If you have questions on anything leopard gecko-related, then please ask away in the comments below.
I was getting so many questions through my contact form; they are often very similar and take quite a lot of time to reply to individually, so by publishing your questions in the comment section here, you’ll be able to get the answer you need and also see what others have asked 🙂
Disclaimer: I am not a vet, just a leopard gecko owner who wants to share knowledge with other owners. If you believe your leopard gecko is seriously unwell, then please seek veterinary care and advice.
Leopard Gecko Care 
What do you think of crickets as leopard gecko food, as you haven’t posted a review of them yet. Thanks!
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I have only used crickets once for my geckos, and I found them smelly and noisy. My geckos didn’t even seem very interested in them, so I didn’t bother buying them again 😂
There are different types of crickets (I think I got the silent brown ones) so I’ll have to try some of the others and then do a proper review. L
At the moment I haven’t used them enough to give a comprehensive enough review 😊
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I have been told that crickets are ok then iv been to that they arent good do im not sure i want to get a cecko im new i dont know nothing actually about these reptiles….
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Crickets are fine but not all owners like them. There are plenty of other insects you can feed geckos if you choose not to get crickets
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so I have a naturalistic enclosure and for the most part, i’m pretty knowledgeable when it comes to my gecko. but i need help because i need to know how far my bulb has to be from the “basking spot” (even tho leo’s don’t bask really) because the temp is getting a lil too high sometimes and i use a heat mat as well but i try to moderate the temps so it blends well, i just need advice on distance for the bulb it’s an arcadia halogen 75 watt
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I don’t use bulbs as underfloor heating is enough to keep my temperatures optimal, so I can’t advise, sorry!
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Hello so my leopard gecko had eggs,but they r kinda clearish,and have strange little vein-like red lines on it.Are they dead??
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Informative blog, do you keep your feeder of mealworms over the heating pad or in a cooler section? My gecko doesn’t seem to have much interest in mealworms that are left for him to have at his leisure. They also don’t seem to be very active when in the dish so he doesn’t have any interest. Any suggestions. One last question I read somewhere that his tail should be as wide as his body,do you agree with this?
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I keep them on the warmer side if possible, but my geckos often don’t show interest if they’re just left in a feeding bowl. I sometimes have to use tweezers to feed them – it makes the worms wiggle more and they seem to care a little bit more.
Also I try to feed them on more than just mealworms – they seem to prefer morioworms over mealworms anyway. But also mixing their diet with things like Dubai roaches or locusts can help.
Eventually their tails will end up about the same width as their body in a healthy adult gecko yes 😊
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Hello!
I’ve owned my leopard gecko for six months now and up until a month ago his behaviour was normal. Now he always wants to get out of his terrarium when I come to feed him instead of eating and will frantically climb the front doors. At first I would let him out and sit with him but now when I do this he gets stressed after awhile and poops on me or the floor. As far as I know everything is okay in his enclosure: he has a 20gallon tank with 4 hides, his warm side is at 92F, he has a moist hide with paper towel, and his humidity is 40%. He even does this when I make him a large gecko safe area, he frantically climbs the sides and tries to escape. I’ve asked someone before and they said it was just a behaviour rut and to let it play out but now he’s only eating 2 worms a day (he used to eat 10-12). I would hand feed him but now that he’s been ignoring me and just trying to climb the tweezers I’ve put his worms in a dish for the first time. If you had any insight that would be helpful I would really appreciate it as I want him to be happy.
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Try not to worry too much. Geckos eat less as they reach maturity anyway as their metabolism slows down… mine once ate several works per day but now probably eat about 5-8 per week depending on their mood/ time of year etc. It’s also good to vary their diet if you aren’t already.
My geckos have also gone through periods where it’s like they want to get out of their vivariums, they look like they’re trying to climb the glass and are waving their hands around and pressing their bellies against the glass. I don’t know why they do this but it does seem to only be a phase for mine too.
You’re doing the right thing by putting him back when he gets stressed if you get him out.
