Hello new friends, me again
So I uploaded a bunch of digital shots taken by my friend of my setup. I haven't downsized them..most people these days seem to have hi-speed. Sorry they aren't too spectacular, the girl kept shooting from one or two angles and I was begging her to let me take some but, well, new expensive camera so I wasn't "allowed".. DOH! Anyhoo...I know about the sand debate, so go easy on me there.. but any other suggestions? I got stuck with a hand me down tall 20, so I'd like to add some higher areas, maybe more mopani branches or something.. the leo that just LOVES to climb and explore didn't come out for any pics here, but when I develop my own film I'll upload more. I think I got all the server privs set right, if you can't see them let me know. Um, for those of you gurus who backtrack to my original page(s), keep in mind I haven't updated anything in years it seems.. gotta get my new hobbies on the bio page and better pics of yours truly and my krib etc. Yikes, I haven't even taken time to write about myself in the Intro forum... soon...

K, here's the page:

http://www.carleton.ca/~lkimmel/geckos

Welcome to HC! Nice setup (except for the sand but you already know how most feel about that lol) The only thing missing is a moist hide, unless it is there and I missed it...o and a little soda bottle cap with calcium in it placed in a corner of the tank is a good idea as well. Other than that, all looks great. What are your gecko's names?? I have 5...Brewster M, Dice M, Sunkist M, Lizzy F, and Crazi Mazi F lol. I love these little guys. Good luck with yours. Keep us posted on them and we all love to see pics lots of em lol.

~Shannon~

Hi Shannon, thanks for your comments I'm considering carpet or maybe something more aesthetic.. some of the slate kind of ideas seem nifty, I was even just now thinking of tiles (I've got a few cool looking leftovers from a project and they've got that nice texture and I think given their size they'd fit perfectly. But I'd love to hear from someone if they're safe, and will they conduct enough of the heat from my Under Tank Heater..for that matter, if I use carpet, won't it get too hot seeing as it's so thin? I have my Under Tank Heater come on at night and with the sand it's been a nice extra heat source..I know the slate / tiles would reflect a certain amount and retain some heat so their tummies would be warmed.. comments anyone?). As for the shed box, I'd mentioned in an original post that it'd been offered but they continue to succesfully take care of shedding in their dry hides. I'm watching them carefully, no probs yet but I do want to do the right thing. I'm finding so many differing opinions as we all see from a lot of posts, that many folks insist on this or that and others say not to worry so much. Being a parent, I'm used to worrying . One of my "advisors" keeps telling me not to worry about a cap of calcium if I'm doing a good enough job of dusting and mixing the supplement into feed etc. but just so you all don't have a fit, I do put calcium in the enclosure but in those pics I had it out as well as the moist hide.
As for names...well, I've got about a dozen but right now I call them Kermit and Krown cuz the guy(girl?) in the pictures seems to have that crown shaped pattern on the head whereas the other's head and face always reminds me of Kermit the Frog. My colleague's kids wanted me to use their names so for a while they were Skyler and Hailey. I have an 11 yr old and when he comes for the holidays he says he's going to officially name them, so who knows!

Your tank looks great! But heres some tips that may help...

If you're using any calcium sand you should definately dust on a PERFECT schedule and leave a nice dish or calcium in the tank. When Leopard Geckos feel like they need calcium they eat it wherever they can find it. Being the sand or/and the dish of calcium. Here poses another problem, why get up and eat form a dish far away when you can just lick it up where your laying down? I don't mean to be hard on you but couldn't you just take out the sand with in a couple minutes or so and replace it with papertowels? The reason I'm kind of trying to rush you is because a simple crystal of sand could really do alot of damage on your gecko. Just imagine what would happen if he/she ate one crystal a day.

The slate tiles differ. There are thin and thick tiles. Depending on the width it can vary. Slate though is a pretty good heat conductor. Usually a Under Tank Heater can heat it up well. With a bulb it would be even greater probably.

The carpets are not usually super thin, but not fat either. I use carpet alot and it does not burn up my carpet, nor gecko. But you will have to elevate the tank alil bit so the glass does not get weak from the constant heat and crack.

Humid hides: you could simply put a small hide somewhere in the tank to aid in shedding at any given time during the shed. So when your gecko gets the "SHED LOOK" just drop the hide in and your gecko may explore in there. Way back then I never used a dry hide for my Leopard Geckos and I used calcium sand, but I'm just saying it could make it just alittle

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The more you whine, the worse it will get.

Hi Leslie...I'm using paper towel at the moment with digital thermometers to monitor the temps and the Under Tank Heater's don't get too hot for their tummies so I'm assuming that it would be safe to use carpet. I've been thinking about switching to slate tiles just because I think it looks more natural but I'm not sure how the heat will be trying to get thru it. As far as a moist shed box...if you are having sucessful sheds witho one, then I guess you don't need one. I have always had them in all my tanks so I don't know how their sheds would be without one but I did see geckos shedding at pet stores witho moist shed boxes so I guess it might be more of a preference thing although I'm sure it does help them in the shedding process to a point. I keep calcium in all my gecko tanks but I've noticed that only my 2 females seem to even notice it and lick it. It doesn't take up much room so I just leave it in all of the enclosures. I also have an 11 year old son...hence some of my strange gecko names lol.

~Shannon~