Hi there! Ive had geckos for about 5 years now so i have a lot of experience. I have some tips to recommend for you! So starting with the hides. It's best to have hides that mimic real rocks or hides made specifically for geckos or reptiles in general. Typically you want about three or more hides depending on the size of the tank. No matter the size of the tank you will need three one being the cool hide one being the warm hide and one being the humid hide. You would need a humid hide so when the gecko goes into shed the humidity helps dead skin lift. When it comes to decoration adding pictures to the back of the tank of where they originate from it's smart to put one whole picture that fills up the whole side of the glass. If you would like to decorate and get some fake plants or real non-toxic plants and make a bioactive tank for your gecko that would be very beneficial and make them more happy gecko overall. When it comes to the substrate you did a pretty good job I would advise keeping about 3 to 4 inches of substrate because geckos like to burrow. Make sure the temperatures are appropriate for them and you time how long you have them on for.
@@unico4dawin this is really helpful! I am planning on buying a full picture for the back but I haven’t gotten one yet so I’m stuck with the awful pictures till I get one. Thanks!
It's also good to have a PVC enclosure. 40 gallons is the minimum, I still feel that 40 gallons is way too small. I personally have a 120 gallon, I got it from Dubia while it was on sale for 300 dollars. It holds humidity and heat VERY well. I personally believe the minimum should be 80 gallons. The larger the tank, the easier it is to have proper heat and humidity gradients, as well as UVB and UVA. If someone can't afford an 80 gallon or larger or if they don't have the space, they shouldn't get a pet then. They live their entire lives in these enclosures, we should go above and beyond to provide the best care possible for them. It's hard to recreate their natural environment in a small enclosure. Once you have hides, food and water dishes, plants, and some rocks to climb, there really isn't much space in a 40 gallon. My 120 gallon has a lot of dragonstone and cork, my future leo will be able to climb on top of them, and hide under them. I put cork on top of some rocks to make some cool looking hides, and they can climb on top of them too. I have some natural branches and wood that they can climb on too. I have 6 hides so far, and I'm still adding to the enclosure. I have a fake tortoise too, it's front legs are resting on a rock, the leo can hide under it or climb on top. I made sure that there was many enrichments options in my 120 gallon. I'm getting my leo on the 11th. I still want to add more rocks, the enclosure is 2ft high so I'd like to use more vertical space too. My university has a 3D printer so I'm going to eventually print some underground hides too, I might as well take advantage of underground space too so it really feels natural. I will be adding springtails, plants, and isopods in the future too. I really want to create a very small waterfall fixture inside that also acts as a water bowl. I've found that a lot of hamster items can be used for reptiles too. Bendable wood bridges, wood platforms, wooden hidey houses, and a lot of other natural items are safe too. I was planning on building a platform until I got the idea of buying some wooden hamster platforms instead! Niteangel has some wooden platforms that are hamster safe (which are also reptile safe, if it's safe enough for a hamster to chew on, it's safe for a reptile to lay on), they also have some underground chambers too! In the wild leopard geckos (and other animals) would have access to climbing sources, burrows, and other things, as reptile owners we must recreate those in captivity. Imagine spending 20 years in a boring cage. That is why we need to recreate their natural habitat! Soon I'm going to buy some flat cork and use silicone to put some styrefoam and rocks on it to create some ledges, then use outdoor spray paint and pond foam to create a natural background. I'm going to use velcro to put it in place, usually people silicone it in place but that requires laying the entire enclosure on it's side, no thanks. I want to be able to remove it and stick it back on. I also plan on buying multiple different items so I can do different themes in the enclosure. In the wild they wouldn't stay in the exact place, they would roam to different areas. Leopard geckos habitats can range from rocky terrain, to forrests. So I want to have a rocky desert theme, and a tropical theme so I can change it up a few times a year to keep the environment enriching. It takes thousands of dollars to create a proper enclosure for a leopard gecko, other reptiles, and even fish. If people don't have the money for that, they need a cat instead. Animals that live in enclosures their whole life deserve the best of the best. Animals are not for everyone, they are for people that have a lot of time and money, because it takes time and money to do things properly. Owning an animals isn't a right, it is a privilege. They aren't there for your happiness or entertainment, WE are here for their entertainment and happiness. We must act like nature to provide only the best for them. If someone can only provide basic necessities, that damn sure isn't good enough. Sure, it will keep them alive, but will they be happy? Hell no. Animals are expensive, if you don't want expensive, get a cat.
