Leopard Gecko care 2024
Hides
Minimum 3 hides, but as always the more the better! Your leopard gecko should have access to enrichment, climbing opportunities, water, hides, and calcium. Above head heading with UVB/UVA lighting is the most recommended and natural way of keeping leopard geckos.
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·HOT HIDE/BASKING AREA - Basking temp 88°-92° (Surface temp should not get any higher then 94° or you risk burning your leo. To have the most accurate reading of surface temps, purchase a temp gun)
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·HUMIDITY HIDE - This is very important for every leopard gecko. Some people use sphagnum moss, others use paper towel! You can purchase a "wet rock" humidity hide or other humidity hides for reptiles off amazon or usually your local reptile store! The humidity should be around 30%-40% ! Make sure you are changing out your paper towel if that is the substrate you choice to use. There are many other great alternatives to use, just make sure you are doing your research correctly and always just keep an eye out for any issues!
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·COOL HIDE - this hide is on the opposite side of your hot hide. This is also the cool side, this allows your leo to be able to regulate temperatures, and have a cool spot to relax!
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Temps and substrates
·You want your basking temps to be around 88°-92° No hotter than 94° surface temp.
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·You want your ambient temps to be around 83°-85° (I personally aim for 85°).
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·You want your cool temps to be 78°-80°
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We don't recommend using sand/crushed walnut shells, eco earth on its own, or any dusty loose substrate, as it's not natural. It's always smart to quarantine your new animal and watch for any signs of illness! For that, we suggest using paper towel. That is what we use for new rescues, as it helps us monitor better for things like, unhealthy looking poop, and mites!
Bioactive enclosures/ enclosures with proper substrates are not only beautiful to see, they are the most natural thing for your leopard gecko when done right! Make sure you are doing lots of research into how to properly build the right bioactive enclosure for your type of reptile! For an example; Leopard Geckos need a arid bioactive enclosure if you are choosing the bioactive root! Youtube, and Facebook groups for natural enclosures are a great way to learn all about how you can provide the most realistic and natural home for your baby! Your bioactive enclosure can have some amazing backgrounds, and hides depending on how advanced you'd like to get with it!
For your bioactive set up, make sure your first step is adding a drainage layer! Personally we like to use hydroballs! On top of the hydroballs, you need a substrate barrier to prevent the substrate from mixing in with the hydroballs. We use a terrarium mesh, however there are so many options out there!
The next step is adding in your substrate! Keep in mind substrates like Eco Earth will not support plant growth! Next add in your leaf litter, and moss! Those help keep your humidity up in your enclosure! They also help support your clean up crew! You will need a growth light if you are planning on growing or keeping live plants in the tank! Make sure you've done your research on which plants are safe, and are not for your leo!
Your clean up crew can consist of a large amount of insects, including worms, springtails, and isopods!
Bioactive set ups are not for everybody, and we do not suggest them for beginners. Please make sure you are doing your research on how to properly set up your bioactive set up for your reptile. It does require some maintenance, and a certain commitment. It is not overly difficult but it does take some setting up and continued attention! Creating a bioactive enclosure is a great choice, but you must pay attention to it like you pay attention to your reptile. You are creating a living thing, a tiny microhabitat with its own inhabitants, its own nitrogen cycle! If you take care of it, it will flourish and take care of your reptile. If you don't, it will die and be a rotting thing that can cause problems.
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You can also use a mix of organic top soil, peat moss, play sand, repti soil, etc to make a natural substrate for your reptiles, you do not have to make a bioactive enclosure with live plants, but you can if you want to!
