The spotted leopard gecko is a friendly pet. Leopard gecko - an exotic pet How to keep leopard geckos healthy

Of all the species diversity of the gecko family, one of the most common lizards to keep at home among both beginners and professional terrarium keepers is the spotted leopard gecko. And this is not surprising, because along with their pretty appearance and positive character, leopard geckos show an amazing affection for humans for reptiles.

The spotted gecko (Eublepharis macularis) or leopard gecko belongs to the fairly large family Gekkonidae (chain-footed). This family received such a unique name because of its ability to move easily and lead a more vertical than terrestrial lifestyle. This is due to the physiological structure of the body of these reptiles and the unique adaptations on their fingers.

The spotted leopard gecko is distinguished by a very calm and docile character, which is combined with a pretty and very fragile appearance. The lizard looks at the world as if smiling welcomingly. Absolutely not aggressive, he quickly gets used to his owner and displays interesting habits.

There is no smell from it, it does not cause allergies. Some pets become so attached to a person that they just ask to be held. In the morning, in the warm human palm, a gecko can doze off. And it seems that he is about to purr like a cat.

As a terrarium animal, the leopard gecko is easily suitable for families with small children. In this case, you should not even think about such oddities as bites or any other injuries caused by an animal to a person.

Despite the fact that in nature they are nocturnal animals, in a terrarium the gecko quickly gets used to feeding during the day and is in sight all the time.

Appearance of the "leopard"

The length of the leopard gecko reaches 30 cm (including the tail). He, like other geckos, has a fairly large head and, unusual for lizards, a thick tail. The body is covered with small scales.

The coloration of leopard geckos is mainly yellow with various variations of dark brown spots and tubercles. Juveniles also have white colors on their bodies. Although there are also albino forms.

The paws are thin, middle length with five elongated and rounded fingers. Under the forelimbs there are so-called armpits - leather pockets, the function of which is not yet clear to scientists. The paws have thin claws, with the help of which lizards can move on soft surfaces.

The leopard gecko's eyes are similar to those of a cat - large, protruding and elongated. Unlike other members of the Gekkonidae family, the spotted leopard gecko has developed movable eyelids, which gives this animal an even more attractive appearance.

Habitat

The spotted leopard gecko's habitat extends from Afghanistan, Pakistan to western India. The lizard prefers to settle in rocky areas of the foothills and sandy areas, but is most often found in semi-fixed sands. In open desert areas the animal feels uncomfortable and avoids them.

Lifestyle of the spotted leopard gecko

Like most geckos, our hero leads the crepuscular and night look life, and spends the day in shelters and holes. The nocturnal nature of its life activity is evidenced by enlarged eyeballs with vertical pupils. Therefore, you should not worry if your pet is not active during the day, but lies sleepily in a shelter or gets out into an open area of the terrarium. At dusk, the leopard gecko will go out to “hunt”.

IN natural conditions Spotted leopard geckos live in small colonies consisting of one male and several females. The male jealously guards his territory from the invasion of competitors.

The lifespan of males in nature is 8-10 years, solitary females are 5-8 years. Females that constantly lay eggs live even shorter - only 3-4 years.

In captivity, under favorable conditions, the spotted leopard gecko can live more than 20 years. There are cases where these lizards lived to be 30!

What to feed your spotted leopard gecko?

In nature, “leopards” mainly hunt insects, but sometimes they can prey on their own kind, only smaller ones.

The favorite food of spotted leopard geckos at home is crickets (house, banana, two-spotted). The Turkmen cockroach (Shelfordella tartara) has also proven itself well as a food item, since it is very soft and easily reproduces, without requiring special conditions. While eating it, the leopard gecko even squints with pleasure.

Marbled cockroaches (Nauphoeta cinerea) and larvae of Madagascar cockroaches (Gromphadorhina portentosa) are good eaters. Mealworms (Tenebrio molitor) can also be included in the diet of leopard geckos. Before serving, it is advisable to feed the insects with various greens, and then sprinkle them with vitamins for reptiles or calcium powder (this is especially important for females during the breeding season). Some individuals will not refuse newborn mice, but it is not worth giving them often. Do not forget that the gecko is still an insectivorous reptile. Spotted leopard geckos do not eat various fruits, berries and other vegetation.

Feeding your leopard gecko is quite exciting. It is advisable to present food to it by hand or with tweezers: this way the reptile will get its portion and will not swallow pebbles when hunting, and you will be sure that cockroaches that could escape and lead wild image There is no life in your apartment, in the terrarium. Moreover, the leopard gecko will be happy to accept the offered food in this form. In addition, feeding by hand will speed up the process of taming the animal. “Hunting” for food, the gecko stands on outstretched paws and briefly taps its tail.

