What kind of animal is a leopard gecko?
Natural history. Leopard geckos are originally from the grassland and desert regions of India and Pakistan. The vast majority of pets are captive bred and hatched. Leopard geckos are nocturnal, terrestrial, long-lived lizards that make excellent pets.
What kind of food does a leopard gecko eat?
Mature male geckos weigh between 60-90 grams. Females may be as light as 45 grams. At birth, leopard geckos weigh 6-8 grams. Feed leopard geckos a variety of gut-loaded or dusted insects of appropriate size such as crickets, Phoenix worms, mealworms, and superworms. May be fed the occasional pinky mouse.
What should the temperature be for a leopard gecko?
Provide a temperature gradient of 70-80°F (21-27°C) and a warm area that reaches 90°F (32°C). Drop night temperatures to the 70s (21-23°C). Strive for a relative humidity of approximately 40-60%. Provide a shallow water dish and a moist hide area, but make sure the remainder of the habitat is dry.
How does a leopard gecko protect its tail?
Leopard geckos utilize tail autotomy, a defense mechanism that utilizes tail loss. A vertical fracture plane of fibroconnective tissue and cartilage runs through the body and part of the neural arch of each caudal vertebrae. The tail can fall off when grasped, sometimes when very little pressure is applied.
Is it legal to own a leopard gecko?
Geckos are a protected species therefore a license is required to own one. It is also illegal to own gecko species not from Australia, such as the Leopard gecko. Australian geckos belong to the families Diplodactylidae, Carphodactylidae and Gekkonidae . For information on how and where to get a licence,…
Is a leopard gecko a lizard?
The leopard gecko (Eublepharis macularius) is a species of terrestrial lizard that originates from arid regions in Pakistan, India and Afghanistan.
How much does a gecko cost?
These geckos can commonly be found at local pet stores for less than $30 and will often be the most common types found. PetSmart and Petco , for instance, sells a leopard gecko for about $25.
Do geckos carry disease?
Common Health Issues in Leopard Geckos. Captive born leopard geckos do not carry diseases that can be transmitted to humans, and since they come from a dry environment they also do not carry salmonella . However, there are a few diseases and medical conditions that your pet leopard gecko may experience.
