Care Sheet for Geckos: LeopardAverage Rating Given To This Care Sheet Is 5.00 (1=lowest, 5=highest) Last Updated: 12/12/2006 |
Main Category: | Lizards |
Sub Category: | Geckos: Leopard |
Care Sheet Submitted By: | Alpha male |
Years Experience: | 1 to 2 Years |
Species: | Leopard gecko |
Other Species or Phases this Care Sheet May Cover: | no, only leos |
Sexing and Characteristics: | Sexing a leopard gecko can take place after 7-9 months of age. After 7-9 months of age if you have a male pores will form above the vent in a "V" formation. Also there will be bulges; females will also have these pores but they will not be darkened like the males. Females will also have the bulges but it will NOT be as noticeable. |
Mostly Active During: | Night |
Substrate and Water Needs: | Well, I will start off by saying that no matter what petstores say "sand" is not god for a leo; Even if it says "easily digestible.That is not true. there has been many many many cases where people come running to our this forum saying"my gecko is getting skinny and losing it’s appetite" then we will reply without hesitation"impaction". Impaction is when a leo eats the sand and cannot digest it properly. The other BAD substrates are anything that is loose because they could still get impacted and die. Good substrates are Reptile Carpet, Paper Towels, Ceramic tiles, or any other SOLID substrate.
Water should be in the cage at all times. If necessary put some layers of paper towel underneath the waterbowl just in case it spills. The water bowl should be big enough for the leo to soak in if it wants to; but not deep enough for a possibility of drowning. |
Lighting and UVB: | A UVB is not necessary. I personally just use a heat pad. But some people do prefer a UVB an apropriate wattage would be 40-60watts depending on if you have a heating pad. But if you are like me you can just get a heating pad that covers "half of the cage " and the other half should be cool. |
Temperatures and Humidity: | Normal Temps for a leo are anywhere from 85-88 degrees on the warm side and 75-78 on the cool side. Also there should be a digital thermometer to be able to tell what the heat is. |
Heating and Equipment: | Like I said in a paragraph above a UVB is not necessary unless a heatpad cannot keep the temps. right. If you decide to only use a UVB i recommend a 60 watt. bulb that covers only HALF of the cage. It has to only cover half the cage because it has to simulate a warm and cool side. I recommend just to use a heat pad that only covers half the cage. You can find a heating pad at any reptile or exotic pet store. Although People have other opinions i use a heating pad and during breeding season a UVB. |
Caging Provided: | Most people say that a 10gal. tank is enough for one leo. I differ a little. I think that a 10gal. tank is only enough for a juvenile or baby leopard. I think a 20gal. tank is only proper for a adult leo.
As for hiding places. There should be at least 3 hides in the cage.1 cool side 1 warm and 1 humid hide. the humid side should be on the warm side and should have vermiculite pylite or moist paper towels. There should be something moist available in the humid hide at ALL times. |
Diet: | Carnivorous |
Description of Diet: | The staple diets for leopard geckos are usually crickets,superworms/not super meal worms,silkworms,and mealworms. Wax worms are good for treats but should not be kept as a staple because it has no nutritional value and can be HIGHLY addicted. Pinky mice are not a good staple or a good treat but..... during breeding season u can give 1 or 2 pinkies a month to fatten up your female(s). D3/calcium should be dusted with the crickets or any of your staples 1-3 times a week. |
Supplements, Nutrition and Usage: | Ok to start off a pure calcium bowl in the cage at all times. Possibly next to the water bowl or around in that area. Other sources of calcium is D3. D3 should be dusted on the crickets/or staple 1-3 times a week depending on what type of condition your leo is in. |
Maintenance: | Leopard geckos in my opinion is the easiest type of gecko to maintain there is and/ or eer will be. To care for a leopard gecko really all you need is time persistence and a good source of information. Well if you are reading this care sheet then there is the source of information you have and if you are just googling this then you should check out the leopard gecko forum because almost all of your questions will be answered there. Also if you have been googling and searching for hours and hours looking for information then you are probably persistent. Now all you need is time and a little extra money and you will have the pet of your life. |
Some Words on this Species: | Leopard geckos are wild in Pakistan,Iran and Iraq. many many albinos and other looks have been came up with pver the ong time of leopard gecko breeding. I HOPE YOU LIKED MY CARE SHEET AND THANK YOU FOR READING MY INFORMATION! |
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