I think you’re doing all the right things but if you’re really worried perhaps seek out a vet.
As long as they’re eating and pooping properly, are a healthy weight, and they shed nicely, then you’re probably doing everything perfectly 😊
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Is it normal for a leopard gecko to change colors?
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Kind of… once per month they will turn pale and look a bit spooky just before they shed their skin. This is normal.
Also their patterns develop from when they’re babies through to when they reach adult size
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We got my gecko about a week ago and she has spent all her time in her humid hide, we have barely seen her ear anything and haven’t seen any poop come up. Some people said she might be shedding but we saw very tiny skin flakes when we got her and no new signs of shedding in the past week so we assume she was just finishing a shed. Im just not sure how to get her to come out and eat/poop without forcing her out since she’s kind of new still
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As she has only been with you for one week, I am not too worried about her not eating – this is normal in the first week or so while your gecko settles in.
Is your moist hide in the warm or cool area of her tank? I am wondering if maybe you would benefit from adjusting your thermostat temperature slightly; if the hide is in the cool side of your tank, maybe your gecko is finding the warm side a little too warm (and vice versa if it’s situated in the warm side currently).
I used to worry that my gecko wasn’t leaving its hide/ eating, so I bought a Wifi camera – I wrote a post on it here. This may help you if you could buy one and then you can spy on your gecko at night: https://leopardgecko.care/2019/06/03/how-to-spy-on-your-leopard-gecko/
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I’ve had my leopard gecko for just over a month now, and in the past week they’ve been getting really comfortable with handling… in fact, we went from me just putting my hand in the cage and them sniffing it for about 3 weeks, to them readily climbing on to it every day for almost the past week! In fact, it almost seems like they WANT to climb on, because every time I’ve opened the top of the enclosure or am putting in my hand to feed, my gecko seems disinterested in the food and more with climbing on. As fun as this is, I’m a bit worried because my gecko hasn’t been paying any attention to the mealworms I’ve been trying to feed — they’ve been a pretty good eater for the past few weeks, eating mealworms most days and crickets a couple times a week, but in the last couple days they’ve become disinterested. Should I be worried?
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No you shouldn’t be worried, have you tried feeding them in a feeding dish or with tongs? Maybe also try different insects too!
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To top it off, when it comes to handling, they’ve gotten very adventurous about jumping off, and it’s very scary! It’s happened a few times now from various heights, and for the most part they’ve seemed okay, but I was super worried yesterday because when I put my gecko back into their enclosure, they started licking their arm and almost flinching whenever they put pressure on it, and one of their back legs was twitching weirdly. This went a way after a bit and they seem to be fine and moving normally today, but still worried about this continuing to happen and my gecko hurting themselves!
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This is what I do to avoid mine running off and hurting themselves – they’re not very clever 🙂 https://leopardgecko.care/2017/11/23/handling-nervous-geckos/
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Since his last shed our Gecko has suddenly stopped eating his mealworms so often. He used to eat about 5/6 each night (he’s 4 months old) but now he’s been leaving about 3 days inbetween feeds! Also he has been spending most of his time in his cool hide.Should we be worried?
Regards Debbie
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As they get older they eat less, and when they reach adolescence and adulthood they do get lazier, their metabolism slows and they will probably only eat 2-3 times per week.
Just keep an eye on him – if he’s eating a few times per week, maintaining weight and pooping normally, I wouldn’t worry.
If he’s spending a lot of time in his cool hide, maybe it would be worth lowering the heat mat temperature ever so slightly and see if he changes his behaviour over the next week. Maybe he’s finding his warm side a little too hot.
If he then starts spending more time in his warm hide, then that will possibly improve his appetite and energy levels.
Sometimes it really is trial and error with them.
I have definitely found that adjusting the temperature of the heat mat can help – so hopefully this will help you too!
