Leopard Gecko your care

Having a leopard gecko at home requires theoretical preparation and resources. Here's what you need.

The leopard gecko (Eublepharis macularius) is native to the deserts and rocky plains of Afghanistan, India and Pakistan. Being animals of easy treatment and striking appearance, they have become popular among reptile lovers.

As a species that has not gone through a domestication process, having one at home means adapting its habitat to the conditions necessary for its well-being. This requires extensive knowledge about the species and possessing the necessary resources to carry it out. If you have just embarked on this task, here you will find the basic guidelines.

Choosing the leopard gecko

More than one color or another, which respond to aesthetic tastes, you must worry about the health of the animal. It's hard to find geckos for adoption (although it's possible, so find out about exotic rescue associations in your area), so you'll need to focus on finding a suitable seller.

If you opt for the purchase, keep in mind something very important: these animals must come from certified breeders, with all their papers in order and never extract reptiles from their natural environment. Otherwise, you would be seriously harming the biodiversity of the planet and perhaps committing a crime.

Finally, make sure the gecko is in good health. You should make sure that it has good weight, does not carry remains of molting, does not make strange movements and that it is active. If you detect any signs of disease do not acquire it.

Accommodation

The best option is a glass feeder. The minimum size must be 90 x 38 x 30 centimeters and it must be possible to ventilate in its upper part to guarantee air quality.

Within it you have to take care of several elements:

• Substrate: the best are newspaper, kitchen paper, coconut bark, orchid bark or desert sand. Never use other types of litter, such as cat litter, as you risk them ingesting it with their food and suffering an intestinal impaction.
• Temperature: ideally, there should be about 30ºC inside the terrarium. However, you must provide different zones within it, so that the gecko can be regulated at will. The coldest point should not fall below 21ºC. You can use electric spotlights or blankets.
• Humidity: Since they are reptiles of desert climate, you do not need a constant source of humidity. During the molting season you should moisten the terrarium to avoid dissecdisis.
• Lighting: as they are nocturnal reptiles, a UVB light source is not usually necessary. However, it is best to consult with the veterinarian about this.
• Decoration: inside the terrarium you must include a shelter for the day to pass, a water fountain, logs for it to climb and some rock or rough surface to rub and remove the remains of skin during molting.

Can I have several geckos in the same terrarium?

If you want to house several geckos together, remember to quarantine with each of them. In addition, it is not advisable to have more than one male per group, as they are territorial and there could be aggressions.

On the other hand, you should also increase the size of the terrarium depending on the number of individuals. If you have reptiles of different sexes, they may breed, so try to have only females.

Leopard gecko diet

These reptiles are insectivores, that is, they feed on live insects that they find in their habitat. Therefore, you should imitate this to give him a proper diet. For this you can provide crickets and supplement with silkworms, cockroaches, tenebrios and zophobes (king worm).

Don't forget to supply a source of clean water and change it every day.

To supply them, it is best to use an anti-escape container. This way you will prevent insects from circling the terrarium and stressing the reptile (or escaping and you have to look for them at home).

Considerations

Insects should not be larger than half of the gecko's head. For juveniles, the frequency of feeding should be alternate days, but adults are enough to eat 2-3 times a week.

Never provide them with more food than they can consume in 15 minutes.

Remember to collect all the dirt from the terrarium when they finish eating. Feeding them in an empty receptacle is also an option that many prefer.

Handling

Finally, manipulating your leopard gecko is also something you have to learn to avoid stressing it and being able to examine it carefully to assess its health. The first thing you should know is that you should never lift him by the tail, because it is possible that you cause injuries and a lot of pain.

In addition, they have the ability to autonomize their tail, that is, they can be mutilated to escape in case they feel mortal danger.

The body of the reptile should always be fastened. Whether it is face down or on your back, the belly or back of the animal should be resting on your palm. If he debates or tries to bite you, he holds his head with two fingers at the height of the base of the skull.

And finally, remember to have the help of a veterinarian specialized in reptiles. Each species has different requirements and it is difficult to keep them in good health in captivity, so never miss the periodic reviews of your clinic.

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