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A Leopard gecko rack system is essential for all lizard keepers who keep multiple Leos. The good thing about these rack systems is that you can go for the pre-built options or you can build one yourself.
The use of rack systems is fast becoming popular among Leopard gecko keepers. Most lizard enthusiasts use racks systems when keeping Leos for commercial purposes.
In addition to this, rack systems will make your work easier when it comes to cleaning the Leos habitat.
Leopard gecko breeders, in particular, should consider investing in high-quality rack systems. Ensure that you have a Leopard gecko rack system that suits all the needs of your lizard friends.
Moreover, rack systems are ideal for all Leopard geckos. As such, you can use them when keeping hatchlings, juvenile, and adult Leos.
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What Makes a Good Leopard Gecko Rack System?
There are several factors that you should consider when building or buying a leopard gecko rack system. You should, however, keep in mind that building rack systems can be a bit challenging, especially if it’s your first time.
The process is equally time-consuming, so ensure that you make the right decision when acquiring rack systems. The factors that we have listed below apply to both pre-built and homemade Leopard gecko rack systems.
A Good Leopard Gecko Rack System Should Be Sturdy
For the safety of your Leopard geckos, you should only use solidly built rack systems. If you build the unit by yourself, you should see to it that all shelves are firmly attached to the frame.
Additionally, all measurements must be correct since this will impact the rack’s stability. You should be careful when fastening the screws to avoid damaging the wood.
And since you will mostly use thin pieces of wood, the screws can easily split the wood. If this happens, the affected area will act as a weak point, thereby causing the rack system to wobble or tilt on one side.
Unstable racks are likely to topple over and may cause serious injuries to your lizards. The base must be perfectly aligned with the ground to maximize stability.
The Rack System Should Be Lightweight
You should not go for a rack system that is too heavy to carry. Moreover, you may have to move the unit from time to time.
As such, you should get a rack system that you can easily carry from one spot to another should there be a need to do so.
The materials used in the construction will determine the overall weight of the rack system. If you use the right type and size of wood, you won’t experience any problems.
Customizability
If you are planning on building a rack system for your Leopard geckos, ensure that you design a customizable unit.
With that being said, you should consider using screws instead of nails. That way, you can easily remove the screws when making changes. You can add or remove the shelves according to your needs.
This is not to say that you shouldn’t use nails when building a Leopard gecko rack system. The only problem with nails is that you won’t be able to customize the unit.
Should I Keep My Leopard Geckos In Rack A System?
We recommend keeping a maximum of two baby Leopard geckos in the same enclosure. However, keeping several adult Leopard geckos in the same enclosure can be a bit challenging. The leos won’t have enough space to move freely, thus causing discomfort.
Plus, there is a likelihood that the Leopard geckos will engage in fights to show dominance. Male Leopard geckos are notorious in this respect, so should not house them in the same tank.
However, you can avoid most of these problems by keeping your Leopard geckos in a rack system. This housing option is both effective and reliable.
You just have to ensure that you use a sturdily built rack system that won’t collapse under the weight of the lizards.
Aside from that, you will need high-quality tubs that can easily fit into the rack shelves. If you choose the right materials and do everything correctly, your Leopard geckos will have a comfortable place to stay.
Besides, each lizard will be kept in a separate tub, meaning the little guys will have enough room to do whatever they want.
Advantages of Keeping Leopard Geckos in Rack Systems
As stated earlier, a rack system can come in handy, especially when keeping a large number of Leopard geckos. To make them even better, these rack systems are not only beneficial to Leos but to the lizard keeper as well.
Here are some of the advantages of keeping a Leopard Geckos in a rack system:
Affordability
The cost of acquiring a Leopard gecko rack system is lower compared to that of enclosures. A 10-20 gallon Leopard gecko tank can range anywhere between $10 and $100.
Tanks that are more than 20 gallons may cost up to $300, depending on the manufacture and the included accessories.
You have to keep in mind that most of these tanks can only house 2 to 4 Leopard geckos at a time.
A rack system, on the other hand, is very easy to obtain. If you are a DIY enthusiast, you can even build the whole unit by yourself since it is a lot cheaper.
You only have to buy the right materials (pieces of wood, screws, and tubs), and you will be good to go.
Nonetheless, rack systems can also be expensive when you buy pre-built models. As such, if you are looking to save a few bucks, the best that you can do is to build one.
Unlike regular enclosures, rack systems can house multiple leopard geckos without the lizards getting cramped.
Requires Minimal Maintenance
A Leopard gecko rack system is easy to maintain in that you won’t have a hard time cleaning the tubs. Moreover, the tubs are conveniently placed such that you can easily remove or place them back by hand.
You may also have to check the heat tapes and the thermostat regularly to ensure that they are working properly.
Space-saving
The other perk of using rack systems is that they allow you to keep a large number of Leopard geckos in a small area.