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Is it possible that a leopard gecko just doesn’t want to be handled? I’ve had my gecko for over two years and in that time, no matter how I approached taming him, he simply refused to buy into it. Overall, he’s healthy, and there have been no drastic changes to his tank. I always assumed that he was more of a “lone wolf” where he didn’t want to be disturbed unless it was for food. He seems happy like this, but it’s always bothered me cause I was aware of how friendly Leos can be.
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My honest opinion is that no leopard geckos WANT to be handed, sadly. I try to trick myself into thinking they enjoy it, but I honestly think they prefer being solitary in their hides, as they are solitary beings in the wild.
I just think some deal with being handled much better than others – My male is more compliant when I handle him than my female is.
So yes it’s entirely possible 🙂
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What would have caused my gecko to have a film on half of his eye, he keeps his eye closed when he is in his tank. I am concerned.
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You need to seek professional advice from an exotic vet. I don’t know what could have caused it, but you’re right that it sounds concerning. I hope you can get help for him!
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I am in the USA, I am interested in the vinyl substrate…my question is should I be concerned about the chemical make up of the vinyl? I know some smells different than others. Another question about the heating pads and thermostats….I am housing 1 adult in a 20L aquarium, if I wish to keep the warm side about 85* as you suggest, do I need a specific wattage of heating pad or thermostat??? Up until now, I have been led to use heating lights day and night, so this concept is really new to me.
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The vinyl is safe and the one I use doesn’t have an odor. Just make sure you don’t get one with adhesive as that could be harmful!
You just need to make sure your heat mat covers about a third of the bottom of your tank. Your heat mat will be able to stay at whatever temperature you instruct the thermostat to be at. The thermostat will measure the surface temperature of the substrate and keep the heat level constant.
If you haven’t already seen it, I did a post about this (where I explained it much better than I am doing right now lol).
I hope this helped?
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I saw the post and what it is you use. Based on being in the Usa and finances i did not know if the wattage of the mat or thermostat, affected the ability or lack of, to reach 85°.. i planned 1/3 of tank but the ones i saw were 16 W, And I didn’t know if that would be strong enough to keep it at 85°
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Yes I think that will be strong enough. The temperature of their heat mats isn’t actually that hot… it not too much warmer than a human’s body temperature. As long as you’re getting a proper reptile mat from a known and trusted brand I think you’ll be fine 🙂
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Hello, Im planning on getting a leo and im trying to figure out everything i need and i have figured out everything but the light situation and i have decided on getting a heat mat. But do I also need any kind of light for the gecko? If so please be specific so i can know what to get to keep them healthy.
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A heat mat is enough. That’s all I use. There’s some debate about UV lighting (I wrote an entire post on it recently which is on my homepage) but I don’t use any additional lighting for mine. I do suggest you read that post and then make your decision 🙂
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I just wondered if I could run a question by you, I have never used paper products as a substrate before but as messy as my gecko is I figured maybe that would be the best option as much as I have to clean. My worry was tonight I ran out of paper towels in the middle of cleaning and chose to use toilet paper because I didn’t wanna leave half the tank without a substrate if that makes sense. Now is this a fire hazard of any sort? Have you ever heard of that? I guess because toilet paper is thinner and because I have the under tank here as well as the basking light and UVB light my fear is some thing is going to be flammable as silly as that sounds
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I’ve never heard of anything being a fire hazard in a gecko’s vivarium. The heat mat itself doesn’t reach dramatically high temperatures, so it wouldn’t reach enough of a heat to set tissue paper alight.
Leopard geckos do not need basking lamps though, the heat mat is all they need for heat.
I much prefer vinyl as substrate as it’s so easy to clean and can last for year. Paper towels are a great option but like you said, you probably get through quite a lot of them 🙂
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Lol okay, not sure what made me think of it but once I did that’s all I thought about so thank you for clarifying! “He” is in a new 40 gallon tank so I thought about using the basking light to add a little extra heat in such a big tank, warm side stays about 80° and his heat mat is set at 97° while his cool side stays around 70° does that all sound about right or do you think I should still turn the light off? Also what type of vinyl do you use is there a particular brand or store that you favor over another? I’m trying to stay away from the carpets because I feel like I can hear my little guys nails getting tugged on it. Sorry for so many questions
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Yeah the carpets can be hazardous I’ve heard (but never used them so don’t have first hand experience!).