IN summer time In the lizard meadow you can catch various orthoptera (Orthoptera) from the families of grasshoppers (Tettigoniidae) and locusts (Acrididae). This should be done away from agricultural fields and vegetable gardens, as insects can be poisoned by pesticides. If you feed grasshoppers, crush the head before feeding to larger ones, since grasshoppers have strong jaws, which can injure your pet.

Leopard geckos over a year old are fed 2-3 times a week. An adult gecko can eat an average of 5 crickets per feeding.

The feeding regime of young people is different. Very small geckos under the age of 1 month are fed 1-2 times a day - 1 cricket per feeding is enough for them. Lizards from 1 to 3 months old are fed once a day - given 2 crickets. At the age of 3 to 6 months, leopard geckos are fed every other day - on average 1-3 large crickets per feeding. And for animals from six months to a year, it is enough to give food 2-3 times a week in the amount of 3-4 large crickets at a time.

There must be a drinking bowl with water in the terrarium. In this case, it is good to use a Petri dish with low edges. The water must be renewed at least every other day.

Keeping leopard geckos in a terrarium

Leopard geckos can be kept alone or in pairs. Under no circumstances should several males be placed in one terrarium - fights in this case are simply inevitable. Leopard geckos can fight for territory until one of their competitors is killed. The lizards themselves are not aggressive, but they are extremely territorial and do not tolerate strangers. If you want to keep more than one gecko, it is better to purchase one male and several females. Since males are overly loving, it is recommended to place not one girlfriend with the gecko, but at least two. He will constantly terrorize his one and only “wife” with his advances. By the way, when certain conditions are created, leopard geckos reproduce relatively easily in captivity.

For one individual, a terrarium measuring 40x40x40 cm is sufficient, for a pair - 60x40x40 cm, and for a group of three to seven lizards - 100x40x40 cm. Since leopard geckos lead a mainly terrestrial lifestyle, the height of the terrarium may even be slightly lower - 35 cm.

It is recommended to use a glass terrarium rather than a plastic one, since the leopard will scratch it with its claws and over time the plastic will become dull. The terrarium should be well ventilated with tightly closing doors.

The temperature must be maintained at 27-31° C., and in the coldest corner of the terrarium the temperature should be about 24° C.

Heating devices can be either an infrared lamp, a heating cord or a stone, although the option with a heating lamp is more preferable.

Humidity in a room with a lizard can range from 40 to 55%. This is achieved by spraying or placing a drinking bowl in the terrarium that has large area bottom. During molting of lizards, the humidity must be increased. To do this, just put a wet rag folded 2-3 times into the terrarium. Animals sometimes lie on it to soak their old skin.

Great importance When keeping a spotted leopard gecko, lighting is required. Be sure to install an ultraviolet lamp (for example, Hagen “Repti Glo 5.0”).

Since the leopard gecko is night view geckos, he will need shelter during the day. Well-fixed pieces of bark, stones, and bamboo tubes are suitable as such. A humidity chamber can also serve as a shelter - for example, a ceramic pot with a lid or a food container in the wall of which you need to drill a hole for your lizard.

Leopard geckos shed periodically. First they begin to fade, then they turn white completely. When the head to the tip of the nose becomes white, the lizard begins to tear off its old skin, under which a fresh and bright one is already visible. The entire molting process can take 2-3 hours. Molting is more successful when high humidity. If the humidity in the terrarium is not high enough, molting occurs poorly (on the tail, body and toes), and this is especially dangerous. The remaining old skin, which shrinks when it dries, can lead to the death of the animal. If even the smallest particles of the old skin remain, the terrarist needs to intervene, soak the remaining old skin with a swab and remove them. On average, a young spotted leopard gecko sheds every 25 days.

The leopard gecko's house can be decorated with live plants - they will also help maintain humidity.

The choice of soil should also be taken seriously - sand is not suitable for this purpose, since dust, getting in with the sand, can cause complications in the respiratory and digestive system of the lizard. Fine gravel is also not suitable - leopard geckos constantly swallow small pebbles. You need to use pebbles of such a size that the gecko cannot swallow them. You can also lay a plastic mat simulating grass at the bottom of the terrarium.

