Gary the Leopard Gecko

I've had my leopard gecko for nearly 4 weeks now, and I decided to name him Gary. It took about two weeks for him to become more comfortable in his terrarium and around people. Now instead of hiding all the time, he is much more active and likes basking on rocks under the heat lamp. 

Gary shed his skin last week, and now his coloration is brighter and his spots are getting darker. As of today, his skin is beginning to turn dull which means he is due to shed again soon. Juvenile leopard geckos shed about every ten days until they mature due to their faster growth rate. While shedding, Gary hides in his moist hide which is a cave full of sphagnum moss. The humidity helps the outer layer of skin separate easily from the new skin beneath. After shedding, the gecko then eats its skin so no nutrients are wasted. All of this can happen in the span of a few hours. Any leftover bits of skin need to be removed, especially on their feed, but his last shed went very smoothly.

I need to clean the carpet of his tank soon. I'm considering replacing it with slate tile so it is easier to clean and retains heat better. The carpet also gets caught on his teeth sometimes when he lunges for his prey. Once he is older, I will build a whole new tank out of wood with sliding glass doors. I'll post another update after he sheds again, and maybe his pattern will start changing even more. Stay tuned for more Gary updates!