Crested and leopard gecko info

[Chickerdoodle13]

I've been throwing around the idea of getting a crestie or a leopard gecko for a little while. I originally wanted to get a duprasi, but it seems like I may have a tough time finding them for a reasonable price. I'm still not completely sure that I will go with a crested, as I am in the very beginning stages of research. I've never had a reptile before, so this will be a whole new experience for me! Whatever I decide to get, I will probably get at the end of January.

So I know a few of you have crested geckos, and some of my beginning questions are what do they eat? Where can you keep them? What kind of heat do they need? Special care? Difficulty to keep? I would like to keep soemthing that doesn't require much heat. The room it would be kept in is usually 70 degrees. I know I was told that one of these two geckos don't need a heat source, but I can't remember which.

Anything you can give me is great. Websites too...and pictures welcome!

 

[FireTigeris]

The three beginner reptiles are in no order

Leopard geckos (adult)
Bearded Dragons (adult)
Corn snakes (adult)

http://exoticpets.about.com/od/geckos/tp/geckosbeginners.htm (Geckos)
http://exoticpets.about.com/cs/lizardsaspets/p/leopardgecko.htm (L Geckos)
http://exoticpets.about.com/od/geckos/p/crestedgeckos.htm (C Geckos)

http://www.geckosetc.com/htm/care.htm (Geckos)

http://ezinearticles.com/?How-to-Take-Care-of-Your-First-Gecko&id=1978982


I'm more knowlageable with dragons so I found some links that do not disagree that I saw.

 

[tonini3059]

I have four leopards. They are good and easy to care for, I have a small under the tank heating pad under half of the tank, and I feed mine mealworms. If you are getting justone you could keep it in a 10 gallon tank. Mine are pretty good they use one area to go to the bathroom in so I just sift it once a week.

 

[Chickerdoodle13]

Thanks for the info!

The tank I have is actually a ten gallon, so a leopard gecko would be perfect. I also have an under tank heater from my hermit crabs that I could use. The one thing I would not be able to get away with is a heat lamp because I do plan on taking these to my college apartment. I will definitely do more research on them though! How handle-able are they in your opinion? I would like something that I would be able to pick up every now and then.

I would LOVE to have a corn snake or a bearded dragon, but my mom will not allow snakes at home. Lizards are fine, but not snakes! LOL, I tell her all the time that I don't understand that, but I'll just have to wait until I move out to get my snake. Apparently she doesn't like snakes because they look slimey, but she used to have newts when she was little...I was laughing about that today. I do know that bearded dragons most likely require a larger space than a ten gallon tank though and right now a ten gallon is about all I can fit in the spot that my mom will let me keep the tank (Her allowing me to get an inside pet is a HUGE breakthrough! Unfortunately there's not too much you can keep comfortably in a ten gallon!)

Thanks for all the info though! Keep it coming!

 

[FireTigeris]

BD need more room then ten gallons, my mother wouldn't allow snakes inside the house either and my grandmother said she'd better be dead before I ever own a snake...

 

[theOEGBman]

Hey Lauren,

I've got cresties! And I own Corns, and have had Bearded Dragons! haha.

Cresties are awesome. Feeding is very simple. They eat a powdered mix called Crested Gecko Diet, of CGD. You can supplement with crickets, and I know some breeders recommend it. I would, plus they seem to enjoy chasing the crickets. I keep my 2 juvies in a 20 gallon long tank, it seems to work fine for them. They do well if the temperature is around 70 degrees. If you feel fine, then they'll likely be fine as well. Not much special care, although you should mist the entire tank, and if feeding crickets its best to keep them on a solid litter so they dont eat any of it while grabbing a cricket. But their care is not difficult at all. I love them, and they get the perfect size. They're very easy to tame and very laid back. But if you dont like something jumping in your face when you least expect it, you might want to beware.

 

[tonini3059]

It all depends on how much you hold them. 1 hates to be held and tries to get away, 1 absolutely love being held and "petted" and the other two are feisty at first then settle down after a few mins. I got mine all as babies from a good breeder so they were handled often!