I bought my vinyl from a flooring store (I did some posts on it if you want to read more) but they come in huge rolls, and so I am selling my excess through my blog.
Most vinyl should be ok as long as it doesn’t have an adhesive on the bottom (the fumes could be harmful to the gecko). Hope this helps!
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Hi! I’ve had my leopard gecko for about 5 months and she’s been acting completely normal however maybe two months ago she started developing bumps on both of her knees. They almost look like cysts? They don’t seem to cause her any pain and she acts completely normal. One started to form on her elbow so i’m just confused as to what these are and if they’re dangerous. She also seems to have a swollen wrist and that has been that way about the same amount of time.
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Hi, I’m not a vet and this is really difficult to answer. Is she a healthy weight, and eating properly? Does it look like it could be MBD?
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So I kind of helped my gecko get his shed of but I only stroked his back to try and loosen it.I gave him a bath to .but what i want to ask is it bad to help your leo gecko shed?
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Hi, I’m planning on getting a leo and I have seen articles that say 1 only needs a 10 gallon tank and some say they need a 20 and the petstore says 40, what should I get and what products should i use/ put inside
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The housing should be over 2ft (60cm) long for a single fully-grown adult gecko. It should I also be tall enough to fit their hides in. This blog contains numerous tips and recommendations for what products you can use if you take a browse around. Maybe start here:
https://leopardgecko.care/2018/08/15/a-beginners-guide-to-leopard-gecko-housing-and-setup/
https://leopardgecko.care/2019/02/07/whats-inside-my-leopard-geckos-vivarium/
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Also which tank would be the most inexpensive to house 2 leos
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You shouldn’t cohabit two leopard geckos.l. My thought on it here:
https://leopardgecko.care/2018/10/02/is-it-safe-to-cohabit-leopard-geckos/
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Hello, I got my leopard gecko about a month ago and she still hasn’t eaten. The person I bought her from said she only ate mealworms out of a dish so that’s what I’ve been doing. Although I’ve also tried tong feeding. I tried wax worms to no avail. Can someone please give me some advice or tips?
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How sure are you that she hasn’t eaten? I assume you count the mealworms in the dish and they’re all still there the next day?
Also what substrate is she on? Is she showing any signs of impaction? Is she underweight?
Sorry for all the questions, I’ll try to advise if I can
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I have a leopard gecko with MBD. She currently has 2 broken limbs, one in front and in back. I took her to the vet on Frida and found this out and have been given pain meds and calcium gel to give her daily. She is now shedding and I don’t know how long it takes for her to shed the skin or if I should assist her since she has broken limbs. I am new to leopard geckos and I had acquired her from someone who has her and I don’t know her history, but I am trying to do my best for her and not sure what to do.
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It shouldn’t take her too long to shed (I think it only takes an hour or two) but if she is struggling then you should try and help her remove the stuck skin. I wrote some ways that could help her on this post:
https://leopardgecko.care/2019/01/18/how-to-remove-stuck-shed-from-a-leopard-gecko/
I really hope you manage to help her, I’m so glad she has you to take care of her 😊
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Hi, 2 questions. 1st: the moist kitchen towel you suggest using to cover the moss in the moist hide, is that a paper towel or a regular kitchen towel (cotton) cut to fit? 2nd: we just got a gecko last Sat. It’s about 3 mos old & still hasn’t eaten. I understand it’s stressed, but is there anything we can do to motivate it to start eating? It pooped today, so I’m hoping maybe it will start, but it pretty much still stays in his moist hide unless we pull him out- which we’ve only done twice to spray the moss and show him where the worms are( they fed him mealworms where we got him).
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1. Yep paper towel. You don’t HAVE to but it gives me peace of mind 😊
2. At the moment I wouldn’t worry. How do you know she isn’t eating? What I mean by that is; could it be the case that she is eating from a dish when you’re not there?
