Is a 55 Gallon tank to large for 2 juvinile leopard Gecko's?

Question

I have a 55 gallon ex salt-water reef tank and i have made the decision to keep leopard gecko's. before i buy these gecko's i would like to make sure i have a suitable habit set up for them. i would also like a sugestion as to what plant life would be useable (non toxic)

Answer 1

yes, they will feel very overwhelmed , and become stressed and may stop eating. For 2 juvies I wouldn't go on larger than a 30 but would recommend a 20 instead,a 20 gallon tank will keep 2 geckos for life, but as adults they will do fine in a 30g.

I wouldn't recommend ANY live plants, even they claim to be non-toxic, you can buy many artificial plants, and even little mini cactus' which are quite cute :D.

Make sure you you have atleast 2 hides in your tank one on the warm  side and one on the cool side, but if your gunan get a 20-30 gallon you can add more hides if you wish. A shedding box is also recommended. You can make this yourself by getting a small "glad" container and cut a hole in the side, and put some damp paper towels inside, this will aid the gecko when its time to shed, this hide should be placed on the cool side along with the water bowl, food dish and calcium dish.

For substrate use something solid, like newspaper, paper towel, tile, or repti-carpet because loose substrates like sand or calci-sand will cause impaction espescially for juvies, because when they eat ccrikets they will pick up little pieces of sand with it, which will cause impaction and will probably kill your gecko.

Hope I helped and best of wishes.

Adam

Answer 2

Definatly big enough. I had a couple in a custom aquarium that measures about 1x2x3 and they seemed kind of afraid of the space.

dude when it comes to a living thing, don't trust people on yahoo. go to a pet web site.

Answer 3

o yes, much big enfu.. as for plant life.. You should go to your local pet store and ask them what is a good native plant for your lizard's.. everywhere is diffrent,, I have tree frogs and they love spider plants.. but thats just my frogs. Yes and make sure you have all the heat sources and stuff for them to clime and hide, and they will be very happy..

Answer 4

Well, barely, dear.  I wouldn't consider a 55 ex salt tank large enough for two adult Leopard geckos personally, but it can be done - IF you are knowledgable/experienced.

It's a BIG endeavor for a first time Leo owner.

That tank was designed for fish, and it has very little floor space, where the critters actually live.  All the glass space is meant for the sides, so you can see the fish...

Leos are solitary creatures, often only hooking up to mate or fight for breeding territory.  Even mating encounters can result in injury or death.  The female better be ready enough - and the male better be big enough!  Life in the wild is tough!

But, we aren't talking about life in the wild.  Still... the Leo(s) you get, no matter how many years the breeder has been producing them, is going to arrive inclusive of 'wild instincts.'

Leo's tend to be territorial, and aggressive as adults (to other Leo's).  As far as males go?  Even siblings hatched and raise together, and getting along great, and doing 'picnics' as juveniles, will mature, and suddenly fight.  This can result in injury if you're lucky, but it more often results in death, since the weaker male has NO place to run to.

YOU CAN NEVER HOUSE TWO JUVENILE/ADULT MALES TOGETHER.

So, now we're onto the topic of sexing (determining gender), and can you do that?  I've been in a million pet stores all across the country, and have been informed INCORRECTLY of the gender of the Leo I ask about.  Almost EVERY time!  Same deal from breeders at pet expos.

You have to be an EXPERT to gender s*x young animals, and a bit better than a novice to s*x juveniles!

Oh yes, they will tell you it was cooler, so the whole clutch is female (sure...right), or was hotter, so they are all males... females produced from these temperatures (hot enough to be a male) tend to be the equivilent of a human female in constant PMS!  They are aggressive, moody, MEAN, and impossible to be around without getting hurt!  You can almost never put this "hot" female with another Leo, even for mating!  

So, that brings us to do you want two females?  Or a pair?

Now, all babies are cute, but they grow up!  Are you ready (IF you have a pair of geckos together - you WILL get eggs) to incubate and care for up to 20 babies in a breeding season?  I advise, before you ever breed your animals, that you have homes lined up for the young.

Cause not only do you have to house them separately (you can keep 2-3 of the same size together, but a larger WILL eat a smaller), but as they hatch and are SO cute?  Well, you get about a week to breathe before the real work begins!  The baby won't eat till a first shed, but from there - it's bottomless, and have fun keeping it clean and fed!  DO you have the finances it will take, to provide that many gut loaded cricket, and mini habitats?

So, now we move onto the question of why you want two?  IF you want two.  So they have company?  It's not necessary.  These adorable things can live over 20 yr. with proper care, and will be very content to NEVER see another Leo.

To quote an old adage: "You can't miss it - if you never had it."  And in the Leo's case?  It might fight to death, if it DOES see it!

You need to do some homework, and educate yourself on the geckos, and their needs, and then on how to feed their food!  (I have a good recipe for gut loading, if you need it.  Email me.)

So, the 55 salt tank is cool, but - I strongly recommend ONE gecko and NO SAND!!!!!

As you research - you'll find tons of sites saying this if fine, and even breeders saying this is fine.  Once you read them all - make ONE call to a reptile vet, and ask them about impaction; bacteria; mold; parasites, etc.  DO NOT USE SAND for a substrate, for ANY lizard!

We didn't even get to hot sides, and cold sides, and moisture hides!

Learn about the animal BEFORE you get it!

And please - just get ONE.

I'll be happy to help you with further gecko questions, if you do the right thing.  Just email me.

I hope this has been helpful

Answer 5

Yes that is a big tank for them and you can get plants at the pet store