Caring for your Leopard Gecko
Leopard geckos are very easy to care for. They are surprisingly clean animals. They will pick out a specific area of their living space to use for litter which makes them much easier to clean up after. You may even place a paper towel or similar material in the spot they choose so that clean up is quick and easy.
In their natural habitat leopard geckos live on land. They do not tend to climb trees so it is important that they be provided with housing that provides maximum surface area. The bottom of the aquarium should be covered with some sort of artificial turf, paper towels, or even newspapers. Sand is not recommended as there is a risk that the gecko will ingest too much of it when it captures its meal.
Geckos are insectivores and like to eat live food such as butter worms, cockroaches, crickets, mealworms or wax worms. Many gecko owners choose to raise crickets or mealworms specifically for feeding their pets. If you feed your gecko crickets it is a good idea to place a rock in the center of the water dish to provide the crickets an easy way to get out of the water should they fall in. This will prevent them from fouling up the water.
For many different reasons a gecko can be the perfect pet for you. After reading this, you will probably want to go out and look at a live gecko at your local pet shop. The choice to obtain a gecko should not be an 'impulse' decision. They have a very long life span as far as pets go so if you get one be sure that you are willing to make the commitment to take care of it for a long time to come. Leopard geckos may live 20 years or longer. According to one gecko owner, who wrote a letter to the editor of Reptiles Magazine, their gecko lived for nearly thirty years!
Substrates suitable for your Gecko
The use of slate rocks, s. If you can get smooth flat stones this seems like a good option for making a naturalistic environment that holds and distributes heat well, without much diminished risks of ingesting substrate.
The use of sand is considered unsafe by some, due to the risk of ingestion and impaction (either due to accidental ingestion or due to intentional ingestion to meet calcium needs) -- this is a bigger risk for juveniles so sand should never be used with juvenile geckos. In fact, the general advice is to avoid housing any leopard geckos on sand. Other potential difficulties with sand include dust (which can lead to respiratory problems), and bacterial or mold growth in wet sand.
Provide a dish of calcium supplement to help meet calcium needs. Feeding prey items in a dish can also reduce the chance of ingestion.
Also, monitor for signs of obstruction, which indicate the need for an urgent visit to a vet: decreased appetite, decrease in bowel movements, lethargy, and dark spots on abdomen.
The use of paper towels are one of the best substrates, and are the recommended substrate for juvenile leopard geckos (as well as sickly geckos), but can be used for any leopard gecko. With paper towel substrate, there are no worries about ingestion or inhalation of substrate, and it is absorbent, hygienic, and easy to clean (which reduces the chance of illness). It also makes monitoring health (e.g. eating, bowel movements) easy.
How to tell a male from a female leopard gecko
Sexing Leopard Geckos. How to Tell Male from Female Leopard Geckos
It takes a bit of practice before you can tell and male leopard gecko from a female leopard gecko.
Juvenile leopard geckos can be very difficult to sex. Typically, you can sex leopard geckos at around 3-4 months with experience, and it gets easier as they get older (sexing is usually easier after about 6 months of age).
The differences are quite distinct but are much easier to see with experience or if you have geckos of each sex to compare.
Pre-Anal Pores
Male have a distinct v-shaped row of pre-anal pores in front of the vent (cloaca). As the gecko matures, they become quite prominent and exude a waxy material. Females have a similar row of very small pored, but they are not nearly as prominent and are barely noticeable, and they do not exude the waxy substance.
Hemi penile Bulges
Males have two distinct bulges behind the vent; one on either side of the base of the tail. This is where the hemipenis (male reproductive organs) are located.
Femoral Pores
Males also have enlarged pores on the underside of their rear legs (thighs).
How to tell the difference between male and female Leopard Geckos in summary:
Determining The Sex of a Male Leopard Gecko
- Male Leopard Gecko’s have Femoral Pores on the underside of their thigh.
- Male Leopard Gecko’s have more noticeable V-Shaped Preanal Pores.
- Male Leopard Gecko’s show two hemi penal bulges on the base of their tails.
Determining The Sex of a Female Leopard Gecko
- Female Leopard Gecko's femoral pores are virtually non-existent.
- Female Leopard Gecko's preanal pores are virtually non-existent.
- Female Leopard Gecko’s do not have two hemi penal bulges at the base of their tails.
You will have to wait until the Gecko is old enough, over 6 months at least to really be sure. Juvenile male Leopard Geckos look very much like females.
It takes a bit of practice before you can tell and male leopard gecko from a female leopard gecko.
Juvenile leopard geckos can be very difficult to sex. Typically, you can sex leopard geckos at around 3-4 months with experience, and it gets easier as they get older (sexing is usually easier after about 6 months of age).
The differences are quite distinct but are much easier to see with experience or if you have geckos of each sex to compare.
Pre-Anal Pores
Male have a distinct v-shaped row of pre-anal pores in front of the vent (cloaca). As the gecko matures, they become quite prominent and exude a waxy material. Females have a similar row of very small pored, but they are not nearly as prominent and are barely noticeable, and they do not exude the waxy substance.
Hemi penile Bulges
Males have two distinct bulges behind the vent; one on either side of the base of the tail. This is where the hemipenis (male reproductive organs) are located.
Femoral Pores
Males also have enlarged pores on the underside of their rear legs (thighs).
How to tell the difference between male and female Leopard Geckos in summary:
Determining The Sex of a Male Leopard Gecko
- Male Leopard Gecko’s have Femoral Pores on the underside of their thigh.
- Male Leopard Gecko’s have more noticeable V-Shaped Preanal Pores.
- Male Leopard Gecko’s show two hemi penal bulges on the base of their tails.
Determining The Sex of a Female Leopard Gecko
- Female Leopard Gecko's femoral pores are virtually non-existent.
- Female Leopard Gecko's preanal pores are virtually non-existent.
- Female Leopard Gecko’s do not have two hemi penal bulges at the base of their tails.
You will have to wait until the Gecko is old enough, over 6 months at least to really be sure. Juvenile male Leopard Geckos look very much like females.
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