Post subject: Question on MAX tank size and heating. Posted: Mar 27, 2008 - 07:20 PM
Hello! I am a leo owner wannabe, AKA, I am in search of a gecko! Story is, I have a 55g tank. It was intended to be used for fish - and believe me, it is a fishtank - but well, fish didn't turn out well for me. So after research, I fell in love with these silly little reptiles. The pet shop sells them for a quaint $40. But the pet shop owner tells me they do not need heating pads. Wrong, right?! I have not heard this... then she goes on to tell me 55g is too big, unable to be heated - but that's the point of the heating pad, right...? is there a "too big"? do they need heating pads???
Post subject: RE: Question on MAX tank size and heating. Posted: Mar 27, 2008 - 07:57 PM
A 55 gal. tank is a great size for one leo
You will want to get a large heat mat to go with it. The heat mat should be between 1/3 and 1/2 the size of the floor of the tank. What is the inch measurement for your tank?
You will also want to get a thermostat (or a dimmer switch) to plug the heat mat into so that you can regulate the temps and keep them in the right range (warm side substrate should be 88-92)
And a GOOD thermometer is also of great importance! Two different thermometers will work for the job. On is a digital thermometer with a probe. You will probably find this easier in a hardware store that sells indoor/outdoor thermometers than you will in a pet shop. The other possibility is a temp gun. Do NOT depend on a strip or dial thermometer that the pet store will probably try to sell you.
They will also probably try to sell you sand as a substrate to keep your leo on. They will tell you that it has calcium in it, and it is digestable, and that it is good for your leo. This is all wrong! Leos cannot digest it, but the calcium encourages them to lick it. Then it clumps up inside their intestines, and kills them. Whatever you do, do not let them talk you into putting your leo on any kind of calcium enriched, particulate substrate.
Welcome to RR.
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The tank measures 12 inches width, 48 inches length, and 21 inches high. We have already decided to use tile, with possibly a small 5x5 inches area reptile bark or peat moss? just for a cool place to lay.
What is a good thermometer and thermostat? I have a digital thermometer but it's meant to cook meats so it will only give a ballpark.
My digital thermometer is an accurite brand indoor/outdoor/humidity that I picked up at Wal Mart. The humidity part isn't necessary in leo keeping, but I got it anyway Be sure that whatever thermometer you get has a little wire with a probe on the end of it.
My thermostat is an alife 1000. It was gotten for me as a gift when I got Boo. I think they got it from the online store Lil Reptile.
I would go with the peat moss rather than the reptile bark. I would suggest containing it inside a large humid hide. I would also sift the peat moss before I moistened it so that there were no big chunks.
What age of leo are you considering getting? If you are getting a young one, wait until it is fully grown to put in anything loose.
The problem with putting the bark or peat moss loose in one end of the tank is that it will hold humidity, and raise the humidity in the tank. Another issue you might deal with is your leo digging and spreading a mess all over the entire tank!
I would not use the bark because the large pieces will be a greater impaction hazard than finely sifted peat moss.
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If it would be better not to do the peat moss, that is fine. I will look for good thermometers/thermostats. I have not decided on an age for a gecko yet. Unfortunately, the pet shop will not get older (i think 6+ months) in until June! Too bad.. they have little 4 week hatchlings of, i think they were called, panther geckos, when they ordered full grown. So those will probably be on hold till June, unless someone experienced comes along. Either way, I have a few months until my arrival in geckoland.
Another thing . . . I've heard that sometimes a young gecko will be stressed by a big wide open tank. To help with this, until it gets use to it's home, you might try adding lots of cover for it to hide in, and to make the walk from one hide to another. You can just put in maybe some fake plants, or paper towel tubes cut in half to make long half-logs, and things like that.
If the leo is coming out, and eating fine though, you won't need to worry about that.
_________________ Whatever is true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, praiseworthy:
Think on these things!
I just wanted to drop in and say that I currently have my leo in a 90 gallon ( 48"x24"x24") and she's happy as a clam. I think I have 9 or 10 hides for her right now to keep her from feeling exposed. (Not that she cares ) Also, I have an exo-terra heat mat that covers about 1/3 ish of the bottom and keeps about two or three 12" square tiles warm. Her hot temperatures are a breeze. I actually have to throttle them down. The biggest trouble for me is keeping the ambient temperatures up in the cooler months. Thankfully where I live there aren't too many of those. Haha!
LittleLouie has given some great advice so far but feel free to ask any other questions that come to mind!
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The pet shop sells them for a quaint $40. But the pet shop owner tells me they do not need heating pads. Wrong, right?! I have not heard this... 
then she goes on to tell me 55g is too big, unable to be heated - but that's the point of the heating pad, right...? is there a "too big"? do they need heating pads???
Be sure that whatever thermometer you get has a little wire with a probe on the end of it.