Worth noting: temporary humidity spikes (or even sustained seasonal humidity up to the high 60’s/low 70’s is natural for the leopard gecko and they do not get RIs from high humidity easily. These guys endure a monsoon season in the wild!
The humidity shouldn't stay very high for long periods of time though. For all of the reptiles and amphibians I've owned, I would find the areas where they live in the wild and bookmark the weather. Everyday I would check the temp and humidity and recreate that so it matches perfectly. If it's 95f with 50% humidity in the wild, then I would make it that in my enclosure. It's not hard to do, unless you have a small enclosure. Small enclosures are horrible, 40 gallons is the recommended size but once it is filled with hides and bowls, it's just too small. You can't do a proper gradient. I personally believe the minimum should be 80 gallons, 120 for giants. I'm getting a giant and I have a 120 gallon PVC enclosure. If people don't have space or money for a proper large enclosure that mimics the wild, they don't need an animal then.
Also, be careful when using those UVB bulbs. Linear bulbs are best, t5s preferred. They have the most even spread, and you have to be sure the gecko is not being overexposed!
This is an awesome video, i am thinking i am going to get a leopard gecko soon and this video was very helpful. If you don't mind me asking, what's your leopard geckos name?
@@gtrdeath28064212 I did actually know this! A semi-arid desert is what I was referring to and is different from a desert. Leopard geckos don’t live in what many picture to be a dry water deprived desert but instead a semi-arid desert, which is more consisted of rock and dirt.
@@WorldFinds296 I didn't listen to literally anything you said the whole video I had the volume down and skipped around I just saw you keeping it in a box of dirt with basically nothing else
Hi there! Ive had geckos for about 5 years now so i have a lot of experience. I have some tips to recommend for you! So starting with the hides. It's best to have hides that mimic real rocks or hides made specifically for geckos or reptiles in general. Typically you want about three or more hides depending on the size of the tank. No matter the size of the tank you will need three one being the cool hide one being the warm hide and one being the humid hide. You would need a humid hide so when the gecko goes into shed the humidity helps dead skin lift. When it comes to decoration adding pictures to the back of the tank of where they originate from it's smart to put one whole picture that fills up the whole side of the glass. If you would like to decorate and get some fake plants or real non-toxic plants and make a bioactive tank for your gecko that would be very beneficial and make them more happy gecko overall. When it comes to the substrate you did a pretty good job I would advise keeping about 3 to 4 inches of substrate because geckos like to burrow. Make sure the temperatures are appropriate for them and you time how long you have them on for.
@@unico4dawin this is really helpful! I am planning on buying a full picture for the back but I haven’t gotten one yet so I’m stuck with the awful pictures till I get one. Thanks!
It's also good to have a PVC enclosure. 40 gallons is the minimum, I still feel that 40 gallons is way too small. I personally have a 120 gallon, I got it from Dubia while it was on sale for 300 dollars. It holds humidity and heat VERY well. I personally believe the minimum should be 80 gallons. The larger the tank, the easier it is to have proper heat and humidity gradients, as well as UVB and UVA. If someone can't afford an 80 gallon or larger or if they don't have the space, they shouldn't get a pet then. They live their entire lives in these enclosures, we should go above and beyond to provide the best care possible for them. It's hard to recreate their natural environment in a small enclosure. Once you have hides, food and water dishes, plants, and some rocks to climb, there really isn't much space in a 40 gallon. My 120 gallon has a lot of dragonstone and cork, my future leo will be able to climb on top of them, and hide under them. I put cork on top of some rocks to make some cool looking hides, and they can climb on top of them too. I have some natural branches and wood that they can climb on too. I have 6 hides so far, and I'm still adding to the enclosure. I have a fake tortoise too, it's front legs are resting on a rock, the leo can hide under it or climb on top. I made sure that there was many enrichments options in my 120 gallon. I'm getting my leo on the 11th. I still want to add more rocks, the enclosure is 2ft high so I'd like to use more vertical space too. My university has a 3D printer so I'm going to eventually print some underground hides too, I might as well take advantage of underground space too so it really feels natural. I