Place at least one large stone and, if possible, driftwood in the terrarium. At night, lizards gather to warm themselves on a stone heated during the daytime, and rub against snags during molting. Leave the snag with the bark, since leopard geckos have straight fingers with claws without wide plates, which do not allow them to climb on slippery surfaces. To disinfect and disinfestate, scald the snag with boiling water and treat with a solution of potassium permanganate. If there is not enough heat, the geckos will climb onto the snag closer to the light bulb.

Leopard geckos are clean animals; they choose one of the corners of the terrarium for the toilet and will go there constantly, which, of course, makes life easier for the terrarium owner. For cleaning, it is enough to replace the dirty stones in this place with new ones.

In contact with

Among lovers of observing the life and habits of reptiles, the most common and popular is the leopard gecko, or spotted (leopard) gecko - an unpretentious tame domestic lizard.

Spreading

These lizards are widespread in Asia - India, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Iran. They prefer the arid areas of these territories, perfectly adapting to the local climatic conditions. The spotted leopard gecko is a nocturnal animal: during hot times of the day it hides from the scorching southern sun. Only at dusk do lizards go hunting.

In its natural habitat, the leopard gecko feeds on various insects and small vertebrates, including smaller lizards. During dry periods, cases of eating their offspring have been recorded.

Variety of species

The leopard gecko was described by the British zoologist Edward Gray in 1827, but even today this lizard causes a lot of controversy over whether it belongs to a specific species. This is probably due to the fact that some of them have not been fully studied. Today there are five types of toothfish:

Iranian

Lives in Iraq and Iran. Much less common in Turkey and Syria. It is distinguished by the largest size in its family and long legs.

Hardwick's leopard gecko

This species is sometimes called the East Indian spotted. It is native to India and Bangladesh. To date, it has been poorly studied. Individuals of this species are distinguished by red-brown stripes on their backs, and in addition, in case of danger, they can make piercing sounds.

Afghan leopard gecko

Scientists conventionally consider it a separate species, although some zoologists prefer to consider it a subspecies.

Turkmen

This lizard lives in the southern regions of Turkmenistan. It is considered an endangered species, which is listed in the Red Book of the Republic. A special feature of this species is the presence of scales (folidosis) and the ability to make loud sounds. A rather controversial species, it is most likely a subspecies of the leopard gecko. It is distinguished by yellow transverse stripes on its tail and back.

Leopard (spotted) leopard gecko

The species that is most often kept at home. We will talk about it in more detail.

External features

It should be noted that appearance The spotted leopard gecko can differ significantly from its counterparts living in natural conditions. This is due to the fact that in nature this gecko lives in deserts, and the domesticated spotted leopard gecko is the result of selection. But this is one of those rare cases when human intervention was beneficial: it was possible to achieve a more saturated bright color compared to the natural one.

Today there are about a hundred different color variations - from very light to very dark. An indispensable condition is the presence of dark rings on the tail and spots on the body. It is for these spots that the gecko got its name - leopard. In addition, he drinks water like a cat, lapping it with his tongue. The eyes of the spotted leopard gecko are also similar to those of a cat - they are slightly convex and elongated.

It's pretty large lizards- the average length of an adult individual is from 20 to 25 cm, but sometimes representatives up to 30 cm are found. The head is triangular in shape, the paws are small with five fingers. The tail is massive. During periods of drought, the spotted toothfish accumulates the necessary liquid in it. Like most lizards, when in danger, it can shed its tail, which grows back over time, but is no longer as massive as before.

Determination of gender

Inexperienced owners of these lizards are interested in: “How to determine the sex?” The spotted leopard gecko (male) is noticeably larger than the female, it has a more powerful build, a wide neck, a massive head, a thicker tail at the base with several preanal pores (yellowish-brown small dots). The sex of a leopard gecko can be accurately determined at six months of age.

Spotted eublefar: content

Undoubtedly, the leopard gecko is exotic a pet. However, this does not mean that it needs complex care. Even an inexperienced owner will not cause big problems spotted leopard gecko. Keeping it in an apartment is not difficult at all. Some who want to buy such a lizard fear that it is a born predator, but at home it does not pose a danger to humans, since, born in captivity, these lizards are not aggressive, quickly get used to a person and very soon go into his arms. It's time to find out what you need to keep a spotted leopard gecko.

Terrarium

Of course, the first thing you need to think about is a home for your pet. A terrarium for a leopard gecko should be at least 30 x 30 x 30 cm in size. A container of this size usually contains young animals. For older individuals, the size of the terrarium should be larger - 40 x 40 x 40 cm. For three leopard geckos, a horizontal terrarium measuring 50 x 30 x 30 cm is suitable.

