The Leopard Gecko or Leo is a stunning one-of-a-kind lizard that is well-known for its striking look that resembles that of a leopard and its enormous tail that serves as a fat-storage area. We all know they are beautiful but are they easy to care for, or are they low maintenance?

The maintenance required for leopard geckos is relatively minimal. Generally, they do not require much attention and are easy to care for. They also do not require much cage care, but you should still pay a lot of attention to their habitat. Leos are nocturnal creatures that are often gentle and simple to domesticate.

Behavior & Temperament

Most leopard geckos will spend the day stashed away in their own hide boxes. You could get a glimpse of them enjoying the sun on occasion, but most of their activities take place in the early morning and late evening hours.

Although these reptiles move somewhat slowly, this certainly does not mean they are uninteresting!

They are really pretty adept at interacting with people and can convey their thoughts and needs through squeaks. When they are hungry, you could hear them chirping at each other.

It is not impossible to maintain many leopard geckos together in the same enclosure. However, in order to prevent conflict, you will need to design the layout appropriately. It is not a good idea to keep males together under any circumstances since they might get territorial & fight.

Before engaging in combat, males will frequently display their tales to intimidate their opponents. You could also witness them moving their tails back and forth as a snake might. If you notice any of this, you have no choice but to separate your Leos as quickly as you can.

Possible Health Risks

Even though they are hardy, leopard geckos are susceptible to several different health problems.

The accumulation of unhealthful fat is a particular concern. These lizards can have health issues on the inside if they gain too much weight.

They may begin to store fat & nutrients in pockets around the arms, which may be seen outside the body. If this happens, try reducing the amount of food your lizard eats. As they lose weight, the bubbles should disappear.

These reptiles are at an increased risk for MBD when they do not receive adequate exposure to UVB rays. The reptile body would not be able to metabolize calcium for the skeletons if it was not exposed to UVB rays. As a direct consequence of this, their skeletons become fragile and easily fractured.

There is a possibility that younger geckos can experience spinal difficulties or growth defects. Ensure that your gecko has access to optimal UVB light during these critical years of its life.

There is also a possibility that leopard geckos will become ill as a result of problems with their cage. These geckos are susceptible to developing dysecdysis when the moisture levels are too low. This condition is characterized by dry skin and visual issues.

Infections of the respiratory tract can result from excessive humidity. This results in inflammation, increased mucus production, and difficulty breathing. Utilize your hygrometer to guarantee that you maintain optimal humidity levels to circumvent the aforementioned issues.

Handling Tips

Leopard geckos are relatively docile and gentle. They have never been reported to bite people (their teeth don’t seem to cause too much pain anyhow).

They usually don’t mind being handled, but it’s essential to be able to read your Leo’s mind and determine how they’re feeling at all times.

Overhandling these geckos can cause them to get anxious; thus, it is essential to monitor them constantly for feedback. If they begin to struggle against your hands and attempt to flee their cage, place them back within it.

It is essential to allow Leo some time to respond. The longer you provide care for them, the more comfortable they will become. If you respect their limits and don’t cross them, you shouldn’t have any problems interacting with them.            

Leos only need these three essential maintenance factors, and their housing/caring needs are satisfied

·       Make sure that Leo’s habitat is cozy and comfy

Geckos are desert animals that spend their lives in the wild, so it only seems sensible that they thrive in warm, dry environments. But you wouldn’t believe it if we told you that this environment isn’t always the most appropriate for them. Even while the bodies of leopard gecko are able to adjust to varying amounts of food and water, recreating the conditions of their natural habitat in confinement is the best way to ensure that your gecko lives out its full potential. If they are given the proper level of attention, management, and care while kept in captivity, leopard geckos are more likely to live longer. A terrarium that has adequate ventilation and a cover that is screened in is the kind of enclosure that is ideal for this kind of animal. Multiple geckos can share a single terrarium if only a single species male is present. But what is the optimal size? A tank with dimensions of 30 by 12 by 12 inches (or 76 by 31 by 31 centimeters) is suitable for housing one lizard. If you are considering buying more than one Leos, you should consider increasing the size of your aquarium to provide a habitat that is more suited to their numbers.

