What do geckos like

Geckos in captivity should be fed size-appropriate crickets , mealworms and superworms. Geckos can occasionally be fed waxworms as treats, which can be nutritionally beneficial due to their high fat content. Each gecko species may have slightly different nutritional needs so it is the gecko owner's responsibility to research and understand its dietary requirements.

When choosing the correct sized feeder insect for your gecko it is important to select an insect that is smaller than the width of the gecko's mouth.

Choosing an appropriately sized live food makes it easier for the gecko to swallow and digest the prey item. Some adult geckos can occasionally be fed a pinky mouse. Most geckos will eat any insect or small animal that will fit in their mouth. We recommend gut loading your insects to ensure you are providing the essential nutrients for the optimum health of the reptiles that consume them.

Adult geckos should be fed crickets every other day, while baby geckos can require as many as 20 small crickets per day. Dusting your insects with calcium powder enhances your gecko's diet with important vitamins and minerals. Insects and dusting powder can be placed in a plastic bag and shaken gently to thoroughly coat the insects.

Once a gecko reaches maturity, you can begin introducing pinky mice into it's diet to help keep it at an ideal body weight. Make sure when feeding your gecko it does not ingest substrate such as sand since this can lead to a serious gut impaction. To avoid these types of problems, some people recommend feeding lizards in a separate enclosure that utilizes newspaper or paper towels as a substrate.

A small, shallow water dish should be provided to ensure your gecko has continual access to clean water. If you begin to notice uneaten food in your gecko's enclosure, don't panic. Moisture is important for proper shedding and hydration.

When your gecko begins to look pale and is starting to shed, mist the terrarium twice a week. This can be done with an appropriate sized Zilla Heat Mat adhered to the bottom of the tank all the way to one side and proper lighting. Make sure to place the light over the side with the heat mat to help create that warm side of the thermal gradient. Spot clean the enclosure for urates, feces, or uneaten food at least twice per week.

In the wild, leopard geckos are primarily insectivorous, meaning they eat insects and other invertebrates. In captivity, feed leopard geckos crickets, mealworms, superworms, roaches and waxworms. By feeding this product you will increase the nutritional value of your feeders and help pass important nutrients on to your Leopard Geckos.

Supplementing calcium is necessary in order to prevent metabolic bone disease. Leopard Geckos are generally tolerant of moderate levels of handling and interaction even as juveniles.

You can also choose to add branches and rocks in their enclosure and non-toxic pants will make the tank look fantastic. T heir tank needs a basking bulb for the daytime and ceramic bulb for nighttime.

Ensure their basking bulb is not too bright as they prefer cool-white lights. The Leopard Gecko is nocturnal so their lighting must be turned off in the evening for 12 hours of night. Under-the-tank heaters are a good solution to regulating temperature if their basking lamp is insufficient.

This can be achieved by having one soaking bowl in the enclosure. Make sure the soaking bowl is large enough for your lizard to fit in, but not too deep so that the water level comes above their ears. You should install digital thermometers and humidity gauges to check the temperatures of the warm side and cool side of the tank. Some prefer bedding such as aspen shaving, cypress mulch, or coconut fiber.

Any of those choices will work as a suitable substrate. You should avoid using sand because it will cause impaction if swallowed. If you choose a reptile carpet it will need to be spot-cleaned daily. Each month it will need to either be deep cleaned with bleach or replaced entirely, depending on its level of wear.

Any choice of bedding e. Contrary to popular belief, Geckos tend to live in groups with a single male and multiple females. In the wild a single male will protect the females and fight predators.

If you are planning on having more than one leopard gecko, ensure that only one is male. Males become territorial with one another and will fight.

Really, you should only house multiple leopard geckos together if you are are breeding them. With many predators it is not practical for a Leopard Gecko to bask out in the open as many other ectotherms do. They are opportunistic hunters so will wait for prey to come to them — using their hearing and olfactory senses they can easily strike nearby prey.

This reptile is not picky and will eat most live organisms within their proximity. They are known to eat any insect, some bird eggs, and can even be cannibalistic. Leopard geckos live in habitats with cooler winter temperatures. It is very important that they have a habitat to climb and explore with branches and rocks.

However, they should also be taken out of their enclosure. They love to climb on arms and are known for being a docile reptile so will rarely bite.

Before handling, remember this species has tail autotomy. Never pick up a leopard gecko by the tail — it will fall off. As Geckos mature the bands becoming detailed patterns of spotting and more vibrant colors appear. They will also form bumps as a scale texture all over their bodies. Breeding season for the Leopard Gecko can be anywhere from January to September but it requires the correct temperature.

You can determine the sex a leopard gecko as early as one month by look at the base of their tail. Males will have evident hemipenal bulges or bumps that create a V-shaped row and pre-vent pits by the entrance of the vent. A gravid female will have two bulges by the abdomen. During pregnancy they need a higher intake of food and enjoy moist micro-humidity chambers with moss and vermiculite.

Females will produce clutches per season each with two eggs. Incubation temperature will determine the sex of hacthlings:. Whatever Gecko you purchase make sure it is from a reputable breeder and looks healthy. The Leopard Gecko is fantastic choice for first time owners because of their docile and playful nature.

They are a very beautiful lizard with their famous leopard-like appearance and lips that shape the perfect smile when they look up at you. Maintenance and husbandry is very simple with easy diet and cleaning requirements. As long as you are gentle and feed them correctly they will gladly jump into your palms!

Bearded dragons have over 10 unique behaviors. Some of the most common you are likely to see include head bobbing, glass surfing and waving. It is not always easy to understand their wide range of behaviors and what they mean.

Lizards are one of the most unique and interesting reptiles. Many have vivid colors, outgoing personalities and make great pets for beginners. If you have just adopted one then it is time to pick the best Lizard Name!

Chameleons are some of the most iconic reptiles in the world. This family of lizards is famous for their beautiful colors and ability to change hue. Hi Alana, most Leopard Geckos have blue or yellow eyelids. He may be a specific morph e. I Love my Leopard Gecko. She is called Georgie and is 2 and a half months old now.