Getting A Reptile? Watch This BEFORE You Do!

[@kathrynryan3442]

I am definitely on Team Gargoyle Gecko. My first Garg is just a delight and is a natural educational animal.

[@leopardgeckotalk]

Nice! Yeah I feel like I'd feel more confident with a gargoyle haha

[@thejungledrake]

Yeaaah gargs!

[@medusianAllure]

Just wanted to thank you for your expertise. I just got a Chinese cave gecko after a year of plotting and planning. This video helps validate that I did the right research and my obsession with finding solutions was useful.

[@lonedefense87]

Been keeping leopard geckos for over 10 years now, found your account roughly a year ago. You’ve helped a lot with information regarding what new tech is actually good for them and what is questionable. Also got me into Arcadia supplements and UVB for them which has increased their activity/colors a noticeable amount. Thanks :)

[@sneekyalexa2657]

I think this was a great informal video! I initially realized I wanted a leo in May of last year. I started to do basic research but it took until October to get the enclosure. I then spent the next several months researching each part literally from the ground up. The substrate, drainage layer yes or no, the hides, the way to decorate, the height for the heating and lighting, and then watching the humidity and temperature readings. On April 2nd of this year, I got my baby leo. I don't know if anyone is reading this but Rebecca explained this very well. Look at each "chapter" of areas to research and treat each object like it's own page. It is a fun and long process but it is so worth it to make it easier on you and your animal. The more research you do ahead, hopefully the less mistakes and or panic created when you finally bring the animal home.

[@leopardgeckotalk]

That's awesome, it's great to hear someone taking their time to fully research before getting a gecko! :D

[@sarahvasquez3919]

I have been watching ur videos for the longest times. Around 8 years off and on. I have wanted a leopard geckos since I was 12 😅 lol and I am now 24 and still have not had the pleasure of owning one. I am hoping that one day very soon I will have the opportunity to have one of my own. Love your videos and thank you for all the information. you are doing an incredible job. ❤

[@kagecash]

I went through a whole year of convincing my parents and doing research, and in the end I have Echo! I’m so glad I got him, his personality is truly amazing, he loves everyone and is very trusting. Best gecko I could ever ask for! He’s turning 3 in January!

[@brentrover7414]

What kind is it?

[@MamaKat62]

I love his name!

[@kagecash]

@@brentrover7414 his morph? He’s just basic, jungle / wild

[@kagecash]

@@MamaKat62 thanks! Based off of echo from Jurassic World, he’s my little velociraptor

[@brentrover7414]

@@kagecash yeah sorry I couldn’t think of the word

[@moshroomba]

My birthday is in exactly 2 weeks! I've been wanting a leopard gecko for over a year (on the dot) and my mom finally let me start buying stuff for the gecko! Ur channel has really helped me, and I've been intensely researching for over a year. Thank you so much 💕

[@simons6110]

Before i got my leopard gecko i binge watched all this channels content. And it helped me soo much on caring for my friend the right way. i was able to tame him in like 3 to 4 months and he freely likes to walk onto my hand. i love him so much and am SOOO thankful for this channel cause it helped me so much to care the right way for him. So thanks again for all your videos it made it so much easier to learn.

[@antoniomason4209]

great Video, my first reptile was a leopard gecko. Later i had gotten a crested gecko i had to do my research to give both of them the best life they could have.

[@leopardgeckotalk]

Thank you :) aww nice!

[@ingeniouspixie]

Excellent info, Thank you!! It's frustrating when everything you watch and read tells you, "but please do your research." I thought that's what I was doing! This is a great list to be able to flesh out the full picture. 👌👌👌

[@leopardgeckotalk]

No problem😊😊

[@Taya-s8u]

I just got my baby gecko! he/she is 4 months old and I am always scared to something wrong.... but when ever I watch your vid I feel more secure

[@dacisky]

I've been doing what you suggested for a year and narrowed it down to pink tongued skink,leo gecko,and Gargoyle Gecko...I'm really leaning towards the Gargoyle Gecko .

[@leopardgeckotalk]

Ah very interesting! :)

[@pamhouweling7141]

I have 2 leopard. 2 crested and 2 gargoyle geckos and a Tokay. My vote for a first reptile goes to my gargoyles. So much more interested in what goes on around them. All have responded to training. But both gargoyles are smarter and much more interactive. Both gargoyles enjoy being out and being stroked. Just got my Tokay. So can't judge her yet.

[@exoticare3226]

Them: "what size tank does a leopard gecko need?" Me with a leo in a 120 gal: "See that? See mine? Yeah he deserves bigger"

[@leopardgeckotalk]

haha 😅 If in doubt, go bigger 😂

[@amazingaquaticsandexotics3030]

leopard geckos are one of my fav reptiles.

