Leopard Geckos?

*blackrose

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#1
I've drug my hubby to the pet store with me a few times to buy dog and rat stuff and I always find him hanging out over by the reptiles. When I was cooing over baby ferrets the other day, I once again found him looking at the reptiles. I asked him if he was interested in one and he said, "Yah, kind of. I think having one would be neat."

I am not a reptile person...but I'd help him take care of one. For my sake, however, I want it to be something fairly low maintenance and hardy. He'd like to be able to handle it if possible, but something super interactive isn't necessary. (Kind of like a hamster.)

I don't want to spend a ton of money on a tank/set up, so that limits the size of said reptile. All of that being said, I think a Leopard Gecko would be a good fit? Could anybody yell me more info about them? Proper habitat and upkeep?

Is there another reptile that comes to mind? (No snakes.) I've cared for a Crested Gecko before, so they came to mind, but I wasn't head over heals with the one I helped care for and wouldn't really pick one over something else.
 

Julee

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#2
Leos are easy peasy. A heat mat, a cool hide, a warm hide, and a humid hide. 20 gallon longs are most commonly used. Feed mealworms/crickets/roaches, dusted with calcium. No heat lamp required. Don't keep them on sand. Feed them as often as they like. That's about all there is to them!

ETA: NO HEAT ROCKS.
 

Maxy24

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#3
Yeah, I've had a Leo for 9 years and they are really easy (though pretty boring, but I just don't think reptiles are my thing). She is easy to handle.

Pretty much what Julee said. A 20 gallon long is good because it allows enough floor space for a warm side and cool side. You need an under tank heater, a thermometer with a probe or a thermometer gun (to measure floor temperature), then a warm hide, cool hide, and humid hide. I also recommend a thermostat to help keep the UTH at a good temperature. Dusting their food used to be a little annoying because they need pure calcium, calcium with vitamin D3, and a multivitamin. But a forum I'm on recommends repashy calcium plus and you just dust with that every feeding, so much easier! Then you provide pure calcium 24/7 in a little dish in the tank. For substrate most people use tile, it should be textured so their feet don't slide when they try to walk.
 

*blackrose

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#4
Cool, thanks! DH said something about a Bearded Dragon and I nixed that as being too big/expensive. And I've always liked Blue Tounged Skinks, but same issue.

I think Leopard Geckos are cute little buggers, and they sound about just the level we both need. I may surprise him with one for his birthday in August.
 

*blackrose

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#5
Differences in care/personality between a Leopard Gecko and a Fat Tailed Gecko? The only thing that is popping out at me is that FTGs tend to be more calm and that they require a higher humidity level than Leos. Other than that they are very similar?

Also, for substrate: would Yesterday's News be okay, or would they ingest it? (If the answer is, "Yes, they will ingest it" I'm just going to stick with a carpet type flooring.)
 

Maxy24

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#6
I don't know anything about fat tailed geckos unfortunately. I would not use the litter, you don't want any loose substrate. I think reptile carpet is probably fine but some people say their toes can get stuck in it.

This is Tammy's setup. For her a had tile but it was smooth which is not supposed to be good for them so I put down some craft foam sheets so she could grip. UTH is on the left side of tank and the humid hide and warm hide are over there. The cool hide is up on the platform. She poops under the platform (Leos choose a potty spot).
 

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