You can also use a vertical container, but provided that the side or back wall is designed in such a way that lizards can move freely along it, hide in shelters built into the wall, or sit on shelves. For young animals, it is not at all necessary to immediately acquire a large volume: it is difficult for them to hunt there, so they feel much more comfortable in small spaces.

However, after six months, leopard geckos begin to travel and explore the territory with interest. Many owners believe that in large quantities the spotted leopard gecko grows much faster.

Shelters

It is necessary to create several shelters for your pet throughout the terrarium: in a warm corner where the heating is located, and in a cold one. The gecko will choose for himself comfortable place for relax. The leopard gecko requires a moist chamber for molting. It should always be in a warm corner, otherwise the gecko will hibernate itself and may refuse to eat. We will tell you below how the wet chamber is set up.

Coconut halves can be used as practical, environmentally friendly, inexpensive shelters.

Temperature

Since the leopard gecko is a cold-blooded lizard, it needs warmth to digest food. The most popular option is bottom heating. For this purpose, you can use a thermal cord or a thermal mat purchased from a specialized store.

At the heating site, the temperature must be maintained between +28 and +32°C. The heating is placed in one corner of the terrarium, thereby heating from a third to a quarter of the area of the bottom of the terrarium. If the air temperature in the room does not drop below +22 °C, then you can turn off the heating at night. For young animals up to three months old, the heating must be turned on constantly.

Humidity

A terrarium for a leopard gecko does not require constant maintenance of humidity levels, since it is a desert lizard for which dry air is its normal habitat. But create a small wet zone(camera) is necessary. To do this, take any container, fill it with wet sand (paper, sawdust) and place it in a cool area. The gecko needs it to make it easier to shed or to rest.

Priming

We have already said that the spotted leopard gecko does not require complex care at home. So he is not too strict about the soil in the terrarium. Sand is better newsprint, especially for young lizards - an ideal option. But if the owner wishes beautiful design terrarium, you should use small pebbles with rounded edges.

In addition, it should be borne in mind that the leopard gecko is an extremely curious creature and tastes almost everything that comes its way. In this regard, it is better to avoid various mixtures and fillers.

Lighting

Leopard geckos are crepuscular animals, so they do not require lighting. You can install a regular 40 W incandescent lamp (mirror), which will help create an imitation of solar heating.

Water

Any low container is suitable for a drinking bowl. Leopard geckos drink clean, settled water, lapping it with their tongues, like kittens. Meanwhile, these lizards, like all geckos, love to lick droplets of fresh water, so there is no urgent need for a drinking bowl when sprayed every day, although it will not be superfluous.

Nutrition

At home, leopard geckos can be fed with the following foods:

mealworm;
crickets;
locusts;
little mice;
feeding cockroaches.

Calcium must always be present in the terrarium. To do this, it is mixed with a vitamin mixture (for better absorption) and placed in a low container.

To control the amount of food eaten, it is better to use tweezers than free feeding. With proper care and maintenance, leopard geckos can live in captivity for up to twenty years or more.

Leopard gecko is the scientific name of the leopard gecko, which is not only common in wildlife, but can also be kept in. There is another common name among people, which is associated with the presence of spots on the body - “leopard”.

Spotted leopard gecko

Reptile lovers can have an interesting pet at home - a leopard gecko, which gets along well with people. Lizards do not require special care and are clean. The main characteristics of reptiles include:

They are nocturnal, so you won’t be able to admire your pet often during the day.
The weight of the leopard gecko depends on the living conditions of the reptiles, so an adult reaches approximately 45 g. As for the body length, it is most often 20 cm, but there are individuals up to 30 cm.
The head is large and triangular in shape. The eyes are elongated and bulging, similar to those of a cat. Lizards have thin feet with five toes.
Geckos have different colors, so there are about 100 colors.
The lifespan of a leopard gecko depends on the conditions of detention, but on average this parameter is 20 years.
The tail of such reptiles is massive and thick, and the lizard can throw it off as a result of injury. The next tail will be narrower and shorter than the previous one.
Another important point, which is worth paying attention to - how to determine the sex of a leopard gecko. The male is larger and has a wide neck, a massive head and a thicker tail at the base. It is possible to accurately determine gender from six months.

Character of the leopard gecko

These reptiles are similar to humans because each individual has its own unique character. For example, one lizard will be tame, while another will not tolerate tactile contact. When a gecko doesn't like something, it will make a sound similar to children's squeaks. More often, the spotted leopard gecko has an easy-going character and, what is most interesting, the lizard can distinguish its owner from other people.