There could be a few reasons why he won’t eat (the stress of moving and also the stress of having his moist hide sprayed) but here are some other reasons:
https://leopardgecko.care/2019/01/30/why-isnt-my-leopard-gecko-eating/
I hope it helps!
I was sure mine weren’t eating so I bought a WiFi camera to spy on them, and discovered that they were very active and left their hides, explored and ate but only after I had gone to bed 😊
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Hi， I am getting a leo for the first time I have done my research already bt I was wondering if you could give me some of the products you use and if I could get all of the products within the 100-200 dollar range, Thx
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I have listed absolutely everything I use in this post. I think it should all come under budget for you 😊
https://leopardgecko.care/2019/02/07/whats-inside-my-leopard-geckos-vivarium/
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PLEASE RESPOND FAST, my leo has been acting up, she has been writhing and looking pale, twhat should I do?
thx
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A pale gecko is probably about to shed. They writhe when they are trying to make the skin loose. I am almost certain she will be ok within a day
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i think my gecko is ill but i’m not sure just wondering if you would know?
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Yes, aside from climbing he’s been eating, pooping, and shedding normally. Thank you for your help! I’ll definitely be less worried about him now 🙂
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So I have a question about my gecko. He eats four bugs only every time I feed him every six days he’s about two years old now and I’m kinda concerned about his eating habits is this normal? He looks very healthy and well and is always moving around happily but I want to make sure that he’s being feed enough because he’s never shown any signs that he needs more also his diet is super worms, crickets, and wax worms.
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I think that sounds about right, mine don’t eat a lot either but they’re still plump looking, and they poop and shed as expected 🙂
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Recently my gecko got new dots on his head. I could try to take a picture of them if someone can help me. He recently shedded his skin if that information can help. his eyes also don’t look very open. Should I be worried? He is only about a year old and screams if I try to handle him or put my hand in his enclosure.
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Do you want to try and send me a photo? Contactleopardgeckocare@gmail.com
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Hi!
I just got my first little buddy and I’m trying to follow your advice and guides as much as possible. My question pertains to UVB and D3, I know you have posted about it recently but I was wondering do I need to still supplement d3 if I add uvb? Also, Ca with d3 in the tank available or Ca without? And lastly should I still dust with calcium with d3? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much!!
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Yes I think I would still supplement with D3 about once per week, by coating their food in it, the calcium and D3 mix you mentioned is perfect.
For the other feeds using just calcium powder is fine, as well as providing a calcium pot in their vivarium 🙂
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So i got my first gecko a month ago, and hes only a juvinile. I’ve been trying to tame him and for him to get my trust, but i dont feel that he is warming up to me. He barely walks up to my hand, squirms away when i touch him, and runs when I pick him up to handel him. When I handle him, I scoop the best I can, and he’s calm when he’s in my hands. Every time I even put my hand in there, he wiggles his tail. If I hold my hand still in the tank, he will come up to it a little to sniff and lick it, but then he walks off. I have noticed that he comes over to my hand better if I look away. I feel like Ive done something wrong with the training though. Got any advise for me?
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https://leopardgecko.care/2018/08/20/how-i-tamed-my-leopard-geckos-in-one-week/
This is how I tamed mine. You need to try to get them to associate your hand with being fed… so try this 🙂
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I took your advice,and read how u tamed yours, but my gecko is still not tamed! I’ve been doing this for two weeks with little improvment! Did you say a week? I think you meant a year!
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No it took a week, mine were 6 weeks old when I got them. I don’t know if that made a difference. If it’s any consolation, my female still is quite unsure of me and even though she will let me handle her, I can tell she doesn’t really like it
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Thanks anyhow. I read somewhere else that it sometimes takes a year to tame them. I’ll just keep trying the best I can.
