Gaz
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Registered: 24th Aug 03
Location: Widnes, Cheshire
User status: Offline
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Does anyone keep reptiles on here, more specifically leopard Geckos?
My boss's g/f is selling hers, it was used for animal therapy and is used to being handled but I have a few other questions before I show any interest as I've never had an animal like this before.
This one is presumably not a baby, and I understand they need to look fat in the tail with closed mouths and a healthy look to their size (not showing any bones) but is their anything else to look out for?
I also have a little bit of an issue with the food, It will prefer to eat live food which I presume I need to keep in the fridge. How are you guys storing food away from your own to stop hygiene issues.
I also have a little boy, 14 months old and I have read that Geckos, like any animal, will bite. Specifically if they think something moves like a worm which I do think my boys fingers may look like to a gecko. Anyone have experince with very young children and reptiles - is this a complete no no in terms of 'petting' the animal?
Finally, I think they want £40 with the vivarian (SP?) which I don't think is at all a bad price and I understand they are nocturnal but instead of having a lamp, you can use heat mats which I'm not sure if that comes with the Gecko. Are they expensive to run 24/7?
sorry for the mash of questions but I don't want to take one something that is beyond my means and I have to pass it on creating more chaos for the little guy.
[Edited on 02-06-2013 by Gaz]
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Cavey
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Registered: 11th Nov 02
Location: Derby
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I had a bearded dragon and it wasn't any hassle, only need to give them 10 mins or so attention each day.
Live food, last for 4 days or so just under the viv. We had a heat lamp, bulbs are stupidly expensive in pets at home, but can get them for a tenner online, had that on a timer so was on 12 hours a day. - not sure with geckos, but heat mats were discouraged as they can be too hot underneath for them.
As you said, geckos are nocturnal so you'll barely see it do anything anyway, as long as you're sensible.with you lad he'll be fine with it. Not sure they have that many teeth that would do damage to him, more sticky tongue etc...so even a little nip shouldn't do any damage, and he'll learn quick enough 
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Jambo
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Registered: 8th Sep 01
Location: Maidenhead, Drives: VXR Arctic
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Easiest way to stop it biting your son is surely not to let your son near a small biting lizard?!
Geckos are awesome. Make great noises And eat wasps. Need to get about 500 for my house
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Gaz
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Registered: 24th Aug 03
Location: Widnes, Cheshire
User status: Offline
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Cavey - thanks for the advice, it was suggested that mealworm etc can turn into bettles though, have you found this?
Jambo - you are correct but I want to let my boy grow up without fear of these types of animals. I would have not thought of them before apart from the fact that the boss is selling one cheap and I really do like the look of them and the simple care they need.
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scotty_f
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Registered: 27th Dec 08
Location: essex
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I keep a leopard gecko and he hasn't got any teeth its just the way they bite its just the aggressive way they do it but just make sure they know who you are by letting them smell you so they got your scent and be careful not to scare them as they will drop there tails I hope this helps 
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Cavey
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Registered: 11th Nov 02
Location: Derby
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It won't cause much damage to your lad even if it does bite, he'll soon learn how close he can get to it without provoking it.
Don't remember them turning into anything to be honest, but even if they do, just chuck that food and get some more. We feed the dragon on crickets and mealworms and I don't remember having any problems with food being left out. They're not refrigerated at pets at home, or anywhere.else I've bought from.
Found a few good forums. But can't remember what they were now!
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Cavey
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Registered: 11th Nov 02
Location: Derby
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And yeah, don't pick it up by the tail!
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sloworm
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Registered: 18th Jul 08
Location: Norwich
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I find This place is good for good value bulbs and accessories for my beardy.
They also do Blogs on certain reptiles like geckos which are quite helpful 
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craig55
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Registered: 12th Jun 10
Location: Bristol
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Use a red heat lamp as they can not see red light and a uv light in day time i run mine with a habistat so adjust the temps for me also in there bedding area use damp moss as it helps them peel
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Gaz
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Registered: 24th Aug 03
Location: Widnes, Cheshire
User status: Offline
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again chaps, many thats for the advice, I was aware of the tails too. They use it as fat stores for when food is sparse but can grow them back quickly.
Would you guys be kind enough to through a few pictures up of your set ups please? Just to give me a look of how your real experiences/care for them is. Online is an option but they always look a little to perfect to be everyday viv's.
