Bathing Leopard Geckos

The time when your leopard gecko will need a bath will one day come. Perhaps they need one now, which is why you are here.

There’s a variety of reasons why you’d need to bathe your gecko, but the most common ones are to try to soothe impaction and to aid stuck shed.

Fortunately, leopard geckos are actually fairly easy to bathe. Here’s how:

1. Prepare the bath. Pour warm (85-95° F) water into a tupperware or container. A 6-qt plastic shoebox works great.

You can use regular tap water if the water in your city is safe to drink, because leopard geckos can’t absorb it through their skin. If it is not safe for humans, however, it is best to use bottled spring water.

Fill the bath 0.5-1” full. It should be just deep enough to submerge your leopard gecko’s belly.

2. Add your gecko. Gently place your leo into the bath, being mindful of the health conditions they may have. Allow them to become comfortable in the water. If they are usually comfortable near your presense but panic when put into the water, take them out and check to make sure that the temperatures are within the correct range.

If you need to do belly rubs or a Q-tip massage, now is the time to do so.

3. Supervise your gecko closely. Do NOT put a lid on the container, and do NOT leave the room/become distracted when they are in the water.

Bathing is usually only necessary for 20-30 minutes at most. Avoid much longer than that to avoid any further issues.

4. Dry your gecko off and put them back into their enclosure. Just gently dab the wet areas on their skin with a paper towel until they are dry.

Set them back into their enclosure and avoid handling for the next 2-3 days, unless it is for another necessary bath.

Notes:

• Only bathe leopard geckos when it is needed. Healthy leopard geckos do not need weekly baths for no reason. Such practices will lead to much more harm than goof. 
• Regular bathing is not a preventative measure for stuck shed, but providing a humid hide is.