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General
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Baby geckos may be nervous and excitable at first, but with
regular gentle handling will become tame and easy to manage.
Do not handle leopard geckos during the day. Supervise children
and teach them never to pick it up by the tail, which may break off.
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Housing
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Keep young in a 10-gallon aquarium with a secure screened lid.
One adult requires a minimum of a 15-gallon aquarium. Floor
space is important since they cannot climb on glass like other
geckos. A male can be kept with females but never with another
male. Line the bottom of a juvenile's enclosure with newspaper
and paper towels. Sand can be used with adults, but never juveniles!
Provide several hiding places throughout the cage as leopard geckos
are nocturnal and hide during the day. Keep one of those hiding places
moist by placing slightly dampened sphagnum peat moss inside to help
the gecko shed properly. Rocks and logs add interest and make good
resting areas. Water must always be available in a heavy shallow dish.
The cage should have a cool end (about 80F) and warm end (85 to 90F)
so your pet can regulate its own body temperature. Use an undertank
heater and a nocturnal incandescent reptile lamp to help maintain an
optimum air temp of 86F by day and 82-85F by night. Avoid direct
sunlight to avoid overheating.
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Diet
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Leopard geckos thrive on a diet of crickets, mealworms, and, for adults,
an occasional pinky mouse. Feed babies and juveniles every day until full
(4-15 small insects). Feed adults 6 to 10 insects every other day. Dust
crickets every feeding with a calcium and D3 supplement like RepCal
Calcium and D3 or SFT Miner-All "I". Remove uneaten crickets after a half
hour to prevent them from annoying your gecko.
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Cleaning
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Wash out the water and food dishes daily. Clean the tank and any washable
floor coverings weekly in hot water. A 10% bleach solution can be used to
disinfect the tank. Rinse well with hot water; dry thoroughly. If the substrate
is lined with newspaper or paper towels, change them when soiled. Replace sand
approximately 3 times per year.
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Health
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Providing they are purchased in good condition, leopard geckos are hardy pets
which have relatively few problems. A healthy gecko will have a fat tail and
be alert and active, with a good appetite. Schedule a fecal check and physical
exam with an experienced reptile veterinarian to ensure your pet's health.
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Warnings
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Never use "hot rocks" for your leopard gecko as they can cause serious burns.
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