Care Sheet

Diet

Staple: mealworms, crickets, superworms (I personally recommend mealworms and crickets as the staple diet as superworms are higher in fat content).

Treats: Waxworms, Butter worms, Hornworms, Silkworms

Feeding: Juveniles (every 3-4 days provide a shallow escape proof dish of ~30-40 mealworms), Adults (every 4-7 days provide a shallow escape proof dish of ~70 mealworms).

Supplementation: This cannot be overlooked and is critical for a healthy gecko. 1:1 Mix of Calcium/with D3 to Vitamin ratio. I recommend Osteo Form SA Powder and Vionate, but there are several alternatives readily available on the market. Keep supplement available at all times in the gecko's enclosure.

Water: Clean water dish (change and clean regularly to avoid bacteria). I personally do not provide a water dish, but rather mist regularly (weekly) to keep the geckos hydrated.

Lighting/Heating

Temperature: 75-93F gradient

Heating: Undertank heat pad (controlled via thermostat) covering 1/4 to 1/3 of the tank floor (on the outside of the tank). CHE (Ceramic Heat Emitters) are recommended as a supplemental source of heat, if an undertank heat pad is not maintaining an adequate temperature on its own.

Humidity: 20-40%

Lighting: No UV lighting required (supplementation with D3 is critical). I do recommend providing a day/night schedule via natural or artificial light in the room.

Habitat

Minimum Aquarium Size: I recommend a 20 gallon long for a single adult with a secure screen lid to prevent escape. Leopard geckos should not be housed together, not even females. Leopard geckos are solitary animals and do not need a “friend”. Maintaining a proper temperature gradient is important within the enclosure and I would not suggest exceeding a 40 gallon unless the temperature can be maintained accurately.

Hides/Decor: Multiple hides should be provided at different temperatures with a minimum of a hide on the hot side, cold side and a humid hide. Some stable climbing options would also be beneficial.

Substrate: Paper towel is ideal, but other commonly used and aesthetically pleasing alternatives are slate/ceramic tile, non-adhesive shelf-liners or a hardened clay/sand mix. I do not recommend any loose substrate options as there is significant risk of impaction.