So when I get home, I'm getting a Leo.

[Virus]

I think I have decided on what to get as another pet when I get home.
More or less because of last night. I ended up going back to where I
work after I got off and ate dinner. A guy from my unit stopped by and asked for me to walk with
him. He was let off early due to some bad things happening on shift. I won't go into the details, but I suppose the soldier just needed someone there for him. Sometimes certain things just get to us.

Either way, I digress. While we were walking down the green mile to
leave the facility, I noticed a slow movement from one side of the
walkway to another. Curious, I pointed it out and we walked over.
Before we walked up to it, I asked what he thought it was. To which
he replied, "A lizard". Which may not sound interesting to you, but
as I love reptiles, I had to see it. I've seen frogs and toads out
here, but not a lizard.

Finally, when we walked up to it, I recognized it immediately. It was
a leopard gecko. A beautiful one at that (particularly for a wild one). I stopped it, knelt down, and put my hat in front of it. Curiously, it licked me hat and climbed on. The soldier walking with me asked if it
was venomous. I was surprised he didn't recognize it, but I assured
him that it was absolutely harmless. It stared up at me for a bit.
Finally I set him back down, and with another last look, he turned and
crawled under a nearby connex. So yeah, I want one now. I never
realized that they were native to Afghanistan. So it's something to
remember deployment.


Besides, when I get home, my snapping turtle is getting an upgrade to a 350-400 gallon set up. So that leaves me with a 40 gallon breeder to use, and it can fit a few leos, which then helps me not have a tank laying around.

 

[Grimleo]

I'd absolutely love to be able to see leopard geckos in the wild. You are very lucky. =)

You will be very happy with your next addition I'm sure. Be sure to post pics and introduce him on here when you get him...

 

[Virus]

I wish I had had my camera on me at the time. It would have been cool to have had a picture of him. He was about 6-8 inches, and he had both spots and stripes all along his body. I didn't get a good look at his color, but it was probably an orange/tan.

Definitely calm and curious. I hope my hat didn't taste too terrible. Also, it will be awhile before I go home. I think I still have four to five months of adventure over here.

 

[ColoradoRiverRafter]

Please, please, please research them before you buy one. That's my only wish besides I hope everything goes well. Good luck and if you need help, I know a lot about them! :wink:

 

[Virus]

Oh definitely, research is a must, and I have months to learn before I finally go back home.

I've been reading here and there while researching other topics (such as my snapper). If there is anything you would suggest in particular as a resource for information, I would greatly appreciate it.

 

[ColoradoRiverRafter]

I love this site because it is so useful: http://www.leopardgecko.com/leopard-gecko-care
Good luck.

 

[TASTIGER]

wow thats amazing i didnt think leos were native there. have you seen any of the camel spiders? those things are scary looking id hate to see one in real life :shock:

 

[ColoradoRiverRafter]

Oh yeah, they are native to Afghanistan and pakistan i think.

 

[Virus]

I played with a camel spider. They really aren't large at all. Any of those pictures you see where they look huge is all because of the angles. Any that I have seen have been around a couple inches in size from tip to tip.

I never would have guessed leo's are from Afghanistan, but after I looked it up, they are from this region of the world.

However, in my research, I keep reading that they are better in smaller cages. I have a 40 breeder, and that's the cage I'm going to use. It's what I have available after I get my snapper what he needs to grow in. So what would you leo vets suggest in regards to fixing up a 40 breeder? I know multiple males is a no go, but that's fine with me. What about a male and two ro three females? I'm afraid that a 40B might not be enough for four leo's, but two females might not be enough with the company of a male.

also, I understand that an UTH is good for them. I've read that site the other day, and I read a couple others, but the main thing I'm worried about is properly setting up a viv of this size for them. I just want everything to be enough for them. I spoil my reptiles more than anything or anyone else. I'm kind of bad because I spoil them more than my dog or my girlfriend, but meh. They are my poopers and they deserve the best, and that's the end of it, I don't know what I would do if I didn't have reptiles.

 

[ColoradoRiverRafter]

Rule of thumb for multiple geckos: 10g per gecko

 

[Virus]

I've read that 10g rule, however the main bit of confusion I've noticed is that from what I've read, 10g per gecko, more is better, but there is such a thing as too much. So you would say that a 40 breeder is good enough for a male and three females?

 

[geckoboy3]

I have leos. Yes, that should be big enough.

 

[ColoradoRiverRafter]

I've read that 10g rule, however the main bit of confusion I've noticed is that from what I've read, 10g per gecko, more is better, but there is such a thing as too much. So you would say that a 40 breeder is good enough for a male and three females?

Oh yeah, plenty. Just make sure that your male doesn't mate too soon tho! :roll:
Good luck.

 

[Virus]

So guess what happened tonight?

In the last hour of working, I ran into another one. He popped out of nowhere, so I quickly went outside and picked up up (not by the tail obviously).

Either way I have him in a box right now, and I'm going to try and take some pictures of him. I figure you all would like to see a wild leo about as much as I have. I don't know if it is a male or female, but he does have a great deal of yellow on him.

I'll try to update soon.

 

[ColoradoRiverRafter]

So guess what happened tonight?

In the last hour of working, I ran into another one. He popped out of nowhere, so I quickly went outside and picked up up (not by the tail obviously).

Either way I have him in a box right now, and I'm going to try and take some pictures of him. I figure you all would like to see a wild leo about as much as I have. I don't know if it is a male or female, but he does have a great deal of yellow on him.

I'll try to update soon.

YAYA!!!!!!!! I CANT WAIT TO SEE THE PICS!