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Understanding Pet Safety

I have always been one of those people who is overly concerned about keeping their animals safe, which is why I started visiting local pet stores to look for solutions. I talked with the owners about the products and services that could help me to eliminate common problems, and it was amazing to see the wide range of products that were available. Within a few weeks, I had finally gathered enough supplies to keep my animal safe and sound. This blog is all about understanding pet safety and learning to provide for your animals in a safe, effective, and convenient way.

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Understanding Pet Safety

Creating A Habitat For Your Leopard Gecko

by Caleb Jackson

Leopard geckos are a great choice of pet for many different types of people. These lizards are among the easiest lizards to care for as pets, so they make a good choice for someone who's interested in reptile pets but has never owned one before. They even make good pets for children, as long as children are taught to handle them gently and care for them properly. An important first step in caring for your gecko is to make sure that you have a proper habitat for them. Take a look at some tips for creating a leopard gecko habitat.

Heat

Many reptile pets require special UV lighting, but this is less important for leopard geckos because leopard geckos are nocturnal lizards who are most active during the night. However, while lighting isn't a major factor, these geckos do need heat in their tank.

The best choice for a leopard gecko is a heat rock or heating mat. Whichever you choose, it shouldn't cover more than half of their habitat. Your gecko also needs cool spaces it can move to so that it doesn't overheat. Ideally, you should include a hiding space in both the warm and cool sides of the tank.

Substrate

If you buy your leopard gecko as a baby, you should avoid using sand as a substrate, even if you cover it with rocks and gravel. Baby geckos have been known to eat the sand, and that can cause an intestinal blockage. Wood shavings are out too – they can cut or irritate your gecko's feet.

You can use paper or buy an artificial substrate, known as a reptile carpet. Once your gecko is an adult, you can switch to a substrate of sand and gravel, or you can stick with the paper or reptile carpet if you prefer the easier cleanup.

Additional Geckos

Geckos don't necessarily need companionship the way that some other animals do. Most are perfectly happy living alone, but you can add additional geckos to your tank if you wish. However, it's important to note that if you have two males, they will need to be separated from each other. Two females or one male and one female can share space amicably, and you can even have two females and one male in the same tank.

If you do pair female and male geckos, however, keep in mind that you'll almost certainly end up with baby geckos, and it's often difficult to find homes for young leopard geckos. You shouldn't put male and female geckos together unless you're prepared to care for the babies and find them homes.

Make sure to purchase your gecko from a reputable pet store where the staff is knowledgeable about reptile needs. A good pet store will help you find all of the materials you need to care for your leopard geckos.

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