[@leopardgeckotalk]

Aww, same 😊😊

[@MRBthecharger]

Fiesty. Perfect description from what I've seen of Tokays! I've got a couple Leopard Geckos myself and they are pretty interesting between their general skiddish nature, curiosity, overall cuteness, but contrastingly their feeding response. I haven't seen too many other examples of leos with a strong feeding response but mine.. in particular 1 of the 2.. is almost scary with how precise and powerful his strikes are! I won't go into too graphic of detail but the speed of his strikes can leave a mess of crickets..

[@leopardgeckotalk]

Haha on goodness 🙈😅

[@AniFam]

Awesome!! Such an informative video~ Thank you for sharing this~🤗

[@leopardgeckotalk]

Thanks! :D

[@mauricevanlunteren5604]

I love my leopard gecko! 🥰 She is so happy haha, she makes me happy ❤️

[@leopardgeckotalk]

Awww that's great to hear :D

[@caterscarrots3407]

I went through years of research before I even decided on a lizard, let alone a bearded dragon. Researching everything from "What do they eat?" and "How big do they get?" to "Do I need heat and humidity both or just one or the other?" and "How do I know if they are gravid?" and "Are they easy to tame?"

[@dustyandziggy9955]

My son really wants a reptile. Thanks for this! So much to consider...

[@leopardgeckotalk]

No problem :D It can almost be like a project for him, an interesting animal to do a deep dive into :)

[@emmah8234]

editing quality was really great on this video! love the graphics etc. as well (and the content ofc)

[@leopardgeckotalk]

thank you! :)

[@plantingwithnat]

Based on my work schedule I decided on bearded dragon. Down the road in the future when my schedule is better to allow me to have a gecko I will have one.

[@IansExotics26]

I love my two leopard geckos and their happy! great job with the video!

[@leopardgeckotalk]

Aw sweet! And thank you :D

[@pyrenaheath1308]

Thanks for all of your videos, I’ve recently got a baby Leo called Magnus after convincing my parents

[@leopardgeckotalk]

That is awesome! Good luck will little Magnus 😊

[@ericanderson7266]

LEOPARD GECKO ALL THE WAY! Who doesn’t want a pet that looks like the unholy offspring of a pickle and a banana?

[@leopardgeckotalk]

omg yes 😂😂

[@geckosarecute6304]

Thank you so much for the video!! I'll keep this advice in mind when I obtain or keep researching information on Chameleon Geckos in the soon future. As I am very interested in those tiny cute Geckos.

[@leopardgeckotalk]

Aww chameleon geckos are cute, I love their little yellow smiles haha :)

[@geckosarecute6304]

@@leopardgeckotalk Haha yeah! Cute Little tiny dinosaurs smile! 🦕 🥰

[@brentrover7414]

I got a Leo about 4 days ago. I’m in love

[@leopardgeckotalk]

aww congrats! :)

[@kaylae9242]

that intro is so cute!!!

[@leopardgeckotalk]

Thanks :D

[@sabriguzman]

yes! take your time! this way you can make sure you have the details down packed for their food, enclosure decor, and any deaths from feeder insects while settling in would of passed. this way you can even build a relationship with the breeder you're getting the animal from and learn more about the individual's preferences.. and give you time to change your mind if you see the breeder isn't as good as you thought. don't rush something that will be your responsibility for YEARS to come

[@leopardgeckotalk]

Great advice! I really cherish the back and forth convos I had from the breeder I got Gizmo and Minnie from, she really set me on the best path, back then it would have been so easy to get a gecko from a shop and put them on calci sand - if that were the case who know whether I would still be keeping reptiles now 🤔

[@sabriguzman]

@@leopardgeckotalk if you would have it would of been the norm for geckos to die of impaction, like guinea pigs being so short lived because of outdated husbandry. It’s also good to “adopt don’t shop” but for a first I think it’s the best way to go, then after some time and practice rescuing/adopting is best

[@zareptiles]

Great video! 😁

[@leopardgeckotalk]

Thank you :D

[@nataliesreptileroom3348]

Awesome video and great information!

[@leopardgeckotalk]

Thank you :D

[@kazzie2935]

Excellent video 👍❤🦎😁

[@leopardgeckotalk]

Thank you! :)

[@ababoononyoutube9921]

I might get a leo in October

[@leopardgeckotalk]

Ooo nice!