·       Give its health the highest priority

Even though caring for a leopard gecko is usually not too difficult, there are a few things that you should put at the top of your list of priorities. To begin, the food your lizard consumes is essential for its continued existence. The first thing you should do to improve its health is to ensure it gets the nourishment it needs. It is necessary to include calcium powder in your gecko’s food because the majority of feeding insects do not include the minerals required for your Leopard gecko.

They are known as insectivores, which indicates that insects make up their ideal diet. You should provide your Leos with a diet consisting primarily of insects such as:

• Crickets
• Smaller Mealworms
• Waxworms
• Dubia Roaches
• Silkworms
• Superworms

Make sure that the insects you give your gecko are the suitable size for them. Geckos who are just starting out need to eat smaller insects, whereas geckos that are fully grown prefer the larger ones.

Second, when you introduce your pet into its new environment, you should allow it some room for at least 3 to 4 days so that it may become accustomed to its surroundings. Your gecko may become ill as a result of the stress caused by adapting to a totally different environment that features strange surroundings.

In addition to this, it is recommended that you take your gecko to the veterinarian for a checkup not long after you obtain it and then every year after that.

·       Watch out for the warning signs!

It may be time to take your lizard to the veterinarian if it begins behaving unusually or exhibiting any symptoms that cause you concern. If you take your leopard gecko to the veterinarian regularly, they may be able to enjoy a longer and happier life. If you see any of the following symptoms, it is highly recommended that you take your pet to the veterinarian for an examination:

1. Keeping a lower profile than usual
2. Off-feed
3. Dropping some pounds
4. Swollen joints
5. Problems with the eyes, ears, or mouth
6. Problems with visible shedding as well as discoloration of the skin
7. Excessive diarrhea or bowel movements are not usual for more than two days.
8. Uneasy and labored breaths
9. Skin conditions such as bumps, sores, and abrasions

If you take good care of your lizard, there is a chance that it will live longer, but even if that doesn’t happen, you can be certain that it will have led a happy life since it was in your care.

The leopard gecko is among the most common types of pet lizards due to its hardiness, friendliness, and full of character. But are leopard geckos fall in the category of exotic pets?

There is no doubt that the leopard gecko is among the most well-liked exotic pets. This fascinating saurian has the ability to vocalize, as well as lick its eyes and “wink” its ears! They are available in a bewildering variety of colors and designs, and their prices change depending on the degree to which they are rare. Providing a leopard gecko with suitable housing and food is not difficult.

Habitat of exotic leopard geckos

The leopard gecko is a type of desert lizard native to the arid regions of Asia, Pakistan, and northeast India. Over the course of the past three decades, the species has emerged as a widely kept pet around the globe. In the wild, leopard gecko lifespans range from 7 to 10 years, although they can live up to 20 years in confinement.

Description

These lizards are just 2 to 3 inches long when they are hatchlings, but they grow to be 9-11 inches long when they are adults. Leopard geckos are the perfect pet for many apartment dwellers because of their tiny size and aesthetically appealing yellow and white coloring with black dots (usually, but juvenile geckos may be more patterned).  The skin on their back is rough all the way from the nose to the tip of the tail, but the skin on the belly is shockingly smooth and almost see-through. This species can autotomize, sometimes known as “losing its tail,” to divert the attention of possible predators. “Dropped” tails will eventually grow again, but the arrangement may not match perfectly, and the texture will not be rough as it was before.

Enclosure

Leos may be kept with little effort in glass aquariums holding 15–20 gallons of water or in other containers of comparable size. It is possible to house two geckos in an enclosure of 15 gallons provided that either both geckos are female or one of the geckos is male. Fights between two males will take their toll on both of them. Three geckos may live contentedly in a tank with a capacity of 20 gallons. The ideal number of females to males is two to one.

