A leopard gecko makes for a lovely pet for any reptile lover. It has a docile and calm nature, which makes it a favorite among adults and kids alike. Even an adult will not be more than 12 inches. Even though it’s easier to take care of a gecko, you must have several questions like what do leopard geckos eat, where they live, etc., before petting it. Let’s find these answers.
How to Set Up a Gecko’s Home?
As leopard gecko is a nocturnal lizard native to the desert and dry areas, it likes to live in a warm and dry environment. However, it loves hiding places; the more you have in its terrarium, the happier it would be.
- Housing
You can start with a 10-gallon tank for babies and a 20-gallon tank for adults. However, depending upon how many you want to keep, you can increase the size. But make sure you don’t keep more than three at one place with only one male. The top of the tank needs to be covered with mesh to prevent any escapes.
- Hiding Places
You need to create at least three hideouts in the tank; hot, cold, moist. It will require a damp hiding place when it’s time to shed off the skin. You can use a cardboard cutout with moss lining or half logs for this. For cold hideouts, you can put rocks or branches.
- Substrate
You can use pea gravel, orchid bark, coconut husk, stones to line the gecko’s cage. Coconut husk retains moisture well and is not harmful too. Avoid putting sand or anything with fine particles as your gecko might consume it. But, keep a check on the humidity level using a hygrometer. It should stay between 30-40 percent as low humidity can make shedding difficult.
- Temperature
Coming from warm climate areas, they like warm atmospheres. For this, an under-tank heat pad on one side of the tank is a good idea. Try to avoid putting light bulbs as they can affect your gecko’s vision and can cause burns. Try to keep the warm area somewhere between 85 to 95 °F. The cooler side should be around 10 degrees below it. You can use a thermometer for this.
- Lighting
Even though gecko is nocturnal, you must give at least 12 hours of sunlight to keep it healthy. It could be 14 hours during summer and 12 hours during winter. To maintain consistency, you can use a timer. You can use about 2 to 4 percent of UVB.
What Do Leopard Geckos Eat?
As gecko is insectivorous, its staple diet includes crickets, mealworms, wax worms, roaches, locusts, etc. All must be gut loaded with nutrition before feeding to your gecko. You can also dust the insects with vitamins and calcium for the nutrition it needs. You can feed baby gecko every day. But adult geckos should be fed in a 3 to 4 days gap. Place a shallow bowl with low-level water so that your gecko can climb and drink it.
How To Handle And Clean?
Do not pick your gecko until it is 6 inches long and is settled in. Give it a few weeks to get accustomed to your hand. Never, ever grab by the tail as it will make it drop the tail as a defense mechanism.
You don’t need to bathe your gecko every day and clean it only when it’s dirty or has trouble shedding skin. Put her in a shallow container with warm water with a drop of mineral oil. Mineral oil will help in shedding. Pour the water over the back and gently rub it with a cotton ball or cloth. Pat dry with a paper towel or dry cloth.
Your geckos are not immune to diseases and can suffer from respiratory diseases, skin disorders, stomatitis, dysecdysis, etc. To ensure that your gecko is healthy and happy, pay attention to its eating, shedding, and bathroom habits. If you find anything unusual, you need to consult your veterinarian. If taken good care of, your gecko will live up to 20 years.