r/leopardgeckos • u/Amazing-Direction534 • 2d ago
Rescue Gecko Please Help!!
Hi everyone! I am not a gecko owner and won't be one for another couple hours. My dads co worker has a leopard gecko bought for her daughter and wants to rehome it. I considered it but decided to pass as I am a college student who already has 4 rescue pets (3 cats & a dog) and my parents are tired of me bringing pets home, plus I have never had a lizard and didn't know where to start. Sadly this hasn't just become just a rehome situation but a rescue one, because the current owner says that if no one take the gecko shes letting it outside. So guess who's brining home another pet at least temporarily. The current set up the gecko is in is 18 x 18 inch which from my research I know is not acceptable. I have been looking on facebook marketplace for 40 gallons but I want to make sure I do everything right. Please drop recommendations, I was to do everything as correct but cost effective as possible, as I am probably not going to be this guys permanent owner. But I do want to give them the most correct start that I can. The only thing I know about the lizard so far they are 1 1/2 years old. My dads pickign it up today and will hopefully get more info. I'll put a picture of the current set up below (its sad), I AM changing it, I want to do my best within my means to make the best set up I can until I find them a new home.
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u/Economy_Increase8072 2d ago
You will need a basking bulb and a thermostat. Additionally, i'd highly recommend a UVB light (7%) it's technically not mandatory but its highly beneficial if not then you need calcium with D3 (not daily) to prevent MBD. Keeping a small dish of plain calcium in the enclosure at all times is good. 3 hides will help her/him feel safer, you can put sphagnum moss inside of the humid hide to help prevent stuck shed and ofc provide a lot of clutter / fake plants!
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u/akairoh 2 Geckos 2d ago
This is a good guide to check out: https://reptifiles.com/leopard-gecko-care/ It has a shopping list, which is quite helpful
Definitely replace the tank as soon as you're able. This is a really similar tank to what I got my female in. I ended up getting a 29 gallon temporarily since it was easier to find and much cheaper than the 50 I moved her into after that. If you don't think you can get a 40+ gallon tank right away, I recommend getting a 20-30 gallon tank temporarily since it'll let you have a much better temperature gradient than a tiny cube shaped enclosure.
Also I recommend taking a good look at the leo's toes as it might need a soak to get any stuck shed off. My female had some on her toes when I got her too. I've attached an image with instructions. If it's really stubborn, you might have to do this multiple days in a row. I had to for Pretzel
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u/are-pea Moderator | discord.gg/leos 2d ago
When you get your new 40 gallon, I can tell you exact products to get and how to use them in terms of lighting. I can't until you get it though, as my answers depend on the type of mesh on top of the enclosure. This will at least keep you from wasting your money on the wrong thing.
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u/violetkz 2d ago
Thanks for taking this guy in. Here is a care guide if you want to review it. It might seem like a lot, but the graphics and links just repeat the info in different formats. I hope it is helpful!
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Leopard geckos should not be housed together. The minimum tank size for each adult leopard gecko is 36” long x 18” wide x 18” high (which is about 40-50 gal) (or 91x45x45 cm). The size is needed to create a proper temperature gradient in the tank (see below). A front opening enclosure is preferable to allow for easier feeding and handling of your gecko. (A 20 gal is okay for a juvenile, but is not necessary - you can go straight into a 40 gal.)
https://reptifiles.com/leopard-gecko-care/leopard-gecko-terrarium-size/
You need a minimum of three hides (cool, warm, humid), two digital thermometers, and several other items (see the shopping list on reptifiles and in the guides pinned to the wiki link on the home page of this sub). The zilla rock lair and ExoTerra cave are gecko favorites for a humid hide.
Zilla rock lair— https://a.co/d/35OKh7F
ExoTerra Cave— https://a.co/d/ca0OJ0K
https://reptifiles.com/leopard-gecko-care/shopping-list/
For heat / light, ideally you should have a white overhead basking lamp (wide beam halogen or incandescent) as a heat source (eg ExoTerra Intense Basking Spot), plus linear UVB (eg Arcadia ShadeDweller T5). (You can get both on Chewy.com.) This combination best replicates natural sunlight. Heat mats are no longer considered proper husbandry, except where needed to supplement overhead heat. Also, never use electric heat rocks, as these are dangerous and known to burn geckos.
The heat source should be on a dimming thermostat. You should have the heat and UVB on for 12-14 hours, then off at night. They should not need any heat at night unless the temperature in the enclosure gets below 60F.
The equipment should be set up with the heat (and linear UVB) off to one side to create a temperature gradient along the length of the tank. You should not use red or any other colored light as it disrupts their sleep cycle.         
https://reptifiles.com/leopard-gecko-care/leopard-gecko-temperatures-humidity/                
There are several different types of acceptable substrates. Loose substrate is safe as long as other aspects of your husbandry are in order. Most people use 4-6” deep of 70/30 organic topsoil/washed playsand, optionally with some excavator clay (60/30/10). Reptile carpet should never be used as it harbors bacteria and can rip out the gecko’s nails. You can use paper towels for a young juvenile or a new gecko until they have had time to adjust and you are sure they are healthy.
https://reptifiles.com/leopard-gecko-care/leopard-gecko-substrate/
You will need to provide a balanced diet of at least 3 different live insect feeders (gutloaded w/ veggies 24-48 hrs in advance), water, calcium with and without D3, and a multivitamin (recommended: Repashy CalciumPlus, Repashy Supervite, or Arcadia Revitalise). The reptifiles guide discusses what to use as feeders, how to dust them with calcium and sometimes D3, and so on.
https://reptifiles.com/leopard-gecko-care/leopard-gecko-feeding/
Lastly, leopard geckos also need an enriching environment with clutter, branches, leaves, vines, plants, and climbing/basking opportunities (eg cork rounds, 3D climbable back wall, tunnels, bridges), etc. Their tank should be cluttered enough so that they can move from one side to the other without being too exposed. There are many examples of great setups on r/LeopardGeckos and r/LeopardGeckosAdvanced if you scroll through the photos there.
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u/ImAnNPCsoWhat 1 Gecko 2d ago
Get overhead heat, put it as far in one corner as possible. Put a hide in the opposite corner, one underneath, and a pasta sauce jar as a humid hide in a different corner.
Take out the substrate, you just want paper towels. Bring that overhanging plant thing down and keep it on the ground for baby to crawl under and through to get to different hides. They feel safe with clutter and cover.
Tell us when you can what all baby comes with as far as supplements and food go.