Other possibilities for enclosures include containers designed in the manner of sweater boxes, which may be customized with regard to factors such as airflow, lighting, and heating. Rack systems may be bought or made, and they are used to store geckos by certain breeders and keepers of bigger collections. These racks can be bought or made. It is important to remember that leopard geckos are primarily terrestrial in their habitat and have a limited capacity to climb; therefore, this factor must be considered while designing their enclosure.

Cage Accessories

Live potted plants that remain relatively tiny, such as different grasses and bromeliads, can be used to design a naturalistic terrarium for Leos. This terrarium can be used to house the geckos. It is possible to use fake plants without risk, which will have the same impact as natural plants. If a reptile accidentally eats some of the plant or the soil, any potted plants must be herbicide and pesticide-free at all times. Plants make the enclosure more aesthetically beautiful for the owners and provide enrichment and a sense of security for the geckos that live inside. It would be preferable to provide as many shrubs and greenery as is humanly possible.

At least two different sites inside the enclosure should have hides installed. Some examples of suitable hides include tiny cork logs, rock caves (but not heat caves), and other creative hiding. As a matter of preference, one hiding spot ought to be offered on the warmer end, and another ought to be provided on the cooler end in order to encourage thermoregulation while placing as little stress as possible on the animal.

In order to enhance the environment and provide a place for the Leo to sun itself, the cage should be augmented with branches, bark, and a few tiny pebbles. Geckos are often seen in their native habitats scurrying around the rocky edges of grassy areas. Crepuscular in their activity, leopard geckos will occasionally bask when the opportunity presents itself.

Feeding

The Leopard gecko is a real insectivore that feeds on insects as small as roaches (including dubias), silkworms, bloodworms, crickets, and red worms.  When it comes to feeding geckos, one good rule of thumb is that the food item supplied should always be alive and should not be any bigger than 1/2 the size of the gecko’s head. Adult geckos should be given about as much food as they can consume in a period of ten minutes every other day, while hatchlings and young geckos should be given between two and three different food items once a day.

Water

It is essential to provide a water bowl that is big enough for the gecko to submerge its body in the water completely. Because lizards frequently defecate in their water, the dish it is kept has to be cleaned at least once a week, and the water needs to be changed daily. It is advisable to immerse the animal in clean, warm water regularly in order to facilitate the shedding process.

Humidity

To avoid any problems, the humidity level in the enclosure for the leopard gecko should be maintained between 35 and 40 percent, and a humid hide box should be provided when the animal is shedding. Along with the water dish, keeping the humidity level may be accomplished by misting the area once or twice daily. This also provides essential hydration. There is a possibility that some will learn to sip from a water dish, while others will instead lick drops off of their skin and the furniture of their cage.

Temperature

Temperatures range from 79 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit during the day, with a basking zone that may reach 87 to 90 degrees. Temperatures can fall to as low as 71 degrees Fahrenheit at night, although it is recommended that they be kept between 73 and 75 degrees.

Since leopard geckos are native to arid environments, the question is: can you add sand to their enclosure?

Although leopard geckos make their homes in the sand in the wild, their way of life is much different than when they are in captivity. They are always moving about and looking for food, and because of this, they are able to excrete ingested sand grains much more quickly. They also consume a wide variety of foods. Leopard geckos kept as pets, on the other hand, are not as active and run the danger of impaction due to the ingestion of sand. This happens when the gastrointestinal system becomes obstructed, and the intestine cannot move the indigestible chemicals causing the blockage. On the bottom of the terrarium, a material that does not produce particles, such as tile or paper towels, is suggested by most vets.

When is the best time to bring your leopard gecko to the veterinarian?

