Welcome to TheLeopardGecko.com

*** HEY! Welcome to the NEW WEBSITE!!! I am working on getting everything transferred over. Stay tuned! -1/5/2024

Leopard geckos are small, terrestrial, carnivorous lizards. They are commonly kept as pets.

A captive leopard gecko.

Taxonomy:

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Eublepharidae
Genus: Eublepharis
Species: macularius
Eublepharis macularius (Blyth 1854)
Common leopard gecko; spotted fat-tailed gecko

Husbandry:

Because this species is so popular as a pet, there is an abundance of care guides to be found on the internet. This in part means that misinformation is widespread. While no single resource will provide you with all of the information you could ever need, here are some guides with up-to-date information:

Or, here is a condensed overview:

Leopard geckos require a tank of 40 gallon "breeder" size (36" x 18" x 18" or 90cm x 45cm x 45cm) or larger. It should be heated by an overhead halogen floodlight on a thermostat. Basking spot surface temp of 90-100° F (35-38° C). A warm and cool side gradient is necessary to permit self thermoregulation. UVB recommended; use an Arcadia ShadeDweller or similar. No colored lights, no heat mats, no heat rocks. Use 3-6" (8-15 cm) of substrate (rinsed play sand mixed with organic topsoil) at the bottom of the enclosure. No calcium sand, no reptile carpet, no walnut shells, no shelf liner. Have at minimum three hides: one on the warm end, one on the cool end, and a humid one in the middle. Additionally, include plenty of clutter and climbing opportunities throughout the enclosure. As strict insectivores, leopard geckos require live insects. Use at least 2-3 staple feeders on rotation. No waxworms or wild caught insects. Feeder insects will need to be supplemented with calcium (exact specifications dependent upon your UVB setup and specimen age). Have a bowl of clean water available. Do not cohabitate leopard geckos. Be prepared to take them to a licensed exotics veterinarian when necessary.

Whew. There is more information on each point in the aforelinked guides.

Natural environment:

(Coming soon...)

Fun facts:

Within the reptile hobby, the species is often referred to as simply "leos".
There are an estimated 3 million captive leopard geckos in the United States alone.
Unlike most geckos, leopard geckos—along with other eublepharids—lack toepads and have movable eyelids. They are sometimes called eyelid geckos.
The name "Eublepharis," in fact, means "well-made eyelid" (Greek "eu" as "good/true" and "blephar" from Greek "blepharon" as "eyelid").
"Macularius" means "spotted" (from Latin "macula").
There are five subspecies of leopard geckos: afghanicus, fasciolatus, macularius, montanus, and smithi.