will be adding springtails, plants, and isopods in the future too. I really want to create a very small waterfall fixture inside that also acts as a water bowl. I've found that a lot of hamster items can be used for reptiles too. Bendable wood bridges, wood platforms, wooden hidey houses, and a lot of other natural items are safe too. I was planning on building a platform until I got the idea of buying some wooden hamster platforms instead! Niteangel has some wooden platforms that are hamster safe (which are also reptile safe, if it's safe enough for a hamster to chew on, it's safe for a reptile to lay on), they also have some underground chambers too! In the wild leopard geckos (and other animals) would have access to climbing sources, burrows, and other things, as reptile owners we must recreate those in captivity. Imagine spending 20 years in a boring cage. That is why we need to recreate their natural habitat! Soon I'm going to buy some flat cork and use silicone to put some styrefoam and rocks on it to create some ledges, then use outdoor spray paint and pond foam to create a natural background. I'm going to use velcro to put it in place, usually people silicone it in place but that requires laying the entire enclosure on it's side, no thanks. I want to be able to remove it and stick it back on. I also plan on buying multiple different items so I can do different themes in the enclosure. In the wild they wouldn't stay in the exact place, they would roam to different areas. Leopard geckos habitats can range from rocky terrain, to forrests. So I want to have a rocky desert theme, and a tropical theme so I can change it up a few times a year to keep the environment enriching. It takes thousands of dollars to create a proper enclosure for a leopard gecko, other reptiles, and even fish. If people don't have the money for that, they need a cat instead. Animals that live in enclosures their whole life deserve the best of the best. Animals are not for everyone, they are for people that have a lot of time and money, because it takes time and money to do things properly. Owning an animals isn't a right, it is a privilege. They aren't there for your happiness or entertainment, WE are here for their entertainment and happiness. We must act like nature to provide only the best for them. If someone can only provide basic necessities, that damn sure isn't good enough. Sure, it will keep them alive, but will they be happy? Hell no. Animals are expensive, if you don't want expensive, get a cat.
Worth noting: temporary humidity spikes (or even sustained seasonal humidity up to the high 60’s/low 70’s is natural for the leopard gecko and they do not get RIs from high humidity easily. These guys endure a monsoon season in the wild!
The humidity shouldn't stay very high for long periods of time though. For all of the reptiles and amphibians I've owned, I would find the areas where they live in the wild and bookmark the weather. Everyday I would check the temp and humidity and recreate that so it matches perfectly. If it's 95f with 50% humidity in the wild, then I would make it that in my enclosure. It's not hard to do, unless you have a small enclosure. Small enclosures are horrible, 40 gallons is the recommended size but once it is filled with hides and bowls, it's just too small. You can't do a proper gradient. I personally believe the minimum should be 80 gallons, 120 for giants. I'm getting a giant and I have a 120 gallon PVC enclosure. If people don't have space or money for a proper large enclosure that mimics the wild, they don't need an animal then.
Nice video, your gecko seems well taken care of! Love to see proper gecko care being shared
@@CapriSun456 it’s nice to know I’m doing it right!
Also, be careful when using those UVB bulbs. Linear bulbs are best, t5s preferred. They have the most even spread, and you have to be sure the gecko is not being overexposed!
Cool im be a owner of 1 soon soon so ty😊
Lmao da humor
I love leopard geckos
This is an awesome video, i am thinking i am going to get a leopard gecko soon and this video was very helpful. If you don't mind me asking, what's your leopard geckos name?
@@HoneyBadger602 of course! His name is Lenny 🦎
Look up the youtube video "leopard geckos don't live in deserts?"
@@gtrdeath28064212 I did actually know this! A semi-arid desert is what I was referring to and is different from a desert. Leopard geckos don’t live in what many picture to be a dry water deprived desert but instead a semi-arid desert, which is more consisted of rock and dirt.
@@WorldFinds296 I didn't listen to literally anything you said the whole video I had the volume down and skipped around I just saw you keeping it in a box of dirt with basically nothing else
@@gtrdeath28064212 yeah it’s a mix between sand excavator clay and dirt which is the most identical substrate to its natural habitat
Wanna be friends
rage bait