As is the case with our warm-blooded exotic animals/pets, Leos should have an annual checkup with a veterinarian and annual fecal analysis because the insects they consume might cause them to take up intestinal parasites. Your veterinarian will be able to detect any growing concerns, such as a calcium deficit or restricted toes, through the use of annual checkups. If this is not the case, you should make an appointment with your veterinarian if you notice any changes in your pet’s feeding habits, temperament, or the amount or consistency of their feces.

Leopard geckos are known for their endearing smiles and their irresistible cuteness; as a result, they have swiftly surpassed even the beardies in terms of popularity as pet companions. The leopard gecko, also known by its scientific name, Eublepharis macularius, is regarded as the ideal low-maintenance pet option for new reptile fans as well as professional herpetologists. The topic “what do leopard geckos eat?” is one of the first queries that people who are interested in this gorgeous spotted reptile ask. So let us discuss the Leopard Gecko diet and what they eat?

Leos are opportunistic carnivores, meaning that they will consume anything that they are able to grab. These reptiles may consume prey such as beetles, wasps, bugs, and scorpions for food in the wild. In addition to that, they will occasionally hunt and eat newborn mice, gecko babies, and tiny snakes.

They are willing to give any animal a shot as long as it is tiny enough to fit in their mouths. There have even been tales of geckos devouring hatchlings in their quest for food, but this behavior is quite unusual.

More about Leos eating behavior

Leopard geckos do not sit and wait for their prey to come to them; instead, they actively seek them out and pursue them. They have excellent eyesight and will move stealthily and methodically in order to get their prey. They will occasionally shake or flex the ends of their tails before striking their prey when they are hunting. This helps to startle their prey into action and get them to move.

After making their first attack, they soon kill their target by shaking it. Geckos often ignore their dead prey, but occasionally they may lick it to evaluate whether or not it is edible.

The lizard’s pursuit of its prey may be pretty interesting to watch. They are skilled hunters with exceptional eyesight and a heightened sense of smell, despite their little size and ferocity. In addition, they have strong jaws equipped with a hundred fine, pointed teeth capable of being replaced every three to four months.

Leopard geckos will consume food whenever they have the chance. Wild creatures almost never develop overweight or obese due to their high activity levels and the lack of prey available to them. In point of fact, most of the time they are underweight. The average weight of a wild Lep is around 27-30 grams, although bigger pets can weigh up to 80-90 grams.

Leopard geckos kept as pets have lower activity levels than wild leopard geckos, and the food they consume is of higher quality; thus, they tend to put on excess weight. Maintaining a regular feeding routine for your gecko and keeping an eye on any signs of weight increase to reduce the risk of obesity is essential.

It is usual for juveniles and hatchlings to consume food more often and grow quicker than adults. Species that are older than 24 Months should no longer grow weight and thus feed less frequently, even though the size of their prey might get greater.

What to Give Your Pet Leopard Gecko to Eat?

The process of providing food for a pet leopard gecko is not only easy, but it’s also a lot of fun to see. They ambush their victim after tracking it from a distance or just wait for the bug to come too near before pouncing on it. This hunting strategy is very similar to the one used by their wild counterparts.

When it comes to feeding a Leos, it is preferable to provide them with as many insects as they can consume within a time frame of five to ten minutes. In addition, to protect the gecko from suffocation or impaction, you should always choose insects that are no larger than the distance in width that separates the gecko’s eyes. Your gecko will become disinterested in the food it consumes very fast if it is always the same item.

Most owners of reptiles just place the feeder insects in their gecko’s enclosure or feeding dish one at a time, and then they let their gecko pick them up whenever it is convenient for them. If your gecko is very fussy about its food (or, alternately, if it is elderly or crippled and needs a little bit of extra assistance), there are feeding tweezers available on the market. It is also possible to feed your gecko by hand, but doing so inhibits the natural foraging activities that your gecko would typically exhibit and, over time, might cause them to become sluggish.

Do Leos Need Some Extra Supplements?

