Hi from Long island!

Hi!
I've kept many lizards before, such as anoles, grass lizards, and iguanas, but next week at my local pet expo, I plan on getting a leopard gecko as my 14th birthday present. So please bear with me as I set-up my 10gal terrarium (this will be my first leopard gecko).
Thank you!

Nice! Welcome to the forums! Whatta ya want to know?

I've asked a two questions on different forums already, but here's something I'm hoping you could tell me
In what order is 0.0. in? Is it male-female or female-male?

It goes males.females.babies/unsexed.eggs
so 1.1.2 would be 1 male, 1female, and 2 unsexed babies

Hi Tyler! Welcome to the forum. Look forward to checking out yr new leo as and when you get one.

Welcome to the forum! Can't wait to see pictures of your setup and your new leo.

Hello Tyler! And welcome to the forum!

I hope you enjoy your time here. I have to say this will probably be your favourite forum . I'm on several, and stopped going on the others once I came on here. lol

Well, if you've kept iguanas I'm sure leos will be a piece of cake to you!

Take a look at this sticky: [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
It has a lot of info on what you need for your leo.

Have you been to an expo before? I went to my first expo in September, and oh my gosh, it was amazing! LOL!

Again, welcome to the forum, I hope you enjoy your time here!

Welcome to the forum! We're glad to have you.

Just be diligent in your research, and make sure you understand everything it's going to take.

welcome x

Welcome to the forum!!

@kathstew(sorry I'm using an iPod, and u can't quote on mobile) lol yeah about that of the many lizards I've kept, I can't be sure I got one to live past a year. I want to have one to last at least 4 years. I've decided to try the easiest lizard to keep: said by most to be the leopard gecko

Oh and thanks for all your other welcomes, everyone!

Aw, really/ Well, do lots and lots of research then. Ask tons of questions, we love to answer them. Make sure you buy a healthy leo to start with. This place saved me. I had sorta an impulse leo. My first leo (Miracle) was my neighbors leo, they mistreated her (didn't feed her for at least a week, although I found dead crickets too high up for her to reach so it was probably longer, they hadn't cleaned her tank in a year, her tail had fallen off etc), and the wonderful people here helped me get her back to health. They helped me set-up her tank (which was set up completely wrong (she didn't have a UTH, substrate was wrong, only one hiding place etc). Now she is healthy and the sweetest leo I've ever met. She's gotten me addicted to reptiles :P

Definitely go slow with the leo you get. Don't be planning to get a new one for a bit until you're sure you can handle everything. Believe me, you'll want another one. LOL.

Have your tank set-up BEFORE you get your leo. Make sure you have a thermometer so you can ensure the hot side is the right temperature and the cool side is the right temperature. Make SURE you have an UTH. Leos don't need lights, they get their heat from their bellys'.

Leopard geckos live a LONG time, I'm sure you'll have yours lasting much longer than 4 years.

Yes, you see, I was a big fish-keeper before moving so I've learnt a lot about what you mention: Research, research, research. I am definetely aware of having a tank set-up before (learnt my lesson with fish, the whole nitrogen-cycle thing). I plan on cleaning one of those 10gals ASAP, and have already looked at UTH's. Although I know it isn't necessary, I'd also like a "moonlight". Thermometers, i'm still researching. I've heard about most stuff could be rather "DIY", like making 'moist hides" out of toilet parer rolls, i''ll definetely try that. I'm still researching substrate.

Just know that if kept properly, the leopard gecko can live up to 20 years.

Haha, yep! I was a big fish keeper for a while too. I had gouramis, bettas, guppies, platies, snails, tetras, african dwarf frogs etc. :P I loved them, but I kinda became too attached, and was upset if any of them died. :P I'm slowly giving them up, as its too sad to watch them die. LOL. I have four bettas left and a 9 baby guppies that I'll be selling soon. I was so stressed about the nitrogen cycle, and now its like, easy. :P

For a thermometer get a probe one. Other thermometers measure the air temperature. Probe thermometers you can stick right over the heat pad, so you're getting the right reading. Air temp isn't important for leos, its the ground heat. You can get them at petstores or hardware stores in the cooking section. I got mine off ebay for like one dollar.

You'll definitely need to make a moist hide. Moist hides provide humidity that will help your leo shed. I made mine out of a tupperware container with a hole cut in it, filled with moist moss. You could also use paper towels that are wet. A lot of stuff you can definitely make for your leo. Hides you can make out of boxes, toilet rolls for tunnels/hides etc.

Substrate, you really have 2 options. Paper towel or tiling. Sand and any loose substrate is a BIG no-no. Leos can ingest it and become impacted (blocked up) which can result in death. Paper towels are cheap, and easy to change. I like tiling. You can use ceramic, slate, or peel-n-stick tiles. I think they look GREAT. They are easy to clean (just wipe it down).

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

So does the moist hide have to be "re-moistened"? If so, how often?

Yes, it must be re-moistened. I mist it everyday or every few days. Generally whenever it isn't very wet anymore.
Some people take the moist hide out when the leo isn't shedding, but I (as well as many other members here) leave it in. Especially if you have a baby leo, who will shed around every 2 weeks, its a good idea to keep it in there.

The moist hide should be on the hot side of the tank to make it like a little sauna... so heat dries the water up quite quickly. You should spray your moist hide once a day But I use sphagnum moss in mine so it stays moist for longer and I spray it every 3 days

Yes i do intend on using spagnum moos within the moist hide. so how many hides per terrarium? I've heard 3? 2 "dry hides" on both sides of the terrarium, and 1 moist hide on the warm side, correct?

Sounds like you have already gotten some great care. Welcome to the forum and sorry for my late welcome, I am on vacation....lol....even mods need that now and then...haha

LOL Jolene!

Yes, you should have 3 hides. One on the cold side, one on the warm side, and one moist hide. [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]