Leopard Gecko Care Guide

Get to Know Your Leopard Gecko

Basic Information

Common Name

Leopard Gecko

Scientific Name

Eublepharis macularius

Distribution

Pakistan, India and surrounding regions

Size

8-9" long w/tail

Life span

15-20 Years

Checklist for Your Leopard Gecko

Tank with screen cover

Lighting

Heat lamps

Food

Calcium

Substrate/Bedding

Shallow water bowl

Water Conditioner

Moss

Thermometer

Hygrometer

Decoration — rocks, branches, hiding places

Everything your Leopard Gecko needs, all in one place.

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Feeding Your Leopard Gecko

Live insects are a must for your gecko; they do not eat plants or veggies.
Provide a variety of insects for these insectivorous. Crickets dusted with calcium (without phosphorus) is very nutritious for the gecko.
Mealworms are great too but should only be used as a treat because of their fat content.
Insects fed should be no wider than the gecko’s head.
The rule of thumb is to offer 2-3 appropriately sized insects (small or medium crickets) for every inch of a leopard gecko’s total length. A gecko 4 inches long should get about 8-12 small/medium crickets per feeding.
Juveniles should be fed every day and adults (>12 months old) can be fed every other day.
Always remove uneaten food.
Fresh water must be always provided. Use a water conditioner to remove chorines and chloramines.

Leopard Gecko Habitat

A 10 to 20-gallon tank with a secure screen cover or a small glass reptile habitat.
Young geckos can be housed together. Never house two males together as they are very territorial
Hatchlings will do best on cage carpet, recycled paper, and flat stones.
Sand and clay substrates can be used to create burrows and tunnels.
Provide plenty of dark hides where the gecko can fit completely so they can sleep as needed during the day.
Hides filled with wet moss will support the gecko with shedding.
Make sure to wet down moss every few days to keep moist.
Humidity in the tank should be 40-60% and 80-90% in the hide.

Lighting and Temperature

Daytime Terrarium Temperature: 78-85° F
Basking Spot: 90° F
Nighttime Temperature: 70-72°F
Lights should be on for 10-12 hours each day and then total darkness at night.
Geckos do not require UVB, however UVB lighting is recommended to prevent metabolic bone disease.
Monitor the temperature by having a thermometer on each side of the tank

Handling Your Leopard Gecko

Geckos are a great choice for a beginner.
Leopard Geckos stay small, are very docile, and are relatively easy to maintain in captivity.
Geckos have great personalities and beautiful markings.
They are nocturnal lizards, so they are most active in the evening hours.
IMPORTANT NOTE — Leopard Geckos will voluntarily lose their tails as a defense mechanism so they should not be grabbed by the tail. The tail will grow back but it usually has a smoother texture and duller colors.