does that work and can you post links. Just need all around advice for taking in a leopard gecko. Thanks

[Kinra]

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...-macularius%29

Leos are pretty easy to care for. If you are just getting one you shouldn't need to start your own colony of bugs. I feed my just mealworms and I get them from a local supplier.

I've had bad luck with leos in that all but one of mine seem to hate me. My sub adult male actually seems to like me and will come out of his hide to be picked up when I open his tub. All of my females either try to bite me or defecate on me when I hold them in such a way that they can't bite me.

The care sheet I linked is the one I primarily used when getting things setup. I keep all of mine in tubs and use belly heat. They all seem to be doing well.

[Nick_bp]

Would you mind posting a pic of your setup?

[Kinra]

I can post some when I get home. I'm at work right now and I don't have any setup pictures on my photobucket account.

[EverEvolvingExotics]

As Kinra said, you don't need to start a colony of feeders for just one pet, but IMO it's nice to have and produce your own feeders. You can always use craigslist to sell the extras. I have just recently started seeing a ton of babies running around in my setup. I still need to wait around another month before I start feeding some off to ensure the colony can sustain itself.

Here is a link to the setup I use. I have an 11" piece of flexwatt plugged into a thermostat for a hot spot, others use a human heating pad.

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...a-colony-today!

[heathers*bps]

I can also post pics of my setup when I get home as well. I have a rack for my leos on belly heat. With one gecko I wouldn't start an insect colony, but with all the ones I have, I do have a colony of mealies.

Just make sure you give him/her a dish ( I use milk jug caps ) of calcium powder without D3, or you can coat their food in it.

[Nick_bp]

ok well I have to wait till the 23rd to see if I can get it then, hopefully I can. i want to start off with only one to see how I like it. Pictures of your setups will be very helpfull thank you. If you use racks what size tubs do you usually use? and where did you get your racks? I want a 10 shoebox tub boaphile rack. If i do happen to like it then maybe I might get one more but we will see how it goes.

[vangarret2000]

Use a 10g tank or similar sized tub for one gecko. I just use paper towel for substraight. Have a proper sized heat mat on one end. Have a hiding spot plus a humid hide and a water and food dish.. I feed just meal worms to my geckos. I use Repshy supplement, IMO it's better then a calcium supplement.