Varieties of leopard geckos

Today, there are five main types of such geckos:

Eublefar - content

To keep your pet healthy and live a long life, you need to take proper care of it. It is important to equip housing suitable for the reptile, which must meet all the requirements. The basic rules include the need for daily care of the terrarium. Keeping and caring for a leopard gecko involves disinfecting not only the main aquarium, but also containers for food and water, as well as decorations. Use products containing chlorine and alcohol, but phenol is prohibited.

Terrarium for leopard gecko

Choosing a home for a pet must be approached responsibly, since its health, growth rate and life expectancy will depend on it. It is important to consider the following features.

Size. For one lizard, a cube with an edge size of 30-40 cm will be enough. For a group of reptiles, a terrarium measuring 50x30x30 cm is suitable.
Accessories. The spotted leopard gecko, the maintenance of which does not require large expenses, needs shelter - special shelves located on the side walls. As a house you can use, for example, part clay pot. You can use driftwood on which the lizard can walk. It must first be scalded with boiling water and treated with a solution of potassium permanganate. You also need to place a large stone in the terrarium.
Litter. This is a prerequisite for decorating a terrarium; you can use special paper or soil of the appropriate fraction.
Heating. Without heating, the leopard gecko will not be able to exist normally. It is best to use a thermal mat that can be attached to the bottom of the terrarium. A certain place should be heated to 32-40 degrees, and general temperature inside the terrarium should be 26-28 degrees.
Lighting. Artificial lighting is not necessary since reptiles see well in the dark, but a couple of light bulbs can be used to provide additional warmth.
Humidity. For reptiles, it is important that this parameter does not exceed 45%. To do this, spray every day.

Soil for leopard geckos

Do not put sand and fine gravel on the bottom of the terrarium, as lizards can swallow them, which will impair the work digestive system and can even cause death. To keep a leopard gecko, it is better to use stones of such a size that the pet cannot swallow them. You can put a plastic mat on the bottom that imitates grass.

How to care for a leopard gecko?

It is important not only to properly build a house for a reptile, but also to carry out daily care. It is necessary to properly care for the terrarium and keep it clean. At home, the leopard gecko chooses one place in the corner to relieve itself, so cleaning should not be a problem. Nutrition is of great importance and must meet existing requirements.

What to feed your leopard gecko?

A favorite food for reptiles are crickets, which are available in pet stores, but you can breed them yourself. Another option is the Turkmen cockroach. Leopard geckos' diet may include Madagascar cockroach larvae and mealworms. Before giving your pet insects, it is recommended to give it different greens. Leopard geckos do not eat fruits, vegetables and other plant products. When feeding, keep a few rules in mind:

It is best to give food by hand or using tweezers.
There should always be a drinking bowl with water in the terrarium and it needs to be updated once a day. It is important that the container has low edges.
Individuals older than one year should receive food 2-3 times a week. A leopard gecko can eat up to five crickets at a time. Up to a month, the lizard is given a test 1-2 times a day, and at the age of 1-3 months. give two insects once a day. The older the pet, the less often it is fed.

Breeding leopard geckos

If you want to get offspring from your lizards, it is recommended to use an additional terrarium, in which you need to place the female for several days, since this will stimulate the mating season. After five days, she can be returned to the male, and if he is ready for the process, he will begin to vibrate his tail and click. During mating season The “man” will bite his chosen one.

Pregnancy in leopard geckos lasts approximately 1.5 months. When the female is ready to lay her eggs, she will dig a hole in the terrarium. It is important to place a closed container filled with damp soil or coconut shavings (5 cm high) in the corner. Make a hole on one side so the female can enter and lay eggs. Duration incubation period 45-70 days. During the season, the female lays no more than four pairs of eggs, about every three weeks.

Diseases of leopard geckos

At proper care Reptiles rarely get sick, but there is a list of diseases that can occur in such lizards. Pay attention to the behavior and condition of your pet in order to determine the presence of a disease in time and visit a veterinarian.

The appearance of cracks, peeling and discoloration of the skin to white on the body indicates that molting is beginning. It is recommended to then install a wet chamber in the terrarium, for example a closed container with a small entrance and a moist substrate. At home, the spotted leopard gecko sheds its skin once every 1-2 months, and in small ones once every 2 weeks. Don't worry if the lizard ate the shed skin, this is normal. It is important to carefully examine the reptile during this period to ensure that no old skin remains, and if necessary, carefully remove any residue yourself.

