LEOPARD GECKO  

• Great beginner reptile! Very hardy and easy to handle.
• Native to India, Pakistan and Afghanistan where the terrain is dry and rocky.
• Range in size from 7-10 inches with an average life span of 15-20 years with proper care.
• Leopard geckos are terrestrial, meaning they live entirely on the ground.
• Leopard Geckos come in many different color and pattern morphs.

Diet

Leopard Geckos are insectivorous and will eat a wide variety of insects available in stores. Never feed any reptile insects that are found outside. They may contain diseases or may even be toxic. Their main diet should consist of dubia roaches or mealworms. Crickets should be offered sparingly and only at night as Leopard geckos are nocturnal, and tend to be inactive during the day. Crickets tend to try to nibble on Leopard geckos if the gecko does not eat them fast enough. Mealworms can be left in a mealworm dish at any time.

Insects should be gut loaded (fed) at least 12 hours prior to feeding to ensure proper nutrition.

Insects should also always be dusted with a calcium powder without Vitamin D3. Calcium powder with D3 should be dusted on insects once or twice per week. A small dish of calcium powder can be left in the cage and some Leopard Geckos will lick it up as their body needs it. If you have a mealworm dish, calcium powder can be left in that dish.

Light misting every few days is beneficial to Leopard Geckos as they prefer to drink from the walls of their enclosure, but a dish of fresh water should be available at all times. Leopard geckos store fat in their tails, and their tails should always be nice and plump, never thin.

Housing  

A 20 gallon long cage is the minimum size for an adult Leopard Gecko. Like most reptiles, they prefer to live alone. Multiple hiding spots should be provided by putting one under the basking spot and one on the cool end. A humid hide on the cool end should also be provided. Keeping a small amount of damp sphagnum moss in the moist hide allows your Leopard Gecko to regulate its humidity as needed for proper shedding.

Leopard geckos are nocturnal, however, they do require UVB to help them absorb calcium to avoid Metabolic Bone Disease. They need a basking spot of 85-90 degrees. A smaller light fixture and a basking spot lamp should be used to achieve proper temperatures. Placing the basking bulb on one end of the tank allows for a thermal gradient. Supplemental heat is not needed at night if temps are kept between 70-75 degrees. If supplemental heat is needed at night, a lower wattage infrared or black night bulb can be used.

Mulch or cage carpet are the best choice for substrate. Some types of beddings, such as sand, may cause impaction or other health issues in Leopard Geckos, especially in younger ones. ZooMed’s Forest Floor, or Zilla’s Aspen Snake Bedding are good options for a mulch substrate.

Handling & Care

Leopard Geckos will become very tame and tolerate gentle handling. Younger geckos should be handled at shorter intervals to avoid over stressing them but the length of handling time can be increased with age and regular handlings. It is always best to handle a Leopard Gecko while seated to avoid any long falls if they run out of your hands, which can severely injure them. They do not have depth perception. Like other geckos, Leopard Geckos will drop their tail from rough handling if it is grabbed or pinched, so care should always be taken when handling them. They can grow their tails back.

Always wash your hands with anti-bacterial soap after handling any animal.

Regular spot cleaning is essential to maintaining a clean healthy environment, which involves removing any waste daily. The bedding should be changed and the entire cage and decorations should be disinfected once every 2-3 months.

Health

Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD) is extremely common in Leopard Geckos. Metabolic Bone Disease can cause bones to not grow properly, or become misshapen. Providing a calcium supplement and UVB lighting is essential to avoid MBD.