Frequently Asked Questions

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

With all my species people often ask: Which has the better temperment, males or females?
I genuinely think it is dependent of the individual animal. I have met sweet males and females as well as those I would label as spitfires. If I had to give my personal opinion, it would be that I find many of my males to be mellow and laid back, whereas the females are more active and curious. Both sexes tend to be equally as interactive and equally as friendly.

Leopard Geckos (Eublepharis macularius)

What size cage do I need? 1-2 adults can be housed comfortably in a 10 gallon aquarium
What sexes can I house together? Female/Female = yes. Female/Male = yes. Male/Male = NO! (never house two males together, they WILL fight).
How large do they get? Adults average about 7-9" from head to tail, females are typically shorter than males
How long do they live? Average lifespan is about 10-14 years
Do they climb walls? No.
Why are their tails so fat? Leopard geckos store the fat from their food in their tails. They do this as a way to conserve meals when food is few and far between. Many leopard geckos also store fat in their armpits, giving a visual look of 'water blisters' behind the forelimbs. Both the tail and armpit stores indicate that you have a healthy gecko! Females tend to have fatter tails than males because they draw/absorb nutrients from the tail during egg laying.
Can they lose their tails? Yes. Leopard geckos drop their tails for numerous reasons, usually from breeding injuries or fighting. The tail will regrow, but will not look the same as before. Regrown tails are generally 'bulbous' in appearance and have a smooth surface. As with any animal, children should always handle leopard geckos gently and carefully. But parents should rest assured that it often takes a lot of force or scare to make them drop their tail.
What do I use for heat? A small or mini sized undertank heater
Do they need lights? No. They are nocturnal, meaning they sleep during the day.
What temperatures do they need? Ambient room temperature in the 70's. Ground surface temps should be about 75 degrees on the cool side, and 90 degrees on the warm side (where your undertank heater is). They need different temps at different sides of the cage so they can "thermoregulate", meaning : be cool if they need to be cool, and be warm if they need to be warm.
What do they eat? A list of preferred foods include: Crickets, Mealworms, Superworms, Roaches
Can I feed them waxworms? Yes, but use waxworms sparingly. You can compare them to a potato chip, they taste great, but too many is not always a good thing.
Why do I never see my gecko shed? Leopard geckos usually eat their shed. It is believed they do this for added nutrition.
What do I use for substrate? I use paper towels in all my baby and juvenile enclosures. I use calcium sand in my adult enclosures. Cleaning is typically easy because most geckos use the same corner to deficate in.
I've heard that sand is bad and can cause impaction? Leopard geckos live on sand in the wild. A healthy animal WILL digest and pass any sand it has ingested. Calcium Sand was designed for reptiles and is digestible. Many breeders use calcium sand in their breeder enclosures as an added benefit to the females. I DO NOT RECOMMEND WALNUT SHELLS AS A SUBSTRATE FOR ANY REPTILE. The edges are very sharp and CAN seriously injure reptiles' intestines.
Why is the feces white? The dark waste is food debris, the white waste is actually urine. Leopard Geckos are from rocky desert regions in the wild. They 'recycle' water in their systems for future use because in the wild sometimes water sources are few and far between. Once they have recycled the water, the waste is distributed as a solid white form known as urates.
What kind of "Furniture" do I need for my cage? I use a dry hide (ie: coconut hut, or hollow half log), and a 'humid hide'. For the humid hide, I use tupperware containers. I cut a small hole out of the top for the leo to climb in and out of, and I fill the tupperware about 1/4 of the way full with peatmoss/soil mixture. I keep the mixture damp, and place the container edge over the undertank heater. The dampness and heat create a "sauna" which is helpful for the leopard gecko during times of shed. I spray the mixture with water at least twice weekly to keep it damp.
Water? Make sure water is available at all times by means of a shallow dish. I refill my water dishes twice weekly.
Food? I feed my babies every other day. My juveniles every 2-3 days. My adults once to twice weekly (during breeding season, adults are fed every other day)
Vitamins? Yes. Yes. Yes. I use calcium powder at every feeding. I sprinkle it over the food source (with crickets, I shake it on them in the bag just before feeding time). Calcium with is VERY important for your leopard gecko! Since they do not benefit from natural lighting in captivity, they need the appropriate vitamins and minerals to support good health and bone support. During breeding season, I supplement with Calcium and Vitamin D3.
Do they make good pets: Absolutely!

