Detailed instructions for caring for your leopard gecko can be found here. It’s critical that your pet’s environment closely resembles their natural one if you want to keep them healthy and happy. For even more information, check out our leopard gecko care sheet by clicking the link below the video.
Leopard Gecko Native Habitat
Semi-dry and arid deserts and forest borders from Northwest India through Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, and Afghanistan are home to the lizard Eublepharis macularius. In their desert scrub settings, they tend to reside on the rocks. Leopard geckos have captivated the imaginations of many, and are referred to by a variety of common names such as Panther Geckos or Desert Fat-Tailed Geckos.
They are nocturnal lizards with excellent predator-evading skills and a leopard-print pattern that helps them blend into the arid landscape.
They are able to stay hidden for lengthy periods of time because of their tails, which store fat and can maintain them until the threat is gone.
Their shedding frequency is also higher than average because of the need for the lizards to mask their scent from predators.
Lastly, the Leopard Gecko emits a high-pitched meow. He will chirp, bark, or make a hissing sound during mating, self-defense, or excitement.
Leopard Gecko Appearance
There is a translucent canal between the two ears of leopard geckos that allows light to pass through.
Small triangular-shaped heads, lengthy bodies, and thick segmented tails are all characteristics of Leopard Geckos. They also have slender digits with long, extending claws, and are white on the underside of their bodies.
Unlike other gecko species, they have no toe pads on their digits, hence they are unable to climb on walls.
Slit pupils are common in the eyes of leopard geckos. But there are a number of genetic variants that are intentionally developed in captivity for various reasons:
It’s known as the “eclipse” mutation because of its all-black or all-red coloring.
The term “snake-eyes” refers to a mutation in which the pupil partially seeps into the iris.
“Marble-eye” is the final mutation, in which the eye’s iris is marked by spots.
Leopard geckos are known for their warty skin.
Learn all about Leopard Gecko Morphs
Scaleless morphs are bred to remove the bumps from the skin, resulting in a smooth, even surface. Variations in eye color, size, and even texture can be found in many morphs.
Leopard Gecko Colors
Yellow, orange, lavender, or white with black or dark chocolate spotting, spotting or striping are all possible colors for this lizard. Additionally, there are albino and melanistic cases.
Different patterns can be found on Leopard Gecko’s.
Rosettes, chain-rosettes, or solid spotting are all possible patterns.
Stripes and patches might appear with uneven blotching in some people.
There are hypomelanistic variants with only head and tail spotting.
How Big Do Leopard Geckos Get?
When compared to females, males stand 7-11 inches tall and weigh between 70-100 grams. They range in length from 6.5 to 8 inches and weight from 40 to 90 grams in females.
At 12 inches long and 175 grams, this mutation is known as the Super Giant.
Leopard Gecko Tails
This trait, called autotomy, allows leopard geckos to regrow their thick tails, although the regenerated tails are stumpy and never look like the original tail.
Defense Mechanisms
Snakes, foxes, and other large reptiles are among the leopard geckos’ predators. They are able to evade their pursuers at night thanks to their acute hearing and vision. They can hide from predators thanks to their skin’s ability to blend in with their surroundings and their keen senses of sight and sound. Having a good sense of taste and smell also aids in their ability to survive. During the day, they hide in holes and burrows beneath the ground to avoid being eaten.
It is also possible for leopard geckos to deliberately remove their tails if they are assaulted, caught by the tail, bitten during copulation, or nipped by another during feeding. It’s a procedure known as a caudal autotomy. The gecko’s tail can wiggle for up to 30 minutes after it is detached, allowing it to flee its predator.
At least in one similar species (Christinus marmoratus), the tailless fleeing gecko has been reported to be faster.
The gecko’s blood loss is kept to a minimum because to a combination of fractures in the tailbone and fast vasoconstriction. The loss of the gecko’s valuable fat storage causes a high level of stress on the creature.
To ensure its survival, it will begin to regrow its tail immediately. Sickness and even death can occur if the gecko’s tail is lost. But this happens extremely seldom.
Although the vibrancy and patterns of the regenerated tail are likely to differ greatly from the original, it is common for regenerated tails to be smooth and lack the rigid qualities and length of a normal tail. Shorter and broader than the preceding tail is also expected.
How Long Do Leopard Geckos Live For?
A Gecko bred in captivity or raised in captivity has a lifespan of about 15 years. Health concerns like Metabolic Bone Disease or impaction can be avoided if proper husbandry guidance and environmental and dietary management are followed.
Leopard Geckos should be active at night and for a short period of time during the day to maintain a joyful disposition.
As long as the temperature and humidity are adequate, and there are no stressors, your reptile should be able to stay up during the night.
Temperature, heat lamps, UV lights and humidity requirements
Leopard geckos rely on their surroundings to keep their temperature stable. Providing a “thermogradient,” which has a heat light at one end and a colder region at the other, is critical to the success of the experiment. Temperatures can be controlled with thermostats. In addition, keep in mind the following:
During the day, the temperature in the basking area should be between 28 and 30 degrees Celsius, and at night, it should be between 24 and 26 degrees Celsius.
Get the complete guide for How to Setup Your Leopard Gecko Tank
At night, switch off the heat lamp, but keep the temperature above 18 degrees C by using a heat mat or ceramic heat lamp.
Leopard geckos require a moderately dry climate to survive. Use a hygrometer to check the humidity in the tank’s chilly end; it should be between 30 and 40%.
Low levels of ultraviolet light are necessary for your gecko. A UVB bulb with a percentage of 2 to 5 percent will suffice to allow your gecko to produce vitamin D, a necessary mineral for storing and using calcium.
Habitat Needs
You’ll need to provide hiding spots and low, robust branches or rocks for climbing if you want to replicate the leopard gecko’s native habitat.
Impaction is a potentially fatal condition in which particles become lodged in your gecko’s abdomen and cause obstruction. The floor covering, known as the substrate, also needs to be natural to minimize this risk. Leopard geckos can’t properly eat ‘caci-sand’ or beech wood chips, so don’t use these in your enclosure.
Check out our leopard gecko care leaflet for more information on vivarium setup and upkeep.
What do leopard geckos eat?
A leopard gecko’s food consists of a variety of live insects, including crickets, “calci worms,” waxworms, and small locusts. Additionally, you’ll have to supply these insects with plenty of fresh produce and clean water to keep them healthy.
Young geckos should be fed every day, while adults should be fed every other day. You’ll also need to boost your gecko’s diet. Be sure to ask your veterinarian for recommendations.
Leopard Gecko Diet and Feeding Guide
This lizard is very easy to care for because it eats insects as its primary diet.
Mealworms, spider larvae, superworms, small hornworms, waxworms, and phoenix worms, in addition to the Dubia roach, are also staples in their diet.
Get our full Leopard Gecko Care Sheet
It’s best to feed hatchlings and young geckos insects smaller than the width of their heads every other day.
Adults should be fed two to three times per week. When measuring the gecko’s length, follow the rule of one bug per inch.
To ensure that kids get enough calcium and vitamin D3, they must take a supplement with each meal. You can either dust the insects or gut-load them 48 hours before feeding. Make sure the supplement packaging reads “phosphorus free” before taking it.
Conclusion
In conclusion, leopard geckos are a pet that is relatively easy to care for. With the right conditions and diet they can live a long life with minimal effort from you. Have questions, just ask! We’ll do our best to help you find all the information necessary about this species of lizard and answer any questions you may have along the way!