Hi Everyone! I have been lurking here for a few days and thought it was time to introduce myself. I am Suzanne and am brand new to reptiles.
I never thought I would ever have a reptile in the house but a few weeks ago my 4.5 yr old daughter started showing a lot of interest in the reptiles in Petsmart. I had been wanting to get a new pet that was different for a while so I started to do some research. I decided that we could probably do a leopard gecko and went to the reptile store to see what they suggested. They suggested either a leopard or crested gecko. I needed to get some things ready first so I picked up some supplies for a leopard and headed home. The next day I went back and had decided to get both geckos. I was totally hooked on them.
While doing my research I kept coming back to beardies. However, I figured I just couldn't find room to set up a large tank. After a couple more days and my daughter asking about them frequently while at the reptile store. I decided that I could find the space and proceeded to come home with a new setup and a cute baby beardie.
This was Monday and exactly 1 week after I got the geckos
I am totally in love with my new little guy. He is about 10-12 weeks old, 7" long, and weighed 18g yesterday. I am about 95% sure he is male. His setup is a 20gal long. I started out with the rabbit pellets that the store had him on just so that he wouldn't have as many changes but yesterday decided I couldn't keep him on those. I really didn't like the idea of the repti-carpet so I bought some sand along with the carpets. I knew sand wasn't a good idea but bought it anyways. Well I put the carpet in today and I love it! Needless to say the sand will be returned to the store (it actually never even made it out of the car).
The rest of the setup that I got included a 24" long reptisun 5.0 and a 60 watt blue basking bulb. Last night I ordered a reptisun 10.0 and today I bought a white 50 watt basking bulb. I had to put that on a dimmer switch as my temps are a little high (basking rock 120, cool side 90, basking branch 105). I will keep checking temps until I get things right. Of course, today wasn't the best day for cool as it was 99 outside and the room he is in was about 85-88.
Today was the best day so far for him for eating. The first day he ate nothing and the next 2 he ate about 5 crickets each day. Today he ate some greens and about 20-25 crickets. I also noticed his stress marks are getting lighter, although they still have a ways to go.
Along with Puff the Magic Dragon our current count is: 3 daughters (4.5, 3, and 8 months), 3 dogs (2 Alaskan Klee Kais, 1 Papillon), 9 cats, 2 rats, 2 mice, 1 green-cheeked conure, 1 leopard gecko, 2 crested geckos, and 1 saltwater fishtank. Oh yeah, 1 very tolerant husband!
As soon as I download the pics I will post them!
I never thought I would ever have a reptile in the house but a few weeks ago my 4.5 yr old daughter started showing a lot of interest in the reptiles in Petsmart. I had been wanting to get a new pet that was different for a while so I started to do some research. I decided that we could probably do a leopard gecko and went to the reptile store to see what they suggested. They suggested either a leopard or crested gecko. I needed to get some things ready first so I picked up some supplies for a leopard and headed home. The next day I went back and had decided to get both geckos. I was totally hooked on them.
While doing my research I kept coming back to beardies. However, I figured I just couldn't find room to set up a large tank. After a couple more days and my daughter asking about them frequently while at the reptile store. I decided that I could find the space and proceeded to come home with a new setup and a cute baby beardie.
This was Monday and exactly 1 week after I got the geckos I am totally in love with my new little guy. He is about 10-12 weeks old, 7" long, and weighed 18g yesterday. I am about 95% sure he is male. His setup is a 20gal long. I started out with the rabbit pellets that the store had him on just so that he wouldn't have as many changes but yesterday decided I couldn't keep him on those. I really didn't like the idea of the repti-carpet so I bought some sand along with the carpets. I knew sand wasn't a good idea but bought it anyways. Well I put the carpet in today and I love it! Needless to say the sand will be returned to the store (it actually never even made it out of the car).
The rest of the setup that I got included a 24" long reptisun 5.0 and a 60 watt blue basking bulb. Last night I ordered a reptisun 10.0 and today I bought a white 50 watt basking bulb. I had to put that on a dimmer switch as my temps are a little high (basking rock 120, cool side 90, basking branch 105). I will keep checking temps until I get things right. Of course, today wasn't the best day for cool as it was 99 outside and the room he is in was about 85-88.
Today was the best day so far for him for eating. The first day he ate nothing and the next 2 he ate about 5 crickets each day. Today he ate some greens and about 20-25 crickets. I also noticed his stress marks are getting lighter, although they still have a ways to go.
Along with Puff the Magic Dragon our current count is: 3 daughters (4.5, 3, and 8 months), 3 dogs (2 Alaskan Klee Kais, 1 Papillon), 9 cats, 2 rats, 2 mice, 1 green-cheeked conure, 1 leopard gecko, 2 crested geckos, and 1 saltwater fishtank. Oh yeah, 1 very tolerant husband!
As soon as I download the pics I will post them!