PROS

CONS

Hardy Pets
Easy to Handle
Requires little cage space (10 gallon tank)
Low cost to maintain
Low odor
Long Lifespan

Live Food
Long Lifespan
Vet Care Expenses if needed

911!!! HELP?!
My leopard gecko is not eating!? It is normal for leo's to go off feed during winter months. I have one female that fasts for 3-4 months every winter. As long as the gecko does not appear sick (ie: sunken eyes, rapid weightloss), they are likely brumating (hibernating) and should be fine. During brumation, the gecko may be awake and even move around the cage, but they have no interest in food. They are drawing fat stores from their tails and do not need oral food at this time. Another time that geckos go off feed is during breeding season. Often, males will refuse to eat because they are preoccupied. Females often stop eating within 1-2 weeks of laying eggs. Once the eggs are laid however, the female will be ravenously hungry.
My leopard gecko has shed stuck to him?! If your gecko is having a bad shed, it typically means there is not enough humidity in the cage (please refer to "furniture" above for humid hide information). You can easily remove shed stuck to feet by soaking the toes in hydrogen peroxide for a moment, and then gently rubbing the shed off the toes. It is not uncommon to see a gecko missing toes, which is normally the result of a 'bad shed cycle'.
My leopard gecko is squinting?! Are you using sand for substrate? A squinting gecko, or one with eye discharge, may have substrate debris caught in the eye. Try flushing the eye with water. Do NOT use visine! Medicated eye drops are not recommended to use in reptiles. If you must buy any eye drops, always use a simple saline solution such as "Refresh Brand" or "Artificial Tears".
My leopard gecko has rounded elbows or a soft jaw?! He has a vitamin difficency known as Metabolic Bone Disease, or "MBD". Though some cases are not reversible, the regression can be greatly reversed with the use of Calcium powder with Vitamin D3. It is important to offer this at every feeding. In worse case scenarios, I recommend you take your leopard gecko to a vet. They can help with injectable vitamins etc.
My leopard gecko lost it's tail?! If housing multiple geckos together, it is recommended you quarantine the injured gecko in it's own enclosure until it has fully healed. If using sand as substrate, change over to papertowels until the wound is completely healed. The site may bleed initially, but should stop after a day or so. If there is substrate debris in the wound, gently clean the site with water. You may also apply neosporin if you feel it is necessary (it is safe for use on reptiles - but just remember, they don't have neosporin in the wild). In the event of tail-loss, it is important to increase feedings in order to give extra fat and nutrients. Leopard gecko's store their food in their tails, so a newly tail-less gecko has a new disadvantage and will need your help to keep it healthy.

CRESTED GECKOS (Rhacodactylus ciliatus)

Do they climb walls? Yes. Adding tall branches and lots of greenery/foliage will make for a fun jungle gym for your crested gecko
What size cage do I need? Crested geckos love to climb, so a tall cage is important. I use screen cages with a height of 18-24" for all my adults
Can they be housed together? Yes. They can be housed alone or individually. When housing multiples together, make sure to add extra hiding spaces so they can keep seperated if they want to. Silk plants make great hiding places.
Do they require special heating or lighting? No! :) Crested geckos prefer ambient room temperatures (high 60's to mid 70's) both day and night. I do not use heating or lighting on any of my enclosures. It is especially recommended that crested geckos not be exposed to temps above 85 degrees for long periods of time.
Why does my gecko hide during the day? Crested Geckos are nocturnal, meaning they sleep during the day. They are most active late night and early morning.
How big do they get? Adults measure about 7-9" head to tail (half of this being the tail)
What is their lifespan? Crested Geckos were assumed to be extinct in the wild until they were rediscovered in the 1990's. Since they have not been in the pet trade for very long, little is known about their lifespan. It is believed that they live as long as most other reptiles, 10-14 years in captivity.
Do crested geckos lose their tails? Yes. Infact, in the wild all crested geckos are tail-less. They lose them for common reasons such as breeding and fighting, as well as when they get scared. It generally takes a lot to make a gecko lose it's tail in captivity, but they are sensitive creatures none-the-less.
My gecko lost it's tail, will the tail grow back? Unfortunately, no. If your gecko loses it's tail, it is important to increase feeding and vitamin supplements during the first few weeks following the injury. They do not store their food in their tails as leopard geckos do, but the stress can cause calcium deficiencies. If housing multiple geckos together, it is recommended you quarantine the injured gecko in it's own enclosure until it has fully healed.
How often do I need to mist the cage? Crested Geckos dwell in the rainforests of New Caledonia. Water is important for them. I mist my cages once to twice daily. During the winter months when my reptile room stays cooler, I mist once at night time. During the summer months when my reptile room is very warm, I mist once in the morning and once in the evening.
What do you use for substrate? I use papertowels on the bottom of my enclosures. I keep dampened moss/peat moss in a small container inside each of my cages. The females use these containers to lay their eggs in during spring/summer.
Why do I never see my gecko shed? Geckos usually eat their shed. It is believed they do this for added nutrition.
Why does my gecko change colors? In the wild, the geckos must camoflouge themselves from predators. During the day, they are usually a very drab and dirty color. At night, they brighten up and flash beautiful shades of their natural color. For example, a gecko that is brown during the day may be bright red at night. A note on color: These geckos change colors throughout their life, establishing their 'adult' coloration at about 6 months of age. "Fired Up" is the term hobbyists use to define when a gecko is showing it's most beautiful colorations. Do not get discouraged if you do not see your gecko "fired up" all the time. Sometimes weeks go by before I am lucky enough to catch mine in their most colorful prime.
What do they eat? Live crickets or Crested Gecko Diet. Crested Gecko Diet, also known as CGD, is available at most pet stores. It is a dry powder that you mix with water. It creates a nutritious watery paste for crested geckos.
Can I use baby food? I do not recommend the use of baby food. A crested gecko's digestive system absorbs baby food as sugar. Too much sugar can lead to vitamin deficiencies such as metabolic bone disease (which is sometimes irreversible)
Do I need to use vitamin supplements? Yes. Yes. Yes. I use Calcium powder with Vitamin D3 (either dusted on crickets, or mixed in with CGD) at least every other feeding.
Do crested geckos smell bad? No, they do not have a foul odor. As for cleanup, they generally deficate on the sides of their enclosure, so cleaning the sides with wet paper towels is easy. I remove furniture (ie, silk plants) once monthly for a thorough cleaning.
Do they make great pets? Absolutely! From their prehistoric look, to the physical structure of their "eyelashes", they are one captivating species. Many hobbyists love the way they wrap their fingers around you when you are holding them. Crested geckos cannot blink, so when their eyes get dry, they use their long tongues to clean their eyes ... it is fascinating to watch!

