Leopard Gecko Care Sheet

BASIC LEOPARD GECKO CARE GUIDE

 

Things You’ll Need
• 10 gallon tank, per each gecko (20 gallon long is idea and 40 gallon even better)
• Heating pad or Heat Tape
• Thermometer with probe or a temp gun
• Thermostat 
• At least 2 Hides (preferably 3)
• Paper towels (or other substrate)
• Water dish
• Mealworms/Crickets/Dubia Roaches
• Supplementation (Multivitamin and Calcium + Vitamin D Powder)


Housing:

A 10 gallon aquarium can house one leopard gecko from hatchling to adult, but a 20 gallon is preferred  and a 40 gallon is even better into adulthood. A secure screen top is always recommended. Please note: Never house 2 males in the same enclosure as they will fight and most likely one will be killed.

Hides
  You should have atleast 3 hides available for your leopard gecko. One on the hot side and one on the cool side. A third hiding place for when your leopard gecko is shedding.
This humid hide placed between the hot and cool side and kept moist at all times. You can fill the humid hide with Eco Earth or other coconut coir. Improper shedding can lead to loss of toes, eye issues, etc.

Substrate
Paper towels are recommended as the easiest and healthiest for your leopard gecko. For a more aesthetically pleasing look, flat stones (e.g., ceramic tile) could also be used.

Temperature
For the hot side of the enclosure, your surface temps should be in the 90-92°F range. To create a hot side for your enclosure, an undertank heating pad or heat tape should be used. As for ambient temps, leopard
geckos will acclimate just fine to your average home temperature. These animals will tolerate being a little cooler much more than they will tolerate being overheated.

To regulate surface temperature, a thermometer with a probe or a temp gun  should be used i conjuction with a thermostat to ensure the temperature is accurate. Stay away from heat rocks and/or basking lamps as these are not basking animals and can be very dangerous, if not lethal to your gecko.

Lighting
It is not necessary to use lighting for your leopard gecko, but can be used for viewing purposes. An led light can be placed overhead on the screen top and can be left on for up to 12 hours a day.

Diet
Gut loaded Mealworms, Crickets, or Dubia Roaches dusted with a Calcium + Vitamin D supplement. We use our very own Complete Gecko Calcium and Vitamin mixture. It can be bought on our website or at almost any retile expo that Gecko Junkie is attending. We have Formulated our very own calcium and vitamin mixture that is sure to keep your gecko healthy. Feed them approximately 6-10 mealworms/crickets/roaches three to four times a week. You can also treat your pet to waxworms or superworms, but no more than once a week, as these foods are “treats” and have a high fat content.

It should be noted that while dusting is generally an acceptable practice, a dish of Loco Geckos Complete Calcium/Vitamin mixture should be made available to your gecko(s) at all times. Generally speaking, they will consume as much as they need on their own.

Water
A shallow dish of water can be available at all times. However, it's common misconception that Leopard geckos need a constant supply of water. In our racks here, we mist the geckos, fairly heavily, once per week and they will take in as much water as they need until the next time we feed/clean their enclosure. The idea is not to have standing water, but rather, it should evaporate from walls, etc. within a few hours. Every single gecko here is 100% conditioned to consume water in this manner and will likely continue to, should you choose to use the same method. Some people prefer to use filtered or spring water, but tap water is just fine and actually contains trace minerals that could be beneficial to your gecko. Liquid calcium or vitamin drops should NEVER be added to the water. It should be noted, if you do choose to use a water dish, it should be kept clean, at all times. Water dishes can easily become a haven for bacteria.