Vitamins for leopard geckos

The most popular supplement for insectivorous reptiles is REPASHY Calcium Plus. It is a mixture of calcium, vitamins, proteins, fats, fiber and other important substances. When adding this complex, you do not need to use any other additives. REPASHY helps to increase the nutritional value of insects, and the reptile receives all the substances necessary for health. Leopard geckos must eat the supplement every day. You need to put the insects in a bag, add the powder and shake everything well, and only then give the reptile food.

Eublefar - interesting facts

There are many things associated with these reptiles interesting information, for example, these include the following facts:

are the only reptiles that can use their voice to produce different sounds.
If the lizard eggs are at a temperature of 30 degrees, then only boys will be born, and if 27, then girls will be born.
In the domestic leopard gecko and other geckos, the eyes are not protected by a movable eyelid, so the reptile removes dirt with its tongue.

Another name for the reptile is the leopard gecko, which is quite fair if you carefully consider the leopard gecko. Cat-like eyes, a yellow background of the body, dark round spots located throughout the body - everything resembles a leopard. The spotted leopard gecko (Eublepharis macularius) is the most popular reptile among lovers of terrarium animals, winning their hearts with its unpretentiousness and humble disposition. We will find out further where the spotted leopard gecko comes from, how the world learned about it and what kind of care it requires at home.

A reptile from the gecko family, 20-25 cm in length (including a 10 cm tail), unhurried, rather even phlegmatic, calculating its every movement - here psychological picture Eublepharis macularius. He is related to the noble spotted cat:

general range - rocky mountain slopes of Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and part of India, practically devoid of vegetation, as well as arid steppe areas;

vital activity mainly at night;

protective coloring, allowing the leopard gecko to remain invisible against the background of the rocky terrain of the foothills, as well as semi-fixed sands.

In Europe and the United States, the spotted reptile, through the efforts of naturalists, appeared in the 60s of the last century, and in 1974 the first case of the reptile breeding in captivity was documented by a terrarist from the USA, Ernie Wagner. Since that time, the leopard lizard has become a real pet, displacing other types of reptiles, which is not least due to:

simplicity of its content;
short breeding period.

a container of sufficient size for a terrarium;
heating means (for example, a thermal mat);
water container;
feeder;
thermometer;
middle fraction;
shelters;
house with wet bedding;
container for vitamin supplements and calcium powder.

Setting up a terrarium for your pet

Size and volume The terrarium can be small - a cube with an edge size of 30-40 cm is sufficient.

If you decide to get a group of reptiles at once, then at first a horizontally located terrarium measuring 50x30x30 cm or a vertical one of the same size will be enough.

Accessories. The terrarium is equipped with specially designed shelves and shelters along the side wall. Young leopard geckos need this in order to move freely into the home and hide if necessary.

When the gecko reaches six months of age, it is necessary to provide it with more living space so that it has the opportunity to travel and develop, which contributes to its more dynamic growth.

Heating the home leopard gecko is a prerequisite for keeping it. The most suitable for this purpose is a thermal mat attached to the bottom of the terrarium or under it. Warm up specific place the reptile's home is up to 32-40°C, while the temperature inside the terrarium is maintained from 26 to 28°C.

Artificial UV Light not necessary for a pet, since the leopard gecko has good vision around the clock.

However, it is important to remember that placing the terrarium in a place that is not protected from direct sun rays, absolutely not!

Litter a must in a reptile's home. It could be special paper or soil of the appropriate fraction (the use of sand should be excluded, since the leopard lizard can swallow it along with food).

Shelter house in a terrarium with sphagnum placed inside and constantly moistened, it is highly desirable. Here the animal can take refuge in right moment or just lie down on the cool floor. You can use a flat or fragment of a clay pot for shelter. For the gecko's comfort in the terrarium, branches or branches are desirable; reptiles love to climb on them, and they often lie stretched out on them.

We competently organize the nutrition of your pet reptile

Phlegmatic in everyday life, spotted leopard geckos sometimes demonstrate the instincts of real predators when it comes to feeding. The main objects of their hunt are insects, but under certain circumstances they can use smaller similar individuals or their offspring as food.

insects (including exotic ones, for example, marbled or Turkmen cockroaches);
Zophobas;
crickets;
grasshoppers;
mealworms.

Experts disagree about the preference of certain insects. Thus, it is believed that quite aggressive individuals are sometimes found among cockroaches, and zophobas can be harmful to the leopard gecko due to the excess phosphorus content, which interferes with the absorption of calcium necessary for the lizard. It must be added to the food of all pets, especially young animals and female leopard geckos.

