Keeping Leopard Geckos as Pets
Care, Feeding, and Habitat for Eublepharis macularius in Captivity
Sep 15, 2009
Leopard geckos (Eublepharis macularius) are engaging, easy-to-care-for lizards that make excellent pets. Unlike the majority of geckos that are capable of walking up a vertical glass surface or running on a ceiling, leopard geckos belong to a group called the eyelid geckos. These geckos lack sticky pads on their fingers and toes (instead, they possess small claws), and, as their name indicates, they have moveable eyelids.
What makes leopard geckos such good pets? As Ray Hunziker notes in his 1994 book The Guide to Owning a Leopard Gecko, "The inherent adaptability of the leopard gecko is precisely what makes it a great pet." There are, however, several things that a pet leopard gecko requires to thrive.
Housing Leopard Geckos
One or two adult leopard geckos can be kept in a single 10-gallon size terrarium. Never keep two males together or they will fight. Two female geckos can be kept in a single terrarium. Two very important features of the terrarium are temperature and adequate hiding places, as discussed below.
Appropriate Food for Leopard Geckos
Leopard geckos primarily eat insects, although Hunziker notes that "[they] will attempt to eat almost any small animal they can successfully cram down." Crickets are an ideal staple food for leopard geckos, and they are easy to obtain at most chain pet stores, including Petco and Petsmart. Crickets can also be ordered online, although many online suppliers sell crickets only in groups of 100 or more. However, there are some companies, such as Fluker Farms, from which as few as 50 crickets at a time may be ordered.
Mealworms, which are the larval stage of the darkling beetle (Tenebrio molitor) (Center for Insect Science Education Outreach, University of Arizona, viewed on September 15, 2009), are another commonly used 'feeder insect' for leopard geckos. Mealworms are a great convenience food for leopard geckos because they can be maintained in a refrigerator. However, these insects are considered less nutritious than crickets, due to their relatively high chitin content (Hunziker, 1994) and high phosphorus-to-calcium ratio, as noted by professional herpetoculturalists Sean and Monida Niland of VMSherp.com. But, mealworms are an acceptable food for leopard geckos if given occasionally (Hunziker, 1994).
Waxworms, a caterpillar that is the larval form of the wax moth, can also be used to feed leopard geckos. However, their high fat content renders them unsuitable for every day feeding (Hunziker, 1994); instead, they should only be given as a special treat.
All insects that will be offered to a pet gecko as food must be gut-loaded. That is, the insects must be fed a nutritious mix of raw fruits, raw vegetables, and grains at least 24 hours before the insects will be food for the lizard. In addition, all insects should be dusted with a calcium-rich vitamin powder before they are offered to the gecko.
Never offer a gecko a food item larger than the length of the lizard's head, as the animal might choke.
Leopard Geckos Need a Water Dish
A leopard gecko's water dish should be cleaned and refilled every day. Take care that the water dish is not so large that the gecko can fall in and drown. A leopard gecko will actually lap up water from its water dish, using its tongue as a 'spoon'.
Heat Sources for Leopard Geckos
The most important temperature requirement for a leopard gecko is a thermal gradient; that is, the terrarium should be cooler on one side (about 75 degrees Fahrenheit) and warmer on the other side (85-90 degrees Fahrenheit).
Leopard geckos do not require a heat lamp to thrive. In fact, some experts feel that a heat lamp is inappropriate for leopard geckos (VMSherp.com), while others, such as Ray Hunziker, think that a heat lamp is acceptable as long as the terrarium temperature is carefully regulated.
An under tank heating pad or mat can be used instead of a heat lamp to raise the temperature of the warmer side of the terrarium. Such pads or mats usually stick to the bottom of the terrarium using a built-in adhesive strip.
Leopard Gecko Hiding Places
Although leopard geckos are native to desert and grassland regions of India and Pakistan, they are nocturnal and spend much of their time in underground burrows. Therefore, access to cooler, private hiding places is essential. Leopard geckos, like many lizards, may become stressed and fail to thrive if they do not have an available hiding place (Hunziker, 1994).
In fact, two hiding places -- one on the warm terrarium side, and one on the cool terrarium side -- are ideal, allowing the lizard to feel secure while maintaining an appropriate body temperature. Sean and Monida Niland (VMSherp.com), expert lizard breeders, note that leopard geckos may stay in a too hot or too cold hiding place if it is the only place in their terrarium where they feel secure.
Leopard geckos are an excellent choice for those who want to have a low-maintenance, engaging reptilian pet.
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