How Do I Care for a Leopard Gecko?

Leopard geckos are commonly bought by lizard enthusiasts for their easy temperament. Most are easily hand-tamed, making them an ideal lizard for beginners. A leopard gecko will have its own individual personality and specific care needs. You will have to take into consideration their unique behavior, housing, and feeding requirements. Before acquiring a leopard gecko, it is important to do some research to be sure that you will be able to provide for its needs.

When it comes to housing, you will need to purchase at least a 10-gallon tank, with an additional 10-gallons for each gecko housed in the same enclosure. This will ensure that each lizards has ample space. Do not place more than one male leopard gecko in the same enclosure to avoid territorial attacks. There have been cases of leopard geckos fighting to the death which can be prevented by housing a male by itself, or with a female.

The furnishings inside the enclosure will have to be taken into consideration as well. The most important addition is to place a shallow water dish embedded into the substrate. Also, try placing a few hiding spots in the terrarium. There will be many items at your local pet store that can be placed in the enclosure. Alternatively, you can insert your own creations like a flower pot with an opening cut into it to provide ample cover for your pet.

Leopard geckos are cold-blooded, which means that their internal temperature is highly dependent on external temperatures. Placing a heat mat under the substrate on one side of the cage will allow the lizard to have an area where the temperature will be warmer, while the other side is cooler. The ambient temperature should be between 80° and 88° Fahrenheit (between 26° and 31° Celsius).

Feeding your leopard gecko at the same time every day is extremely important, and most will readily eat crickets and mealworms. Geckos that are a bit underweight can be feed pinkies from time to time to fatten them up. To increase the nutritional content of their food, sprinkle it with a vitamin and mineral supplement.

It’s always best to purchase your geckos from a breeder to ensure genetic health. If that is not an option, always make sure to select a gecko that has clear eyes with taut skin. Loose skin is a sign of dehydration and possible illness.

To create an ideal habitat for a leopard gecko, provide a 20-gallon long terrarium for ample space. Use a substrate like reptile carpet or tile, avoiding sand to prevent impaction. Include hiding spots, a moist hide for shedding, and a temperature gradient with a warm side around 88-90°F and a cool side around 75°F, monitored with a reliable thermometer.

Leopard geckos should be fed every day for juveniles and every other day for adults. A diet consisting of live insects like crickets, mealworms, and waxworms is ideal. Dust the insects with calcium and vitamin D3 supplements to prevent metabolic bone disease. Always provide fresh water in a shallow dish.

A healthy leopard gecko will have clear, bright eyes, a robust body with a well-rounded tail, and smooth, unblemished skin. They should exhibit regular eating, shedding, and defecating behaviors. Active at dusk and dawn, they should show curiosity and alertness during these times, indicating good health.

To handle your leopard gecko, approach gently and scoop them up from beneath, supporting their entire body. Avoid grabbing the tail as it can detach in defense. Handle them close to the ground to prevent injury from falls, and limit handling sessions to 10-15 minutes to minimize stress.

Leopard geckos are solitary creatures and should not be housed with other pets, including other geckos, as they can become territorial and aggressive. If you must house them together, only do so with geckos of similar size and sex, and monitor closely for signs of stress or aggression.

Common health issues in leopard geckos include metabolic bone disease due to calcium or vitamin D3 deficiency, impaction from ingesting substrate, respiratory infections from low temperatures or high humidity, and parasitic infections. Watch for symptoms like lethargy, loss of appetite, irregular shedding, or fecal changes and consult a vet specializing in reptiles if concerns arise.