Leopard geckos are fascinating nocturnal creatures that, for the most part, live up-to their name. These geckos are defined by their pattern that mimics leopard spots and a thick, bulbous tail that many people find intriguing. There are mutations like albinism, as pictured, that can result in no spots.
These geckos are small lizards who originate from the arid regions in and around the Middle East, consisting of a desert-like environment with mountains and occasional rain.
Tank Set up
EnvironmentÂ
Leopard geckos need, at minimum, a 10-gallon glass enclosure and can be in enclosures as large as 30-gallons. Although they are small, they like to move around and climb and explore.
They will need ‘two sides’ of their tank- a cool side and a hot side. To provide this, not only is correct light placement needed, but a cool hut and a hot hut will be needed- one on the far right of the tank and one on the far left.
For substrate they need either soil, sand or rocks to imitate their natural environment. They need some artificial plants, rocks and wood to make their environment more realistic and give them things to ‘discover’ and move around.
You will need a mist bottle to spray the enclosure about once a week. They do not live in rainy areas but do require small amount of humidity. This humidity will allow them to shed when needed.
Lighting and Heat
Leopard geckos lighting and heating are crucial to its quality of life and its longevity. Leopard geckos require a U.V.B. bulb to imitate sunlight and provide vitamin D, and they need either a heating pad or heat but to imitate heat during the day.
As mentioned, they need a cool side and a hot side of the tank. The heat pad or light and U.V.B. lights need to be on the hot side, and the cool side requires no light or heat.
Food, Water and Vitamins
Food
Leopard geckos need to have a variety diet of gut-loaded insects. These insects can vary from crickets, wax worms and mealworms. An important part of their diet is knowing if you have an adult leopard gecko or a younger one, as junior leopard geckos require daily feeding and adults require every-other to two-day feeding schedules.
Water
Leopard geckos need clean water available at all times. They also need a very shallow water bowl so they can access it and avoid being stuck in the bowl or not being able to reach it. Their water should be replaced daily.
Vitamins
Just as any living thing needs vitamins to be healthy and survive, your leopard gecko will need to have vitamin supplements to make-up for what they would normally receive in the wild. They receive vitamin D from the U.V.B. bulb but also require calcium. Without enough of both of these vitamins, they can develop bone issues. To give your leopard gecko calcium, you will need calcium powder that can be dusted on their food about once a week, or you can find calcium-rich fruits and vegetables to gut-load your live food.
General Care
Cleanliness and Body Care
Leopard geckos don’t require being washed unless there’s a special circumstance (like if their water spilt into the dirt and they got muddy), but their tank does require daily spot cleaning to remove their feces and keep any food scraps from going bad, molding or attracting pests. Another thing to check for daily if you have any wood or moss in the tank, is mold. With the water bowl inside the tank, humidity will rise which can lead to mold growth if not monitored.
On a weekly basis, their tank should be cleared out and spot cleaned, and you should be checking for any escaped live food. If their food is left alive, in the tank, it will continue to molt and grow- for example, meal worms will eventually become beetles that aren’t edible anymore.
Leopard geckos shed their skin as they grow. When they are shedding, they will become more dormant and likely not want to interact or be touched. When they begin shedding, make sure they have their cool hut and mist their tank twice a week during their shed. Do not, under any circumstance, remove their shed for them or try to help. The shedding process is natural and the time it takes (1-to-2 weeks) is natural. If you attempt to remove their shed, it will cause pain and remove the natural element of their own removal. Do not remove the fallen shed either, as they will eat it and get nutrients, just as they would in the wild.
A captive leopard gecko can grow as large as 15 to 20 centimeters and live for up to 20 years. To ensure healthy growth and life longevity, it is crucial to properly care and handle your gecko as well as have the financials to maintain its habitat and diet.
Personality and Bonding
Leopard geckos typically have a friendly personality and don’t mind moderate interaction and handling with their owner. However, this should not be forced or happen immediately. They will need a week to adjust to their new environment and destress. During this first week, it is important to hand-feed (use tweezers to bring a bug to them) so they can get used to seeing your hand, your scent and understand that you are taking care of them and providing their needs. After this week, you should put your hand in their without food and allow your gecko to approach it, sniff it and maybe even lick it, to establish trust.
Do not ever just grab the gecko, as this could send it into high stress and it could drop its tail. Although they are friendly companions, you need to approach your relationship at their pace and allow them to get comfortable with you. Even once there is trust, you still need to allow the gecko to be held on its terms to avoid high stress and tail dropping. Even if a gecko does not drop its tail, being in high stress situations can shorten its life span of 10 to 20 years.