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Cavey
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Registered: 11th Nov 02
Location: Derby
User status: Offline
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Might find some of mine on Facebook after the footy, not had him for a couple of years, but should be able to dig out a few photos
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Gaz
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Registered: 24th Aug 03
Location: Widnes, Cheshire
User status: Offline
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I've found the gecko online in question, he looks healthy enough doesn't he:
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craig55
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Registered: 12th Jun 10
Location: Bristol
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Looks healthy and nice marking
And mine having a bath
[Edited on 29-05-2013 by craig55]
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Gaz
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Registered: 24th Aug 03
Location: Widnes, Cheshire
User status: Offline
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That looks smart Craig and he/she looks lovely!
how are you controlling the temp with the singular bulb?
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craig55
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Registered: 12th Jun 10
Location: Bristol
User status: Offline
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With a habistat
And a uv bulb on daytime timer
[Edited on 29-05-2013 by craig55]
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scotty_f
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Registered: 27th Dec 08
Location: essex
User status: Offline
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heres mine his name is leon
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Gaz
Member
Registered: 24th Aug 03
Location: Widnes, Cheshire
User status: Offline
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Scott - not a lot of markings, what type of Gecko is Leon?
In the first picture, is he on a heated stone?
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scotty_f
Member
Registered: 27th Dec 08
Location: essex
User status: Offline
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that's a coconut for him to hide in but there is a heated rock in there and hes a super hypo carrot tail he was a baldy but now has spots coming up on his head
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scotty_f
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Registered: 27th Dec 08
Location: essex
User status: Offline
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heres another one of him on the heater rock
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marklawton
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Registered: 24th Apr 05
Location: Pensby, Wirral Drives:Golf mk4 GTI
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i use to have one years ago. probably the easyiest reptile to look after. long as you have the heating right then its easy peasy.
ive got a bearded dragon now which ive owned for the past 13 years
once she pops her clogs i think iam going to get a pair of water dragons
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rossnomore
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Registered: 18th Oct 06
Location: Fife
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by marklawton
i use to have one years ago. probably the easyiest reptile to look after. long as you have the heating right then its easy peasy.
ive got a bearded dragon now which ive owned for the past 13 years
once she pops her clogs i think iam going to get a pair of water dragons
Water Dragons are awesome but hard to keep. A friend of mine had two and they both died within a year.
I have a leopard gecko, she's awesome and easy to keep. She's only ever bit me once but that was my fault trying to feed her when she was ill by holding a locust with my fingers. It doesn't hurt, as said, they have no teeth and arnt very strong either. Mine just has a heat mat and a UV lightbulb and she's happy and healthy. I've found they can be quite fussy with their food and get bored of the same stuff over and over. As for meal worms turning into beetles, keep them in a dish they cant get out of in the tank instead of just letting them run loose and check on them daily. Or alternatively feed them to it one by one every few days. I prefer to use locusts as they're easy to see and keep an eye on.
And i wouldnt keep them in the fridge, just chuck them in a cupboard.
[Edited on 30-05-2013 by rossnomore]
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RichR
Premium Member
Registered: 17th Oct 01
Location: Waterhouses, Staffordshire
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I never kept my live food in the fridge - I had a small plastic fish tank for crickets and grasshoppers; put in a peat/vermiculite base, few pebbles and the inside of an egg box and they lived in there happily for a couple of months.
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baza31
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Registered: 19th Apr 03
Location: yorkshire
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totally different lizzard but my friend had a monitor lizzard , was huge. Didnt look like the sort of thing that would be legal to own .
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Ad Blue B
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Registered: 9th Jan 10
Location: Northop Hall/ Chester
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The mrs has 2, only about 5 weeks old...
Only been bit once and that was cause i was hand feeding it and it caught the end of my finger, no blood so all was good...
She has a heat mat one side of the viv with a hide for them and a hide the other side in the cooler half with a red lamp as they can't see red apparently.
Because the room is nearly always dark (only light is from the red lamp and the beardys, skinks heat lamps and if we turn the light on), they always seem to be running around, come out of their hides if we go into the room and aren't bothered about being picked up.
Food is kept by the side of the vivs, live for about 4-5 days as mentioned.
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Ad Blue B
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Registered: 9th Jan 10
Location: Northop Hall/ Chester
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by baza31
totally different lizzard but my friend had a monitor lizzard , was huge. Didnt look like the sort of thing that would be legal to own .
Mrs wanted one next as we saw a 5-6 week old one the other day, must have been about 5-6 inches long, then i checked on google about them, some can grow up to 7-8 foot! no chance haha!
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