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Ah I was lucky then, mine were very young when I got them, and treated well, as far as I could tell. Good luck and I’m sure you’ll get there eventually
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Hi. Thanks for the invaluable site. It’s really helping us get things right for my daughter to have a first gecko. One question, if I may? Would you advise for or against a glass-sided vivarium? Thanks
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Thank you for the feedback it really does make my day 🙂 glass sided vivariums are great, I think it’s just about personal preference. I chose wooden ones as they’re a bit more insulated (the climate can be colder in the UK) but it’s totally up to you!
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So i have 2 geckos and their coloring is not as bright as before like at all. they are very pale and NOT because they are going to shed. they still shed on the regular but their new skin is pale still. Also the mama gecko has small white spots all over her body and i have no idea what it may be or if it’s an illness. i have pictures but don’t know how to post them so if you have answers please contact me @ 714-929-8255.
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Hi do you have Instagram? Would you be able to send the photos to me on there?
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How do I know if my food dish for my baby Leo is too tall? He’s very active in the day and nighttime, is something wrong? I just got him a few days ago. He’s maybe a month or two old, very tiny little guy. Is there a step-by-step process for feeding babies you can help me with? Thanks !
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You’ll be able to tell if the dishes are tall because the gecko will consistently not be able to eat any worms. If there are always worms left then maybe your dish isn’t suitable.
If you only got him a few days ago it’s likely he won’t eat for a while which is fine.
I have a whole section on feeding here:
https://leopardgecko.care/category/feeding/
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Hey I was wondering if it would be fine to house 2 baby leos in the same tank. I saw that it was fine till they were juvenile but I had a hard time finding other sites to support this. So far they haven’t done nothing aggressive toward one another but I would rather be safe than sorry so any words of enlightenment would be greatly appreciated.
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No it’s not ok, I do not support it. Not worth the risk!
https://leopardgecko.care/2018/10/02/is-it-safe-to-cohabit-leopard-geckos/
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My leo has recently been eating much less, and I can’t remember the last time she ate something that wasn’t a wax worm. She seems to show interest in mealworms initially, pupils get bigger and she stalks towards it but then she gets closer sniffs and just shuts her eyes and goes back in her hide. I feel it might be an issue with efficacy of her heat mat as it doesn’t seem to always keep the right temp. Her colouring has also gotten much lighter so I’m almost certain she’s too cold. But at the same time she has taken 1 or 2 waxworms before so I’m not sure if it may be an issue with what she’s being fed?
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Waxworks are really addictive to leopard geckos, so you need to stop feeding them regularly. Try other insects until your gecko is hungry enough to actually eat one. There are many insects other than mealworms you can try to feed her.
https://leopardgecko.care/2018/09/17/feeder-insect-review-waxworms/
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Hi am wondering why my gecko (Toby) isnt eating and I already looked at your post. she looks at the super worms like she’s going to snatch it but instead she licks it. ps she doesn’t like tiny mealworms
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There are so many reasons that it’s really tough to give you a reason based on one or two facts. It could be their environment, the temperature, stress levels, a dislike for the insects… have you tried feeling Toby insects that aren’t mealworms or morio worms? Have you tried to adjust the temperature (I don’t know what climate you have so it’s hard to comment)? Have you checked your gecko isn’t impacted? What substrate do you use?
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We don’t buy anything else but crickets 🦗 and mealworms
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We buy r insects from that excotic pet store lowcountry excotics or something in downtown bluffton
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Please respond
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I’ve tried morio worms with my gecko and tried meal worms again and still nothing, he hasn’t had wax worms in a couple weeks and I’m concerned that he’s showing no interest in food, there was an initial look and then he’d just shut his eyes and turn away but now he’s not even stalking the insects at all, he still has a quite plump tail but I’m not sure as to how long he can actually go without eating without any adverse effects, he’s almost 3 years old and he sometimes shows interest to come out of his tank. I’m not sure of perhaps it might be an issue with his heat mat or thermostat working incorrectly as sometimes the thermometer reads 26.7C at the lowest and then will go up to 28.8 in a couple hours?
