my first herp

[bombay_biorb]

i just bought a Leopard gecko and a 25g setup with everything for £40 i have some pictures of it and it was a bit stressed so ionly took 2 but i finally have one!:Dhe looks better today after i fed it.

[evilxyardxgnome]

What are you using for substrate? Looks like crushed walnut...if it is remove ASAP.

[bombay_biorb]

na ive already changed it...it was preloved lol its got exoterra black sand..its around
1 1/2 years old

[evilxyardxgnome]

Also, looks to be a male from that side shot. A pic from its underside would make it more clear.

[evilxyardxgnome]

na ive already changed it...it was preloved lol its got exoterra black sand..its around
1 1/2 years old

If you are gonna stick with sand, make sure to change the sand and try to do feedings in another tank.

[Vicious_Fish]

You can also hand feed it or use tongs.

[bombay_biorb]

yea ill feed it in another tank or take the back legs off the crickets.and also ill get a picture of underside asap but it hasnt been handled for 6 months and is a wriggler...lol

[bombay_biorb]

the owner before only had a spot light and had a uvlight? but i bought a heat mat and im getting a matstat wen they restock so...

[arowana man]

they dont require uv. do you have a heat lamp? high side should be around 88. congrats on your first herp and welcome to the add:headbang2iction

[dirtyblacksocks]

Whether or not leo's require UVB is still being debated and scientific studies have proven that they fare better with small amounts of UVB.

They don't need it to survive, persay, but it can help in small amounts. It's theorized that in nature leo's get their UVB by coming out at dusk just before the sun goes down, and this same behavior can be seen in some leo's in captivity.

He looks good to me, do you know his age? If he's older then about 12 months then I believe it's commonly accepted that their hunting skills are well developed and feeding on FINE SAND is alright.

If you're going to keep them on a sand substrate you need to make sure you leave a dish full of Calcium in the tank, leo's can sense when they need more calcium and will start to eat sand if they can't find a source. Be sure that it's just pure Calcium, not Calcium with Vitamin D3 as too much D3 in leo's over time will crystalize their internal organs and shorten their lifespan.

Give him a week or two to settle in then start putting your hand in the tank for a few minutes every night, very slowly. Avoid touching or petting him, do this during feeding time and eventually he should become inquisitive enough to start climbing onto your hand on his own.

Congrats :)

[bombay_biorb]

thanks i was putting some dusted crickets around the tank to see wat its hunting was like and he jumped out them viv and went off walking around my bedroom...lol i picked him up in the end but he was really trying to get away from me .its hunting is alright but he usually stalks them them goes for the kill.but ill do what you said to try and get him to walk onto my hand thanks for the help everybody.

[evilxyardxgnome]

How did he jump out of the viv? What size viv do you have him in?

[bombay_biorb]

a 25g sliding glass doors at the front.i have it on the floor so it was fine i was there anyway.it cant escape when the doors are closed i was just hiding crickets for him to hunt in the viv.

[mbunafishkeeper]

very nice gecko con, when u gunna get him a female?

[bombay_biorb]

i dunno asap after i buy my thermostat i have £10 left and im gunna have another £25 so soon i hope