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.
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| 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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Leopard Gecko Resources
The Gecko Corral - a small in-home breeder of leopard geckos and dart frogs.
Gecko Den - your source for high quality Leopard Geckos!
Gecko Network - your link to gecko resources on the web
Gecko Ranch - we specialize in captive propagation of rare and endangered Phelsuma (Day Geckos)
The Gecko Spot - a private breeder based in Cwmbran, South Wales (30 miles from Bristol).
Geckos UK - information about various reptiles.
Golden Gate Geckos - a small, private breeder of Geckos since 1995, providing the finest quality animals available offered at great prices
The Global Gecko Association (GGA) - dedicated to gecko enthusiasts worldwide.
Greg & Leann's Leaping Lizards Day Geckos
Leopardgecko.co.uk - for existing Leopard Gecko ( Eublepharis Macularius ) owners, leopard gecko breeders as well as being a useful guide to those new to the hobby of herpetology or reptile care
Leopard Gecko Punk - breeder of super hypo tangerines, aptors, raptors, albinos, and more!
RyVal Geckos - captive bred leopard geckos
Spoon Geckos - We are a small breeder of leopard geckos, specializing in giant high yellows and super hypo carrot tails.
South Dixie Herpetological - Quality bearded dragons and leopard geckos in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
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Leopard Gecko Resources
Free Leopard Gecko Coloring Sheets
Visit our library of FREE Leopard Gecko Lizard coloring sheets.
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