 

[poultryhaven]

Haha I understand now why my mom didn't want any snakes in the house.
I used to volunteer at a reptile shop for the fun of it back in 6th and 7th grade and I got discounts on purchases.
One day I finally convinced my mom to let me bring home a little baby cornsnake. I bring it home and set it up and 3 days later it somehow got out of the locking lid.
My mother cussed me out so bad and I never did find it haha, It scared her so much and it was extremly little.

Then I got a few leopard geckos and i ended up with close to 7 and 6 of them were nice and my carrot tail male was mean and everytime i picked him up he bit me haha. It doesnt hurt too bad though. Leopard Geckos are fun. Dont get a Tokay Gecko though if your wanting a pet cause they tend to be aggressive. Another good lizard would be a Chinese Water Dragon, They are friendly.

 

[Chickerdoodle13]

Thanks everybody! I'm sort of leaning towards the crested, but I may have to get a bigger tank. I'll have to keep an eye open for a 20 gallon on sale at pet smart. I may be able to get away with a baby crested in a ten gallon and just keep an eye on it until it needs a larger tank. I do like the leopards too, but the cresteds just have such cute faces.

I'm hoping to go to a reptile show at the end of January, so hopefully I'll be able to find one from a good breeder. Of course, I may return with more than just a gecko! LOL Those shows are dangerous.

Jordan, I may have to pick your brain a little bit. I do have a few questions now though.

What kind of substrate can I use for a crested?

Also, for those times when my room might be cooler, can I get away with using an under tank heater on one side of the tank?

What kinds of decorations and stuff do they like in their tanks?

What kind of lid should I buy for the tank? Right now the tank just has an aquarium top with a light. I'm assuming I will have to buy a locking lid, but I know they have glass and screen ones.

And one more for now...what kind of dishes do you use for them?

Once I get a chance, I'm just going to sit down and do a bunch of research. I'll weigh out the pros and cons of the crested and leopard geckos. I think its easier to ask for advice from people who really own them though, as the info on the net can be so contradicting!

 

[theOEGBman]

Jordan, I may have to pick your brain a little bit. I do have a few questions now though.

What kind of substrate can I use for a crested?

Also, for those times when my room might be cooler, can I get away with using an under tank heater on one side of the tank?

What kinds of decorations and stuff do they like in their tanks?

What kind of lid should I buy for the tank? Right now the tank just has an aquarium top with a light. I'm assuming I will have to buy a locking lid, but I know they have glass and screen ones.

And one more for now...what kind of dishes do you use for them?

Lauren, I dont mind one bit! I would defintely purchase one from a reptile show if I was you. Most of those breeders specialize in just one species so they know a lot about them and usually have great, healthy animals.

I used paper towels. Its not the prettiest, but its easy to clean and it prevents them from ingesting anything I dont want them to. Im not sure what more "natural" appearing ones you could use, although I used tile with my bearded dragons.

I would be a little worried with using the UTH on the side, because these guys can stick to the glass and I'd be afraid of them getting burned. I keep a heat lamp on one side and that seems to work. It warms up that side of the tank and after I turn it off at night and they come out, that's where I usually find them at first because everything over there has been warming up all day.

Decoration.... they love plants. Lots and lots of plants. They also prefer a vertical tank because they are an arboreal species. I have a log in there that they like to climb on and hide on and under. When you want to find them and they dont wish to be found, it can be difficult, haha. But plants is the main thing, they love lots of cover.

My tank has a sliding screen lid, so that's what I use. A partially covered on would probably work better to keep in extra humidity. The lid with the aquarium light most likely wont work though.

As for dishes.... it may be ghetto, but I use a lid off of the dishes I got the geckos in! Its a round flat lid and it works perfect to mix the food in. Its shallow enough that they can get in and eat and get right back out. For water I do use one of those dishes that looks like a big rock. Im not sure what else there is but if you have any questions, let me know!​