The leopard gecko is a ground-dwelling, crepuscular lizard from the rocky scrublands of Central and South Asia.
It is hardy, slow-moving and tolerant of gentle handling, which makes it a reasonable first reptile for a committed keeper.
Unlike most geckos it has movable eyelids and lacks adhesive toe pads, so it cannot climb smooth glass.
These geckos are long-lived, often reaching their late teens, so acquiring one is a real commitment.
They are quiet and low-odour and need only modest space, but they still require precise heating and a properly furnished terrestrial vivarium to thrive.
Housing
Provide a vivarium of at least 90x45cm floor area for one adult, larger if possible, with a tight-fitting lid and good ventilation.
Establish a warm zone with a basking surface of about 30-33C and a cool end around 22-24C, all controlled by a thermostat.
A low-output UVB tube (around 5-7%, T5 in a suitable enclosure) supports vitamin D3 synthesis and bone health and is now recommended despite older care advice.
Offer at least three hides: a warm hide, a cool hide and a humid hide with damp moss to aid shedding.
Use a solid or fine, particle-free substrate such as a bioactive soil mix or tile, especially for young animals or first setups, since deep loose sand alone can contribute to gut impaction.
Spot-clean daily.
Diet
Leopard geckos are strict insectivores.
Feed a rotation of appropriately sized live insects such as crickets, dubia roaches, locusts and black soldier fly larvae, reserving waxworms as an occasional treat because they are high in fat.
Gut-load insects and dust them with calcium and a vitamin/D3 supplement on a regular schedule.
Feed juveniles daily and adults every two to three days, offering insects no longer than the space between the eyes.
Always provide a shallow dish of fresh water.
Obesity from over-feeding fatty insects and metabolic bone disease from poor supplementation are the two most common diet-linked problems.
Health
A healthy gecko has a plump tail (its fat store), clear eyes, alert behaviour and a good appetite.
Watch for retained shed on the toes and around the eyes, which can constrict and cause infection; a humid hide and correct husbandry usually prevent it.
Tail loss is a defensive response, and the regrown tail differs in shape and colour.
Common ailments include metabolic bone disease, impaction, and respiratory infections from cold or damp conditions.
A wobbly gait, soft jaw or weight loss warrants a veterinary visit.
Use a vet experienced with exotics, as general practices may lack reptile expertise.
Temperament
Leopard geckos are calm and generally tolerant of handling once settled.
They are most active at dawn, dusk and into the night, so expect a quiet animal during daylight hours.
With patient, regular short handling sessions most become confident and rarely bite.
They are solitary and should be housed singly.
Males will fight, and mixed or same-sex groups frequently lead to stress, injury or competition over food and warm spots.
Keeping one gecko per enclosure avoids these problems.
Beginner
Beginner
Beginner
Beginner
Beginner
Beginner