Pros

Cons

You can design beautiful terrariums with waterfalls and more
You can feed crested gecko diet which eliminates live food!
They do not require special heating or lighting

Low cost to maintain

Fun to handle

Easy Care

Low odor

Require Daily Mistings
They hide alot
Vet Care Expenses if needed

911!!! HELP?!
I never see my gecko eat?! Crested geckos feed at night time, so you will not always see them eating. If offering crested gecko diet, you will often see little tongue impressions/dents in the food next morning.
My gecko is not shedding properly?! This usually indicates that there is not enough humidity in the cage. Try misting more often, or add moistened moss to the enclosure.

What is Floppy Tail?
Floppy tail is a condition that occurs in many crested geckos because they spend so much time hanging vertically upside down on their enclosure walls. It is not a genetic condition and it is not caused from vitamin difficiencies or neglect of care (nor does it affect health or breeding). Best physically described, it is where the tail bends, or "flops over" their back when they are upside down. In the wild, cresties do not have tails (they lose them from fighting, breeding etc), so they are not faced with floppy tails. In captivity, having many angled branches in the enclosure can help reduce the condition. However, it can still inevitably occur if the gecko spends most of it's time hanging upside down on the side glass or screen.

BEARDED DRAGONS (Pogona Vitticeps)

How big do they get? Average adult size is about 17" from head to tail, but some of my adults are up to 22" in length.
How long do they live? Life span is about 8-10 years.
What size cage do I need? Bearded dragons grow rapidly during their first year and will quickly outgrow their cages. A baby can be housed in a 10 gallon tank, but as a juvenile will need a 20 gallon tank, and as a sub-adult/adult will need a 40 gallon tank.
Do they require special lighting? Yes! I use Repti-Sun UVB 10.0 fluorecent bulbs in all my enclosures. You can find them at most pet stores, they retail for about $40 ea. I recommend changing the light bulb once to twice a year in order to maximize the amount of UVB your dragon absorbs from them. (Such lights lose potency with age/time)
Do they require heating? Yes! They are a desert species and love to bask in warm temps (plus it is needed to help them properly regulate and digest food). I use a household spotlight as my heat source in each enclosure. You will have to find which wattage works best for you. For a 40 gallon tank, a 60-100watt bulb will likely get you the basking temps you need. Dragons enjoy basking temps of 95-100 degrees. That being said, they also need a cool side in the enclosure. My cool sides average 70-80 degrees.
Light fixtures: You will need two seperate fixtures, one for lighting and one for the heat source. I KEEP ALL MY LIGHTS ON AUTOMATIC TIMERS. EACH OF MY DRAGONS GET A PHOTOPERIOD OF 12-14 HOURS PER DAY
What about heating at night? No. Do not use overhead infared or blacklight bulbs at night time. Dragons have a sensitive gland on top of their head called their "third eye". Overhead heat stimulates the dragon and makes it hard for them to sleep. They need sleep just like humans do. My reptile room averages about 65 degrees at night.
What do you use for substrate? I use newspaper in all my enclosures. Children's play sand is also safe to use (make sure to sift the sand, using only the fine particles - Discard of the larger sand fragments). Many hobbyists use ceramic tile as substrate. Please note that if you are aquiring a dragon that is used to another form of substrate, it may take a little time to get them used to the tile. I have heard many reports of dragons that refuse to eat when being newly introduced to tile. NEVER USE CRUSHED WALNUT AS A SUBSTRATE, as it has sharp edges that can cause severe injuries to your pet's intestines. I also do not recommend pet carpet because they can easily injure their teeth or fingernails if caught in the threads.
What "furniture" do I offer them? Dragons love to climb and bask under their heat lamps. Adding wood logs and sturdy branches to the cage will make your dragon happy. Bricks also work, and make great heat conductors. BE CAUTIOUS with any furniture that it cannot be knocked over or fall on your dragon.
What do they eat? They require both vegetables AND protein. For vegetables, I buy the prepackaged "Spring Mix" from the grocery store. (NEVER OFFER YOUR DRAGON ICEBERG LETTUCE! Their bodies do not digest it, it can cause severe diarrhea and dehydration).