The diet of a captive leopard gecko needs to have a supplement containing calcium and vitamin D3 given to each and every one of their meals. There are several essential health considerations underlying this decision.

To begin, geckos kept as pets require additional calcium and vitamin D3 because their natural meals do not provide sufficient nutrients. This is because most feeder insects marketed commercially contain an extremely high level of phosphorus but a very low level of calcium. In addition, in order for the gecko’s body to absorb and appropriately make use of calcium, vitamin D3 is required.

A leopard gecko that is kept in captivity may soon develop a susceptibility to malnutrition and MBD if the calcium and vitamin D3 in its diet are insufficient. This condition is excruciating and sometimes deadly, and it causes substantial bone deformation. MBD is a fatal disease that cannot be cured and causes a great deal of anguish for the reptile that has it. There is some degree of reversibility.

The calcium supplement given to a captive leopard gecko should preferably have calcium (Ca) to phosphorus (P) ratio of 3:1 or higher, an even better option. The vast majority of supplements are offered in either powdered or liquid forms, and they are intended to be either “dusted” over the insect or administered directly to the Leo using a syringe or eyedropper.

What Methods Of Hunting Do Wild Leopard Geckos Use To Catch Their Prey?

Leopard geckos are very opportunistic when it comes to hunting prey (as discussed above). They are ready to attack on virtually any bug or other invertebrate that gets too close to their territory. Most of the time, they hunt during the crepuscular or night hours.

Leopard geckos, fortunately, have excellent vision, particularly their ability to see in the dark. Because of this adaption, they are far better able to sneak up on their prey at such unnatural hours. In addition, they are voracious predators, meaning their method of hunting is basic and uncomplicated.

Are leopard geckos able to digest plant matter of any kind?

As insectivores, leopard geckos are unable to consume fruit or vegetables in their diet. Meat, such as insects, is the only food that the body of a leopard gecko can break down.

The fact that their systems were not developed to process or digest fruit and veggies is why they cannot consume any of these food groups.

They do not have a working cecum, which is the body’s area responsible for digesting cellulose, a chemical that may be found in fruits and vegetables.

In addition to this, their digestive tracts are alkaline and shorter, in contrast to the digestive tracts of herbivores, which are much longer and more acidic.

In addition, their skulls and jaws have adapted over time to enable them to consume meat, even though they are smaller and less intense than herbivores.

Research has shown that leopard geckos are able to consume fruit and vegetables; however, because they are unable to digest these foods, it is highly doubtful that doing so will benefit them in any way. 

The ‘Eyes’ of a Leopard Gecko are one of the species’ most distinguishing characteristics. The large, wide eyes that give these reptiles such an endearing and inquisitive appearance are also responsible for their exceptional eyesight. But what about colorblindness?  Are leopard geckos color blind?

No. Their eyes are able to differentiate between colors even when illuminated only by the moon, a circumstance in which the eyes of humans and the vast majority of other creatures are rendered useless.

But remember, they are able to perceive the color in both bright and dim light.

More about Leopard Geckos’ eyesight

As a result of the existence of cones in their eyes, Leos are capable of color vision, even if the range of colors they see is limited in comparison to that of humans. To be more specific, leopard geckos have the highest levels of sensitivity to the wavelengths of blue and green color while they are unable to perceive red color. Leopard geckos should have a regular incandescent light available throughout daylight hours. It is preferable to utilize colored light rather than really bright light, more precisely, yellow and red light, because these reptiles are less sensitive to such hues. 

It is important to note that exposure to UVA light/radiation during the day might improve the eyesight of the leopard gecko; hence, purchasing such a light source can be a wise financial decision. If you want to keep your leopard gecko warm at night, you should only use heat mats & ceramic heat bulbs. Colored night lights should be avoided.

