My kids and I are brand-new proud owners of a pair of adult females, whom we adopted yesterday from a teenager whose life was getting too busy. These are our first reptile pets, and I am trying to make sure we are giving them the care they need. Here's the set-up they have been living in for about 2 years, which we purchased when we adopted the "Gecko Girls" (as we are calling them until we are inspired by the right names):

--20-gallon glass tank with sliding screen lid
--liner of Repti Cage Carpet
--reptile heating pad on one end of the tank, underneath the carpet
--lamp on the same end, resting on the screen lid, with a 75-W "Night Glo" moonlight bulb
--food dish (they've been fed mealworms only, and ate some last night). I was told to put this on the "warm" side to encourage the worms to wriggle.
--water dish (to be changed daily)
--calcium powder dish
--4 different hides. 2 small plastic cave hides that were set up side-by side with a half-log stacked on top (these were on the cool side, and they seem to prefer to sleep in them most of the time; I have seen one climb under the log as well). One plastic "tree stump" type hide, with various holes in it, which was on the warm side.

So in addition to seeking any advice you may wish to give, here are my questions:

-- Shouldn't I get a thermometer? I think I'm supposed to try to keep the warm side of the tank at about 90 F? What kind of thermometer do you recommend -- are those simple ones from the pet store OK, or should I get a digital one, or...
-- Should they have a light other than the moonlight bulb? I was told to keep that on all the time as a heat source. They are in a room where they will get indirect daylight, but generally not much artificial light.
-- Can I use our well water (no chlorine or anything -- our freshwater fish swim in it right out of the tap with no treatment) or do I need to use the bottled spring water they've been given for a couple of years?
-- Should I start giving them some crickets or other foods in addition to the mealworms? They look healthy enough, not skinny, but it seems like some variety would be good if they're interested. (The former owner's mom didn't want crickets in the house, lol, and tolerated mealworms only in a separate fridge. I am not squeamish at all.)
-- Should I use any kind of nutritional powder on their food or treatment/vitamins in their water?
-- Should I change the substrate? They seem to have done well on this carpet so far, and it's easy enough for me to manage. I will try to see if I can get them to eliminate on a paper towel that I can change easily, once I see what corner/area they like to use as a bathroom.
-- Should I provide them with some kind of nesting-type material in one of the hides? I read that a "moist hide" is good for when they shed. What is that exactly, and how can I set it up, if you think it's a good idea. The former owner tells me they only shed once every month or two, which doesn't seem very often to me -- is this OK?

Thanks for any help you can give!

Amy in Virginia

HI Amy and welcome to HC Network. You have found the right place for advice! Please read our caresheet over here: http://www.herpcenter.com/showthread.php?t=6982

This should answer most of your questions, and we are here if you have any thing more to ask. Sounds like you are off to a great start! Enjoy your little girls. Leopard geckos are wonderful pets.

Lyn

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Warmest Regards from Lyn

Hey welcome to the HC the caresheet lyn gave you should help you out alot.

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Live for today Not tomorrow.

Welcome to the forum. I know you will enjoy interacting with your Leopard Geckos. Show us some pics sometime.

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Mike
"Never worry about numbers. Help one person at a time, and always start with the person nearest you." - Mother Teresa

Hi and welcome to the HCN! We are glad to have you!

I have printed out the care sheet for careful reading. It looks like some great information. I will probably have some more specific questions once I get some thermometers and see how things are. I did weigh the girls this morning, and one was 50 g. and the other was 56 g. I think maybe I will need to put away the fancy plastic "tree stump" hide and replace it with a margarine tub for a moist hide. The poor girls will have no room to move if I add something else to what's in there!

By the way, Savannah (am I remembering the spelling right?), I live in Woodbridge, not far from you, it sounds like.

--Amy

Welcome to Herpcenter Amy, there's alot of Leo owners here (myself included). Go over the caresheet and feel free to ask away with any questions you might have.

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Ken
"Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the Marines don't have that problem." -- Ronald Reagan

Hi Amy,,,welcome to HCN..feel free to ask away with questions, and post pics if you can.

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MARSHA

:D I'm smiling because I have no idea whats going on!

Haha, you dont live too far from me, we wil have to meet up someday...you can come see my herps and Ill go see yours

Welcome to the HC! You have come to the right place for you leo info. Here's a link to a how to on easy moist hides.

http://www.herpcenter.com/showthread.php?t=7193

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0.1.0 Brazilian Rainbow boa (Sakura)
1.1.0 Leopard geckos (Tasuki, Sango)
2.0.0 Ball pythons (Tsume, Kenshin)