• Tank – 20 Gallon
• Substrate – 10-15 qt
• Heating – overhead or undertank, if using an
undertank heater a
thermostat is required
• Digital Thermometer
• Water Dish
• 3 Hides – one humid hide
• Worm Dish/Ceramic Dish
• Calcium SupplementLeopard Geckos prefer a habitat with adequate floor space. A 20 gallon terrarium is suitable.
Finely ground coconut fiber makes a great bedding for these lizards. It is easy to clean and provides a comfortable substrate for the geckos.
Leopard Geckos require a warm area around 95 degrees and a cooler area around 80 degrees. They appreciate a day and night cycle of 12 hours of light and 12 hours of darkness.
Leopard Geckos can tolerate fairly dry conditions, as long as they have access to one or two humid hiding areas. Damp sphagnum moss in a cave works well. They should also have access to clean water in a dish.
These geckos feed solely on live insects 3-5 times per week. Crickets, dubia roaches, mealworms, and Superworms comprise a well-balanced diet. Feeders should be dusted with calcium w/ D3.
Adult Leopard Geckos should be fed 3 times a week. 5-7 live insects per feeding. Leopard Geckos sometimes take a long time to settle in and can go long periods without eating.
If their tails are plump and round there is no need to worry about not eating. Each leopard gecko can be different with some very eagerly taking any food offered, and others may pace their feeding themselves.Leopard Geckos should be given multiple hiding places throughout the terrarium. Bark, driftwood, and rocky caves provide great options for shelter.
Spot clean your gecko’s habitat daily to remove any feces, urates, shed skin, or uneaten food.
Substrate should be fully changed every 6 months unless a bioactive setup is being used.Leopard Geckos are generally shy but will tolerate some gentle handling. They should be supported from underneath, preferably within the enclosure or close to the ground or table top with care taken to reduce the risk of them falling.
They do not like to be restrained, and rough handling may cause them to drop their tail. It will regenerate, but will not look as nice.
Metabolic Bone Disease occurs when the geckos are given insufficient calcium and vitamin D3. Symptoms include deformed limbs, brittle and soft bones, lethargy, and decreased appetite. This is easily prevented by providing a varied diet dusted with a quality calcium supplement.
Leopard Gecko
Leopard Geckos range from northwestern India into Pakistan, Afghanistan, and parts of Iran.
They inhabit mostly rocky grasslands, scrublands, and deserts, spending most of their time in burrows or in rocky crevices and shaded areas.
These geckos are solitary animals, and spend their time alone, except for breeding.
Leopard Geckos get their name from their characteristic black spots that develop as they mature.
Also called Fat-tailed spotted geckos, they sometimes have to rely on fat and water reserves stored in their tails to endure periods of food and water scarcity. A sign of a healthy Leopard Gecko is thick and robust tail.
Size: 6-10 inches
Lifespan: 15-20 years
Diet: Insects
Care Level: Beginner
Temperament: Docile
Activity: Crepuscular