Fish I can do, but this is greek to me...

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cassharper

cassharper

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Sep 16, 2007
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Mansfield, Texas
I've been doing fish for a long time, but no so much on the herps; this will be my first venture.

My fiancee wanted a beardie for her birthday, but I don't think our first should be a 2' lizzard... so I talked her down to leopard geckos.

I got a free 20g long critter cage a while back that I have been holding on to, and I have been told a male and 2 females, or 3 females, can live in this for life... is this correct?

I want it to be nice, no newspaper substrate. I have found a burrowing clay substrate that they are supposed to dig (pun, get it?), will this be good to do the back half of the tank so they can dig holes and what not? If I go this route, what would be a good "disposable" substrate for the front half.

I have heard several stories on their "natural" habitat. What exactly is it? From what I have seen it is a semi-arid sort of situation. While we're on it what kind of humidity do they prefer and how would I control that?

Last question, do they climb? If they do I think it will be cool to get some hanging vines, but if they don't I'm not wasting my money.

I put my faith in you oh noble Monster Herp Keepers, guide me in the right direction!

Since this a present, money is not an option... so if you suggest a bigger tank, I will begrudgingly comply.
 
As big as beardies get, they are still great fisrt lizards. But they need atleast a 40g for life. a 20g for mabey half. Leos are a good starting pet but i honestly think you should go ahead and get the bearded dragon. I wouldnt put more than 2 leos in a 20g also. And sand is fine for leos. Thats as natural as it gets. Sand for herps is contriversial but most members on mfk agree that sand is fine and have had no problems. The burrowing clay is crap. its basically concrete. and will never come out of your tank. And when you need or want to take your leos out you wont be able to reach them. just go with a normal hide. And also they dont climb to much
so a hide will feed there climbing wants.
 
I didn't mention that it is a 20gL (footprint a 30), would that make it ok for 3? I'm not trying to justify 3, because I would be ok with 2... just trying to clarify.

The burrowing clay still intrigues me, even if not to make a burrow to make a cool little landscape. I will try it out and if I like it I will use it and if not I will be ok being out 10 bucks.

Also, I have been reading about their humidity requirements. As long as I have a "hidey hole" with some damp material in it, that's all they need right? I wasn't going to invest in a mister (so what, I'm lazy and like automation!) unless they need it.
 
I used to bread them back in the day but always had large enclosures,VF and some others really kept up with these guys so they should chime in any day now for you.Dont keep males together.If you dont want them to breed then dont do the male with females because they are breeding machines.No mister,I used a small plastic box and cut a hole in the top just the size for an adult to get in and out,paper towel in the bottom and some moss moistened.Like VF,I always used sand but talk to him about the right type.THe molding stuff was not out when I was doing it so not sure on that.Lots of caves and get you a night light so you can watch them in action.
 
I figure it will be good in the sense that I can make a landscape out of it and there will be less sand involved, so less chance of them getting impacted from it.

I will get them as babies, but will grow them out in a different tank while I am getting this one together. I might even stray away from sand eventually... I have recently discovered that it is a very hot topic round these parts.
 
yeah,baby anything herp wise is usually looked down on with sand.It gets crappy fast talking about in on here so maybe just look up old threads on it and form your own opinion based on that.I raised my babies in plastic boxes with paper towels before placing them in tanks or vivs.Personally I would get juvies instead of babies but thats me.I like to know they are doing good already and a little tougher.
 
well let me start by saying i would not keep more then a 1.2 group in a 20L also you would need another tank so you could take the male out after they breed but if you new to this i would just go with two females and i wouldnt use sand till there atleast 35 grams (almost full grown no sand for babies) also temp should be around 85 and there should be a hide for each gecko and a humid hide and a water bowl and a bowl of calcium when and if you use sand stay away from any kind of calcium sand i use play sand

i hope that helps
 
You've received pretty good advice so far. I would only keep 2 geckos in a 20 gallon long. 3 is really pushing it. Like mentioned unless you want them for breeding only house 2 females in that 20 gallon. As for substrate, if you want it to look natural you can use sand but it's a pain to keep up with because you have to keep it clean and the liquid part of the gecko waste can seep into it and it will smell. Lucky for us, leopard geckos almost always relieve themselves in the same spot for easy cleaning. I only use play sand which I screen for large pieces so that it is very fine. Another idea you could do is to use ceramic tiles or pieces of slate for the bottom of the tank. They work well at holding in heat and are easy to remove to clean. You also don't have to worry about impaction like you would if you used sand.
 
a trio might be pushin it, you can try flipping it on its side if its a long and putting a cresite in there :P
 
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