For protein, dragons LOVE bugs! And they can eat alot of them each feeding (a young dragon can easily devour 50 crickets in one feeding). Favorite protein sources include: crickets, mealworms, super worms and roaches. Mealworms have the least odor to them and are the easiest to keep. They can be purchased in bulk and when kept refrigerated, stay alive and dormant. (You must warm the mealworms to room temp once every week or two and offer moisture foods such as carrots. Give them 12-24 hours to eat and then return them to the fridge again).
How often do they eat? I feed my young dragons twice daily, and my adult dragons once daily. I offer greens with every meal. A dragon will eat 5 times per day if you allow it to. Be cautious not to make your pet obese.
Is it ok to feed "pellets"? Many hobbyists agree, dragon pellets are nutritionally no more than junk food and should not be used as a regular staple. (On a side note, most dragons will not eat them)
Can I feed my dragon insects from my yard? I do NOT recommend this. Outdoor insects are exposed to all kinds of pesticides which could be detrimental to your pets health. AND NEVER FEED A DRAGON LIGHTNING BUGS, they are fatal to dragons.
What about vitamins? Yes. Yes. Yes. Calcium powder is very important for bearded dragons. I use Regular Calcium powder on most feedings, and supplement Calcium powder with Vitamin D3 a couple times per week. Dragons synthesize D3 from the overhead UVB lighting, but because the lights offer artificial means of vitamins - I still use Calcium/D3 with some feedings.
What about water? Some hobbyists use water dishes. Dishes must be cleaned daily to prevent the spread of bacteria/parasites. I do not use water dishes in any of my enclosures. I gently spray each dragons head with a water bottle. I spray my youngsters' twice daily, and my adults twice weekly. I spray water on their vegetables every feeding. Once weekly, I bathe the dragons in a warm shallow tub for cleaning and extra hydration.
What do lighter patches of skin indicate? Lighter patches of skin generally means the dragon is in shedding in that area. Though some morphs are infact naturally lighter in coloration, for example: Hypo Pastels, Snows and Leucistics.
Why does my dragon change color? In the wild, it is to camoflouge themselves against predators. In captivity, color can change due to many variables, the most common being Mood, Stress or Illness. Dragons are generally at their brightest in coloration when they are happy and content, and dark in color if they are stressed.
Will my baby's pattern change as it grows? Usually no. The pattern will remain the same, but may be less noticable due to increased color with age.
Can they lose their tails? Yes, and no. They do not 'drop' their tails like many geckos do, but injuries can cause tail loss (ie, fighting). Dragons do not regrow their tails. Tail loss (as well as loss of fingers/digits) does not hender the reptile in any physical way, they can still climb tall branches and even swim in shallow water. It is visually displeasing to some, and as a result, many breeders offer "nipped" dragons at lower prices. "Nipped" does not mean lower quality in terms of breeding or genetics.
I hear that dragons have parasites, how can I prevent them? All dragons carry parasites (specifically coccidia), but it's when their immune systems are compromised that the parasites multiply and cause illness in reptiles. Some hobbyists use over the counter dewormers such as 'panacur'. As long as your dragon is healthy and thriving, I do not think deworming is necessary. I personally feel that over usage of such products can strip the good flora from your dragon's stomach and consequently create large problems. Should you need to deworm, please know that there are now probiotics on the market to help renew the good flora in your reptile's stomach (ie, NutriBAC). *If you suspect your dragon is ill, be it from parasites or for any reason, please take your dragon to a small animal/exotics veterinarian right away.
Have you heard of Parazap? Yes, it is a probiotic powder that when mixed with water creates a "tea". When used regularly, it helps reduce the numbers of parasites in your pet's system. I tried it years ago, but was not a fan. Not a single one of my dragons took it willingly, and it made a sticky mess.
Do Bearded Dragon's Smell Bad? Dragon feces stinks, but if you spot clean the cage every day (or with every elimination), you will not have smells to complain about.
Do they make great pets? Absolutely! It is the opinion of many that they are the "puppy dog" of all reptiles. Humans young and old are fascinated by them, so it's no wonder they are one of the most commonly distributed reptiles on the market today.

