Everything You Need to Know about Leopard Geckos Before Raising One

General Facts and Information

Leopard geckos are a popular import. Scientifically known as E. macularius, they are native to dry and semi-desert areas in Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, and northwest India. Still, they have been kept and bred as pets for more than 30 years. As a result, they are one of the most commonly kept lizards today. Their docile nature and relative ease of care make them popular for home terrariums, as long as their habitat is representative of their native homes.

Their body color is often yellow with irregular black spots, but they can be found in various colors, patterns, and sizes. In most leopard geckos, the dorsal body is light to dark yellow with black markings, while the ventral body is white and the tail is banded. However, with new scientific techniques, various color combinations have been produced through selective breeding programs.

Interestingly, the tail is segmented, which means that if part of the tail is lost, it can regenerate, but it might not necessarily look the same. Young leopard geckos have bands across their bodies, and the toes end in a small claw. Their movable eyelids allow them to close their eyes, and their long tongue can give those eyes a quick lick as needed. The underside of the body is usually white. The eggs can be seen through the skin in females, while males are easily recognized by their preanal pores.

Habitat, Diet, and Reproduction

The climate in areas where leopard geckos live is arid and warm to hot for most of the year. Still, winter temperatures can cool down to 50 degrees Fahrenheit, causing the geckos to go underground for a semi-hibernation phase. Their natural habitat is usually rocky, with clay-gravel soil below a layer of sand. They are mostly limited to burrows and shaded areas during the day. However, they become more active at dawn and dusk when the temperature is more to their liking.

Leopard geckos must watch out for predators, including foxes, snakes, and other large reptiles. They use their incredible sense of hearing and sight to avoid threats, and their skin helps them camouflage themselves with their surroundings. They eat crickets, small locusts, wax moth larvae, mealworms, springtails, grasshoppers, and nesting mice. They communicate via chirps when alarmed or annoyed and clicking when "talking" among themselves. They also send messages with their tails: slow tail shakes tell other geckos that they have been noticed, while fast tail moves by a male mean he has noticed a female. The tail also shakes when the gecko is hunting. The extent to which leopard geckos interact with other members of its species is unclear, but they do congregate to mate. They may live in loose colonies in the wild but spend most of their time alone.

In the wild, leopard geckos will mate and breed during summer. Sperm can be stored by the females, allowing her to lay two eggs at a time over the breeding season of about one month, in which she will lay up to 20 eggs. Depending on factors such as (but not limited to) temperature and humidity, the eggs require about 30-90 days of incubation before the young will hatch. Each baby gecko hatches at about 6.5 to 8.5 centimeters in length, weighing just about 3 grams, and is surprisingly independent of the moment it is born.

Factors to Consider Before Getting a Leopard Gecko Pet

Leopard geckos are one of the easiest pets to raise as they do not require intensive care, making them highly popular and readily available. However, it's always best to purchase geckos from a reputable breeder, which can cost anywhere between $20 to $40. A rare leopard gecko may cost up to $100. When choosing your pet, pay attention to its tail: it should be plump and fat, preferably wide or wider than the space between its shoulders. Its eye, nose, and mouth should appear clear and not runny. Its vent, the opening for urinating and defecating, should look clean and not swollen.

In addition to the tips above, here are some other factors to consider in helping you choose and care for your new pet:

1. Housing

Leopard geckos do not require ample space as long as it somewhat replicates their original habitat. Only keep males and females together if you want them to breed. Old fish tanks (emptied) work perfectly well. Provide half logs as hiding and climbing space. Spot clean the cage to remove feces and give your gecko a lukewarm soak for 10 to 15 minutes every one or two weeks.

2.  Heat

Use a regular white light incandescent heat bulb to provide a basking spot during the day. A red heat bulb, blue or purple heat bulb or ceramic heat emitter can provide supplemental heat at night.

3. Light

As they are nocturnal, leopard geckos are most active at night and do not require a lot of UV lighting. However, they will need incandescent lighting and heat from a source to mimic sunlight. In the summer, give them about 14 hours of "sunlight" per day and 12 hours in the winter.

4. Humidity

They do not need a highly humid environment since they are desert lizards. However, suppose the humidity is too low (below 20 percent). In that case, the gecko might have trouble shedding, so keep the humidity level between 30 to 40 percent (which is about similar to the humidity level in your house).

5. Substrate

Young leopard geckos should not be kept on a sand substrate, even if it is calcium sand. They may digest the sand and suffer an intestinal blockage. Paper is absorbent and easy to change, and indoor/outdoor carpet works well too. Reptile carpet is another good option as it is easy to clean, and your gecko can move around well. Avoid wood shavings as they can cut your gecko's feet, and the volatile oils in the wood shavings may be irritating.

6. Food and Water

Leopard geckos are insectivores, so feed them a variety of crickets, waxworms, and mealworms in moderation.

7.  Common Health Problems

Metabolic bone disease is one of the most severe conditions affecting leopard geckos. They will become ill if they don't get enough calcium and vitamin D. They are also prone to gastroenteritis, a bacterial infection. Some signs to look out for are watery stools and tails shrinking. Suppose they are undernourished or live in a cage without sufficient moisture. In that case, leopard geckos may develop dysecdysis, which causes them to have difficulty shedding and can affect their vision or constrict their fingers or toes.

Fun Facts about Your New Pet

All the above considered, get excited about your new lizard friend and let's end with some fun, exciting facts about them!

• Nearly all geckos have a voice. Leopard geckos have a small "bark" they use if agitated but are not as vocal as other gecko species.
• Leopards can live for ten or more years if they receive the proper care.
• A leopard gecko's gender is determined by its incubation temperature. At 90° F, virtually all the eggs are male; near 80° F, most eggs will be female. An incubation temperature of 85° F will produce about an equal number of males and females.
• Leopard geckos have little claws instead of sticky pads like other types of geckos. They are rarely found off of the ground.
• Leopard geckos have a tail that can detach if grabbed by a predator, giving them time to escape.
• Leopard geckos eat their shredded skin not to clean up, so their predators are less likely to detect it as the eaten skin won't give off any scent markers.
• They are one of the few lizards with eyelids, meaning they can close their eyes and blink.