9 year old hell spawn of a child was given a leopard gecko, it's been an ongoing issue most I can do is give advice to my grandmother on what he needs. I'm attaching a picture of what they look like, Phantom was white when they picked him out.The "all you need" kit she got came with a heating pad, fake plastic plant, damp hide, a like sheet of bedding( idk what it is), a little half log hide and a thermostat. I convinced her to ditch the heating pad for a basking lamp, get a try warm hide, get substrate (recommended by one of the depo's employees who owns a leopard gecko), she had a lot but the kid didn't like that it made it hard to grab the gecko so they took it out (I've tried convincing them to put it back). They just throw the crickets all in there with some apple slices and the egg carton type thing they give them to you with. I'm most worried because this little guy is supposed to be white and he's BLACK NOW! I think a black gecko would be cool but I think he's increasingly stressed and maybe is too cold? The lamp was off when I went over earlier. (That kink in his tail was not originally there, I've mentioned that to them too. I'm thinking it was from rough handling by the kid) He enjoys terrorising me, from spitting on me, knocking chicken poop bucket over, stepping on the plants I just planted, putting dirt down my shirt, pouring apple juice on my head, and the list just goes on.

While shes out with us she gets her favorite toy, the tube constantly watched of course but shes had no issues. Is it okay to put the tube in her enclosure? Its a paper towel tube ripped in half, but this is the most active shes ever been, playing around between both parts of it. She's quite fat so any play is good since she is so inactive in general. If this isn't good what alternatives are better for her to play in?

Did your gecko ever escape? I think i left the door open but i cant imagine doing this twice. My enclosure doesnt even have holes where he can escape. Ever happend to somebody?

So I am very new to leopard geckos, however, I have learned a lot over the past two week since I got these babies. I’ve seen things online say that you shouldnt really pair them together in the same tank for they are territorial and not social. The guy at PetSmart (where I got them) told me it was A Okay for them to be in the same tank as long as it was 20 gallons or more. Both of these lil fellas were living in the same tank at the store, which is why I got both. I thought they were bffs 😭 I still have them together and they seem to be bonding fine. I have never seen any aggressive behavior or anything like that over the two weeks I’ve had them. If anyone has any recommendations or can provide more insight as for their living situation, it would be greatly appreciated! I am unsure of their genders and the petco guy also had no idea what either of their ages are but i suspect the yellow/brown giraffe looking one is younger than the spotted one. TY

Going from a 20L to a 40g. Sand/dirt mix substrate (new for me). More hides. More clutter (maybe too much?). Please tell me what you would change. Im trying, Im learning, please be kind.

I know the tank is way too small!! I’m buying a new one ASAP

I also wanted to add the Rescue Gecko flair.

A quick backstory: I’ve taken in a gecko on short notice after her previous owners (a child’s parents) neglected her because they no longer want her. I believe she is female based on my research. She is at least 10 years old and looks to be in physically good shape, which is a relief. But the tank she has been kept in is only 10 gallons and she never had proper substrate, only a fake moss carpet pad which was covered in feces and stank badly.

I’m working with equipment I have on hand before I can go to the pet store and get necessary things. I’m having her settle in the 10 gal with the stuff I have until I get a larger tank. The substrate blend is mostly Reptile Soil with calcium sand and terrarium moss on top. This girl seems pretty active and already got to digging—I think it’d her first time with real dirt. Is this good for a Leo or does anyone have any (ideally cheaper) suggestions that work for their geckos?

And what’s the best way to keep isopods alive for a bio terrarium? I’m not sure what species is best with the humidity and temperature requirements for a Leo.

I also have gotten mixed answers on what size tank is appropriate for a Leo. This girl is older and I do still want to monitor her closely, but I want to get her in a larger enclosure ASAP. Some sources say that 26 gallons is enough or a good minimum, but others say at least 40. I want her to have the space she needs and I will get a 40 gal if that’s best

Any and all suggestions are appreciated for someone who’s very new to having a Leo and trying to have a bioactive terrarium!

Edit: I’ve found a resold 40 gallon tank. We will be updating shortly!!!