The eyes of the leopard gecko are extremely sensitive to light, which is why this is the case; they shouldn’t even have a red bulb since leopard geckos can’t see the color red (as discussed above), but they can see the light that comes from the bulb even if it’s a different hue. However, if you want to keep an eye on your leopard gecko while you sleep, you may leave these lights on for a few hours before you turn in for the night.

Why shouldn’t leopard geckos have any nightlights on?

The leopard gecko’s sleep cycle is easily thrown off if it perceives light that it is still too light outside for it to be evening. This is because the leopard gecko is highly sensitive to light. (However, due to the fact that they are active at night, owners of leopard geckos should have a weak source of light that is not directly shining on the cage; for example, low light in the hallway.)

In addition to this, it is essential that leopard geckos have access to light during the day. They are cold-blooded, so they require warmth to digest effectively; in addition to helping them maintain a regular sleep cycle, this gives them the energy they need and the warmth they require for digestion.

Do geckos have strong eyesight (In general)?

They do not have particularly good vision, no. Let’s talk about this because we know it might sound confusing, but just because someone can see colors in low light does not guarantee that they have good eyesight.

Even while leopard geckos have the remarkable ability to see very well in low light, this does not always mean that their vision is very good. They, like most other living things, have certain advantageous qualities, but they may be deficient in other areas; after all, this is also true of people.

They may be able to perceive a particular hue in weak light with extraordinary accuracies, such as a blue or green picture, but it is possible that they will not necessarily get a particularly precise vision of that thing

Their vision is adequate for them to determine whether an approaching item is a threat to them or whether their prey is within grasping distance, which is sufficient for them to survive, but the clarity of these things as a whole is not very good. This can be explained in large part by the physiological make-up of their eyes. In particular, the focal length of these lenses is rather short.

Are there certain colors that Leopard Geckos prefer more than others?

This is an essential point to think about because there are some potential Leo owners who may be worried about the color of the leopard gecko’s tank, soil, and hiding holes. However, this is of little importance so long as the products in question are secure and suitable for use with your pet.

Although it is possible for a single leopard gecko to have an unusual preference, the vast majority of leopard geckos do not demonstrate a significant physical preference in certain hues. This is comparable to the fact that a person of the human species does not unanimously agree on their preferred color. They would much rather have things that are a natural color or one that is close to the environment they live in.

What makes gecko eyes so unique from other animal eyes?

You might be curious as to what makes the eyes of a gecko so unique and exciting. It’s possible that you’ve overheard someone raving about how well they do in dim light, but have you ever wondered why this is the case?  The leopard gecko’s eye has a vastly different chemical and cellular composition to that of a human’s. The rods in our eyes are essential to the function of our eyesight contrast; a Leo has three cones, which are employed to pick up colors even in low light.

FAQs

Do specific colors of food look appetizing to Leos?

The owners of leopard geckos should not bother trying to alter the color of their pet’s food because these reptiles do not appear to have a color preference. Since they feed on insects rather than plants or other animals, they are not herbivores or omnivores and do not appear drawn to vivid colors. In addition to having no actual impact, the leopard gecko’s strange coloration may be unsettling to it, which might cause it to stop eating. Additionally, if the improper food colour is used, the leopard gecko belonging to the owner may become ill.

Can Leos detect blue light?

Yes, they are able to perceive blue light. As you begin to gather light fixtures for the enclosure, you may find that you are curious about the colors to which they are sensitive and the things that they are truly capable of detecting. They are susceptible to blue-green light (as mentioned above), which makes perfect sense taking into account the environment in which they originally lived.

Is the color of the substrate important to Leopard Geckos?

Nope, it doesn’t. The leopard gecko is not picky about the substrate’s color or cleanliness so long as it does not irritate its skin and is maintained clean.

Because of this, the Leo owner should choose more secure solutions, such as moss bedding, paper towel, and various sands (when used correctly to minimize impaction), rather than colorful reptile carpet, which frequently includes some chemicals that leopard geckos should not be exposed to.