Food
& Water
Crickets
and mealworms
are the preferred food for Leopard Geckos.
Wax worms can be used as well, but only on occasion
as they contain too much fat. Some Geckos will also
eat fruit. Baby food is perfect to use as it is pre-mashed,
and full of vitamins.
While they are babies, Leopard Geckos should shed once
every two weeks or so if they are eating enough.
A Leopard Gecko's water source should be provided in
a small dish. Some sort of a calcium
source is a good idea to ensure a healthy gecko.
For Leopard Geckos you can dust it on their food or
even provide it to them in a small dish which they will
lick it from.
Remember, Leopard Geckos are nocturnal
animals. They need to be fed at night, before you go
to sleep. Make sure to completely remove any animal
debris or fruit leftover.
Lighting, Temperature & Humidity
A daytime habitat temperature of about 85 degrees F
is appropriate for Leopard Geckos.
At nightime make sure that the temperature does not
drop below about 80 degrees F. A heat source should
be placed at one end of the habitat to give your Leopard
Gecko somewhat of a temperature gradient. Hot rocks
are not recommended as a heat source as they can cause
burns on your lizard.
Leopard Geckos are noctural. You still need to provide
the heat gradient and the 12 hour daylight cycle. They
will be active mostly at night though.
Housing
Leopard Geckos like to have a hiding place available.
So, a hiding place at both the warm and cool ends of
the cage is a good idea. Having a hide box in the warm
part of the cage will also aid in the shedding process.
While your Leopard Gecko is shedding
you can also spray that side of the habitat with water
in order to raise the humidity. If a high enough humidity
is not provided it may be very difficult for your gecko
to shed its skin in certain areas.
Leopard Geckos will almost always choose one corner
of their habitat to 'relieve' themselves. This will
significantly decrease the amount of work involved in
cleaning up after your Leopard Gecko. |