[@ClemmieLeopardGecko]

I just brought my first leo home yesterday after researching a TON. It really helped me to prepare and feel more confident that I can keep her happy and healthy. She is a retired ex-breeding female, so I do know she’s laid eggs before and I’m a bit nervous about the next egg-laying season, so I’m really considering getting pet insurance for her, just in case. £12/month really doesn’t seem too bad?

[@leopardgeckotalk]

Aww, it may be worth it for at least this year, just because I know they can retain sperm and lay eggs the following year, so in case there are any complications this year then you're covered :)

[@ClemmieLeopardGecko]

@@leopardgeckotalk Ohhhh! I did not know they could do that. I’d been wondering if that’s possible… poor little ones if that’s the case. :( I found one insurance that even covers egg binding, so may do that. Just for peace of mind, too. :)

[@mckennascornerp1436]

would you reccomend eco earth?

[@sarinbaby]

Hey! Been wanting a Leo for awhile and I’m getting one soon! I will be using a deep heat projector (Arcadia DHP as well as the shade dweller 7%) I was wondering how long, or when should I have the deep heat projector on for? Is it an all day and night thing, or what? Thanks !

[@nightinggale6470]

I highly recommend using a halogen flood bulb connected to a dimmer or dimming thermostat, they’re actually more natural and beneficial than DHPs! The levels of infrared A and B they produce more closely mimic the sun (DHPs produce barely any IRA, the most beneficial wavelength). Leopard geckos don’t need heat at night as long as it doesn’t drop below 60F :)

[@chloeferry1926]

Any tips on my viv misting up? Thank you

[@nightinggale6470]

For a leopard gecko? What’s the humidity at, and is your hygrometer digital or analog?

[@AndTheOfThat]

I think in at least American English, maybe VITAMINS are a bit more essential sounding. I totally agree!! Everyone with leos should be giving their geckos what they NEED, not just worms.

[@GSDDDDD]

what happend to gizmo?

[@geckosnest6297]

I have a gecko that I originally got from a pet store (at the time, my parents didn't let me get one from a breeder) and my grandparents had to take care of the gecko for a while. However, because they didn't do what was needed for the gecko, he now has a few less toes and I think is developing MBD in his jaw. Anything I can do about this? I know UVB will help, but I am not in a position to get anything expensive.

[@leopardgeckotalk]

UV isn't too expensive as long as you get the right thing, so for a leo I would recommend the ShadeDweller from Arcadia. With any UV you have to replace the bulb every 12 months, but it's worth it. You'll also need to provide the appropriate supplements alongside it. Basically without D3 the body can't absorb calcium, the cycle gets messed up. It may be best to see a vet too and get a plan of action put together :)

[@geckosnest6297]

@@leopardgeckotalk Ok, thank you!

[@coconutbutter63]

I would go for the gargoyle because I know you have rodents and it Would be morally hard to feed it like pinkies or something

[@mateopinon3358]

I have a leo and she isn't eating! I got her about 3 weeks ago from a rehome. She only had a heat mat and calcium+d3. She was only fed mealworms. One of her eyes had a bunch of pus like gunk. I am working on getting her to start eating. She is about 1 year old and is very small. If anyone had advice PLEASE help me.

[@nightinggale6470]

Quarantine her on paper towel for now, and get her checked out at an exotic vet ASAP

[@jaspbay]

i am a beginner - should i use all my supplements at the same time. e.g. should i get a little tub an mix a bit of each then coat the locust in that?

[@finley6161]

You should only use one supplement at a time and rotate them each feeding. Things like calcium without D3 should be used more than a multivitamin, and this allows you to control exactly how much you're giving of each. But definitely do research into supplements, it's a very important topic and varies between species and what equipment you're using.

[@nightinggale6470]

I recommend Repashy Calcium Plus, it’s an all in one so it simplifies dusting quite a bit.

[@dawgwithblawgs]

@@nightinggale6470 hey, I have a question for you since it seems like you now a lot from what I've seen lol. Soo my gecko has a bit of a droopy eyelid on the top, and a bit of space from the eye on the bottom ( about like 🤏 just a tiny bit) I'm wondering if I should be worried? He doesn't have any trouble eating food other than the fact he had terrible aim and sometimes turns his head to far to the side when trying to hunt but idk I'm just very paranoid over my gecko

[@leopardgeckotalk]

I have a supplementing and feeding guide on my channel, type in 'supplements' and it should come up. or in my ebook I write it out like a time table so you know exactly what to give at different stages of life, throughout the week/month

[@nightinggale6470]

@@dawgwithblawgs not sure, if you’re worried you could always get him checked out at an exotic vet

[@Thatoneembarrassingmoment1234]

So I was watching 15 things to expect with a baby leopard gecko when would be a good time to start handling it the reason why I'm commenting on this video is so you can actually see this

[@leopardgeckotalk]

so I would recommend letting them settle in in the first 24 hours as they may be a bit stressed, but you can sort of start straight away. If you watch my 'First Week With A Baby Leopard Gecko' video, you can sort of see my process in real time - kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z17aYnVqnNOpq8k

[@zachheisen5022]

Second reptile was a leopard gecko, third was a wild caught peach throated monitor, dont be like me dont be stupid

[@monsterkajiu1912]

This isn't for speciality pets, This isn't for farm animals nor domesticated pets like cats and dogs, NO, It's for all animals Rated E for everyone.

