Leopard Geckos have eyelids and are one of the
only geckos to have them. This assists with keeping
dust out of their eyes which they are exposed to
daily as they live in the desert.
In the wild Leopard Geckos shelter themselves
in burrows and other enclosures during the day as they are nocturnal.
They are mostly found in deserts of the Middle East.
Leopard Geckos are missing the little pads on
their toes that allows other lizards to climb vertical surfaces.
Over time selective captive breading has produced many color/pattern
morphs in Leopard Geckos.
Captive Care
Leopard Geckos make an excellent choice for the
beginning lizard caregiver. Leopard Geckos usually relieve themselves
in one corner of their habitat, this makes cleanup much easier.
Breeding of Leopard Geckos is also considered much easier than
that of other lizards.
Leopard Geckos feed on mealworms and crickets.
You can also feed them the occasional waxworm or pink mouse
as a treat. Waxworms are too fatty to be provided as a regular
meal. Juvenile geckos will shed every two weeks provided that
they have enough food. This can be a good indication of their
health and eating habits at an early age.
The use of granual substrates has been known
to cause serious problems in Leopard Geckos. If a large enough
piece enters the gecko it could block off the intestinal tract
or other vital organs. Furthermore, small pieces of the substrate
can collect in the intestines and over time completely block
it off. For this reason substrates such as lizard carpeting
and newsprint are prefered for Leopard Geckos.