But experts are unanimous on one thing - you should not give your lizard large insects.

The optimal feeding regime for a leopard gecko is considered to be evening feeding once daily or every other day. You should be calm when your pet refuses food, since its tail is an additional storage of nutrients.

How do spotted leopard geckos reproduce?

Leopard lizards, like many animals in nature, tend to mate after a period hibernation, that is, in February-April. In order to comply with this regime, experts recommend artificially organizing wintering for reptiles in captivity, since immediately after its end, geckos begin their mating games.

During this period, males behave especially aggressively not only towards each other, but also towards females, in front of whom they shake their tails, making a special crackling sound. In one terrarium it is permissible to place one male and several females.

After mating, the period of egg laying begins. The first falls at the end of February and amounts to 6-8 pieces. The next ones occur at monthly intervals.

To avoid exhaustion of the female, more than five clutches per reptile should not be allowed per season.

To preserve the integrity of the clutch, the eggs are placed in the terrarium bedding, where they will remain until the offspring hatch. The duration of the incubation period, as well as the sex of the future offspring, depend on the temperature level in the terrarium. For example, at 27°C, eggs will last two months until female cubs appear, and at 30°C, the incubation period will be reduced to one and a half months, and small males will be born.

Five days after the cubs emerge, their first molt occurs. It marks the beginning of full feeding of the young. You can judge whether the nutrition of the young animals is properly organized by their cyclical molting every two weeks.

A properly organized life for your pet in captivity will allow him to live in a home terrarium for 20-30 years, delighting you with his affection and unique disposition.

Video about the spotted leopard gecko in the program “Dialogues about Animals”:

The spotted leopard gecko has won the hearts of Terrumnists. Under such an attractive and mysterious name hides a lizard that can live not only in nature, but also at home. In narrow circles it is usually called “leopard”, which is due to the presence of spotted coloring. However, in character one can find similarities between the spotted gecko and the cat: both can lap up water with their tongue. The content is easy even for beginners.

general information

The spotted leopard gecko most often lives in Asian countries and prefers rocky areas. However, people who are reptile lovers prefer the gecko.

The lizard can only lead a nocturnal lifestyle. Natural instincts encourage you to hide in other people's holes.

Life expectancy in nature ranges from five to ten years, and males always live longer than females. At home, life expectancy increases to thirty years.

Advantages and disadvantages of keeping a leopard gecko at home

Advantages:

The gecko has a friendly character.
Care involves ease and unpretentiousness.
There is an opportunity to buy and use a small terrarium.
There is the possibility of easy reproduction in captivity.

Flaws:

A certain level of humidity should be maintained in the terrarium.
The leopard gecko will always be awake at night, so not every person will be able to see their pet active.

Description

Appearance may be different in natural and home conditions. This is largely due to the influence of selection.

Any gecko should have a spotted coloration.

The dimensions indicate that the leopard gecko is a small lizard: the body length is 20 centimeters, but in some cases representatives can grow up to thirty centimeters.

The tail is most often massive and thick. Moreover, in nature, the tail is required to retain moisture. A lizard may shed its tail due to injury, confident that it will grow back. However, the subsequent ponytail will be shorter and narrower. The lizard has a large and triangular head. You can note the elongated and bulging eyes, reminiscent of a cat's. The body is covered with numerous small scales. Among them, pimply scales stand out. The lizard has thin legs with five fingers.

The color may be different, because it depends on the living conditions of the lizard:

Natural factors cause a yellowish-gray body color with the presence dark spots. You can see transverse rings on the tail.
Domestic individuals have a completely different color. In addition, selection made it possible to increase the number of variations to 100.

Main features of the content

How should you care for a gecko at home?

Individuals are distinguished by their unpretentious nature, thanks to which any potential troubles are eliminated. The most important thing is feeding. Lizards have a sweet and harmless character, but when eating, the predator instinct manifests itself. Under natural conditions, the gecko hunts various insects.

So, what to feed your pet lizard?

The best choice is crickets, cockroaches, grasshoppers, newborn mice. If the terrarium has enough free space, the leopard gecko can enjoy the hunting process.
It is advisable to exclude very large insects from the diet.
It is advisable to eat meals once every 1 to 2 days. However, up to 3 months, your pet lizard needs to be fed daily.
A gecko may refuse to eat for several days. However, this circumstance should not lead to panic. The lizard's tail contains a large number of nutrients.
Sometimes you need to add calcium powder to your meals.

Knowing what and how to feed your pet, you can help maintain its health and guarantee a long life at home.

gecko house option

What is the ideal terrarium for a pet lizard?

