I'm thinking about getting leopard geckos?

Question

I'm thinking about getting some leopard geckos but have a few questions?

1. What size tank will I need?

2. What kind of supplies will I need?

3. How many will I be able to keep together?

Answer 1

never use a loose substrate. http://hubpages.com/hub/Impaction.

You may say well they come from the desert. The desert they come from does not have sand. It is a hard clay like ground. Think Afghanistan.

http://www.repticzone.com/caresheets/906...

Answer 2

1. 20 gallons for 1

2. for substrate, i like coconut fiber. water dish. cool decorations like branches, rocks, etc.

3. depends on the size of the tank

Answer 3

It's late and I have already answered a million questions just like this one.  Kuddos for asking before getting, but you need to do your research, and learn what you need to know to provide proper housing, light, heat, and diet for these guys.

It's a lot to know, but easy, once you understand it all.

Here are some links to get you started, but please note my disclaimer.  I see someone else has already given you the site for impaction:

http://www.leopardgeckowiki.com/wiki/ind...

http://hubpages.com/hub/Metabolic_Bone_D...

http://www.progeckos.com/caresheets/leos...

http://www.geocities.com/geckodistrict/l...

http://www.vmsherp.com/LCKeepingLeopards...

http://www.drgecko.com/index.html.

http://www.thegeckospot.com/shortleocare...

http://www.thegeckospot.com/leohealth.ht...

--Disclaimer-- Though these sites list the use of play/repti sand, I STRONGLY DISAGREE with this.  The number one killer of Leos is impaction by sand or a loose substrate, which leads to costly vet bills, and even death.  Consult your reptile veterinarian for their opinion.

Minimum recommended size for a single adult is a 20 gal long reptile tank.  They need floor space.  

You can't house 2 males together - they will fight to the death once they reach breeding age (approx. 6 mo. for a male).

Housing a pair means you need to do a ton of work about breeding/hatching, and have a lotta $$$ to raise and house all those babies.  Also, the male will mate the female too young.  A single female kept with a male will be harried and even injured, with the male trying to breed her all the time.

Two females can be kept together if the tank is large enough (minimum 30 gal. reptile), and if they don't begin fighting once they reach maturity.

If one rapidly outgrows the other, separate them.  A larger gecko will eat a smaller one, or can injure it.

Insects should be gut loaded 1-2 days prior to feeding, and should not be longer than the space between the geckos' eyes.

You'll need to dust with reptile vitamins and calcium with D3 every other day for babies, and every 3-4 days for adutls.

As for set up:

Please NEVER use a loose substrate for your gecko.  These animals originate from rocky areas of hard packed earth, and nature didn't design them to deal with sand/loose debris in their diet.  

You'll need:

A minimum of a 20 gal. reptile tank for an adult (if you put the baby in this and let it grow into the space, remove it to a small tank/container for feeding so it is able to catch its prey insects).

Screen tank top

UTH heat pad for under the tank

Basking light

Basking perch

Rheostat to control the temperature on light/pad

Digital probe thermometer or therm. gun (strip therms. are inaccurate up to 20 degrees)

Shallow water bowl

Small cricket mini-cage for gut loading crickets before feeding

A hide

A moisture hide (you can easily make one - see above site)

Reptile Vitamins (keep refrigerated)

Calcium with D3 (keep refrigerated)

And, you can do some research on UVB to decide if you want to use it, since Leos are nocturnal (I do).

Enjoy your new pet(s) and I hope this has been helpful.