So, Hi Everyone!
As you can probably guess, I'm transitioning from the wonderful world of aquatics to amphibians!!!
I have kept tropical freshwater and saltwater fish since I was seven, so I think it's time for a change.
The more I have been reading about geckos, the more I feel like a leo is probably the right fit for me. But, I guess that's my first question. Based on the info below, is a leo really the right fit? I need to preface this with the fact that I have no intention of going out and buying a pet any time soon. I still have a lot of reading to do to make sure that any pet that I get is the right fit, and that I can give it the best life possible.
In terms of enclosure, I have a 29 G tall (I know, Leos won't use much of the vertical space) tank that I would like to use. I know that I need a minimum of 3 hides (warm, cool, humid).
My big questions come with heating. I know that an under tank heater is best, but with the extra height, would I also need a bulb? Also, is there any way that an under tank heating pad could be a fire hazard? I am definitely going to invest in a nice thermometer, but it will be against a wooden stand.
In terms of substrate, I'd really love to use something natural... I live somewhere with 7-16 percent humidity, so would I need to add some humidity to my leo tank? If so, wouldn't that mean that any substrate that I use would need to be humid (ish). I really want to give my leo the best life, so I hesitate to use something like eco-earth that may cause respiratory problems, but isn't the point mute if it needs to be wet?
Finally, I'm curious about feeding! My plan is to buy a leo that is already eating mealworms, as that is what I hope to feed (dusted with calcium and multivitamin). How often is it that geckos just "decide "to stop eating a certain food? I can switch to dubia roaches if absolutely needed, but I can't do crickets...Thanks for listening to my rambling and thank you in advance.
As you can probably guess, I'm transitioning from the wonderful world of aquatics to amphibians!!!
I have kept tropical freshwater and saltwater fish since I was seven, so I think it's time for a change.
The more I have been reading about geckos, the more I feel like a leo is probably the right fit for me. But, I guess that's my first question. Based on the info below, is a leo really the right fit? I need to preface this with the fact that I have no intention of going out and buying a pet any time soon. I still have a lot of reading to do to make sure that any pet that I get is the right fit, and that I can give it the best life possible.
In terms of enclosure, I have a 29 G tall (I know, Leos won't use much of the vertical space) tank that I would like to use. I know that I need a minimum of 3 hides (warm, cool, humid).
My big questions come with heating. I know that an under tank heater is best, but with the extra height, would I also need a bulb? Also, is there any way that an under tank heating pad could be a fire hazard? I am definitely going to invest in a nice thermometer, but it will be against a wooden stand.
In terms of substrate, I'd really love to use something natural... I live somewhere with 7-16 percent humidity, so would I need to add some humidity to my leo tank? If so, wouldn't that mean that any substrate that I use would need to be humid (ish). I really want to give my leo the best life, so I hesitate to use something like eco-earth that may cause respiratory problems, but isn't the point mute if it needs to be wet?
Finally, I'm curious about feeding! My plan is to buy a leo that is already eating mealworms, as that is what I hope to feed (dusted with calcium and multivitamin). How often is it that geckos just "decide "to stop eating a certain food? I can switch to dubia roaches if absolutely needed, but I can't do crickets...Thanks for listening to my rambling and thank you in advance.