Datasheet leopard gecko
German name:
leopard gecko
Scientific name:
Eublepharis macularius
Origin:
Syria, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan, India
Head torso length:
max. 16 cm, with tail max. 27 cm
age expectation:
20-25 years
Behave
Lining:
Grasshoppers, cockroaches, crickets, house crickets, calcium, vitamins
Behave:
active at dusk and at night, becomes tame
Number:
individually, in groups of about 5 females or 1 male with at least 2 females; do not mix with other lizard species
Difficulty level:
Beginner J. Polák, Eublepharis macularius J, CC0 1.0
Leopard geckos get their name from their distinctive light and dark pattern. Unlike most lizards, they have claws and movable eyelids. The crepuscular and nocturnal animals are interesting to watch and can be tamed. The relatively undemanding desert dwellers are also suitable for beginners.
acquisition and maintenance
Leopard geckos are available from hobby breeders, pet stores or reptile sanctuaries. A healthy leopard gecko has no injuries or remains of molting, toes and tail are normally developed. He will not roll over on his back without resistance, but otherwise shows no signs of stress.
requirements for the terrarium
are leopard geckos soil-dwelling. They spend the day under rocks, in burrows, or in holes they dug themselves Desert. The natural habitat sets the requirements for the terrarium.
terrarium
Glass terrariums keep the heat in, the cold out, and make it easy to observe the animals.
The minimum size is 6 x 6 the body length of the largest animal in area and 2 x the body length in height. For each additional animal, add 2 x 2 the body length of the largest animal in the area. At least 140 x 45 x 45 cm are required to keep two adult leopard geckos in a species-appropriate manner.
The terrarium belongs in a quiet place protected from draughts.
Furnishings
The substrate should come from approx. 10 cm deep, clayey sand consist. Either this is always kept moist in one place or one is laid out with moist moss wet box offered. Stacked stones, roots and caves made of bark or cork on the floor and on the back wall provide sufficient Hiding and climbing opportunities. A small water bowl made of clay also belongs in the terrarium.
temperature
During the day the soil temperature should be 26-28 °C, in some places up to 35 °C, at night 20-23 °C. Heat lamps, spotlights and a thermostat ensure the optimum temperature at all times.
lighting
In addition to basic lighting with fluorescent tubes in the terrarium lid, UV lamps provide natural daylight and support the health and vitality of the animals. A timer provides 14 hours of lighting in summer and 6 hours in winter.
humidity
The humidity should be 40-50% during the day and 50-60% at night. In the morning, the soil is moistened with a spray bottle. This refreshing morning weed dries throughout the day. The value can be checked with a hygrometer.
cleaning
faeces and urine as well as leftover food and skin daily removed with substrate shovel or tweezers, rinsed the drinking bowl with hot water.
Once weekly windows, sliding doors and dirty equipment should be cleaned with the steam cleaner.
Once yearly a complete cleaning can be carried out and the substrate renewed.
Hands and tools have to be in the terrarium before (and after) every move disinfected become.
gender differences
The sexes can only be easily distinguished from a weight of around 12 grams, even by laypeople.
The body of the female is smaller, the neck and head are narrower, and the tail is more rounded in the middle than that of the male. In the male, the V-shaped arranged preannal pores above the cloaca are more pronounced, next to the cloaca there are two rounded ones hemipenis pockets.
Feed & Nutrition
Get leopard geckos live food, such as house crickets, grasshoppers or cockroaches. These are best moistened slightly and sprinkled with vitamin powder. A bowl of cuttlefish provides calcium. Adult leopard geckos eat two to four prey animals about three times a week.
acclimatization and handling
Leopard geckos can individually or in small groups kept by animals of a similar size. Due to the aggressive reproductive urge, a male must be kept alone or with at least two females.
In mixed groups, females produce a clutch of two eggs several times a year. If you do not want to breed, you should remove the eggs immediately or only keep females.
Leopard geckos need one once a year hibernation from about 4 to 8 weeks. About two weeks before that, you start to slowly lower the temperature to 15 °C, shorten the lighting time and reduce feeding. After hibernation, the temperature, duration of lighting and feeding are slowly increased again.
The molting occurs in adult leopard geckos every 3-4 weeks. Remaining skin debris must be removed from the holder with tweezers.
Important: Never eat the leopard gecko tail touch. A shed tail grows back, but is monochromatic and beet-like in shape.
The species-appropriate keeping of the leopard gecko is relatively easy and an ideal and interesting introduction to terraristics.