Care Sheet for Geckos: LeopardAverage Rating Given To This Care Sheet Is 2.91 (1=lowest, 5=highest) Last Updated: 09/01/2006 |
Main Category: | Lizards |
Sub Category: | Geckos: Leopard |
Care Sheet Submitted By: | R3PT1L10N |
Years Experience: | Under 1 Year |
Species: | Leopard Gecko |
Other Species or Phases this Care Sheet May Cover: | N/A |
Sexing and Characteristics: | To Tell the sex of a Leopard gecko. The males will have a slight bulge next to the tail but under the body of the gecko. Most Leo Geckos are really calm. For the first week or 2 they can be skittish but then they become REALLY tame. Do Not House 2 males together because they will fight. One leo would be your best choice unless the male and female are mates and knew each other long enough to be cool with each other.These geckos don’t get big. The females will grow to 7 - 8 inches the most. The males will grow 9 - 10 inches the most. Unless you get a Giant Lep Gecko which grows to 10- 11.6 inches, those are the usual sizes. |
Mostly Active During: | Night |
Substrate and Water Needs: | Please whatever you do, DO NOT USE ANY TYPE OF SAND ! SAND IS THE KILLER OF LEO’S TODAY ! The sand or ANY loose substrate is horrible for your leo. I will explain why. The sand or any loose substrate can lead to impaction. Impaction is when the Leo gets bits of loose substrate in the body and clogs up the whole insides of the leo. The Impaction of course kills the Leo. Again, I can’t stress this enough, DON’T USE ANY TYPE OF SAND OR ANY LOOSE SUBSTRATE! For water you need to use a dish where it can drink out of and at the same time go in if the Leo wants to. It’s confusing but I made out fine, I’m sure you will too. |
Lighting and UVB: | This is in particular is not a big subject for a Leo. The reason is because, the Leo Gecko is nocturnal meaning it only is up at the night. The only time when you need a Night Light is if you want heat or to view the Leopard Gecko. If you do buy a light, Please buy a RED light, because Leo can not see that high of a shade of color. Leo’s will only come out when it’s dark. These geckos DO NOT need uvb. |
Temperatures and Humidity: | The temperatures for this animal should 2 different temps. The tank needs to be Temp Gradient meaning one side hot and one side cold. The hot side should 82 - 90 degrees Fahrenheit. The cold side should be 75-77 degrees Fahrenheit. Also, you should something ACCURATE to measure the temps. A digital Thermometer would be the best choice. These geckos have a Humid Hide so only that hide will be humid for them to shed. |
Heating and Equipment: | This is important. Leo’s need heat. If you want to view the animal and use a Night Light with Heat, then get a Red Light. But if you want just want to heat the tank, get a Ceramic Heat Emitter. Now, you also need substrate heat. I mean if you have the temps right, this shouldn’t be that much of a big topic, but it helps the leo out. For Substrate Heat, get a UTH (under tank heater). Make sure you have tile or a rheostat when using a UTH because if it gets too hot, It can burn the leo through the ReptiCarpet. But if you have tile, The rheostat would’nt be that necessary. Just make sure you get the temps right and your set with Heat. |
Caging Provided: | 10 gallon - 1 Leo, even though a 20 is better for Temp. Gradient
20 gallon - 2 Leos
Each Leo you add, add a another 10 gallons.
In the Housing Provided, you will need 3 hides. One on the Hot, One on the Cold and A Humid Hide. A Humid Hide is very important because It needs to shed properly with the Humidity. And Too much Humidity causes Respiratory Infections. So, that’s the Leo housing should have only a small spot of humidity, the humid hide. Also, Make sure you have a mesh top for Amazing Ventilation.
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Diet: | Carnivorous |
Description of Diet: | Leos get hungry just like us, humans. So, we must feed them. I will define a 2 phrases before I continue into what type of food. "Staple Diet" means and diet that you feed the Leo normally. Like how we eat eggs for breakfast, that’s our " Staple Diet" in the morning. Now another word is " Treats " meaning you only feed this once or twice a week like a 5 yr old kid getting a piece of candy as a treat. Ok, a great Staple Diet can consist of Mealworms, Crickets, Superworms and Silkworms. I prefer Mealworms and sometimes crickets to switch it up. Variety is very good for the Leo. So, The best choice would be Mealworms and Crickets. Or you can feed it just mealworms, if that’s the case with your Leo. The treat would be a waxworm. Waxworm are a Leo’s favorite treat. But there is a reason why it’s a "treat". Waxworms have a high fat content so if a Leo eats too much it can get Fatty Liver Disease. So, waxworms are only fed as a Treat. |
Supplements, Nutrition and Usage: | These are basically " powders". The powders that you use are important because if you don’t have the right powders the Leo can get MBD ( Metabolic Bone Disease), I think you figure that out just by the name. So, The powders you need are Pure Calcium with NO d3 or Phosphorus and No MultiVit. , just PURE CALCIUM.
Then you a MultiVitamin containing D3 or you can buy those 2 separate. Instead of having you search for hours in your local pet store, I will just tell you the name of the products you need. For Pure Calcium, get JurassiCal. Then for the d3 with MultiVitamin get, ReptiVite. Now I will tell you how to use them. You must dust the food M - F with PURE calcium. Then on the weekend you can use the MultiVitamin for both Sat and Sun. Or if you have the d3 and MultiVit. separate, you can use the D3 on Sat and MultiVit on Sun. You can dust by putting the food in a bag, shaking up the bag and the food is dusted. Also, don’t forget to leave a cap of PURE CALCIUM for your leo. You can use the lid of a milk jug and put the PURE calcium in it and leave it for the Leo in the tank. |
Maintenance: | For clean up, you basically remove the poo daily. Then every 2 weeks you wash the substrate out.Every 2 weeks or month you wash the objects in the tank like plants, hides, rocks,etc. That’s about it for Cleaning. |
Some Words on this Species: | The rundown is basically the things you need.
Tank
Powders
Food
Light
Water
Heat
Substrate
Love & Care
So, now you know how to care of a Leo. Hope this guide helps you out. Hopefully you enjoy having a Leo!
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