Leopard Gecko

General Information

 * Scientific Name: Eublepharis macularius
 * Lifespan: 6-10 years (Males can live 10-20 years)
 * Male Length: 8-10 inches
 * Female Length: 7-8 inches
 * Nocturnal
 * Insectivore
 * Terrestrial

Geographic Range and Habitat
Rocky, dry grassland and desert regions of Afghanistan, Pakistan, North-West India, and some parts of Iran. Most of their time during the day is spent hiding in holes and crevices.

Availability
Leopard Geckos are one of the most common and cheapest pets in the reptile-keeping hobby and are usually available at any pet or reptile stores.

Behaviour and Handling
Leopard Geckos are slow-moving and very tame creatures. They have fragile skin and a tail that will drop (will grow back in less than 40 days), so they should be handled gently.

Housing and Substrate
One of the main reasons that Leopard Geckos are such popular pets because of their minimal housing needs. A 10-gallon aquarium can be used to house a smaller gecko, but 1 or 2 of them can comfortably live in a 20-gallon aquarium. A screen lid should be used for ventilation to keep the humidity down. Hides should be given on the hot side and cool side of the aquarium. A hide box filled with moist moss or vermiculite is needed to help them shed properly. Rocks, artificial plants, and pieces of wood can be used to make the enclosure more interesting.

Recommended substrates are tile, reptile carpet, paper towel/newspaper, or excavator clay. Sandy substrates can be consumed and can cause impaction, so they are not recommended.

Heating and Lighting
Instead of a heat lamp, they should be given a heating pad with the temperature of 88-90 degrees at all times. The ambient temperature of the enclosure should stay above 73 degrees Fahrenheit. Leopard Geckos are a nocturnal species, so UVB lighting is not needed. Some people still use UVB lighting just in case or to simulate a day/night cycle, but it has to be a low-powered light.

Diet and Vitamins
Leopard Geckos are insectivores, so the best choice for their main part of their diet are crickets or mealworms. Butterworms and superworms can be used as occasional treats. Pinkies should not be offered to Leopard Geckos. They should be fed every 2 days and offered two appropriately sized insects for every inch of the gecko's total body length. No insect larger than the space between their eyes should be offered.

When feeding your gecko insects, they should be dusted with calcium and vitamin D3. Also, all insects should be gut-loaded before feeding to add more nutrients.

Water and Humidity
A shallow water dish should be available at all times. Humidity of the enclosure should be kept low or else the gecko could become sick.

Sites Used

 * http://www.reptilesmagazine.com/Care-Sheets/Lizards/Leopard-Gecko/
 * http://www.leopardgecko.com/leopard-gecko-care