It is advisable to use a small terrarium. At the same time, you need to provide enough space for an active lifestyle.
The optimal dimensions for 1 – 2 individuals are 50 by 40 by 30 cm.
Sand should not be used for soil, as it can be accidentally swallowed with food. The best option is pebbles and small stones.
It is advisable to heat the terrarium. During the day the temperature should be 29 - 31 degrees, at night - a couple - three degrees less.
Sharp temperature fluctuations are unacceptable, as otherwise the lizard will feel unwell.
Optimal air humidity should not exceed forty-five percent. To do this you need to spray.

Basic selection rules

How can you choose a leopard gecko? What factors should you consider when trying to ensure your lizard is in good health?

The tail should be thicker. Moreover, if the thickness should be as large as possible. This primarily applies to adolescents and adults. Babies have thin tails that should only “gain strength.” Thick, a long tail indicates the good health of the leopard gecko. It is in this part of the body that the nutrients, which should be set aside for stressful and difficult situations. The functions of the tail can be compared to the hump of a camel, which contains fat reserves for heat, drought, and hunger. In order to understand how correctly the leopard gecko is cared for, you need to monitor the tail, because a decrease in its thickness indicates constant stress, malnutrition, illness. Please remember: when moving to new house The lizard's appetite may worsen and its tail will lose weight, but subsequently the animal will get used to the conditions and everything will return to normal.
One terrarium cannot be suitable for several males. You need to remember this if you plan to breed a pet. The ideal option is a careful examination of sexual characteristics.
The sex of a leopard gecko can only be determined from five to six months. For this reason, the first gecko can be purchased earlier, but then you need to buy an adult and know that there will not be 2 males in the terrarium. If solitary confinement is assumed, gender ceases to be important, since beautiful appearance Both males and females have a sweet character.
It should be noted that a large terrarium is required if you need to keep several females. Only with this approach can we not only guarantee comfortable conditions for lizards, but also the possibility of their peaceful life together.
Breeding leopard geckos requires the purchase of an additional terrarium. It is important to remember: the male should not be with the female on a permanent basis, since otherwise the females will have to constantly mate and breed offspring, undermining their health.
When choosing a leopard gecko, you need to make sure there are no small scratches or abrasions. Similar damage skin indicate clashes between individuals that are included in the same group. Scratches and abrasions can heal quickly if treated with healing ointment. In any case, you need to pay more attention to the lizard and try to understand the characteristics of its character.
It is advisable to carefully examine the eyes and eyelids, after which you can move on to the toes. You should make sure that there is no old skin remaining after shedding. This skin is harmful to your pet and must be removed with water.
The lizard's build deserves attention. The abdomen should be plump, but not bloated, otherwise pregnancy or illness may be suspected. Rickets, which the gecko often suffers from, manifests itself in thinness, a thin neck, lack of a thick tail, apathy and lethargy, crooked legs, and unsteadiness when walking. The presence of drooping sides indicates obesity. With such deviations in health, more nuances will need to be taken into account in order to ensure that the content is favorable for the pet.
Cubs and adolescents often change color as they grow older, so you need to be prepared for the fact that the initial color can change dramatically.

The gecko must be healthy, beautiful and friendly.

The most important questions

How should geckos be kept?

The terrarium should have a size of 40x60x40 centimeters. It is not advisable to choose a large and tall house.
The temperature needs to be controlled. It is important to remember: at night it is advisable to turn off some lamps, preventing the temperature from dropping to 20 degrees. Moreover, sudden changes can lead to diseases in pets.
The gecko needs ultraviolet light. For this reason, UV lamps rated 10% should be used, ensuring that they burn for 12 hours a day.
What to feed insectivorous lizards if they live at home? The diet should consist of a variety of small insects. However, mealworms alone are not suitable, as if they are fed frequently, there is a risk of fatty liver disease.
How often should you feed your gecko? The optimal scheme is from five to ten insects per feeding. When the lizard is sleeping, you need to remove crickets and grasshoppers, which can damage the lizard's skin.
It is important not only to feed lizards regularly and correctly, but also to give them vitamins, mineral supplements. In order to fully feed the baby, you need to use special mineral powders.
How to decorate a terrarium? Several shelters and a pond are required. The most important thing is to exclude sharp objects that can cause injury.
The terrarium must have soil, with the exception of fine sand and shavings.

Remembering what care should be and observing important rules, you can be sure: the gecko will enjoy good health, long life, friendliness and will become a true friend.