Description:

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Eublepharis macularius - The  Leopard Gecko is a common and extensively kept reptile that takes its name from its spotted appearance and bright yellow coloration.

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Leopard geckos are native to dry and rocky regions of Southern Asia, where they spend most of their days resting in burrows, emerging during the relative safety of night to utilize their exceptional eyesight while hunting insects and other small prey items.

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These animals are ground dwelling lizards which do not possess the ability to stick to smooth surfaces (a common trait you often see in other geckos). Despite this, they are actually quite good at climbing, and can perform surprising feats of agility when motivated to do so.

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Leopard geckos are noted for their large tails, in which they store fat as a reserve for times when a food source is inaccessible. This being a valuable characteristic for an animal that is often found in desert conditions.

 

As with many other types of geckos, they also posses the defensive ability to voluntarily detach  - and then to slowly regenerate - these tails when threatened.

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Size:

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Leopard geckos are a relatively small reptile, with fully grown adults ranging in size from 7-10 inches in length.

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Temperament: 

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Leopard geckos are typically docile and easy going animals, and with regular and gentle handling they can quickly become well socialized pets. Despite this, they can bite if provoked or overly stressed. These bites however, are not typically significant enough to cause much damage or break human skin. As such they're a reptile that is well suited to beginner hobbyists or children that are old enough to treat them with the basic level of respect they require.

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Being typically slow and fragile lizards, dropping them or mishandling them can easily lead to injury or a fatality. Also bearing in mind their tendency to drop their tails - they should also never be handled or pulled on in this manner. 

 

Although the likelihood of recovery and the regeneration of the tail is good, this process is extremely stressful on the gecko, and it may well never reform in a way that is as aesthetically pleasing as it was originally.

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Care:

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Requirements for keeping a Leopard gecko are fairly simplistic. A single gecko can comfortably be kept in a 10 gallon terrarium, with slightly a larger enclosure being ideal.

 

They can even be kept in plastic storage containers, which tend to hold humidity and heat well. Just be sure to provide adequate ventilation in this container if this is an option that you plan to utilize.

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Decorations can be minimalistic, but they should always be provided hiding areas for a sense of security, and seem to enjoy having things to climb on.

 

Many keepers often provide their geckos with a high humidity hiding area in order to assist with shedding. This is easily done by keeping a hiding area filled with moss or damp paper towel. Doing so will allow your gecko to regulate its humidity needs during the shedding process that it must regularly undergo.

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Although, leopard geckos do shed frequently, but this can often go completely unnoticed, as they will often eat their freshly shed skin to regain the valuable nutrients that were lost in this process.

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When choosing a substrate for your Leopard gecko, they can be kept on a variety of different options ranging from eco-earth to paper towel. Reptile carpets or felt are also a viable option, which can be easily cleaned and replaced when needed.

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Being cold-blooded animals, all geckos must be provided with heating and a temperature gradient within their enclosure. Which will allow them to regulate their body temperature. A basking bulb to one side of their enclosure and a heating pad placed below one of their hiding areas should be more than sufficient for this task. Even opting for just one or the other is adequate if the temperature of the room they're stored in is kept at a consistent level. The temperature within a Leopard gecko enclosure should scale from 75-90 degrees Fahrenheit, with a night time drop to 70 degrees at the very lowest being acceptable. 

 

Being nocturnal animals, Leopard geckos do not require special UV lighting, but they should be provided with a day and nighttime light cycle to mimic their natural habit and to nurture their nightly instinct.

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Leopard Geckos can eat a variety of feeder insects, with crickets always being an easily available staple diet. Their food should be regularly dusted with calcium and vitamin supplementation to ensure they're getting a natural and balanced diet (failing to do this can quickly lead to health problems such a metabolic bone disease). I feed my leopard gecko about 8 large crickets a couple times a week, with a few super worms or a hornworm being offered as an occasional treat. ALWAYS be sure your gecko is provided with fresh, treated water.

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These geckos are not known to require high humidity like some other types do - they're generally more comfortable and healthier when kept in a warm dry conditions - just as their natural habit would provide them. The addition of a water dish and occasional misting should be enough to provide them with the right amount of consistent humidity they need to stay healthy and properly shed their skin.

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Given the fact that these lizards are native to warm and arid environments, they're not the most ideal candidate for a  bioactive enclosure. I believe it can be done with varying degrees of success, but will require more work and need to be monitored far more than a tropical set up. My experience has taught me, that with regular spot cleaning, they're not the biggest mess producers and if kept in a very basic setup, a monthly break down and cleaning of their enclosure is not very strenuous or time consuming.

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Lifespan:

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There is a variable in the length that leopard geckos live in captivity, but in general, Leopard geckos that have been given optimal conditions can easily live for a period of 10-20 years.

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