Hello, I'm a new member to this forum and I just purchased my first Leo on saturday. "Stewie" was a year old from a pet store in town. I've been feeding him gutted crickets and made his hiding spot and put moist moss inside of it. I've added a cleaned piece of driftwood and some artificial foliage to his enclosure. I've used rocks that you see in fish tanks for the bottom and use a lamp and a small hot rock for him at night. I do have a few questions if anyone could be as so kind as to answer them.

1. How often do they have a bowel movement? I've feed him 2-3 crickets a day since Saturday when I brought him home, but he has yet to have a bowel movement and I'm starting to get worried.

2. How much should he weigh at this point and time? His doesn't appear to be skinny due to the lack of visible bones, but from what I've noticed he has yet to lose his tail, so thats sort of a plus too. I'll supply a picture soon of his enclosure and him for viewing if that helps.

3. Does it matter what heat lamp I buy? I went to our petstore and noticed a heat lamp priced around $20, but went to another store and noticed a heat lamp priced around $9. Would it matter if I purchased the $9 lamp and used a 40-60 watt bulb to heat his entire enclosure?

Any replies would be helpful, and thank you for taking the time to read this.

Welcome to Herp Center. First I'm going to suggest you read the Leopard Gecko Caresheet:http://www.herphabitats.com/reptile_...pard_gecko.htm

As for the light the cost doesn't matter and it doens't have to say reptile on it. I usually get mine at Walmart in the home repair section. The lights with the porcelain socket are better for reptiles then the normal once with plastic socket.
You might want to consider using Under Tank Heating which can be as easy as using a human heating pad. Make sure that the heating pad doesn't have a timer that turns off after a period of time.

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Colleen

First off...it needs more then one hide should not have any hot rocks in there (that's such a big huge nono expecially if you don't have it on a dimmer), and I really don't know about those rocks as a bottom...Leopard Geckos seem to prefer flat solid surfaces and I don't think he'd find slippery rocks to great...Most people use ceramic or slate tile, shelf liner, paper towel, or reptile carpet. Make sure whatever you get is solid (as in a big huge piece of one thing that is to big for them to eat). When they're under a year they usually have a bowel movement every day and I think as they get older it moves to once every couple days. What was the setup before you got him? What kind of vitamins are you giving him? You should get some sort of Under Tank Heater for Leopard Geckos. Theyr ground critters and spend all the time on the ground and the light up top doesn't help much unless you give them a big solid rock to bask on (NOT A HOT ROCK). I bought a hot rock a while back and the temps went up to 130 degrees...Leopard Geckos should have a spot thats around 90. Most reptiles are also stuburn and don;'t realize when they're burning themselves. The Under Tank Heater (under tank heater, ie Under Tank Heater, heat pad, heat rope, heat tape) should be put on a dimmer or thermostat so the warm spot doesnt go over 93 degreesish and the warm side should be about 80. Make sure your measuring it with a digital thermometer. Please don't use a wall one (which is what I had at first and turns out they're about 35 degrees off or mine was). The digital probe should be placed on the ground because thats where they are. It really wouldn't matter if you choose to go with the lamp if it was 2-100 dollars but I wouldn't recommend them. Do not buy a white bulb if you are just going to get one light make sure you get a lamp that a black or red bulb can go in...I don't know how well u can sleep with the lights on but they don't bother reptiles...as much...as white bulbs. Ceramic heat emiters are also a choice. I really really recommend a Under Tank Heater though.

Well, I guess I'll be returning the hot rock ASAP and purchase a Under Tank Heater as it seems more practical. His previous setup was small bit of foliage with a small water dish, astroturf style flooring and a small light above. Keep in mind this was a pet store too and they just received them. I've measured the hot rock at different intervals during the day and noticed only a high of 95, and a low of 85 towards the sides.

Also, forgot to mention. I distinctly remember the worker at the pet store mentioning they also like tropical fruits. So I've purchased some bananas, kiwi's, apples, and a mango. I've tried the bananas, kiwi, and the apple. I've mashed them to a mush and set them on a dish for him. He licked the kiwi's for awhile, but that was it. I can't try kiwi's anymore because my girlfriend finished them off.

Other than Stewie not having a bowel movement, he seems a loving, happy leo because I'll take him out of his enclosure a few times a day and set him on my bed or on my couch and he just takes off, but doesn't go too close to edges. So he seems fit and healthy, but I'm just worried about the non-bowel movement. I've read a previous post stating to soak him in warm water around 80 degrees F for 10-15 minutes, but I have trouble keeping him inside the water.

Attached Images

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If you are using rocks as a substrate it is possible he has had a bowel movement and you may have not found it. No, Leopard Geckos do not eat tropical fruits, they are insectivores only. He looks like he's on his way to being a healthy Leo, but needs to fatten up a bit, his tail should be much fatter. Without a boubt get rid of the hot-rock, they are dangerous. I use human heat-pads for all of my Under Tank Heater's,,,,,,much cheaper that the Under Tank Heater's from the petstore.

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Ken
" The United States Marine Corps......sure we are a department of the Navy,,,,,,we're the MENS department "

Hi! Welcome to the HCN!
Stewie looks nice for a 1 year old leo in a pet store.

I think you should forget everything you heard in the pet store and read the caresheet above. Then ask whatever doubts you have. Otherwise is going to be confusing.

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Wish list: Blue Tongue Skinks and Uruplatus =)

Welcome to HCN Stewie. As said above, I too use human heat pads, much easier and reuseable when you want to upgrade to a bigger tank, lol. Seems eveyone has given you awesome advise. Please feel free to ask all the questions you have, thats what we are here for.

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MARSHA

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

Just a quick one. I feed Stewie 2 crickets a day, one in the morning and one at night. Should that be sufficient for him?

Um no, I normally feed mine 5-8 or however many they will eat. Some days it is a differenet amount. But 2 crix aday is not nearly enough.

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MARSHA

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

Not enough? Geez, well, guess I'll go outside and grab a few more for him huh?