Leopard Gecko (Eublepharis macularius)

Leopard Gecko overview

The leopard gecko is a small, ground-dwelling lizard from the dry, rocky country of South Asia and one of the most commonly kept pet reptiles. Adults are yellow with dark leopard-like spots, while hatchlings are banded. Unlike most geckos, leopard geckos have movable eyelids and lack sticky toe pads, so they cannot climb glass or smooth walls. They hide in burrows and rock crevices by day and hunt insects at dusk and at night. Fat stored in the thick tail carries them through lean periods. Decades of captive breeding have produced dozens of color morphs.

How Long Do Leopard Geckos Live?

Leopard geckos live 15–20 years as pets, and an estimated 6–10 years in the wild. They are unusually long-lived for small lizards, and a number of captive males have been documented beyond 25 years. Females that are bred heavily tend to have shorter lives.

How Much Does a Leopard Gecko Weigh?

Adult leopard geckos weigh 45–80 g (1.6–2.8 oz). Females usually weigh 45–70 g and males 60–80 g. Some selectively bred "giant" lines exceed 100 g. Hatchlings weigh only about 3 g. A plump tail about as wide as the neck indicates healthy weight.

How Long Is a Leopard Gecko?

Adult leopard geckos are 18–28 cm (7–11 in) long including the tail. Females typically reach 18–20 cm and males 20–28 cm. Hatchlings are about 7–10 cm long and reach adult size in roughly 12–18 months.

How Long Do Leopard Geckos Eggs Take to Hatch?

Leopard gecko eggs hatch after 35–90 days, depending on incubation temperature. Females lay clutches of two eggs, several times per breeding season. Temperature also determines sex: eggs kept around 26–28 °C produce mostly females, while about 32 °C produces mostly males.

What Do Leopard Geckos Eat?

Leopard geckos are insectivores that eat crickets, beetles, spiders, scorpions and other invertebrates. They do not eat plants. Pet geckos are fed live crickets, roaches and mealworms that have been dusted with calcium and vitamin D3 to prevent metabolic bone disease.

Diet type: insectivore. Crickets, beetles, grasshoppers, caterpillars, spiders, scorpions and other invertebrates caught at night; large adults occasionally take smaller lizards or newborn rodents. Pets are fed crickets, roaches and mealworms dusted with calcium.

Where Do Leopard Geckos Live?

Leopard geckos live in dry, rocky grasslands and deserts of Afghanistan, Pakistan, northwestern India and Iran. They avoid loose sand, preferring hard-packed soil and rock with plenty of crevices. They spend the hot day underground and become active at dusk, when temperatures drop.

Are Leopard Geckos Endangered?

The leopard gecko is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. It is widespread in its native range, though wild populations are not closely monitored. The pet trade relies almost entirely on captive-bred animals, which reduces pressure on wild geckos.

Least Concern

Leopard Gecko fun facts

• Leopard geckos are among the few geckos with eyelids, so they can blink and close their eyes to sleep.
• They lack the sticky toe pads of other geckos and have small claws instead, so they walk on the ground rather than up walls.
• A threatened leopard gecko can drop its tail, which keeps wriggling to distract the predator; the regrown tail is shorter and smoother.
• The sex of a leopard gecko is determined by egg incubation temperature rather than by sex chromosomes.
• Leopard geckos eat their shed skin, which recycles nutrients and removes scent traces that could attract predators.

Leopard Gecko FAQ

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