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Paper towel, and non adhesive shelf liner also make an okay substrate, however a bioactive substrate or a diy loose substrate mixture is more natural! (Make sure you are testing your heating BEFORE your leopard gecko goes into the tank with a new flooring to ensure it can get to the right temps, and wont be too hot)
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Tank Size
36”L x 18”W x 18”H was the minimum recommendation for a leopard gecko enclosure, however as new research comes out, we will continuously be updating our care and care guides. We have always preached, that bigger is best. When it comes to leopard geckos, we agree the minimum should be a 4x2x2. We always recommend providing as much room and enrichment as possible, however if you are currently using a 36x18x18 and are unable to upgrade to a 4x2x2 don't fret! However, please upgrade your enclosures if you are using anything smaller than a 36x18x18
Leopard geckos need a properly regulated hot, and cool side of their tank, as well as at least 3 hides! Your tank should have lots of enrichment, hides, plants real or fake to make them feel safe, a shallow water bowl, and calcium dish. We have seen so many leopard geckos who love to climb, providing drift wood and other climbing opportunities is an amazing idea for enrichment!
Feeding & Supplements
You want to leave a consist supply of calcium WITHOUT d3 in their tanks at all times. Leos will use this calcium any time they need a boost. You must make sure you are leaving calcium WITHOUT d3 in the tank, as if you leave calcium with d3, they could potentially overdose by eating too much.
Your leo tank should have a calcium bowl without d3 at all times and a fresh shallow water bowl every day.
You want to dust feeders with Multivitamins and calcium with d3
Dust with calcium with d3, 3 times a week, and the multivitamins, 2 times
(Put the live feeders into a container with a lid and shake the supplement up with them to help coat them!)
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·Always make sure you are GUT LOADING your feeders, this is very important for your leo!
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Babies should be fed 7-8 small sized live feeders daily, while adults can be fed 2-3 times a week!
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Remember its always important to provide your reptile with a variety of live feeders!
Calcium sacs, Tail loss, Stuck shed! Oh my!
CALCIUM SACKS
Calcium sacks happen when a leopard gecko has too much calcium stored up(not a horrible thing at all) or are overweight. When you notice calcium sacks, stop dusting your feeders(DO NOT STOP GUT LOADING) for about a week. If no improve cut back a bit on diet as well until they have decreased, then stick with your new diet!
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TAIL LOSS
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Leopard geckos can drop their tails if cornered, grabbed, stressed, poor husbandry, injury and a few other reasons! Leopard geckos tails are very important because it stores all the calcium and nutrition that they need! Leopard geckos will grow their tail back after losing it, however it will look slightly different, making it easy to tell that they have lost it before! Keep a close eye and make sure the area, and tank are as clean as possible. If you see your leo eat its tail, or can't seem to find it in the tank, don't be worried! This will help them gain back some strength they've lost.
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STUCK SHED
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Its common for leopard geckos to get stuck shed on their toes, make sure you are always checking your leo for any shed complications, and never assist with shed UNLESS you are giving a warm soak first.
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How you can help with stuck shed is by giving a warm bath. Make sure temps are okay for your leo and that the water isn't above their stomach. Let them soak for a few minutes in the warm bath and gently assist the stuck shed with a qtip.
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·If you are having issues with assisting with stuck shed, you can make your leopard gecko a sauna.
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To do this you NEED a temp gun to ensure your sauna will not be too hot for your Leopard Gecko. Have a container with a lid, and the lid should have plenty of breathing holes for your leopard gecko, or even one large hole. Line the bottom with paper towel, then put enough water in the container that its a hairline over the paper towel. Use water that's a little on the hotter side, cover the container with lid AND towel, and leave sit until the water temperature is right(warm enough) for your leo. This allows the container to turn into a sauna. Place your leopard gecko in the container at the right temperature, put the lid on and supervise your leo for 10-15 minutes, then remove and continue assisting with stuck shed.
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If your leopard gecko is having troubles with shedding, make sure you are checking your husbandry (temps and humidity) to see if there is a problem that needs to be fixed! always make sure you are providing your leopard gecko with a humidity hide!
Basic Leopard Gecko Care 2024
We wanted to be able to help educate those wanting more knowledge with Leopard Gecko Care. Please take it upon yourself to do your research and have the proper knowledge to make sure your Leopard Gecko is thriving. Joining Leopard Gecko Husbandry/Care groups on Facebook, and youtube can be great places to learn!