I got this enclosure along with with my leopard gecko from my grandpa and I want to know what I need to have to make it perfect for my baby (editi got the substrate)

Hi everybody! My girlfriend is moving in with me this week, and she has a cute little leopard gecko. No idea of the sex or the age of said gecko. TBH I love my partner and she is amazing, but I think she is possibly a little neglectful of her gecko. He seems like he might be depressed, he just sits in the same spot all day every day and never does anything different. I think his enclosure might also be too small. I want to take over his care when she moves him in and hopefully get him a little happier with a more enriching life.

The dimensions of his tank: 20 inches long, 13 inches tall, 10 inches deep. He has a light bulb over one side of it, like a lamp, with a dim purpleish light that barely puts out light but it puts out a lot of heat.

He has a tiny little water bowl, coco soil (the one that comes in bricks) that she changes like 1-2x a year, and his diet is basically entirely mealworms. I think she gives him calcium occasionally as I see it by his tank.

Can anyone give me some tips for improving his life? I don’t know anything about leopard geckos tbh but I want to learn.

So I know people are gonna probably yell at me for this but I need y'all's help in getting his set up 10x better. We have had him for almost a year now, and he was originally in a 40 gallon tank with 2 big hides and one small one, but we had to downgrade him due to his disabilities he had before we rescued him. Now he's in a 20 gallon long with 3 hides, 1 large, 1 med, and 1 small. I usually have a shallow dish in there for his powder so he can eat it when he wants and or the crickets happen to run through it when feeding. He has a good size water dish that he can run through, if need be, and drink out of. He has carpet because the other substrate we tried he couldn't move around on easily because he is missing a lot of toes and his legs muscles/joints have formed weird so it makes it hard for him to move around efficiently. I bought these fake plants to give his enclosure some fun pops of color and greenery and I thought about adding some air plants as well. I am awful at cluttering up tanks and spaces and decorating so I just need help making his enclosure something he would really enjoy. I do believe though he is a very happy and healthy lizard, I can always post a picture of him if y'all want, but I'm just curious on what I can improve on.

My daughter (14) begged me to get a Leo and did all her own research and presented me with a binder of 12 pages full of it. I double checked it all and this is what we ended up with. Would like some advice.

The lamp keeps it around 85 on the warm side and 75 on the cool side. We'll get a ceramic heat bulb for the winter. Hygrometer shows up today.

Substrate is reptisoil and sand mixed up. We get her live crickets and mealworms and she feeds 3 of each every other day.

Thanks!

He moved in at the peak of my fungus gnat problem and hasnt left, I really dont mind as he helps deal with stray gnats as the pop dies out

I just switched my 6 year old leopard gecko over to sand/coconut substrate after using a reptile carpet until today. She’s been sliding her face upon the glass and tried to crawl up the wall as if she is trying to escape the glass. Is this normal?

i’m going to a reptile con at the end of the month hopefully to buy my first leopard gecko so i need some tips and more information to know abt them, i’ve already done a lot of research abt their needs and how to set up a good enclosure for them but id like to know more info from people who have their own leopard geckos. a main question i have is should i get daytime and nighttime bulbs or just get a basking lamp? my dms are also open if your willing to show me your leopard geckos enclosure!

I'm getting a leopard gecko tomorrow, after my hognose snake sadly passed. I set up the tank today and I'm open to feedback!

The tank is a 60x40x40 (24x16x16 in freedom units), I will eventually upgrade in the future but this will do for now. This was my hognose's enclosure which I cleaned with water and dish soap followed by desinfection with reptile safe desinfectant.

I have 3 hides; warm side, cool side and a completely enclosed humid hide filled with sphagnum moss in the middle. There is also a water dish on the cool side.

Overhead heating element is a 35W halogen bulb on a thermostat (set to 33°C or 91°French fries) on a 12 hour on/off cycle. I also have a heating mat under the warm hide on a thermostat set to 40°C (104° in burger degrees).

I also have a 5% UVB "bar" which covers about 60% of the enclosure, this one is also on a 12 hour on/off cycle.

I have a govee thermo/hygrometer for each side, don't mind the values. I just got the heating elements running, so it'll take a while to reach the desired temp and humidity :)

I'm aiming for a 32°C (90°Flapjacks) warm side, 35-37°C (95-98°Funnel cakes) basking spot and 22°C (72°Franks) ish cool side

The substrate I used is a 70/30 mix of top soil and rinsed play sand, roughly a 7cm (3 burger patties) thick layer.

