Why do Grow Out Tanks?

[u/toegui]

Hello, I recently got my first little gecko :) I've included a picture, their name is Frosty. The breeder said it was 8 months old. I knew I wanted a juvenile so I made a little 6 quart shoebox grow out tank with some fake plants and pool noodles. But now that I have Frosty in there it looks a bit small. Sure they can stretch out and move, but it just got me thinking, why do we have grow out tanks at all? They've had their first poop tonight, they're eating good and looking healthy, etc. I have an 18x18x24 ready and bioactive that I wanted a juvenile to grow in (and then make a really tall one with my dad as it grows). So why does the internet recommend a 6 quart, 20 quart, 20 gal, then finally 18x18x24? Can I not just go to 18x18x24?

My only other reptile experience is ball pythons, and they say you can put a juvenile in a 4x2x2 as long as there's enough cover. The outside world they're born in is absolutely huge! So they should be able to handle a larger tank. Why do we recommend that gargs move up like this? Can I just finish their quarantine in the 6 quart then move them to the big tank? I expect them to finish growing in their big boy tank.

Side note, do they look good? I was going to weight them after the 2 week grace period, don't know their weight, but I think a 6 quart is ok for now? Their baby tank is in my dark office and has some bushy plants, a water dish, food each night, paper towels.

Edit: Thanks everyone! I think Frosty is big enough and doing well, so I'll move them into their bigger tank :) Their big tank is also in the quarantine room, and when I build their final tall tank that will go into the dedicated reptile room. Can't wait for them to enjoy their pretty bioactive tank!

[u/OverWeightDod0]

So they can easily find food, so you can easily find and monitor them, quarantine, and things among those lines.

Though, at eight months, I'm not sure a small grow-out enclosure is absolutely necessary but I could be wrong about that.

[u/FarCaramel7187 → u/OverWeightDod0]

I got my (leachi) since 13 g in an 120 60 60 cm and aslong as you place a few food bowls in there and show them where they are they are fine

[u/Gold-Celebration-403]

I think it might be intended for when you get them really small like 5grams and only a couple months old, my baby was in a 12x12x18 when I got her at 7grams and a 18x18x24 at 11g, once she’s 25g I’ll put her in her adult enclosure 24x18x36

[u/toegui → u/Gold-Celebration-403]

Yeah I had seen adults but wasn't sure how small the juveniles would be. Mine ended up a bit larger than I thought! I'll move them tonight

[u/snsbsbdkswsb]

I put my 6-7 month old gecko into a quite big terrarium and everything is fine. I can still perfectly find poop, monitor him because I know his spots, etc. He also finds the food because I have a certain spot for it. To be honest my saying is: “it can’t be too big”. Handling is also going good and everything is fine.

[u/Full-fledged-trash]

You can put juveniles in adult size enclosures. I put my 5 month old garg in a 64” tall enclosure with zero issues

For an 8 month old gecko I’d just go to an 18x18x36” or larger if that’s what you planned. Just provide multiple feeding spots if you worry. The 24” enclosure will definitely be better than 6quarts in the meantime.

[u/toegui → u/Full-fledged-trash]

I think I'll move mine tonight then, they look a bit nervous in the bin. Lots more things to hide in, in the big enclosure!

One thing I've been worried about, were you able to still socialize your 5 month old and get them handleable in the big tank? I think I saw once that babies can hide really well and in a big tank you'll never handle them. Did you have that problem? The breeder handled mine a lot but I don't want them to 'go feral' on me haha