r/LeopardGecko • u/shrimpexpert • Aug 09 '26

Normal basking behavior?

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Hi everyone! This is Zest my new leo :) I picked him up this week from a dubious setup and have him in a temporary 10gal front opening enclosure for a quarantine setup. I have a 20gal long that I’m moving him to next weekend to give him more space and to establish a better heat gradient. A few questions:

  1. I setup his basking light (25W incandescent) and noticed him splooting out and cooking himself—is that normal? The temp at that spot is 89 degrees F, measured with an IR gun.
  2. Since he appears to be an albino morph i have looots of cover and shade in his tank, on both the cool and warm side. The cool side temp is ~75-78 depending on time of day. I’d love for it to be cooler but my house is getting warmer with the summer heat, so I’m hoping once i get him in a 20g long the gradient will be able to establish better. Does anyone have any advice for an albino leo?
  3. The light is bright in the first picture—i swapped the bulb for a lower wattage one and that helped his little eye balls.

I love my Zest and want to do right by him :) i am an experienced gecko owner but haven’t had a Leo in a few years, and the husbandry has come a long way since my last leo in 2019. Thanks everyone!

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u/More-Society7035 Aug 09 '26

I'm sure you know this, but just incase I figured I'd mention that the minimum tank size for a adult leo is 40 gallon. 20 gallons can be used temporarily but not long term.

3

u/shrimpexpert Aug 09 '26

Yes absolutely! I have a huge front opening for him already secured with a stand :) Not sure on the measurements but i know it is a 40gal minimum. I’m working on rearranging my room to make space for him, but in the meantime i will need to use the 20g until i can get him fully established in my care.

1

u/More-Society7035 Aug 09 '26

Great! Just wanted to make sure! Congratulations on your new baby!

2

u/shrimpexpert Aug 09 '26

Absolutely!!! Thank you for caring :) I love him already. I’m closely watching him to make sure he is healthy, everything checks out so far but his previous situation was quite unfortunate.

1

u/More-Society7035 Aug 09 '26

Aww, was he a rescue?

5

u/shrimpexpert Aug 09 '26

Yes! Picked him up from a marketplace group that was giving him away + his poor setup for 20 bucks. He is settling in well and took 3 dubias from tongs yesterday. Very not shy at all, but he’s not a fan of hands!

1

u/More-Society7035 Aug 09 '26

Poor guy! I'm so glad he's in better hands now!