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Leopard Gecko
Leopard gecko (Eublepharis macularius), native of Pakistan, is a gentle yet hardy
lizard. With their beautiful skin markings and affinity towards their keepers, this reptile makes a wonderful pet lizard.
Leopard
geckos have enjoyed considerable popularity with their owners for many reasons. Leopard geckos reach only a foot in overall
length, so they won't outgrow a ten or fifteen gallon aquarium. They pick a single corner of their tank to use as a litter
area, making clean up easy. Leopard geckos are nocturnal and don't require the use of expensive UV light bulbs. They don't
require high heat like bearded dragons. Leopard geckos eat mealworms and crickets, and don't require a vegetarian diet. And
finally, virtually all leopard geckos are now captive breed in this country, eliminating shipping stress and parasites that
are often found in imported iguanas and other lizards.
Unlike their distant cousins the tokay gecko, leopard geckos
seldom attempt to bite. Their unusually gentle disposition is one of their most notable traits and has led in large part to
the pet's popularity. Captive bred leopard geckos seem to recognize their keepers, and are at times content to sit on a shoulder
for hours. It takes a significant amount of provoking before a leopard gecko will bite.
| Native to: |
Leopard geckos are native to desert areas of Pakistan, Northwestern India and Afghanistan. |
| Adult Size: |
Leopard geckos reach 8-10 inches. |
| Appearance: |
Leopard geckos are cream to yellow ground color with black spots. Many different breeds have varied colors
and patterns, which can include high yellow, orange, striped, pattern-less (no spots or stripes), lavender, solid white and
amelanistic (no black pigments in markings). |
| Diet: |
Leopard geckos eat crickets, kingworms, mealworms, waxworms, earthworms, grasshoppers, locusts and pinkies.
Food should be supplemented with calcium and multivitamins. Wax worms are a good supplement or treat, but are too fatty and
not nutritious enough for a regular diet.
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| Ease of care & Housing: |
The leopard gecko is easy to care for and a good choice for the novice lizard pet owner. The cage setup for
leopard geckos can be as simple or elaborate, as you like. A single animal can be maintained in a ten gallon aquarium. The
substrate should be too large for them to swallow and dust free.
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| Natural Habitat: |
In their natural habitat, leopard geckos live in arid regions, particularly rocky deserts or sparse grasslands.
They avoid sandy deserts. Leopard geckos are strictly nocturnal, emerging at night from holes and crevices to hunt for food,
avoiding the heat of the day. In the wild, leopard geckos feed on a variety of insects, but they will also eat scorpions as
well as other lizards. Leopard geckos often live in loose colonies. Leopard geckos are seldom found off of the ground. A 10
gallon aquarium will house a single gecko. 20 gallon will house 1 male with 2 females leopard geckos. Daytime temp 85-90F.
Night temp low 70’s. Substrate of washed playground sand (not for juveniles, as leopard geckos will ingest the sand),
orchard bark mixture, Astroturf with bound or melted edges, or newspaper. Include shelter for leopard gecko to hide in, and
rough rocks to use when gecko is shedding. |
| Drink: |
Leopard geckos should have a small dish of fresh water each day. A shallow dish works well for easy access
and should be accompanied by a calcium source. |
| Sleeping habits: |
The leopard gecko is nocturnal. |
| Temperament: |
Leopard geckos rarely bite, tame easily and have been known to sho an affinity for their keepers. |
| Breeding: |
For leopard gecko breeding, a ratio of about 3-10 females to one male per enclosure should be used. The males
become aggressive during breeding and may dominate the females if too few are present. Two males should not be placed together
in the same enclosure, or they will fight.
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