Leopard Gecko Care
Tuesday March 31, 2009
I don't have lizards, but if I did, I think I would choose a leopard gecko. There are several reasons for this: they are beautiful, docile, and easy to care for. In addition, it is easy to find a captive bred leopard gecko, which is something I recommend everyone look for in a pet reptile. Leopard geckos are one of the most popular lizard pets, and for good reason. They are easier to care for than many other lizards (including other gecko species) and are suitable for beginners. Find what you need to know to start out with a pet leopard gecko from our care sheet.
More Gorgeous Geckos: Guide to Geckos
Photo © Lianne McLeod
Comments
Hello,
I am gecko sitting. He has not eaten for over 72 hrs. What can I do? There are currently 4 crickets & 2 meal worms in his tank. He usually eats 4 crickets & 2 meal worms everyday. Help.
Cori
Make sure everything is the same as usual - especially the temperatures (did you move him to your place to care for him?). He is most likely stressed, though it is possible he is ill too. Chances are a few days without eating isn’t a huge concern, but if it goes on for many more days I’d recommend a vet check up. I’d also try taking all the crickets and mealworms out of his cage for a day or so and try again (they can harrass and stress out the gecko too).
Keep us updated
Best Wishes,
Lianne
hi,Iam 12 years old and i have a baby gecko and she or he has worms and i think she’ll die i was wondering if you could help me out me and my mom are going to get her deworm medicine and can you please send me tips on taking care of a sick gecko.
Chelio
Hope your gecko is hanging in there. I don’t really have any tips specifically on caring for a sick gecko, but it is especially important to make sure the temperatures and humidity are in the right ranges (they can be found in the article linked above here:
http://exoticpets.about.com/library/weekly/aa102601a.htm)
Also, I don’t know what sort of substrate you have, but I’d keep him just on paper towels (no sand or anything). It will help you monitor whether he is going to the bathroom, and keep him from ingesting anything that could contribute to a blockage.
Best wishes to you all
Lianne
i was wondering do fat tailed leopard geckos like to climb should i put fake plants or limbs in his tank?
Hi Jason
Fat tailed geckos and leopard geckos are actually slighty different, but as far as I know, neither one reallu cares much for climbing. Fake plants are nice to provide some cover for hiding, but branches intended for climbing aren’t particularly important.
I have been keeping leopard geckos for 7 years now. My first gecko was just bitten by her cagemate. She ate a wriggling cricket and her cagemate thought he could get a share. Now she has 2 small puncture wounds over her mouth. I can’t find Neosporin, but I have gently washed her face with water. I have also moved her to a box with a hide and water. What do I do? I need help!
I have been keeping leopard geckos for 7 years. My first gecko was just bitten by its cagemate. There was a wriggling cricket in her mouth and her cagemate thought that he could get a share too. Now she has 2 small puncture wounds over her mouth. Luckily, they hardly gave blood. I can’t find Neosporin, but I did wash her face with plain water on a Q-tip. I moved her to her own temporary box with a hide and water. I am very worried as I treasure all of my animals. What do I do?
Hi Alex
This is a tough one, because wounds that become infected can get very serious quickly, and it’s impossible to say without seeing them whether the wounds are potentially serious or likely to heal on their own. The safest thing to do would be to get her checked out by a herp vet to assess how serious the wounds might be and whether antibiotics are indicated.
In the meantime I think you have done well - I’d keep the injured gecko on paper towels for a substrate as it will help keep the wound clean. It’s not a bad idea to keep her isolated from the other gecko ’til she heals, but you’ll want to make sure her environment is optimal for heat and humidity as well, so if you separate her you’ll want to set up another full tank with a heater, basically. Keep a really close eye on the wounds and at the first sign of problems (redness, swelling, oozing or loss of appetite) you’d most definitely want to see a vet.
Best wishes,
Lianne
My son has 3 lizard gecko and have had them for about 6 month now. and 1 has been acting alittle different how do I know if he or she is sick. It has been laying by the water dish alot and sometimes it does not look right, but then sometimes it does. I see it eat. I just dont know if it is sick or what.
Hi theresa
I’d be concerned that something is not quite right - being essentially wild animals they are usually pretty good at hiding illness so any time you notice something out of the ordinary, it may be time for a visit to a reptile-friendly vet. Also make sure the heat and humidity is right in the cage, and that the substrate you are using is not being eaten.