Getting a Leo

[TheHabit]

I've decided I want to get a leopard gecko, they are so endearing. I've read up on leo husbandry and I know to have a humid hide for shedding, calcium dish, etc. Would I be okay keeping it on a 10 gallon tank?

[Kristy]

You could keep it in a 10 gallon.
However I found that they just aren't big enough. With 3 hides and a water dish, plus any decor you'd like. there just really isn't enough room.

As babies since everything is on a smaller scale 10 is fine. For adults I would say a 20 gallon long is much better. Gives them some more wiggle room.

[TheHabit]

How about a 15? (lol dont even know if they make them but I would imagine there are some out there)

[Kristy]

They do make 15 gallon tanks, not sure if they make them with sliding lids though. That would be a little better than a 10.

Check glasscages.com out.

[snakelady]

I have a 15 with a locking lid. so you can get them. You may want to go to a 20 long. Though I am not an expert on Leos.

[TheHabit]

is a locking lid really necessary for a leopard gecko? no small children in the house to worry about...

[Kristy]

No I wouldn't worry about a locking lid. Not with a Leopard gecko, they aren't too big of climbers and they really aren't all that great at it lol.

Especially since you don't have kids around, I wouldn't even worry about it.

[TheHabit]

The pet store I was planning on getting it from has "normal" and "high gold" babies for sale. Do their colors change drastically as they get older or is it possible for a "normal" to get more vibrant as they age? I wanted to get a very colorful one so would it be worth it to go with the high gold?

[invadertoast]

I've had normals and high yellows, basically my normals had ALOT more spots, while my high yellow is very bright, and has larger spots, but far fewer overall. The color difference is big, I'll try to dig up some pics of mine...

Here - Normal, High Yellow/Gold, and Patternless:




*One more edit! lol, I got my high yellow as a tiny baby and her colors were WAY brighter than the normal babies, she was this crazy screaming orange color with brown stripes while the rest were yellow and black. I got my normals as adults, so I can't really compare her to them, but she was BRIGHT

[Argentra]

They often are a lot brighter as youngsters Those are some nice leos there.

As for keeping, a 10g is fine and you don't need a locking lid since they don't really climb. Don't use sand as a substrate, tho, the risks aren't worth the looks.

Make sure you're prepared to handle that little one for a bit regularly, tho... if you don't, they get really snappy as adults.