Leopard Gecko Habitat

Leopard gecko is basically a gecko species native to the arid regions of south-central Asia. Its scientific name is Eublepharis macularius. Though nocturnal, leopard geckos are quite easy to care owing to their docile temperament, and this quality of theirs makes them one of the most sought after pets in various parts of the world.

Leopard Gecko
In terms of appearance, leopard geckos are yellow in color, and have black spots all over their body. This species derives its name from these black spots on their yellow skin, which resemble the appearance of a leopard. On an average, a full-grown leopard gecko can measure anywhere between 6-9 inches, however, individuals slightly bigger in size also exist. Though geckos are terrestrial lizards, typically characterized by immovable eyelids, leopard geckos prove to be an exception with eyelids that help in protecting their eyes in the harsh dusty desert environment. Being insectivorous in nature, leopard geckos mainly tend to feed on small insects such as beetles and spiders. At times, however, adult geckos are known to take on baby snakes and scorpions as well.

Natural Habitat
Leopard geckos are mainly found in the arid regions of south-central Asia. A large part of the population of this species is concentrated in a vast range, spanning over the southern region of Afghanistan, entire Pakistan and dry northern regions of India. The natural habitat of a leopard gecko is typically characterized by a rocky, dry grassland and desert region, with scarcity of water and vegetation. The species have adapted themselves quite well to the harsh environment here, one aspect of this adaptation being the nocturnal behavior to avoid scorching heat during the day.

Habitat in Captivity
The size of the aquarium you intend to house your pet leopard gecko in will depend on the number of geckos you keep. For a single pet gecko a 10 gallon tank will be more than enough, while two geckos will require a 15 gallon tank and three or four geckos will require a 20 gallon tank. The tank should not be too small or too big. If the tank is too big, there are high chances that your pet will stray away from the source of heat, which will in turn affect its health.

Make sure that you opt for a tank which is secured at the top in such a manner that it facilitates proper ventilation, but makes sure that the gecko doesn't escape. Instead of providing a substrate, you should ideally provide a flat flooring of tile, slate or plain paper. These geckos have the tendency to ingest sand or other materials used as substrate, which can eventually result in some intestinal problems for them. The best option is to use plain paper on the aquarium flooring, which can be changed when soiled, thus keeping the surrounding clean and healthy for your pet.

It is mandatory to provide your pet leopard gecko with some spots to hide and a basking area to control its body temperature. As far as spots to hide are concerned, you can create one or two from plastic food storage containers. When it comes to a source of heat, you have two options - you can either place a heating mat beneath the tank or place a heating lamp at the top of one end of the tank. The idea behind placing the heating lamp at one end is to keep the other end of the tank cooler. The leopard gecko is a nocturnal animal, and therefore requires cold spots as well.

The bottom line here is that leopard geckos are ideal pets, especially for those who are opting for a reptile pet for the first time. In captivity, the life span of this species ranges anywhere between 10 to 15 years. However, complying with the basics of leopard gecko care mentioned above can ensure that your pet gecko lives up to 20 years, or even more.