Leopard Gecko Care Sheet

Common Name: Leopard Gecko

Scientific Name: Eublepharis macularius 

Diet: Insectivore 

Adult Size: 10 inches snout to tail tip except for super giants that can reach about 11.5 inches

Minimum Recommended Enclosure Size: 20 Gallon long aquarium 

Recommend Heat Source: Under tank heater on a thermostat 

Leopard geckos are a great reptile for a new or experienced keeper alike. Their ease of care, easy going temperament, and variety of morphs make them incredibly appealing.  Leopard geckos are native to the Middle East and live in an arid climate.

Leopard geckos can have incredibly simplistic enclosures. A 20 gallon long aquarium with an under tank heater, paper towels for a substrate, a couple hides, food dish, and a water bowl are all you need to get started.

 The surface temperature of the warm side should be 90 degrees fahrenheit. This can be accomplished by placing the under tank heater(on a thermostat) on the right or left side of the enclosure. This will allow your leopard gecko to thermoregulate. I highly recommend purchasing an infrared thermometer to monitor the surface temperature. The cool side of the enclosure can be around 72-75 degrees Fahrenheit. 

For a substrate I recommend keeping it simple and just using paper towels. Some people prefer “repti carpet” or a similar product. However these can be very difficult to clean and will harbor a literal petri dish of bacteria. Sand substrates pose a high risk of impaction and have no benefit to your gecko so I recommend avoiding them. 

Be sure to place a hide for your gecko on the hot and cool side of the enclosure so your gecko can thermoregulate and still feel secure. When your gecko is about to shed placing a damp paper towel in the warm hide will help your gecko shed easily. 

Since leopard geckos are crepuscular they do not require and special lighting such as UVB bulbs. If you wish to have a light on your gecko’s enclosure I recommend using a very dim bulb to avoid stressing your animal. Keep in mind that albino leopard gecko’s eyes are typically very sensitive to light.

Your gecko purchased from Firehouse Geckos was raised on a diet of mealworms, dubias, and black soldier fly larvae. Leopard geckos also require calcium with vitamin D3. Many people just dust the insects with the powder but having a small dish with calcium and D3 powder in the enclosure works well too. I also recommend having a small dish of fresh water in with your gecko.