Andrea Thacker

Leopard geckos were first described as a species by British zoologist Edward Blyth in 1854 as Eublepharis macularis. The generic name Eublepharis is a combination of the Latin words Eu meaning "true", and blephar meaning "eyelid", as having eyelids is what distinguishes members of this subfamily from other geckos. The specific name, macularius, comes from the Latin macula meaning "spot" or "blemish", referring to the animal's natural spotted markings. Look at all my spots!!!! There are many different morphs of Leopard Geckos.

Where to find leopard geckos The Leopard Gecko is native to south-eastern Afghanistan, throughout Pakistan, north-west India, and into Iran where it inhabits the rocky, dry grassland regions of these countries. As nocturnal creatures, they spend the day hidden under rocks or in dry burrows to escape the daytime heat, emerging at dusk to hunt insects. Where can I find these AWESOME creatures?????

Anatomy The leopard gecko is a cream to yellow colored lizard with black spots or stripes similar to the markings of a leopard attaining a total length of 6 to 8 inches. However, selective breeding in captivity has produced many color morphs, including high yellow, tangerine, striped, pattern less (no spots or stripes), lavender, blizzard (which are solid white or gray), and albino (no black pigments in markings) in addition to some captive specimens measuring 11 inches in length. Pattern less and Hypo Leopard Geckos Leopard geckos are one of only a few gecko species (all of them members of the subfamily Eublepharidae, a small family of tropical/subtropical species found in the Americas, Africa, and Asia) that have eyelids. This helps the gecko keep its eyes clean and particle-free in its dusty environment (most geckos clean and moisten their eyes with their tongues). Many believe that this also gives the leopard gecko more personality, perhaps contributing to its popularity as a pet.

Anatomy continued Unlike other species of gecko, leopard geckos have small claws instead of adhesive toe pads, which prevents them from climbing vertically. However, their claws give extra traction on the ground and are helpful in digging. Like all geckos, Leopard Geckos can drop their tail, in a process called caudal autonomy if frightened or disturbed. Muscles at the base of the tail constrict to snap the vertebrae, severing most of the tail. The tail distracts the predator (wiggling and writhing on the ground) as the gecko makes its escape. Although they will eventually grow a new one, the regenerated tail will differ from the original, appearing bulbous and inferior.

How to Care for Geckos If handled often as a baby, they may become accustomed to handling. Leopard geckos have high stress levels when babies though, and can become frightened easily if held when too young. They can easily become accustomed to handling once full grown. In its natural environment, the leopard gecko lives under rocks or in small caves to avoid temperature extremes. Like many desert dwelling species it is nocturnal. It hunts spiders and small insects. Occasionally they will hunt very small mammals. As pets, sometimes leopard geckos gradually become diurnal, especially with frequent daytime handling. It is sometimes best to keep their nocturnal habits, as they can see better in the dark. The leopard gecko's diet would normally consist of crickets and mealworms. They also enjoy eating butterworms, silkworms and at times pinkie mice (baby mice) as a variety in their diet. Waxworms are also acceptable, however due to the high fat content of the worms they are not recommended as a regular item in the gecko's diet, and should be substituted only once per week.

In Captivity Leopard geckos are often recommended to beginning herpetoculturists for several reasons: their small size, ease of care, cleanliness (they tend to defecate in one corner of their enclosure), long life span (the longest confirmed life span was 27 years, with 19-22 years being average), tolerance of handling, and wide color range. They can usually be handled well by older children, but the close supervision of an adult is still recommended as the gecko's tail can fall off if the animal is stressed or frightened. Leopard geckos are easily available commercially. They are one of the few lizard species regularly bred in captivity in large enough numbers that captive-produced specimens are easily obtained at pet stores. As with crested geckos, leopard geckos are a good choice for someone who wants a pet lizard but doesn't want to keep wild-caught animals. These geckos are very inexpensive especially in contrast to other reptiles and in the context of their beauty, tolerance of being handled, simplicity of care, simplicity to breed & other plusses.

Basic Care It is important that water is available at all times. Although leopard geckos come from dry, arid areas, they still like to drink. A shallow water dish which is hard to tip over and easy to clean is ideal. It is also a good idea to have a bowl which does not have small crevices and cracks in it, which mould can build up in, and small insects can hide in. You must be certain to scrub out the water bowl every other day or so to remove waste. You must remember, however, not to use anti-bacterial soap to clean out cage furniture. You will kill your gecko if you clean the water bowl with anti-bacterial soap. Leopard geckos are primarily insectivorous, feeding on insects. Mealworms, wax worms, earthworms, crickets and locusts are all suitable prey items. However certain foods should be limited. If looking to maximize the life of your leopard gecko, pinkies should also be fed to your leopard gecko every other week due to essential nutrients stored in the flesh and bone of mammals that insects don’t have. However, pinkies should not be fed to leopard geckos that are under 14 months of age, as there is a risk of them choking due to their smaller mouths. It is important that the food you give your gecko is as highly nutritious as possible

Common Health problems Digestive Tract Obstruction This occurs when a gecko eats something it is unable to digest. The obstructions can be sand, gravel, or substrate that the leopard gecko ingested. Whatever it ate can form a blockage that can be fatal. You should always make sure that the substrate in the cage is small enough to be easily passed by the gecko if consumed. Mouth Infection Mouth infections can occur. It can be caused by fighting, a dirty cage, or accidental injury. A sign of infection is swelling around your leopard gecko’s mouth. Treatment involves cleaning the area daily and possibly using an oral antibiotic. Respiratory Infection A respiratory infection can occur if your leopard gecko’s habitat is too cold for long periods. Mucus bubbles on the nostrils and labored breathing is a sign of infection. Increasing the temperature of the cage will usually correct the health problem.

Injuries If you keep a group of geckos together, fighting may occur and lead to injury. To prevent fighting do not keep more than one male leopard gecko in a cage. Two males together will fight. Do not overcrowd your geckos. Make sure there are enough hiding places for each one. If you see one gecko hiding more than the others, it may need to be moved to a separate cage. The others may be picking on it.