Example of my young dragons' daily schedule:

7am - Lights on

7:30am - serving of greens

6:30-7pm - serving of bugs and another serving of greens

9pm - Lights off

Pros	Cons
Comical and interactive pet Easy to handle Favorable towards human contact Fun to watch/feed Large Size / Sturdy build Enjoy baths Long Lifespan	Expensive to Feed Expensive Lighting Require Large Cages Tanks require daily spot cleaning (Bowel movements = strong odor) Vet Care Expenses if needed Long Lifespan

911!!! HELP?!
My dragon stopped eating and is less active than normal?!
Is it winter time? Does your dragon appear healthy even though it's not eating? Almost all dragons brumate (hibernate) during the winter months. For some, it last a month, for others up to 4 months. Do not disturb them during this time. Make sure water is available to them at all times.
Did you just increase cage sizing? Sometimes dragons are intimidated by new, larger, cages. It may take a few days to adjust. If you are worried, size back down to the smaller cage and try upsizing again in a couple weeks.
Is there a new dragon in the room? Sometimes dragons are intimidated by new additions. Try covering the lower half of the cage with solid paper so the new dragon is no longer in direct sight.
Did you change to a new substrate? It is not uncommon for dragons to oppose new bedding. Sometimes it takes a little trial and error to change them over. I have never had any problems with newspaper, so I choose to use it in all my cages. When customers of mine are trying new substrates such as sand, carpet or ceramic tile ... the dragons they have aquird from me will sometimes go off feed. In such instances, I recommend placing newspaper over the substrate temporarily as they adjust.
My dragon is lethargic?!
Are your lights on a timer? I can't begin to tell you how many people forget to turn the lights off, thus causing sleep deprivation = lethargy.
Is your heating optimal? Does your dragon have a basking area of 95-100 degrees and a cool spot of approx 75 degrees?
My dragon's eyes appear sunken?! It is likely dehydrated. Offer him/her a shallow bath and extra mistings to help rehydrate.
My dragon is too skinny?! It is possible there is an overload of parasites in your pets intestines (read above for info on parasites)
My dragon won't eat greens?! If they are not used to eating them, it can be tricky to get them eating greens readily. All of my dragons are fed greens from 1 week of age, and love them right away. Some breeders do not introduce greens early on, and the dragons find them "boring". One trick to getting them feeding on greens is to finely chop them up, and add wiggly mealworms to make the salad more exciting. Adding calcium powder to greens also makes them more interesting.
My dragon is shedding, what can I do to help?! Warm shallow baths help to hydrate dragons during the shedding process, which in turn helps them shed faster.
My dragon has runny stool?! Sometimes this is caused by an overgrowth of bacteria in the stomach (ie, stress). I have also found that diets rich in vegetables can casue runny feces (in which case, increasing protein will help eliminate the problem ~ no pun intended)

*If your dragon is ill and your tried efforts fail, please contact your local exotics vet before the problem gets irreversible.
There are many on-line resources for helpful advice, but sometimes only a Dr. can properly diagnose and treat your pet.

DISCLAIMER:
This page is intended as an information portal for fellow enthusiasts. I have compiled this page based on the questions I am commonly asked both online and at reptile shows. The above information is based on my own personal care and knowledge of such species. Nothing on this page has been borrowed from other sites. If you have referenced this page and cannot find an answer for your question, please email me and I can try to further assist you.

Regards,
Hailey
Princesskain@Hotmail.com