I need to choose

[ColoradoRiverRafter]

My mom said she needs to talk it over with my dad. I really hope to god that everything goes well and that I get one. I'm so nervous. This will be my seventh year wanting a herp on my b-day.n

 

[saranita]

I didn't read this entire thread but just wanted to add one little bit of information, leopard geckos are fun in my opinion, I have one and a beardie as well. Oryx the leopard gecko has fun climbing on things and keeps me entertained, and when I take her out she just keeps walking and walking and trying to climb up my face. They like to have fun. Also very easy to take care of and only one heat lamp. The only thing I warn is Oryx, as well as other friends' leopard geckos, seem to like to bite. It doesn't hurt AT ALL you just kind of look at them and ask "what are you trying to do?" but I just like letting people know so they don't get worried that their leo is aggressive, some you can teach to stop, but some just like to bite everynow and then for no reason, Oryx is deff one of those. Just felt like sharing

 

[ColoradoRiverRafter]

Should I use a UTH and a heat lamp or just a UTH or just a heat lamp?

 

[saranita]

I personally have an UTH and a small 50watt heat bulb but i have a friend who just had the heat lamp and I've heard of just using the UTH. My temperatures werent right with just the UTH (had it attached to the tank already because I used to have hermit crabs) so I added the small lamp and now the temps are fine

 

[ColoradoRiverRafter]

what should the temps be?

 

[saranita]

on the hot side my temps are mid 80s and mid 70s on the low side

 

[ColoradoRiverRafter]

Mmkay. What is the supplies list for one? Thanks for all the help.

 

[saranita]

All a leopard gecko needs is a hide in the warm side, a moist hide (easy to make with a tupperware container) a dish for calium powder(if you dont dust the crickets they lick it up when they need it) a water dish, and some stuff for it to cimb on(Oryx loves to climb), the tank only needs to be 10-20gallons which isn't too big, my 20gallon only cost 50$ and then the heating supplies, my personal costing was:
Tank: 50$
Hide(for warm side):15$
Heat: UTH 20$ Lamp 20$ bulb 6$
Moist hide: 2$ Tupperware, 6$ for moss (you get two huge bricks that you add water to and they expand, itll literally last you years)
ReptiCarpet: 10$
Wood to climb on: 15$
Hammock: 10$
Small Dishes: 2$ each

so the cost estimate for the NECESSITIES (some of the things I listed are just me spoiling her) 84$ according to the prices of what I bought, plus the price of the gecko, but again prices in my area may be different than in yours. The hides can be made yourself very easily and if your parents have gardening supplies around you can use peatmoss in the moist hide instead of the special forest moss (I'm using peat moss now). They recommend some kind of dirt/moss instead of papertowel because they can dig to lay eggs if female, and it hold moisture better. I got a Tangerine Tornado Leopard Gecko from my local pet store for 50$, when they're sold online for 300$+ so just talk to the sales person for a bit because getting deals isn't always as hard as you think!

 

[ColoradoRiverRafter]

Okay so to double check here is the list:
10g Tank
Hide for warm
Hide for cool
UTH
Moss
ReptiCarpet
Wood
Small Dishes
Calcium Powder (with or without d3?)
Hammock (optional)

 

[saranita]

yes, my calcium powder has d3 because i use the same stuff i give my beardie

 

[ColoradoRiverRafter]

Okay, what brand of calcium powder do you use? How often are you supposed to feed them? How much are you supposed to feed them? How do you "tame" them?

 

[saranita]

I use zoo-meds repticalcium
every other day.
as much as they'll eat in 15 min span.
as for "taming" them It's a matter of handling, like I said before some just bite because they like to bite, but it doesn't by any means hurt. You can feel their mouth on your finger but thats about it. I don't think Oryx will ever stop biting because I bought her full grown but I'm fine with that since it only happens every now and then.

 

[ColoradoRiverRafter]

What do you feed him? I heard that mealworms are OK for them.

 

[saranita]

I feed her mealworms most of the time. There's debate on whether mealworms are too fattening for them or not. Oryx's tail was very skinny when I got her and now it is healthy and plump, not overweight at all, she gets meal worms every 2 feeding days, then crickets the third so she gets some exersize.

 

[ColoradoRiverRafter]

Ok. What about butter worms, wax worms, dubias, and phoenix worms?

(Post # 300!)