ANTS ON A ROCK 

Female Het Tremper Jungle Leopard gecko

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A little about leopard Geckos

 

Leopard geckos are among the most popular pet reptiles in the world, and with a good reason

Leos come in an amazing variety of colors and patterns thanks to morphs that have been developed in captivity.

Leos are easy to care for and require less space and equipment than many other lizard species.

 

Gecko facts

 

Leopard gecko’s natural range spans through parts of the Middle East, central and southwestern Asia.

 

Although in captivity they are usually kept in desert-type terrariums, leos are not desert dwellers, and sand is not a good substrate for them

 

The scientific name for Leopard gecko is Eublepharis macularius

 

Leos are often referred to as nocturnal, but they are actually crepuscular animals, which means they are most active in twilight.

 

Leopard geckos lack the adhesive lamellae – microscopic hooks on their feet that most others geckos have; that means they cannot climb vertical surfaces.

 

Since leopard geckos breed so readily in captivity, almost all available are captive bred.

 

Leopard gecko’s natural color is yellowish-brown with dark spots all over the body. However, many morphs with amazing color ranges were created

 

General Care

A leopard gecko can grow around 15 – 25 centimetres and live up to 10 – 20 years in captivity. They prefer to live alone but can become hand tame if enough time is dedicated. A healthy leopard gecko should have bright eyes and a thick tail, its belly should only touch the floor when resting.

 

Housing

The minimum vivarium size for a juvenile leopard gecko should be in the region of 60x38x30cm but a larger enclosure is required for an adult. Leopard geckos are solitary animals and may become stressed if kept in a group. Leopard geckos can be kept in pairs ensuring the enclosure is large enough and there are enough places to hide, but this is NOT RECOMMENDED. The recommended substrate is Leo Life, as it has a variety of textures, and moss is needed for shedding.

 

Heating

Leopard geckos are ECTOTHERMIC meaning they use their environment to control their body temperature. You will need to create THERMOGRADIENT by positioning a heat bulb at one end of the enclosure, leaving the other end cool. Low humidity is required.

 

The heat bulb should be plugged into a thermostat to ensure it stays at the right temperature.

 

Lighting

Leopard geckos are crepuscular animals, therefore, need minimal light exposure. However, a UV light in the gecko’s enclosure can be used this is beneficial for the animal but is not essential

 

Feeding

Leopard geckos mainly feed on invertebrates in the wild. In captivity, feed a variety of different live foods, these include crickets, mealworms and locusts (no bigger than the size of the gecko’s head). Your gecko will also enjoy waxworms, these are high in fat so should only be fed as a treat.

 

Any uneaten bugs should be removed after 15 minutes to ensure they do not bite your leopard gecko. Live food should be fed a good diet (Gut loaded) to ensure they pass on sufficient nutrients to your gecko. Provide crickets, locusts and calciworms with small amounts of fresh veg, dry cereal food or special foods available from pets’ shops.

 

Captive environments do not supply all the vitamins and minerals available in the wild, so supplements are required. Live foods should be lightly dusted with a vitamin and calcium supplement, before being offered to the gecko.

We recommend the Arcadia earth pro range for a good variety of supplements.

 

Water

Water is essential for a reptile’s health. A shallow dish of clean, freshwater must be always provided in the cool end of the enclosure. This must be cleaned daily and immediately if soiled.

 

Cleaning

Poorly maintained enclosures can put your leopard gecko’s health at risk. Waste should be spot cleaned as soon as it appears. Clean the vivarium and equipment fully once a month using a reptile safe cleaner. Reptiles can carry Salmonella, make sure to wash your hands before and after handling your gecko or its equipment to reduce the risk.

 

Welcome to the reptile hobby and please enjoy your new pet.

 

Any questions please drop cookies reptiles a message on Facebook and he will be happy to help

 

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