This article discusses Leopard Gecko Care. Geckos are solitary creatures that require a dry environment and UVB light to thrive. To properly care for your pet, you should follow these basic guidelines:
Geckos are opportunistic hunters
Leopard geckos are opportune hunters. They stalk their prey by sight, shake their tails to startle them, and then strike. To kill their prey, they lick their prey to determine whether it is edible or not. Despite their small size, leopard geckos are fierce hunters. Their sharp eyesight and a strong sense of smell enable them to catch prey with their razor-sharp jaws. Each year, they replace their hundred tiny sharp teeth, which are replaced every three to four months.
They are solitary
Although leopard geckos are solitary in nature, you can keep a male and female together. These creatures can cohabit successfully, but it can take some time for them to adjust to the new environment. You can keep leos together during the breeding season, but separating them during this time can cause stress. The breeding season for leopard geckos is from January to September. The breeding season for leos is also known as the mating season.
They need a dry environment
For the best possible health and well-being of your pet gecko, make sure to provide them with an enclosed hide and damp sphagnum moss. Avoid loose substrates like sand, as it will cause irritation to their skin. Additionally, it is important to provide your gecko with a water dish. Just like cats, leopard geckos like to drink water and lick it. It’s also important to change the water frequently.
They need UVB light
If you’re wondering why your leopard gecko needs UVB light, you’re not alone. There are many reasons, and these can range from health issues like lethargy to metabolic bone disease. Without enough UVB light, your gecko may become unresponsive to food and experience bowed legs and jaw malformations. Here are just a few of them. But, more importantly, you should consider whether your gecko’s skin barrier is working properly.
They need full and partial cover
You can get a leopard gecko in yellow, tangerine, lavender, white, or black. Some varieties have solid, chain-rosette, or irregular blotching. Some are hypomelanistic, meaning that they have spotting only on their heads. Leopard geckos are about 12 inches long, and weigh around 175 grams. If you’re thinking of getting one for your home, you need to know why.
They need calcium
Leopard geckos need significant amounts of calcium for bone density and healthy teeth. There are a number of serious conditions that can affect the skeletal structure of leopard geckos, including osteoporosis, hyperparathyroidism, and osteodystrophy. These conditions occur when a leopard gecko has insufficient calcium, too much phosphorus, and insufficient vitamin D3, all of which can negatively affect the formation and maintenance of bone density.
They are odorless
Though leopard geckos are odorless, they do need to be kept clean. Like most reptiles, they must be cleaned on a daily basis. While leopard geckos do not produce odor, they are susceptible to bacteria. You may also find unfertilized eggs and feces inside the substrate. It is essential to regularly replace the substrate in your leopard gecko’s tank. Also, you need to be aware of your leopard gecko’s food because this food contains sulfur.