Should I take on a leo?

[paul112]

Hey all.
I've been offered a Leopard Gecko by a friend who wants to get out of the hobby. It's free, but I'm not the kind to take it without thinking it through. He has it in a 3ft tank, but that isn't free, and considering I'm trying to save my money for other reptile opertunities, I wont be buying it.

For some background on my reptile keeping, I have been keeping for 10+ years, never kept a Leopard Gecko but I do keep a Red Eared Slider, Chinese Softshell Turtle, Tokay Gecko, Columbian Rainbow Boa and have experience with several other herps. Obviously, the requirements of these are a little more demanding apparently than for a Leo, so I reckon I'm capable of caring for it and giving it a decent home, I just need some fellow herper advice.

Have any of you taken care of an animal which previously belonged to a friend? I get the feeling this isn't going to be "my" animal, I'm going to feel like I'm taking care of it for him. I don't want to feel like a free animal-sitter.

Set up plan for now is:
-10G tub
-Paper towel substrate
-Undertank heatmat on one side
-Cardboard hide
-Waterbowl
-Spare slate rock and bogwood decor

Sound good? Going for paper towels since I've been through the impaction of reptiles before, lesson well learned. Never taking that chance again. I do want the lizard to have something to walk on other than the plastic bottom though. Paper towels will be easier to clean, but how do they do with a heat mat under the tank? Fire hazard?

Thanks,
Paul

 

[bfhslilred93]

it sounds like a good setup but im not an expert. also whats wrong with your friend still wanting to see it after he gave it to u, ur not just taking care of it it is yours but that doesnt mean he cant be with it too, the more the merrier

 

[Vicious_Fish]

Your setup sounds fine for now. In the future you might want to bump it up to a 20 gallon long. Don't forget to add a moist hide and dry hides on either end of the tank.

 

[crowconor]

i think it sounds like you all good

 

[reptech]

sounds good and leos are super easy to care for

 

[paul112]

I don't think he wants to see it anymore? Not in a nasty way, he just doesn't seem interested. He's making space for memorabilia of some sort. I just don't want to feel like I'm taking care of someone elses pet and that it's not really mine, if that makes sense? And what if something happens to it? I'll feel quite guilty, right?
I don't know, it just seems more complicated,
Paul

 

[evilxyardxgnome]

You will need ATLEAST 3 hides. 1 moist, 1 on the warm side and I usually do one in the middle. Just so they don't have to be on the warm side and be humid. Humid hides are super simple to make. I use the sandwhich boxes that ziplock has they are fairly good size. Just got a pretty decent size hole on the size. You can use either moist paper towel or most peat moss for a substrate.

 

[paul112]

Awesome, thanks for the tips. I'll see if I can get my hands on some sphagnum moss soonish for the hides. Won't be taking this Gecko on for a couple of weeks if I decide to, so plenty of time to set up.
Cheers,
Paul

 

[Jfitz]

Your setup sounds fine for now. In the future you might want to bump it up to a 20 gallon long. Don't forget to add a moist hide and dry hides on either end of the tank.

must have one moist and one dry hide. And im not to keen on tubs, but if its all that you can fit in your budget then i guess theres no other choice.

sounds good and leos are super easy to care for

if you've taken care of those other herps, leos will be a breeze.

 

[Jfitz]

You will need ATLEAST 3 hides. 1 moist, 1 on the warm side and I usually do one in the middle. Just so they don't have to be on the warm side and be humid. Humid hides are super simple to make. I use the sandwhich boxes that ziplock has they are fairly good size. Just got a pretty decent size hole on the size. You can use either moist paper towel or most peat moss for a substrate.

do you ever have to "mist" the moist hide with a spray bottle? or jsut keep making the moss wet by like submerging it in water once every while?