Small companions.
Thoughtful care.
Support your leopard gecko with balanced insect meals, secure retreats, and veterinary care at every stage of life.
About 45–60 g
A ground-dwelling gecko with distinctive spots.
Leopard geckos, Eublepharis macularius, are terrestrial lizards that are often most active around dusk and at night. Unlike many other geckos, they have movable eyelids.
Their tails store fat, and many individuals tolerate gentle handling. Patterns and colors vary widely, so knowing your own gecko’s normal appearance and behavior is helpful.
Nutrition and a comfortable home
Varied insect meals
- Offer appropriately sized, captive-raised feeder insects such as crickets, suitable roaches, and insect larvae. Vary the selection rather than relying on one food.
- Feed the insects a nutritious gut-loading diet before offering them to your gecko.
- Ask your veterinarian to tailor calcium and vitamin supplements to age, diet, and UVB exposure. Avoid combining products without guidance.
- Adjust meal size and frequency to growth and body condition. Rodents are not needed as routine food for this insect-eating species.
- Provide fresh water in a shallow dish and remove uneaten insects that could disturb or injure your gecko.
A secure home of its own
- House individually to avoid competition, injuries, and unwanted breeding.
- Provide a spacious enclosure with ample floor area for exploration and distinct warm and cool zones. Do not rely on the old guide’s small shared-tank recommendation.
- Offer secure hides on both sides and a separate humid hide. Provide stable low climbing features without dangerous drops.
- Choose substrate with your veterinarian; simple paper-based surfaces can help monitor a new or unwell animal. Avoid ingestible particles when they pose a risk and fabrics that snag toes.
- Clean waste promptly, maintain ventilation, and keep other household pets away.
Warmth, UVB, and a humid retreat
Provide a controlled warm area and a cooler retreat. Confirm temperature targets and measurement locations with your veterinarian, using reliable instruments at gecko level.
Use thermostatically controlled heating and prevent direct contact with hot equipment. Avoid hot rocks. Offer suitable low-level UVB and shade; lamp output, distance, mesh, and color variety influence the setup.
Keep a regular day/night cycle with darkness at night. A humid hide supports shedding without requiring the entire enclosure to remain wet. Check humidity and replace soiled hide material promptly.
Small changes deserve attention
EBH’s existing guide recommends examinations every 6–12 months, annual fecal screening, and blood testing when advised. Bring diet, supplement, lighting, and enclosure details.
Common medical concerns
- The original EBH guide highlights retained shed, eye problems, abscesses, reproductive disorders, calcium deficiency, and internal parasites.
- Contact the hospital for appetite loss, weight loss or a thinning tail, abnormal droppings, swelling, weakness, or difficulty walking.
- Females may develop eggs without a male. Ask about nesting needs and seek care for straining, swelling, or unusual lethargy.
Gentle handling and hygiene
- Allow your gecko to settle before introducing short handling sessions. Support its body and feet and avoid sudden restraint.
- Tail loss, wounds, or changes around the vent should be assessed; regrowth does not replace the need for appropriate care.
- Wash hands after contact with your gecko or enclosure supplies, and keep equipment away from food-preparation areas.
General education only; individualized veterinary advice takes priority. Size values reflect the original EBH profile and are approximate, not universal weight targets. Length includes the tail. Maturity varies and is not a recommended breeding age. Lifespan varies; some individuals exceed 20 years.
Additional care information: EBH reptile resources.
Thoughtful care for your leopard gecko.
Request preventive care or call about a change in your reptile’s health.
