Leopard gecko cage and gecko’s natural habitat should be as close as possible to ensure their well being. Even though leopard gecko is one of the easiest reptile pet to care for, proper set up and daily maintenance are very important.
With the right care, leopard gecko can live up to 20 years. Here are some tips to set up a healthy and comfortable living space for your gecko.
Choosing the Right Terrarium and Substrate
Leopard gecko is animal that likes to spend its life on the ground and rarely climb, so the cage should be long and wide instead of tall and narrow. For a single gecko, you can use at least a 10 gallons terrarium. When you want to add a gecko or two, make the tank extra bigger by 5 to 10 gallons.
Housing a lizard should be no more than three, with one male and the other are females, since the males will fight over the territory. Leopard gecko should be kept in a glass terrarium to prevent them from escaping. Ventilate the terrarium and use screened-lid for safety.
Leopard gecko has sensitive skin, so the substrate should be non-abrasive and non-irritating for their under skin, yet should be easy for cleaning and replacement. Good substrates that you can use are artificial turf, reptile carpet, paper towel, or newspaper.
Decoration
The tank decoration should include proper landscaping, furniture, plants, and hiding spot. Make the inside of the gecko tank as natural as possible, do not over-decorate it. Place rocks or thick branches for the leopard gecko for exercising and climbing spot.
Artificial plants or holes, overlapping rocks, curved bark, can be the perfect hiding spot for this hide-and-seek-lover lizard as well as sleeping area. These hiding spot should be more than two, especially if your terrarium houses more than one gecko.
The basking area for your leopard gecko can be rocks or a piece of wood under a light. In choosing the decoration, whether for above or bottom area, avoid something sharp or toxic woods since gecko tend to rub its body during shedding. There should be food and water bowl as well that need to be fill with fresh water and food every day.
Humidity and Temperature
The humidity inside the tank should be around 20% to 40%. You can use a hygrometer to measure the humidity. Proper humidity can help with your gecko’s shedding. Leopard gecko will need humid or moist area to help them shed. You can line the leopard gecko’s shelter with a moist substrate, such as moss or damp soil.
Leopard gecko is an ectothermic animal or can’t produce their own body heat, which means it relies on their surrounding area’s temperature. In daytime, the temperature should be 87-90 degrees Fahrenheit (for basking area) and 70-80 degrees Fahrenheit (for cooler side). At night, the temperature should be 70-75 degrees Fahrenheit. If we are able to maintain the proper temperature levels with UTH (under tank heaters), then we can use any standard light bulb as a light source in your tank.
When you are deciding on housing some leopard geckos, to ensure their healthy and longevity lives, wisely set up your own leopard gecko terrarium.