Caring for Your Leopard Gecko

The ideal enclosure for your pet gecko depends on how many you'll be housing together. If you're only getting one lizard, a tank size of around 10 gallons (20 x 10 inches) will suffice. A pair of leopard geckos shouldn't be kept in anything smaller than 15 gallons (24 x 12 inches). A 20-gallon tank (30 x 12 inches) is perfect for a small colony of 3 or 4 geckos, but keeping too many geckos together isn't recommended for beginner keepers.

As cold-blooded reptiles, leopard geckos can't regulate their own body temperature. That's why you'll need to provide them with a heating system in their tank. While there are many heating options available, heating pads remain one of the best choices. Unlike ceramic bulbs and heat lamps, heating pads keep a constant temperature and contain it to the one area of the tank. Just make sure your heating pad doesn't cover more than two-thirds of the enclosure, so your gecko has the freedom to cool down if necessary.

One reason many pet owners prefer leopard geckos to other reptiles is because of their simple dietary requirements. These lizards do best on a diet of live bugs, typically 2 crickets fed each evening. Once your gecko is one year old, feeding can be reduced to every other day. You can boost your leopard gecko's nutrition by "gut-loading" the crickets — giving them vegetables and whole grains — around 24-hours before feeding time. Dusting the bugs with calcium powder and multivitamins will also go a long way in keeping your gecko healthy.

Despite their small size and scaly skin, leopard geckos can make surprisingly friendly companions. While they do have teeth, they're docile and placid by nature, rarely biting even when scared. After giving your leopard gecko two weeks to settle into their tank, you can begin training them with regular handling. A happy and safe gecko will enjoy crawling over your hands or even your entire body. Just be sure to never handle your gecko by their tail, as they are easily injured

Unlike furry pets, leopard geckos don't require any grooming. However, they do self-groom by regularly shedding their skin every four to eight weeks. You'll notice that shedding is about to begin when your gecko's skin appears pale or gray. Once you see this sign, begin spraying the tank with water 2 to 3 times a day. This will raise the humidity levels and keep your gecko's skin soft, preventing any shedding-related injuries. Shedding takes a day or two, and you should remove any dead skin from the tank as soon as you see it.

Leopard geckos are one of the most durable pet lizards around, which is why they're so good for beginners. However, like any pet, they can still get sick from time to time. Following the correct feeding and housing guidelines will go a long way in keeping your gecko healthy, but make sure to look out for common health problems. Lethargic behavior, weight loss, discoloration, loose stool, a slack jaw, or a bulging stomach can all be signs that your lizard needs veterinary attention.

You don't need to walk your gecko like a dog, but you do need to provide ways for them to stay active. The best way to keep a leopard gecko happy and active is to furnish their tank with plenty of enrichment items. You can buy hides and treat balls in many reptile stores, but making your own is just as easy. Wrapping some waxworms up in an old toilet roll tube with holes poked in it, for example, will keep any leopard gecko busy for hours.

To keep your leopard gecko healthy and happy, make sure their tank stays clean. Change the water in their dish daily and remove any poop as soon as you see it. Once or twice a week, throw out any dirty substrate at the bottom of your gecko's tank and replace it with a fresh covering. You should also wash your gecko's food and water bowls at the same time. This is all you'll need to do for regular maintenance, but don't forget to completely deep clean the tank every two months or so.

Since leopard geckos live among other animals in the wild, you may think it's okay to house them with other reptiles. However, this can bring unnecessary stress to your gecko, and many reptiles will even fight each other to the death. Leopard geckos should only be housed with other leopard geckos, and you should be careful not to keep too many together until you have the necessary experience. Likewise, keep your leopard gecko away from other pets like cats or dogs, as their small size makes them easy to harm.

One of the best things about leopard geckos is that they can adapt well to many pet owners' requirements. For example, if you're squeamish about the possibility of live crickets escaping into your home, your gecko can also live on a diet of mealworms. Likewise, while geckos do prefer quiet environments, they can usually adjust to living in a noisy home with children. Just be sure to keep an eye on your pet's eating and handling habits to ensure they're not showing signs of stress.