44 replies to this topic

[Swirlysnowflake]

Well, since everyone is making leopard gecko journals, might as well make one myself. 


Yesterday, I picked up my new leopard gecko. It’s so small I’m not sure if it is a male or a female, but it is absolutely adorable!

I set up a tank for the gecko using paper towel as a substrate, three hides (one warm, one cool, one humid), and some other fake plants and driftwood pieces. The gecko is still settling in so I’m not handling it at all until I’ve had it for at least 1 week. The gecko is not taking food yet, but I plan to feed dubia roaches, mealworms, calciworms, small hornworms, etc. 

I don’t want to disturb it too much, so I only have one, low quality, honestly terrible photo.

[Antcatcherpro3]

Good luck! Geckos are fun to keep. Mine didn't eat the first day I got her either, but if you wait like 3 days, then they will get used to the tank and the surroundings.

[Antcatcherpro3]

You can tell if its a male or a female by looking at the underside of it. If it has these redish looking dots, which are glands, then its a male, if they are not there, its a female. Its hard to explain it in words.

[Swirlysnowflake]

You can tell if its a male or a female by looking at the underside of it. If it has these redish looking dots, which are glands, then its a male, if they are not there, its a female. Its hard to explain it in words.

I‘ve read about that online, and I’m not sure if it works with babies, but I’ll definitely try that

[Antcatcherpro3]

 

You can tell if its a male or a female by looking at the underside of it. If it has these redish looking dots, which are glands, then its a male, if they are not there, its a female. Its hard to explain it in words.

I‘ve read about that online, and I’m not sure if it works with babies, but I’ll definitely try that

 

Oh, how old is yours? I found out mine was 1 year old because of the size.

[Swirlysnowflake]

 

 

You can tell if its a male or a female by looking at the underside of it. If it has these redish looking dots, which are glands, then its a male, if they are not there, its a female. Its hard to explain it in words.

I‘ve read about that online, and I’m not sure if it works with babies, but I’ll definitely try that

 

Oh, how old is yours? I found out mine was 1 year old because of the size.

 

Mine is approximately 4 - 5 inches with the tail, so really small. Looks like the gecko has the pre-anal pores, so it may be a male?

[Antcatcherpro3]

that's a lot smaller then mine. Your must be like half a year old or less. Mine was 9 inches for 1 year old. And yes, it is probably a male.

[Kaelwizard]

Maybe I should make a gecko thread for mine. I've had mine since 2009 or somewhere around then I think.

[Swirlysnowflake]

Maybe I should make a gecko thread for mine. I've had mine since 2009 or somewhere around then I think.

Wow... It always amazes me that leopard geckos can live 20 - 30 years. That’s longer than a lot of dogs

[Antcatcherpro3]

wow your is living a long time. And you should make a thread for yours.

[Spazmops]

Waiting for it to adjust before handling it is a really good idea. I'd wait a week at minimum, but if it's not eating before the end of that period wait until it's been consistently eating for a few days. 

[Antcatcherpro3]

Yes. Stress is not good for it.

[Kaelwizard]

wow your is living a long time. And you should make a thread for yours.

He's actually not living a long time, as they can live for another decade in some cases.

[antsandmore]

 

wow your is living a long time. And you should make a thread for yours.

He's actually not living a long time, as they can live for another decade in some cases.

 

yes. the problem is that after about 2 years when geckos get fully mature, people aren't responsible enough to actually keep them longer. they think the geckos are cute at first, but eventually, it becomes an adult and people don't want to keep them for another few decades which is sad.

[Swirlysnowflake]

Waiting for it to adjust before handling it is a really good idea. I'd wait a week at minimum, but if it's not eating before the end of that period wait until it's been consistently eating for a few days. 

Yes, that’s what I’m doing. Since it’s a very young baby, I’m probably going to wait 2 weeks just so that I don’t stress it out. I actually saw it eating a mealworm from its dish so that is good lol 

[Antcatcherpro3]

Ok. I heard females don't live as long as males right?

[Swirlysnowflake]

Ok. I heard females don't live as long as males right?

Yes, from what I’ve read, females live 6 - 15 years while males live 20 - 30. I’m still not sure on the sex so I’ll probably post pictures to that gecko forum to ask (I’ll take pictures after a week so I don’t stress it out)

[Antcatcherpro3]

Yeah. I use a webcam to put in her tank and take good pics.

[Swirlysnowflake]

 

 

wow your is living a long time. And you should make a thread for yours.

He's actually not living a long time, as they can live for another decade in some cases.

 

yes. the problem is that after about 2 years when geckos get fully mature, people aren't responsible enough to actually keep them longer. they think the geckos are cute at first, but eventually, it becomes an adult and people don't want to keep them for another few decades which is sad.

Yeah... I’m planning to keep my gecko its whole lifespan hopefully. I hate how a lot of people think leopard geckos are cheap, throw-away pets. I saw someone at Petsmart getting a leopard gecko, with a young kid. The Petsmart employee told them that the gecko would do fine in a five gallon its whole life, so the people bought a five gallon, a bad of calcisand, and left with the gecko, which is sure to die. (No heating, etc.)

[Swirlysnowflake]

For the leopard gecko keepers here, what do you use as a staple for your gecko?