Leopard Geckos are nocturnal ground dwellers native to the arid deserts of central Asia. They are one of the few gecko species to have eyelids. Typically small in size, adults average 8-11 inches and weigh about 45-70 grams. Being nocturnal, they spend most of their day in burrows or under rocks, coming out at dusk to hunt insects. Leopard Geckos are solitary creatures and should not be housed together.

Diet

  The diet recommended for leopard geckos consists exclusively of insects. 

*Never offer scorpions or lightning bugs.

A diet consisting of a variety of insect items is nutritionally complete. If meal worms are used, offer them in a small dish containing powdered calcium carbonate.  Geckos have a higher tolerance for oral vitamin D₃ than other lizards and combination calcium/D₃ supplements such as Reptical are acceptable calcium carbonate substitutes in the dish containing mealworms.  Other vitamin supplements are unnecessary, and in fact are often harmful. If you are feeding live insects, only provide enough for the animal to eat in a few hours.  Clean water should be available at all times.

Temperature and Lighting

Daytime ambient temperature (everywhere in the enclosure) should be maintained around 85 degrees F (29.5 C). Night time ambient temperature should be maintained around 74  degrees F (23 C), a range of 72-80 degrees F (22 – 26 C) is acceptable.  An Incandescent lamp for basking is not necessary for these nocturnal animals. Leopard geckos have a low requirement for UVB light.    Fluorescent lamps with a moderate UVB output, such as the Repti-sun 5.0 (ZooMed) or ReptiGlo 5.0 (Exoterra) are appropriate.  Direct exposure to the fluorescent lamp,  with no glass or plastic between the lamp and the animal, for 1 hour per week is adequate.

 Housing

Recommended cage substrates include desert topsoil, coarse gravel, and folded paper.  The majority of intestinal impactions occur due to sand (including Calci-Sand), crushed walnut shell, or other substrates composed of small, equal-sized particles and therefore these are not recommended.  Indoor-outdoor carpeting is also not recommended due to the possibility of carpet threads constricting toes or being ingested.  Provide a humid shelter for geckos to use during shed cycles. Damp sphagnum moss can be added to a hollow piece of wood, or a Tupperware container with a hole in the side to provide an adequate environment. Soaking your gecko is not necessary and can be harmful. Providing a humid, not wet, area to shed in is safer and healthier for your gecko.

 Gut-Loading

Gut-loading is the practice of feeding insects a diet high in calcium, protein, and other nutrients prior to offering the insects to reptiles and amphibians.  Domestic crickets and meal worms should be fed a diet consisting of four parts chicken or turkey starter mash and one part calcium carbonate for two or three days before offering the crickets to your pet. Also, offer the crickets water in a shallow dish or wet sponge.  Gut-loading beyond 2-3 days is not beneficial, and can actually decrease the life expectancy of the insects.

© Sonora Veterinary Group, 2011  Free for distribution with proper citation.