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Why is my leopard gecko hiding spot?
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I have a male leopard gecko I believe he has an prolasped hemipenis. I tried soaking him last night but this morning it didnt look any better and i found dried blood near where he usually poops at. should i be concern? is surgery needed? This is the first time this has happened he is about 1 yr old.
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I’m not a vet and this is beyond what I can advise on sadly. Please try and get professional advice. I really do hope he’s ok!
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I am thinking of using vinyl for my leopard geckos substrate but I heard that it can release toxic fumes when exposed to heat that can be deadly for a leopard gecko. I read that you use vinyl, so did you come across that problem?
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No I’ve used it for years and I have never smelled or detected any odour. Vinyl with adhesive will have an odour; so make sure you choose one without any glue/ adhesive.
I also let my vinyl air out for a day before I put it in their vivariums.
I’ve had no problems at all 🙂 if you’re still worried though, try kitchen roll. It’s cheap and safe!
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Hi everyone,
I have been wondering to get my first reptile. I have chosen a leopard gecko but was wondering what are the pros or cons if they have any. The main issue for me is the cost but it will be worthwhile.
Another question is when I get the leopard gecko how long should I leave it to settle in his or her new home?
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I need help!! I have a little over half a year old leopard gecko that has been struggling with shedding. She couldn’t get her old skin off and got a small wound from trying to get it off and we took her to a vet who got most of it off and told me the wound would heal over time. Now I was gone for a day and she started shedding again (there was less than a week since the vet visit) . She got a pretty bad wound on her head and back and a little one on her leg. All this time I have been giving her “baths” and adding moisture to her enclosure. I don’t know whats wrong with her but I have been feeding her mealworms and crickets dusted in multivitamins that the store recommended. I now noticed that the multivitamin thing may not contain calcium and bought some of it. Could lack of calcium cause this?
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Hi I’ve never heard of lack of calcium causing this. I do wonder if all the moisture in there is preventing her wound from healing.
Where is the skin still stuck on her body? Have you read my posts about getting stuck skin off? I’ve had to get stuck skin off my gecko recently and I wrote about it, and I also have two more posts about it where I’ve explained all I know!
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Hi! ive just acquired a leopard gecko and I had a few questions
– if the humid hide is to Cold will the Leo come out on its own?
– should I put the humid hide on top of the heating pad and just keep misting it all day ?
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Yep your leopard gecko will do it’s beat to regulate it’s temperature, so should come out on its own.
It’s best to keep the humid hide on the heat mat (in hotter weather I sometimes move it to the cold side though) but just remember it’ll dry out pretty fast over the heat mat so you need to remember to keep the moss damp 🙂
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I ordered a bigger heat mat, but is there anyway to keep the humid hide warm. bc it gets cold
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Hi,
Love this site! We got a leo a week ago and it’s been so helpful, especially with the advice about not eating at first.
He’s now got a healthy appetite after barely eating for a week, and he’s having locusts and mealworms. I just bought some dubia roaches and calci worms for him to try, and was wondering, should they be put in different bowl or can I pop them in the same bowl?
Thanks
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Aw thank you so much! I usually keep mine apart, mainly because my geckos seem to love morio worms, but morio worm mandibles can bite, so I keep the insects apart. However when my sister was looking after them she put the insects all in together and nothing bad happened 🙂
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Ive had my juvie female leo a little over a month. Ive tried a few different taming methods at this point. I must be doing some things right, but some things wrong at the same time. I try training/interacting with her right before, and right after feeding.
She will circle, or lay down next to, my hand when placed in her tank. (palm method) but wont go all the way into my hand. She eats from tongs very well, and will now eat from my hand or fingers. She’s smart and is highly food motivated. She responds very well to the sound ive been using with her and will come up to me when I use it. But yet… she backs up when I try to pick her up. The highs and then lows are frustrating.
Ive watched dozens of videos, read tons of articles. What would be the best way forward?? I just want a single solid plan I can commit to.