[@leopardgeckotalk]

🙌🏻🙌🏻

[@noone4122]

Snke🐍

[@Ejmakesort]

First

[@reapersexotics1129]

-20-40 gal tank (front opening preferred as geckos don't liked being picked up from above cause they'll think you are a bird) -Calcium with d3 powder - substrate depending on what your comfortable with (sand is not a option) -food:meal worms,hornedworms,crickets, and mayfly. -at least 4 hides :hot,cold,humid, hid hide to use the bathroom (my leopard gecko tends to poop in one spot of her enclosure and no were else) - water bowls and food bowls (at lest 2 water bowls (one for drinking and one for skin shedding.) -one uvb and one uva lamp (some bulbs carry both in one) -at least 5m-1hr of interaction and recreational time for your animal (animals have feelings too) For people wondering about substrate I use repti carpet and it works well I have not luckily have any problems going for a year now. I will soon make a KZbin channel on her Also leopards can be co habbed the only thing is you should make sure they have been together before or try to bond them (remeber leapord geckos are from the middle east and usually live in colony) I would also like to add leopard geckos don't live in just desert environments but they do live in arid humid environments too and a waterfall or mini misting system would be goo for the as they shed their skin alot or drink from water droplets on your glass

[@nightinggale6470]

They need a multivitamin too. Sand is great as part of a mix (soil/playsand or soil/sand/clay). You only need one water dish. Mayflies aren’t fed to leopard geckos. You can also feed roaches, silkworms, black soldier fly larvae, and super worms. Interaction isn’t necessary for them to be happy, in fact handling them often stresses them out. Carpet is not a suitable substrate. It harbours bacteria, tends to get caught on teeth and claws, and doesn’t offer any digging enrichment (which is very beneficial for leopard geckos). One of the mixed I mentioned above is best. While cohabbing can be done successfully (in a very large enclosure with plenty of hides, basking spots, etc.), I generally don’t recommend it. I have seen countless cases of geckos seeming fine for years, then snapping and seriously injuring or killing each other.

[@reapersexotics1129]

@@nightinggale6470 I think something that should be pointed out is don't use repti carpet unless you have good husbandry my girl zilly now 1 years old has been on repti carpet her whole life with luckily no problems I have good husbandry and clean her tank everyday and hand wash the carpet myself, if you one of those people who don't clean your tank naturalistic or not and wait for cleaner crew to clean it that just plain dirty and also Harbour bacteria that is bad for your gecko and yourself ,play sand can impact your gecko too it's better to use dirt(eco earth).Also about the co hab yes that can happen in most cases but not all that's why I say it better to co hab geckos that were arelady being cohabed or take a chance as in the wild,(if you ever seen actual leopard geckos in thier natural Habitat which is not only desert but consistent of canyons(rockledges) water falls and misty forest areas were as you would know is a hot spot for may fly larvae and a good source of food for then if you have ever been to Iraqi or the middle east as many know it you would also know thay they are know to be in groups of 3s or more depending on how many hatchling and those groups are called a colony.leanr from the real world and not just from a computer screen

[@nightinggale6470]

@@reapersexotics1129 again, carpet is not a suitable substrate for any reptile. Digging enrichment is very beneficial for leopard geckos and they should not be deprived of it. Impaction is caused by improper husbandry, not playsand or any other loose substrate. As long as their husbandry is correct (temps/heating, hydration, etc.) a healthy animal will be able to pass loose sub no problem. They live on loose terrain in the wild, they’ve evolved to be able to handle it. Eco earth is not a suitable substrate either. It’s unnatural, dusty when dry, can be hard on their joints, doesn’t hold burrows, etc. Although leopard geckos have been seen living in colonies in the wild, you have to remember that they have unlimited space to get away from each other in the wild. In an enclosure they’ve only got a few feet at most. Even geckos that were already being cohabbed can fight. Also, are you trying to say bioactive setups are bad? They’re one of the best setups you can have. Much better than carpet…