LEATHERNECK REPTILES®

SPECIALIZING IN EXQUISITE LEOPARD GECKO MORPHS

 LEOPARD GECKO CARE SHEET

(Eublepharis macularius)

 By Tarik Billingsley

BACKGROUND:

 Popularity:

Leopard Geckos are amongst the most popular reptiles in the reptile pet, and trade industry to date. Their ease to care for, docile temperament, and not to mention that unmistakable smile, make these the ideal pet for anyone, beginner or advanced.

Region and size:

Leopard Geckos can be found naturally in India, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, usually in areas that provide sandy or rocky confined areas that they can use for shelter. Sizes range from 3 inches 4 grams at birth, to 11 inches and over 150 grams for adult Super Giant morphs.

Morphs:

Leopard Geckos are now available in countless morphs. Super Hypo Tangerines, Jungles, Blizzards, RAPTORS, Emeralds, Diablo Blanco’s, and Enigmas to name a few. There are endless possibilities when it comes to the development of different morphs, and new exciting ones enter the industry every year. Who knows, maybe YOU can be the next creator of an awesome new morph!

HOUSING:

            There are many different ways to set up your Leopard Gecko enclosures, it is just a matter of what you are trying to achieve; breeder setup or basic setup? The key things to remember when setting up any enclosure is…..

 “ALWAYS”

1. Have a clean source of water.
2. Maintain a clean enclosure.
3. Have a humid dark place for you Gecko to use for shelter.
4. Have a food and calcium, D3 vitamin source.
5. Have a constant heating source kept at 86-89 degrees.
6. KEEP MALES IN SEPARTE CAGES!!

Enclosure size:

In a basic setup, juvenile Leopards can be kept in 10 gallon aquariums, or an enclosure equal to size, adults should be kept in at least 20 gallon aquarium, or an enclosure equal to size. You may also house up to 3 geckos in a 20 gallon aquarium, just remember the six “ALWAYS” listed above. In a breeder setup, we use standard 32qt. Sterilite containers with ventilation holes in the top; all have the above “ALWAYS” list in them.

THIS IS OUR BASIC SET UP AT OUR FACILITY

 Cage Substrates:

            There are many different substrates you can choose from. We use newspaper (we let paper sit for a couple weeks to insure the ink is totally dry) for all our Geckos, it’s cheap and easy to change. We recommend for small geckos to stray away from substrates that can cause impaction of the digestion system (sand). The best options for smaller Geckos are paper towels, news paper, or artificial carpet.

Heating and Lighting:

            Proper temperatures must be maintained for your Gecko to stay healthy and happy, as with any reptile. As mentioned above you should have a constant “hot spot” in the enclosure that is maintained at 86-89 degrees, any lower or higher will make it hard for your Leopard Gecko to properly thermal regulate his/her body temperature. The rest of the cage can be maintained between 78-84 degrees, I personally recommend the higher side. Temperatures should not exceed 90 degrees.

            Leopard Geckos are nocturnal reptiles and emerge at night to scavenge and feed. Geckos are also sensitive to bright light. Best option for lighting, which we use, is the natural light from outdoors, but NOT IN DIRECT SUN LIGHT. If you want to use a light for viewing and heating we recommend a 40 watt red light that are sold at most pet and supply stores, these tend to be less stressful on the Leopards.

FEEDING:

            When it come to feeding you have quite a variety to choose from, but what is most important is which is best for your Leopard Gecko. Today the most popular food items being fed to Leopard Geckos on a good diet are, Meal Worms (Tenebrio molitor), Crickets, and Phoenix Worms. When feeding worms, it’s good to keep them in a feeding dish so they don’t get all over the enclosure making it hard for your Gecko to eat. If gut loaded properly they can offer just as much nutrience if not more than Crickets. All food items should be gut loaded 24-48 hours prior to feeding them to your Geckos. Good gut loading foods are carrots, potatoes, calcium enriched cricket food, and collard greens.

CONCLUSION:

            Leopard Geckos will continue to be popular in the pet and reptile trade industry. There are still many possibilities to be obtained with these gems and they hold a very bright and exciting future. If taken care of properly they will make great pets and have a life span up to 15 years or more (males and un-bred females). Take care of your Leopard Geckos properly and they will stay smiling………

Statements made on this page are what we do at our facility; they were published to be an aid to Leopard Gecko keepers. We are not responsible for any mishaps that might occur following these statements.

L.R.

JAN 08