Moreover, the rack systems come in different sizes, so you are the one to choose the unit that best suits your needs.
If you are the one building your geckos’ rack system, you can customize the unit according to your preference and the available space.
Rack Systems Offer Security and Privacy to Leopard Geckos
Most of the tubs used in Leopard gecko rack systems are either translucent or opaque, thereby providing the lizards with maximum privacy.
Also, the tubs are placed in such a way that the lizards cannot jump out. As such, you won’t have to worry about the safety of your Leopard gecko.
This will only apply if all the shelves are set correctly during installation. If you apply the wrong measurements, some shelves may have extra spaces through which your lizard can escape.
Leopard Gecko Rack Setup: The Basic Items That You Will Need
The setup of a Leopard gecko rack system is mostly determined by the number of lizards that you want to keep.
If you are looking to keep several geckos, you should consider building a rack system with multiple shelves.
Alternatively, you can go for rack systems with wider shelves since they can accommodate several tubs.
For you to set up a Leopard gecko rack system, there are items that you will have to use:
Tubs
Leopard gecko tubs come in different sizes, so ensure that you buy the right ones. You can choose tubs based on the size of your Leopard geckos.
It is better to go for larger tubs because they can accommodate juveniles, hatchlings, and adult Leos.
Nonetheless, if the tub is too big, the lizard may have a hard time finding the most comfortable basking spot.
Heat Tapes
As you already know, Leopard geckos are cold-blooded animals. This means they solely rely on ambient heat for temperature regulation.
You can keep your lizards comfortable by incorporating heat tapes in the rack system. Ensure that you connect a thermostat to the heat source to get accurate temperature readings.
The temperature inside the tubs should be kept at 90 °F to avoid possible complications.
Feeding Dish
The setup can only be complete if it has a food and water dish. However, Leopard geckos don’t drink a lot of water, but that does not mean they don’t need it.
You should go for sturdy dishes that cannot topple over easily even when the gecko moves over them.
Appropriate Substrate
Leopard geckos are ground-dwelling reptiles, so your lizards will feel more comfortable if you provide them with a substrate.
You should use a substrate with a good moisture-holding capacity to prevent the geckos’ skin from drying excessively.
Note: You should make holes in the tubs to allow free movement of air. This will not only provide the lizards with fresh air but will also help in regulating humidity levels.
You can also use a drill, but there is a possibility that the drill bit may crack the tub.
Leopard Gecko Rack Tub Setup
Setting up tubs in a Leopard gecko rack system is not as difficult. Nonetheless, you will have to ensure that you get the right size of tubs.
Moreover, rack systems are designed with different sizes of shelves, so you should buy tubs that match your unit.
An average size rack system can hold two tubs on each shelf. However, this may vary from one rack to another since some can accommodate up to three tubs on each level.
Homemade racks can accommodate even more tubs, so you can design your Leopard gecko rack system in whichever way that you want.
Once the rack is ready, simply slide the tubs into place. This should be done after you have placed all the necessary items inside the tubs.
Leopard Gecko Rack Tub Size—Choosing the Appropriate Tub for Your Pet Lizard
To keep your Leopard geckos comfortable, you need to choose appropriate-sized tubs. This will enable the lizards to move about with minimal restriction.
Choosing Leopard Gecko Tubs According To Age
Hatchlings and Juveniles
If you are keeping hatchlings or sub-adult geckos, you should go for a 6-quart tub. This will provide the little Leos with all the space that they need to grow and thrive.
Adult Leopard Geckos
When it comes to adult Leopard geckos, you can keep them in 12-quart tubs. A 15-quart tub can also work, so you can use either.
What Should I Include In a Leopard Gecko Breeding Rack?
When designing a rack system for breeding Leopard geckos, there are essential items that you need to place inside the tubs. This will make the process less stressful for female Leopard geckos.
A laying bin is probably one of the most important things that you should place inside a breeding gecko’s tub.
With laying bins in place, the lizards will feel more secure and comfortable. Ensure that the bin has a hole at the top through which the lizard can pass.
Also, you should place a dump substrate inside the laying bin because Leopard geckos like to bury their eggs.
In addition to this, you should provide the geckos with feeding bowls. You can also place a calcium dish inside the tub. Leos needs calcium to produce eggs, thus making it even more important.
If you like, you can buy pre-made breeding racks for your lizards. You can search for any leopard gecko breeding rack for sale near you.
Final Verdict
Leopard gecko rack systems are very effective when it comes to keeping a large number of lizards.
Additionally, a well-built rack system will make your pet lizard feel more secure and comfortable.
When designing a rack system for your Leopard gecko, ensure that you use appropriate-sized tubs.
Also, you should consider placing a feeding dish, mineral dish, and water dish inside the tubs. This can apply when keeping breeding Leopard geckos.
