Ideal Enclosure Setup

[ThEmAdHaTtEr]

Hey guys, I'm feeling pretty "Bling-Bling" So I have decided that I'm going to re-do one of my Leos enclosures. My question to you is: What is the perfect Leo Setup? I will probably be using a 10 gallon tank because I have a spare I can use. But what substrate/heating/water dish etc and where to place it all, the works. Money isn't really an object right now, but let's not bring it TOO high :D. Thanks!

[drewlowe]

i personally like bed a beast (or eco earth) or you can use slate both look nice. Plus at least one hide on both the cool and hot side a water dish kept on the cool side. If you want you can add some fake plants and whatnot.

The heating can be achived with either a uth or a heat bulb. as long as they have a warm side of around 85-90 and a cool side around 75-80.

[Bartman]

cant really do to much with a 10 gallon, i have one. Maybe you should get like a 15 or even a 20. I bought a used 20 gallon tank with no lid (leopards dont really need a lid, they cant get out) for about 40 bucks canadian..if money isnt an issue id say get one of those and you can make a sick tank :)
good luck and be sure to show some pics when ur done!

[Tim and Julie B]

Hehehehehe........:D:D:D Okay. 10 gallon sounds fun. Start by measuring the inside of your tank. Now, go to any building supply store and pick out some nice looking tile, something with a little texture. It's best to use 12"x12" and ask the person in the tile department to cut them to fit your measurements (be sure to keep the scrap tile). Take the tile home, wash it thoroughly and place it in the tank. This is great because it looks natural but you can remove it to clean it as easily as paper towel:D Now on your "hot" side use a clamping light fixture (any pet store/lighting store) with a 50 watt red heat lamp (available where ever lighting is sold-cheaper than a pet store). Now add some furniture- rock cave or large flat stone on the hot side, fake rock water dish on the cool along with a small tupperware container for a humid hide. Be sure to buy a digital thermometer (any home supply/building supply store) to make sure the hot side is between 87-90 degrees and the cool side is around 77-82 degrees, a little drop at night is good. Other than that you can add a thick sturdy climbing branch or other smaller rocks to climb on, making sure they are fairly flat. You could potentially have a lot of fun with this. Should be around $20-$35 USD in the end. Not too bad:D

Julie

[drewlowe]

Originally posted by Bartman
(leopards dont really need a lid, they cant get out)

HAHAHA tell that to my leo speedball (thats how she got her name) when we brought them home the first night we didn't have a proper screen lid ( i was new and didn't know better) and she jumped out and down to the floor and hid under the couch all night. Luckly we found her and learned our lesson!!! They need lids!!!

[snakegal12345]

haha i got a 40 gallon tank for my leo for free and my gecko is only 7inchs so hes got lots of room

[Sheldon & Tori]

go with a 20 gallon tank, with sand, build hiding spots out of rocks (that way they can climb as well), build one hiding spot right under the heat lamp (make sure it has a flat top so the gecko can bask), pick up an exo-terra water dish (they look the best) and even, if you can, get a small and medium jungle vine and wrap them together. i was told leopard geckos won't use them but mine actually sleep on them. make sure they go up in the air but you don't want to have too steep of a climb or they wont use it.

[latazyo]

quick question:

I house mine ina 20g, but I have been reading these forums and I see others with leos that are around 8", etc, is a 20g tank big enough for an 8" lizard or do I need to consider building something larger?

I'm not sure if I have a male or female if that matters, but I don't plan on adding others to the same enclosure

[Bartman]

Luckly we found her and learned our lesson!!! They need lids!!!

Ive had my leopard in a 10 gallon for over a year and theres no lid at all, not even a proper lid so i guess your leopard has good jumping height :p

[Bighead]

Originally posted by Bartman
Ive had my leopard in a 10 gallon for over a year and theres no lid at all, not even a proper lid so i guess your leopard has good jumping height :p

Same here. I may go out and get one now just in case though. Just sucks that the screens are the same price as the tank

[LISA127]

Originally posted by latazyo
quick question:

I house mine ina 20g, but I have been reading these forums and I see others with leos that are around 8", etc, is a 20g tank big enough for an 8" lizard or do I need to consider building something larger?

I'm not sure if I have a male or female if that matters, but I don't plan on adding others to the same enclosure


A 20 gallon is plenty of room for one leo. As a rule, I house 1 leo in a 15 gallon (12" x 24"), 2 in a 20 long (12" x 30"), and 3 or more in a breeder. Right now, however, I have 2 in a 15 gallon only because my uth broke on the 20 long and I haven't replaced it yet. They are actually doing fine in there. The only problem with the smaller cages is you can't use a more naturalistic set up. You have to go with a more functional set up for lack of space. But no, you definetely do not need to get something larger.