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Mine don’t always come onto my hand so sometimes I have to scoop them up, or gently nudge at their feet until they tentatively put a foot on my hand. Have you tried to scoop them up?
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It sounds like you’re doing all the things by the way 🙂
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Hi. I’ve been reading your page and you seem to know your stuff about geckos, so hoping you can help. I have a suspicion that my sons gecko is impacted and over the last 6 weeks, he began to have runny poos which were very small with large white things in it. But over the last 7 days, he has not had a number 2 💩 at all ! He’s still eating plenty, just not letting any out 😦 I do have use sand substrate, but now after reading your blog, will definitely be changing ! What can I do to try and loosen him up and make him go 💩 ?? I’ve tried a Luke warm water bath but he goes mental when I put him in the water and it stresses him out 😦 hope you can help ! Thanks ,
James
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Hello, I just got my first gecko a week ago , her name is Ziggy and she’s very easy to handle ,it as been lovely really ,even tho, I’m having troubles with the temperature and humidity, my wooden vivarium 37x54x39cm and a heat mat 28x28cm 12w taped on the bottom with thermostat and hygrometer taped on top of the mat , and using kitchen roll at the moment , I have 3 hides , I did try to build myself with desert stone substrate but soon realised that as its made with water , the humidity went crazy up to °70 so took it back and just using mainly slates and a wooden bit…the temperature on the warm side is a struggle, thermostat is set to 33°c , the hygrometer shows 24.2 and dropping but the gun thermometer measures between 29° to 33° , is not equally through out the mat , moving on to my cold area , it goes from 21° to 25° and the humidity is always between 55° to 60° , I can only get it to drop if I use the heater right in front of the tank for maybe like 2h , and it drops down to 40° just doesn’t last long , also I’ve covered the ceiling with a 1cm polystyrene sheet and used the backgroung of my first tank, also polystyrene, on the side of this tank, just today to see if it helps to create a warmer environment over all but I can’t see any difference just yet …I can see she she’s all happy climbing and exploring , I can see difference from first day were she spended a lot of hours window swimming trying to escape… I don’t want to seem reckless and I’m feeling guilty that she’s not in good conditions, if someone give me more ideas to drop the humidity or any advise is appreciated.
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Hello, I’m in a pickle. My husband found an abandoned leopard gecko in our condo parking lot. We took him home but don’t really know what’s wrong. He’s very skinny, lethargic, open mouth breathing with deep gasps, and has stuck shed on his tail, upper face including eyes, and one foot. A friend ordered some meal worms for us so.that should be coming soon but we don’t have a habitat for him because the stores ate still closed what do we do? We’re going to run a warm bath for his skin and keep giving him a few drops of water very often but we’re at a loss. Thanks,
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Hello, oh bless it! I’m out at the moment but take a look at the section on my blog called “rescues”
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I have my heat mat in tank is it safe to use the lino / vynal
As substrate
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Yes it is, as long as the vinyl doesn’t have adhesive
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quick question: I’m putting in a heating pad for my leopard gecko and am unsure of what lamp to use for his tank. do you have any suggestions for the wattage and uvb % percentage? his tank is 15-20 gallons, I believe. I also want to make his tank more humid; what are your thoughts on making it this way? thanks so much for your help! I appreciate it.
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I don’t personally use heat lamps, so this isn’t something I would be qualified to advise on. Take a look at my blog posts and I wrote one about whether to use a heat lamp or not.
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Hello. I have not bought my leopard gecko yet, and I’m trying to see if the materials the pre made kit from Petsmart are suitable for my soon to be lizard. The kit has a mini deep dome lamp fixture from Zoo Med and a 50 watt basking spot lamp. I am not sure if these are the correct supplies needed for proper heating and lighting. If they are, I have another question on how long I leave each of them on and where. If they are not, what materials do you recommend buying for my gecko? Thank you!
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can a 1.3 year old female leopard gecko mate with a 1.8 year old male leopard gecko?
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I don’t know about breeding sorry, I don’t want to give any wrong advice
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