Hi, newbie question.

[timradcliffe]

New to forum, did my research pretty well, just wanted to take any tips from more seasoned reptile owners if I'm doing something wrong.

I got a baby leopard gecko they claim is an arabian gecko but i think its just a cool ass looking leopard gecko, in 10 gallon. It's digitally thermoregulated temp wise to 8082 on hot end, has a moist hide (basically a tupperware I cut a entrance into and burned/melted the edges to prevent scraping lol) but was wondering if a undermat heater is really necessary, cause I've got the thermostat sensor on the floor right next to his or her main hide.

 

[timradcliffe]

Ive also only had em' bout a week and have not handled yet, giving him time to chill, he's been pooping and eating the crickets quite nicely though. Give him a wax worm every other day or so too. No meal worms yet as hes tiny. Red night light is on around 9pm-7am and the day light is on the difference.

 

[timradcliffe]

Could not resist, had to hold him.... this is a leopard right? not a arabian lmao.

 

[acpart]

Congrats on your new gecko. As far as I can tell it's just a leopard gecko and the term "Arabian" doesn't really mean anything. Here are some important things to consider:
--Is the temperature 80 on the floor or in the air? If it's on the floor, usually the preferred temperature is low 90's. If in the air, it's getting kind of hot for it (in my opinion, others may not agree)
--Are you heating with a light? Is the light off at night? I really do recommend the under tank heater with thermostat set to low 90's. You don't even really need a light at all (the gecko is nocturnal) as long as the room has enough ambient light so you can tell the difference between day and night
--waxworms are very high in fat and not that nutritious. I bred leopard geckos for 13 years and started the new hatchlings off on mealworms right away. I'd really recommend switching to mealworms. Your gecko may not eat them at first (they can get kind of addicted to waxworms) but it will eventually.
--are you providing any supplements? The gecko needs vitamin D3 and calcium which come in powder form and can be sprinkled on the worms.

Aliza

 

[timradcliffe]

Has a day light bulb because the room he's in has poor lighting from outside. Has a red night light only on when its night time. Day bulb not on at night. Water add conditioner to, and crickets get dusted with HERPTIVITE and calcium/vitamin D3. I just ordered the UTH (two of them) and an extra thermostat incase I need to regulate the other side. He is super skiddish... I had a leopard gecko like 5 years ago and forgot (*hence why im here asking*) but this lil guy will make a prison break if all eyes aren't on him.

 

[acpart]

Sounds good!

Aliza

 

[Bliss13]

Many would say the red light at night is not good for them. It has been said it can cause eye damage. What kind of substrate are you using? I couldn't really tell from the photos. I prefer to feed my geckos mealworms and dubia. Wax worms maybe once a month or so. I despise crickets and have found they have given my geckos parasites in the past. So I breed my own mealworms and dubia to help prevent this.

 

[timradcliffe]

reptile carpet

 

[Bliss13]

Reptile carpet has been known to harbor bacteria and can lead to your gecko getting sick. sometimes nails also get stuck in it. I've never used it though so just speaking from what I have read and heard from others and vets.

 

[timradcliffe]

No offense but it seems everyone has some kind of problem with literally everything on here.

 

[Bliss13]

Lol welcome to the leopard gecko community. Everyone has different opinions and always will. You asked for advice and opinions and that is what you are going to get. You are welcome to listen to them or not. If you feel comfortable doing things a certain because you feel it is best for your gecko then do that. It is just like parenting. There are pros and cons to everything and there is never just one right way to do things.

 

[timradcliffe]

THese bulbs w/ the AC on my appt dont get the floor heat above 80, so my two UTH's arrive tomorrow, and another thermostat, ill have the little jerks temps perfect on both sides

 

[timradcliffe]

but wy is he so skiddish?????? my last leopard years ago as nothing like this

 

[acpart]

I find that they have "personalities" right out of the egg. When I was breeding leopard geckos I got clutch mates who behaved differently from each other.

Aliza

 

[CallyGecko]

I know I'm fairly new to geckos, but that looks more like a type of banded gecko than a leopard gecko to me. Maybe a Central American banded gecko to be exact. They tend to be more skittish and have different care requirements compared to leos, from what I've heard. It wouldn't hurt to research those species just in case.

 

[acpart]

I had thought it could be a banded gecko, but it looks a little large for that. If it is a banded gecko it's likely a Coleonyx mitratus or elegans and they need more humidity than leopard geckos.

Aliza

 

[timradcliffe]

I have him with two heating pads, eahc w/ a digital thermostat, the temp on hot end is about 93 and on cool side 82 and ambient is low 80's. i have him on calcisand but dont feed him in his tank, take him out. crtickts kept hiding underneath the crappy reptile carpet so I take him out nad stick him in a litter box with the crickets

 

[timradcliffe]

wrapping ther sides and back and tinting front to stress less.

 

[acpart]

Is that a fogger? If it's a leopard gecko, it will be way too much humidity. How long is your gecko approximately? If it's 3" or so, it is a banded gecko (Coleonyx). Where did you get the gecko from?

Aliza

 

[acpart]

Once a day is generally considered to be too much for a leopard gecko.

Aliza