Leopard gecko housing question

[SilverTycho]

I have a few questions if someone can answer. I have two leopard geckos. I was thinking about getting a third sometime in spring, but I don't want nonstacking glass tanks everywhere since my house is tiny. I've always liked the looks of Boaphile Plastics racks, but I really know nothing about rack caging. Would the one with five drawers and #1755 tubs (23 1/8" x 16" x 6 3/8"H) work for single leos or is there a better one? Also, eventually I'd like to have more leos but I doubt I'm going to get three more all right away so would a rack still be a good idea?

Edit: Actually, I think stacking tanks might be better than a rack since I'm not a breeder. Any suggestions on good, reasonably priced stacking tanks? Or, is a rack still a better idea?

 

[bugmankeith]

Stacking tanks does save space but how do they get the lighting if the cage is on top where light would be?

 

[viper69]

Lep gex are nocturnal they don't need light at all

 

[bugmankeith]

Lep gex are nocturnal they don't need light at all

That doesn't make sense, in the wild they still get light, uv rays from the sun are still present even at night, I thought they have night glow lights that are blue or red for this reason?

 

[viper69]

That doesn't make sense, in the wild they still get light, uv rays from the sun are still present even at night, I thought they have night glow lights that are blue or red for this reason?

My impression is that none was available at night because the sun is not out. I don't know what level of UV rays (which ones A, B, C), if any are still present at night based on what you wrote, do you have any sources? UV-B is used for calcium metabolism. In fact, to me that doesn't make sense as they are from solar radiation. How are they still present at night, what is bouncing them around at night? Makes no sense to me actually haha

All I know is that I've raised lep gex w/out UV and never had a metabolism/growth problem. That isn't luck. I've read they don't need UV at all.

To my knowledge those lights, esp the red ones, are sold for the owner to view their pet at night. The blue ones are quite good.

 

[Perentie]

Leopard geckos do need light. Both heat and uvb/uva. A gecko that cannot thermoregulate is not a healthy one, and I believe uvb and uva should be provided. Even if it is not necessary, it doesn't hurt, and if it does turn out to be beneficial, great. Keeping animals in tubs sucks. Not fun for the animal, definitely not fun for the keeper. You're not breeding them, so go get a nice cage, and make it just like their natural environment. You're keeping them for the love of the animal. Who would want to see it on paper towels? Give the animal what it evolved for.

 

[viper69]

Leopard geckos do need light. Both heat and uvb/uva.. I believe uvb and uva should be provided.

One can provide heat with other methods other than photons. I'm not suggesting they don't need a day/light cycle hahahah

I have yet to see any peer-reviewed articles demonstrating this species needs UV-B or UV-A. I have looked frequently. If someone knows of a paper, I'd LOVE to read it.

 

[pyro fiend]

well i think ill add my $0.02.. i dont believe the geckos NEED uvb/a thats why we recomend we give it to them because lets face it most petshop crickets are fed nothing healthy. heck iv been told by pet stores to just wet a paper towel and that will be their food :?

but many keepers use boaphile type cages i myself am going to be adding a home made one. i think the rule of thumb is a 28qt for 3 geckos? but i know aa 15qt is 1 gecko. dont quote me on that its been a while sence iv researched... i plan on building a 42qt tub for all my big ball pythons and a 28 for my smaller ones and add my leo on top of it..[kinda odd yes but 2 tstats and they will all be happy]... ill be using flexwat to heat mine. but id advize building your own rck tho. not buying they are expensive. iv made a rack for $50 [w/o totes] and a hr or 2 of my own time. and local people make and sell the same size [5 tub] for 150+ [w/o totes]

i think its a normal idea. mines in a 29 slide front. iv thought how could i make it take up less space. without giving her a smaller cage.. but then again i dont wana add her to my huge pile of totes till i have a new rack built XD i think youd be fine its not too much extra money it is a little easier to clean imho. get 1 extra tub. keep fresh bedding [i use news paper for my girl] and a hide in it and youd be set to completely sanitize the previous cage [tho i keep a few extra on hand as well with a dish or 2 so i dont run back and forth too much] so you dont have to put them in a strange tote or try to clean wiel watching them...