Leopard Geckos are a very unique species of lizard, renowned for their stunning leopard-like appearance and massive fat-storage tail.
The leopard gecko (Eublepharis Macularius) is a ground-dwelling lizard endemic to Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, India, and Nepal’s rocky dry grassland and desert areas. As a result of intensive captive breeding, the common leopard gecko has gained popularity to be a household pet. As a result, it is often considered the first domesticated species of lizard.
Insight
This lizard has been captivated in the United States for more than 30 years and is now one of the most popular pet lizards throughout the country. These tough saurians are available in a wide range of colors, patterns, and sizes. They are a wonderful species to have. Consider a reptile that can vocalize and wash its tongue over the inside of its eye with ease. They are like friendly dinosaurs in a small package.
Leopard geckos that have been captive-bred are available for purchase at pet shops, reptile exhibitions, and the Internet. You may learn about, choose, and buy healthy leopards from various breeders via their websites. They vary in price from $20 to $3,000 and are highly sought after by collectors all over the globe, especially for their uncommon varieties.
Hatchlings are about three to four inches in length. Adult females are usually seven to eight inches, while males are typically eight to ten inches. Some of the gigantic lineages’ males may grow to be almost a foot long.
Leopard geckos have a rather long lifespan when compared to other reptiles. Your gecko should live for six to ten years on average, although many males survive for ten to twenty years or even longer.
These geckos are easy to handle and just need basic food, cleaning, and care. Different types of worms and roaches are very good for their nutrition. You can visit https://www.topflightdubia.com/ to get nutritious Dubia roaches online.
Now that we know a bit about leopard geckos, let us know about their housing and habitat.
Housing
A 15- to 20-gallon tank can accommodate two to three leopard geckos. However, only one male should be kept per habitat, and only males and females should be kept together if you want to deal with reproduction. Leopard geckos thrive in fish tanks. These tanks are ideal for breeding.
Stack half logs together to create a hiding and climbing area. Commercial reptile caves and plain cardboard boxes are also viable alternatives. A moist hide box may aid in the shedding process.
Once a day, remove manure from the cage using a damp cloth. Then take everything out of the cage once a month, throw away the substrate, and thoroughly clean and disinfect the cage and all of the things in it to prevent the growth of germs.
Food and Water
Your gecko must have live insects, as they do not consume plants or vegetables. The ideal things to give are Dubia roaches, crickets, or mealworms, but you can also treat your pet with super worms and waxworms once a week. Avoid feeding pinky mice to leopard geckos.
All insects must be fed to your leopard gecko for at least 12 hours on a healthy powdered diet. It is referred to as “gut loading,” which is critical for your pet’s health. All feed shops provide chick or hog mash, and many excellent commercial diets are also available for this purpose. Simply put the insects in a tub of gut-load diet along with a slice of potato for water.
Dusting your insects is one method to ensure that your leopard gecko receives essential vitamins and minerals. Place the insects and dusting powder in a plastic bag or deep tin container and gently shake to cover the insects’ bodies.
When adding the powdered insects to the cage, make sure that the powder does not go into the gecko’s eyes. Another method to provide your gecko with additional powdered nutrients is to have a tiny jar lid packed with vitamin-mineral powder on hand at all times. The gecko is aware of how much powder its body requires and will lap it up appropriately.
Water is necessary for every living being. Keeping a shallow water dish in your leopard gecko’s habitat is necessary. You need to put the dish in such a way that it does not move. Their substrate should be kept dry always. That is why you need to be extremely careful about water spillage. Please ensure the dish is not too deep, so geckos, both young and adults, can climb out from it easily. You might think adding vitamin drops in water is a good idea, but it is not good for them.
Handling
Handling and taking proper care of young or kid geckos can be a bit tough. According to experts, you should not handle leopard geckos until they are more than six inches and comfortable in their habitat. When the gecko is large enough to handle, the best approach is to sit on the floor and let it come to you. After it crawls in your hand, wait for 10-15 minutes every day until they get adapted to your touch. The process is called taming, and it takes five to seven days. After the taming process is completed, and you both get accustomed to each other’s touch, it is safe to handle them. Leopard geckos can easily get defensive or scared and become aggressive. Also, you must not hold or grab them by their tails, or they might drop, and it might take up to 40 days for the regeneration process.
Common Health Issues
If leopard geckos do not get sufficient vitamin D and calcium, they can develop metabolic bone disease. It can cause limb deformities and painful spines. If you notice tremors and poor appetite, take it to an exotic veterinarian immediately. In addition, geckos can develop armpit bubbles. These are not severe but can cause obesity.
Leopard geckos are quite prone to gastroenteritis, which is a type of bacterial infection. If you see watery stools or a shrunken tail, it might be a sign of gastroenteritis.
Conclusion
The leopard gecko is an excellent option for first-time owners due to its gentle and lively temperament. Maintenance is extremely easy with basic food and cleaning needs. As long as you are kind and feed them properly, they will happily leap into your hands. There are other types like crested geckos, which are also nice. Good luck with your gecko!
