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Thread: Picking up a leopard gecko

  1. #1
    Amphibious
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    Default Picking up a leopard gecko

    I'm looking to pick up a gecko in the next few weeks. If I put a young gecko in a 20L, will it be large enough to cause stress?
    I have the option between juveniles and an adult. I have heard it's risky getting young geckos but I think it'd be fun to raise it to maturity. Advice?
    Also, I have been doing my research, these are just a few polishing questions.

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  3. #2
    Moderator JeffreH's Avatar
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    Default Re: Picking up a leopard gecko

    Stress will depend partly the individual gecko, age/size, and the number of hides you provide it; usually you want at least 3 hides in the viv, and one of these must be a humid hide (generally kept on the warm end of the enclosure). With adequate cover, the gecko will feel more secure in the larger enclosure. I don't think a 20L is too significant a jump up from a typical 10 gallon that might be recommended and it will be a lovely and spacious home for the gecko as is grows into sub-adulthood and for the majority of its life.

    How old are the juveniles that you would be considering? Leopard geckos are a very hardy species and fare well in captivity. As long as they are 8 weeks of age or older I don't think think you'll run into any problems as long as you are following proper husbandry. Assuming they are healthy, once they have reached this age they are usually ready to be shipped and sold by the breeders safely.
    -Jeff Howell
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    100+ Post Member 4mb3rNich0l3's Avatar
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    If getting a younger leopard gecko, if its a few weeks old and eating good you shouldnt run into any problems. And depending on size id keep a baby in a 10 gallon until its a bit older. Just makes it easier for them to hunt down food. But a 20 long is great for 2 adults so itd be great for one. Plenty of room. Must have belly heat of around 88-92ish and no sand for substrait. I use paper towela peraonally but if your looking for something more fancy id go with slate tile . Must also have a humid hide as mentioned above to help with shedding. If you have anymore questions please feel free to ask!

    -Amber

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  7. #4
    Amphibious
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    Default Re: Picking up a leopard gecko

    I'm not sure the age. I'm going to pick them up at the local Petco, but they all look pretty solid. Clear eyes, alert, etc. Their housing there sucks and I'd like to snatch them up.
    I wasn't going to use sand, from what I understand they don't even live in sandy environments in the wild. I was thinking maybe reptile carpet just cause it sounded to be of optimum comfort.
    But one more question; These geckos, while appearing healthy, are really not taken care of well. One dry hide and three animals in a 5 gallon space. Is it likely that they have unobservable illness?

  8. #5
    Moderator JeffreH's Avatar
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    Default Re: Picking up a leopard gecko

    It is possible - a lot of the animals we see at pet stores come from puppy-mill style breeders where conditions can be foul right out the gate. A friend of mine works at petsmart and says that it is not that uncommon for animals to arrive dead in shipments and VERY young or in no condition to have been shipped (ill or very underage). A recent photo I received of a bearded dragon suggested that the animal couldn't have been more than a few days old before being shipped to the store and sadly it did not make it... There are mixed feelings about purchasing animals from pet stores: while you can make a difference in that animal's life and it can be a noble cause, it can also encourage the continued sale and reproduction... kind of a catch-22. But if the animals at this particular location appear healthy and you are pleased with them, then it may be worth a shot. It sounds like you have done your research and will really care about your new pet, so I'm sure things will work out for you with whatever decision you make = )

    Reptile carpet works wonderfully; I always prefer non-adhesive shelf liner (the 'rubbery' kind) because it tends to be a little easier to clean and is cheaper, and you can purchase sandy color or textured liner. In addition, some of the cheaper carpet brands can snag teeth and claws with loose fibers, but for the most part carpet is very good. Slate tile is also a good, safe option that has a more naturalistic look and feel.

    I apologize for not seeing this sooner by the way lol
    -Jeff Howell
    ReptileBoards ( Branched from The Reptile Rooms )
    "If you give, you begin to live." -DMB

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  10. #6
    Amphibious
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    Default Re: Picking up a leopard gecko

    I have a final question. While I know even the tamest reptile is still not a puppy, how handleable are leopard geckos? It seems like they can be pretty comfortable with an owner, and I would really like a reptile I can interact with in a positive way.

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    100+ Post Member 4mb3rNich0l3's Avatar
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    Default Re: Picking up a leopard gecko

    It honestly depends how much you handle them. Also depends on the gecko itself. Ive had VERY tame leos and some pretty wild ones as well lol. babies tend to be a little more jumpy but as long as you handle them, they will grow out of it

  12. #8
    TheFroggyDragon
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    Default Re: Picking up a leopard gecko

    I "small hobby" breed leopard geckos (-1.3 group- 1 TSF- 3 cooking-). The younger ones are jumpier. They must be interacted with daily to not be jumpy or biters as adults. They are hardy as long as you meet their requirements: clean cage, dry hide, moist hide, proper heat and cool side of tank.
    I would advice against getting any animal from a petstore like petco/petsmart. Often times you can find one through craigslist that needs a home. If you must buy look up some local breeders. Often times they have cheaper geckos much healthier than the petstores selection.

  13. #9

    Default Re: Picking up a leopard gecko

    I choose not to handle my Leo very much, but she still doesn't bite when I do have to pick her up, though she is a bit jumpy and certainly doesn't like being lifted, though she's fine just sitting on my hand or arm because it's warm. The only time she's gotten upset with me was when I was having a hard time getting skin off of her toes so took a very long time, longer than I should have. But if you want one to be really comfortable with you short handling sessions on a regular basis would be good. I got mine from petco or petsmart 8 years ago, started out with a 10 gallon then upgraded to a 20L when she was an adult. I think a 20L would work for a young gecko, just so long as you don't leave a lot of open space where she would feel exposed and you make sure she isn't having trouble finding her food. If you feed crickets I'd watch and make sure she gets them all so they don't make a snack of her later. I started out on the wrong path with my Leo (don't listen to the people at petco), had calci sand, no supplements, no gutloading, no humid hide (and she's lost a lot of toes because of that), a tiny UTH that I stuck to the side of the tank plus a heat lamp, it was just all wrong (and I was only 12). I'm lucky she even survived. So she's not the most well developed little Leo out there, so just to make sure you have all of your bases covered:

    Gut load your feeders-I have my mealies in corn meal and oats, plus the wheat middlings they come in and cricket gutload. Then I give various veggies for water.

    Have a Under Tank Heater under the tank, should take up half the tank floor, you probably need a thermostat for it

    They need pure calcium in a dish as well as calcium with D3 and a vitamin supplement which you dust on feeders

    They need 3 hides, one on the cool side, one on the warm side, and one humid hide (I put it on warm side)

    Need probe thermometer or temp gun to measure temp of substrate (not air), temp should be around 90 degrees F on warm side

    No loose substrate, Lots of people like tile (preferably textured) because you can get natural looking stuff. Some people use shelf liner. Repti carpet is better than sand, but I have heard some Leos get their nails caught in it plus it's not easy to clean.

    Good luck with your Leo!!

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