The Leopard Gecko (Eublepharis macularius) is a popular terrarium animal that naturally occurs in dry, rocky and semi-desert regions in countries including Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and Iran. This ground-dwelling gecko is mainly active at dusk and at night and stands out for its movable eyelids and thick tail, where it can store fat. Leopard geckos are known for their calm temperament and, with consistent and gentle handling, often become tame. In captivity it is important to mimic natural conditions as closely as possible, with the right heat, lighting and enclosure setup, which covers the basic needs. This helps keep your reptile healthy and free of stress.
The Leopard Gecko is naturally found in dry, rocky semi-deserts and steppe regions of Afghanistan, Pakistan, Northwest India and Iran. In this rugged landscape, gravel plains, rocky outcrops and sparse shrubs alternate. During the day the leopard gecko shelters deep in burrows or crevices between stones to avoid the heat. At dusk and at night it leaves its hiding place to hunt insects and other small prey. Its lifestyle is adapted to a hot, dry climate with clear temperature differences between day and night. Thanks to its granular skin, movable eyelids and energy storage in the thick tail, it can cope well with scarcity and changing conditions.
The Leopard Gecko has a compact body with a broad head, granular skin and a thick tail in which fat is stored. Unlike many other geckos, it has movable eyelids and no adhesive lamellae under the toes, but small claws. The wild type is yellow to gold with black spots. In captivity, many colour morphs occur, such as albino, tangerine, blizzard, patternless, Mack Snow and combinations of these. Leopard geckos are mainly active at dusk and at night. During the day they rest in hiding places and warm themselves indirectly via the ground. They are generally calm animals that can be handled well with patience, though males can be territorial towards each other. Typical behaviour includes slow tail-waving as a warning, rapid “rattling” of the tail when excited or threatened, and sometimes soft squeaking sounds. Under stress the tail can be dropped and will grow back later, although it usually regrows shorter and thicker. The Leopard Gecko sheds regularly and often eats its old skin. A slightly moist hide helps shedding proceed smoothly and prevents retained skin, especially around the toes and the tip of the tail.
The Leopard Gecko is an insectivore. In the wild it hunts crickets, cockroaches and other small invertebrates. In captivity, a good diet consists of live insects such as crickets, Dubia roaches, locusts and occasionally a type of worm. Fat-rich larvae such as wax moth larvae are best offered only as a treat. Vegetables and fruit are not suitable as a staple diet.
Since a Leopard Gecko’s diet consists of live insects, it is important to feed those insects well too. Provide them with nutritious feed and vegetables so they are well “gut-loaded”, and dust them regularly with a calcium and vitamin supplement, to prevent deficiencies and bone problems such as MBD. Do not feed insects from the wild, as they may carry pesticides or parasites. Fresh drinking water must always be available.
For an adult Leopard Gecko, the terrarium should be at least 80 x 40 x 40 cm. Larger is better to provide multiple temperature zones and hiding places. In the terrarium, provide a warm side with a heat spot, a cooler side, a moist hide and sufficient floor area. Keep the Leopard Gecko alone or in a carefully composed group without adult males together.
Purchase costs for a Leopard Gecko vary widely and depend on several factors. The breeder and colour morph are especially decisive. For the wild type and common morphs, costs are usually between 15 and 100 euros, but if you want a rare morph or a popular colour and pattern variant you may have to pay more. Age, sex, health, known bloodlines and demand in your region also influence the price. Make sure you always buy an animal with a clear origin and good growth.
In addition to the purchase price, take into account setup and maintenance: the initial costs for a complete terrarium are roughly between 200 and 500 euros. This depends, among other things, on the size of the terrarium you buy and the amount of furnishing. Monthly costs for food and supplements are roughly between 10 and 50 euros.
A Leopard Gecko can live on average 10 to 20 years. Care plays an important role here, such as correct temperature, proper nutrition, providing supplements and good hygiene.
A healthy adult Leopard Gecko can usually go 1 to 2 weeks without food thanks to the fat reserves in its tail. Young animals need to eat more often. During a natural resting period appetite may temporarily decrease, but water must always be available. If an adult Leopard Gecko refuses food for more than 2 weeks or visibly loses weight, consult a veterinarian.
Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD) is a common condition in reptiles such as the Leopard Gecko, caused by a lack of calcium, vitamin D3 or insufficient UVB light. These three factors are interconnected: without sufficient UVB light the body cannot produce vitamin D3, and without vitamin D3 calcium cannot be properly absorbed.
A lack of calcium weakens the skeleton and affects bone structure. The first signs of MBD are often subtle:
MBD can be prevented by renewing the UVB lighting regularly (usually every 6 to 12 months), providing sufficient calcium and vitamin supplements, and ensuring the correct temperature and nutritional balance. A well-tuned terrarium and a balanced diet are therefore essential to prevent this condition.
The Leopard Gecko is mainly active on the ground and climbs only to a limited extent. For a single adult, the terrarium should be at least 80 x 40 x 40 cm. If you choose a larger enclosure you can create more hides and pathways. When setting up the enclosure, provide a warm and a cooler zone, with a (slightly moist) hide in both places. Low-level UVB lighting combined with a focused heat source supports metabolism and overall well-being.
Aim for 28 to 32°C on the warm side, with a warm spot on the floor around 31 to 33°C. The cooler side is roughly between 22 and 25°C, and at night the temperature may drop to 18 to 22°C. Run the lighting for 10 to 12 hours daily and control each heat source with a reliable thermostat.
Choose a stable, safe substrate such as stone strips/tiles, firmly compacted sand-clay or, for young animals, kitchen paper. Rocks, cork and multiple hiding places provide grip and calm. Also provide a shallow water dish with fresh water daily. To prevent impaction it is better to avoid fine sand.
Leopard geckos shed regularly. Do not help peel the skin, but set up the terrarium accordingly. Provide at least one moist hide so the skin can loosen more easily in a natural way. It is also important to remove droppings daily, refresh the water and clean the terrarium thoroughly every week. Also keep an eye on body condition: a well-filled tail is a positive indicator.
Reptiles have become increasingly popular as pets in recent years. They are fascinating, often relatively calm, and require very different care compared to dogs or cats. Whether you are just starting out or already have experience, there are reptiles that are suitable for both beginners and more advanced keepers. In this blog, we list the top 10 most commonly kept reptiles as pets, with a short explanation for each species.
Reptiles are fascinating animals that have been roaming our planet for millions of years. They belong to the group of cold-blooded vertebrates, have scaly skin, usually lay eggs, and depend on their environment to regulate their body temperature. Reptiles are popular as pets, but they are also incredibly diverse in the wild. In this blog, you will learn which types of reptiles exist and what their main characteristics are.
Add products to view your basket
We use cookies to help us serve you better and more personally. Functional cookies ensure that the website works properly and have an analytical function. We also use technology to track your behaviour anonymously, both inside and outside our website. Personal data and cookies may be used for personalisation or advertising. Want to know more? Read our privacy policy and cookie statement here. If you choose to reject, we will only place functional and analytical cookies.
