Leopard Gecko Care Sheet.

Care of the Leopard Gecko.

Leopard Gecko’s are great!! They come in lots of different colours, they tame well and do become very handleable, but do not grab them by the tail, they can drop it if they feel they are being attacked. They are ideal as a first exotic pet because they do have basic requirements. They are a desert species and originate from India, Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan. They grow to around 8 inches and can live for up to 15 years!

Because they don’t grow to huge sizes, a 3ft by 15”x15” tank will be sufficient for an adult pair. They are not great climbers but some of ours will climb and sit in plants.

Adult males should be housed seperately as they will fight viciously, and babies should not be housed with adults as they will be attacked.

Vivarium and set up

When deciding what substrate to use, bear in mind what the natural habitat would be like, because Leo’s are a desert species calci sand would be fine but should not be used for Leo’s under 6 months. You could also use newspaper or paper towels. Leo’s do shed their skin, so a box of damp moss that they can get in and out of easily could be added, also put a shallow dish of clean water in the tank.

For decoration, I would recommend using wood and rocks, obviously make sure they are cleaned properly. Never be tempted to by a ‘hot rock’ as they can cause severe burns!!! You should also provide hides, at least 1 per gecko at each end of the tank.

What temperature should I keep my Leopard Gecko at?

As with all reptiles they need regulated temperatures to enable them to digest their food. If they are kept too cold their metabolism won’t be able to function properly. It is important that heating equipment is controlled by a thermostat. Leo’s absorb heat through their bellies, so the substrate temperature under the basking area should be between 84-88°F, the cool end should be between 78-82°F and the night time temperatures between 68-77°F

Do they need UV?

No they don’t. Leopard Gecko’s are nocturnal, they should receive the D3 required to absorb calcium through supplementation in their diet.

What do I feed my Leopard Gecko?

Leo’s will eat most insects. The most common staple diet is crickets, they will also eat fruity baby food too which is a good medium for vitamin supplements. The diet should be supplemented with calcium and D3 every other feed.

Adult Leo’s can eat around 5-8 crickets daily, the length of the cricket should be no longer that the width between the eyes, and half as wide. Baby leo’s should be fed between 4-8 appropriately sized crickets daily.

Leo’s store nutrients in their tail, a gecko with a fat tail is in good health, s/he will use these stores in times of hardship.

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