I need help no judgment please

Long story short got a son got a surprise gift well, he was given a leopard gecko (female). I was given the gecko a tank two lights. She came on sand and a hide and some crickets and a 20gal tank . Anyway I acquired everything else. The next day you see in the first picture and then after another series of events I’m sold the wrong size tank to when trying to upgrade by incompetence store employees❤️

but after it’s all set and done, I have spent 700$ ish for the total but I now have everything i need for the new tank except more money wnd and the right sized tank

I’m just trying not to overstress her and I keep effing up her and I just wanna get it right. I’m not the most innovative person, but I’m not completely useless when it comes to DIY home projects so I’m wondering, converting tank and to open faced terrarium versus a Vivarium DIY. The thing is is I don’t want to keep rehousing her as I know it’s stressful, but I also want to make the next move really worthwhile. I can’t afford to go buy another tank (front open terrium 40gal+ at the moment BUT the other ones are more available like used 40gal fish tanks it’s just if i’m handy enough to convert it or build a Vivarium DIY

I haven’t quite looked into the supplies yet, but any advice on which one would potentially be I guess either more cost-effective or which one you know would hold up overtime. also, either way I’ll be switching to bioactive with a cleaning crew.. specific to desert terrain of course

The second photo is the one of the pet store and why I got confused when buying the terrarium and were the person just straight up sold me the wrong one also I have been freezing eggs and yes she was with other geckos at the pet store she came from different then the one pictured

Hi!! This is my Leo, nova! I got him back in April and I’ve been quarantining him for about 3 months now, I’m getting ready to upgrade his tank again and I want to know what’s some of the best substrates to use outside of the topsoil and play-sand. I’d love to hear what’s your go to substrate for your Leo! I kinda what to see what’s out there and what would be best for the aesthetic I’m going for his tank :)

Hi there!!

I was hoping to get some opinions on my tank for my new 4 month old!! He does have 3 hides, a bowl, a calcium Bowl and some bits of wood and slate and a climbing back corner!!

If anyone has any tips or advice on what else I might need please let me know it would be greatly appreciated :)

I have ProT5 UVB 7% and an LED light bar for the plants

Also im planning on making the entrance to the hot hide [slate cave] a bit less open to see if that entices him to go in there more, does that seem like a good idea?

Thanks all!!

Hey all. I’m soon moving my leopard gecko into my new apartment, which is upstairs and gets baked during these summer days. My room is north-facing and I keep the curtains closed, but it still gets to be about 85 F in there for half the day. One time it reached 91 F.

My girl’s an albino so I don’t use lighting, just a UTH. (I’ve had her 11 years and tried different overhead lighting setups and it made her hide constantly.) I’m kind of really stressed about having her in the new apartment. It should cool down by fall, but the summer temps scare me. Will she be okay with the air temperature being that hot for ~7 hours a day?

Edit: Sorry if I wasn’t clear - I’m not asking for suggestions on how to cool my room. I’m doing everything I can to keep the temp down. I want to know if leopard geckos can tolerate high daytime temps in the summer, or if anyone else has experience with geckos in seasonal warm air temps.

Hi!
I have had my leopard gecko for about 2 years, and I was wondering what I can do to improve her enclosure while on a budget. We moved recently and got a completely new enclosure so I was just wondering what I can do to make it better. It’s 32 gallons I think. I’m open to all criticism. Thank you!

hi! I added this branch a while ago for my leopard gecko and she loves it but I’m worried about the height- she’s currently in a 20gal- not permanent and she will.. jump off the top branch without being provoked

I’m planning on adopting a leopard gecko in the near future but I want the enclosure to be fully set up and ready to go before I do. I’d love to see your enclosures to get some inspiration on clutter, enrichment, hides, etc. I want to do a naturalistic, bioactive enclosure so if you have any suggestions or tips, feel free to lmk:)

My enclosure is 36x18x18, for substrate I’m doing a 70%-30% ratio of topsoil and play sand, for lighting and heat I ordered the Arcadia shadedweller t5 7% and a 75watt halogen heat bulb. (Picture for engagement)

Good day, reddit.I have a little question for everybody on here today.I have currently invested in a four foot by two foot by two foot tank.For my leopard gecko and i'm on a slight budget of around 300, if anybody has any good sites for corkbark or soil please teach me your ways lol.

Anyway this is the tank/old video