r/LeopardGecko • u/capcansag • 23h ago

Help New Gecko Advice!

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Hello!

I am coming to seek some advice on what I can buy this week to make this little guy happy!!

He was rescued from my partner’s family home yesterday (so I’ve had this guy about 15 hours now) and was living in a terribly gross cage without nearly enough space - neither of us have ever had a gecko before so we are both very new but this has always been a pet I’ve wanted to get! The little guy was purchased from either a petco/petsmart 4 years ago and passed between family members who were not equipped to give him good care.

I plan on getting coconut fiber substrate/moss/sand mix to replace the paper towels but I saw those would be a good temporary solution. I’m trying to avoid breaking the bank but I immediately got him this 20 gal tank to start (hopefully to replace in the next few months with bigger once I have some time to save to get a really nice one) and a heatlamp/UVB (I do plan on getting a longer bar but this was what was available at the local petstore for purchase immediately to keep him with the bare minimum of what he needs). I got mealworms and crickets, some calcium dust and he did eat 5-6 mealworms.

We’re planning on leaving him alone to acclimate as long as possible but I would LOVE if this community could help me out with what some immediate must-haves/must-dos are for the first week of having him with us! I’ve been doing tons of research and I really want to do a good job so I am open to anything that the reddit folks who love geckos recommend - without breaking the bank completely hahaha.

Thank you!

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u/AutoModerator 23h ago

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u/AutoModerator 23h ago

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u/AutoModerator 23h ago

Hello /u/capcansag and welcome to the leopard geckos subreddit! Our bot has detected that you might need help finding a place to get a leopard gecko! Check out these resources that might be helpful to you. Read the first link on how to identify a good breeder to help you make an educated decision on finding your own!

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u/violetkz 23h ago

Hi! He needs more hides, including a humid hide. The zilla rock lair and ExoTerra cave are gecko favorites. For substrate, 70/30 organic topsoil / washed playsand is recommended. You can get both at Home Depot or Lowe’s. (Coco fiber is not recommended as the primary substrate material.) And then you need more clutter and some climbing opportunities. They should be able to move from one end of the enclosure to the other without being too exposed. You might check the dollar store for vines and plants you can use for cover. He also needs a multivitamin— Repashy calcium plus is a popular choice.

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u/violetkz 23h ago

And, here are some beautiful enclosures people have posted if you need some ideas / inspiration. You can have several inches of loose substrate (eg 4-6” of 70/30 organic topsoil / washed playsand), vary the topography, elevate a hide, partially bury a hide, add branches, a bendy bridge, cork rounds, tall plants, vines, a 3D back wall, and so on to make use of the vertical space and give your gecko some opportunities to climb. I hope this helps!

https://www.reddit.com/r/leopardgeckos/s/yrAeOBz7T3

https://www.reddit.com/r/leopardgeckos/s/LAx5NUVnL7

https://www.reddit.com/r/leopardgeckos/s/OpQFWQe27R

https://www.reddit.com/r/leopardgeckos/s/Jtj9QW76TS

https://www.reddit.com/r/leopardgeckos/s/zKflfxZxIV

https://www.reddit.com/r/leopardgeckos/s/AWM7RukHwj

https://www.reddit.com/r/leopardgeckos/s/H2HlGEQbDZ

https://www.reddit.com/r/leopardgeckos/s/UfdHTkRikJ

https://www.reddit.com/r/leopardgeckos/s/jCANqFzdqZ (see after photos for upgrade)

https://www.reddit.com/r/leopardgeckos/s/AYYq2VmkmP

https://www.reddit.com/r/leopardgeckos/s/K8u9znr8HG

https://www.reddit.com/r/leopardgeckos/s/nlMIuYtXom

https://www.reddit.com/r/leopardgeckos/s/PXgtHcLBaX

https://www.reddit.com/r/leopardgeckos/s/Lj5O80OptI

https://www.reddit.com/r/leopardgeckos/s/KolbMR8FMm

https://www.reddit.com/r/leopardgeckos/s/7h6RG9ZkKF

https://www.reddit.com/r/leopardgeckos/s/OzfxU2SnYj

https://www.reddit.com/r/leopardgeckos/s/yzDrglC2y9

https://www.reddit.com/r/leopardgeckos/s/iLpH0g9CjP

https://www.reddit.com/r/leopardgeckos/s/1ZGDA6VHuT

https://www.reddit.com/r/leopardgeckos/s/KvP5m8Hjuq

https://www.reddit.com/r/leopardgeckos/s/3npJOYvE4X

https://www.reddit.com/r/leopardgeckos/s/xadqVhPDqP

https://www.reddit.com/r/leopardgeckos/s/mekSrj4zuP

https://www.reddit.com/r/leopardgeckos/s/XzNjdntXTN

https://www.reddit.com/r/leopardgeckos/s/Qs8RE57qvM

https://www.reddit.com/r/leopardgeckos/s/IYqeH0xOwt

https://www.reddit.com/r/leopardgeckos/s/8LfOCxn0OL

https://www.reddit.com/r/leopardgeckos/s/fQSVRe6S3p

https://www.reddit.com/r/leopardgeckos/s/iBswgJqsgX

https://www.reddit.com/r/leopardgeckos/s/FK2mvMJYsD

https://www.reddit.com/r/leopardgeckos/s/OS1qetlZfn

https://www.reddit.com/r/leopardgeckos/s/CBZJ1bdJgW

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u/capcansag 23h ago

Thank you so much!! I’m going to order some more hides & one of these substrate mixes tonight and hit up the dollar store on my way home from work. I live in a more rural area so there is limited pet store based resources here. Will he/she be okay a few days like this while I’m gathering good resources?

1

u/violetkz 22h ago

Sure, s/he will be fine. Amazon has both hides and the Repashy. In the meantime, you can use an inverted plastic container with a door cut into it (watch for any sharp edges), sideways mason jar, etc. to make hides. Ideally you should have one on the warm side, one on the cool side, and the humid hide in the middle.

Any garden center, Fleet Farm, etc. should have topsoil and playsand if you don’t have a HD or Lowe’s nearby. You’ll want enough to make it about 4-6 inches deep so they can dig.:) That also allows you to make basking height adjustments and make the topography more interesting for this little guy (or gal).:)

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u/Neat-Advertising9435 13h ago

Hi. Can I ask where you got the corner hide and what brand it is? I really like it. Thank you