Companion Reptile Care SERIES Gecko.Qxd 7/23/2009 2:39 PM Page 2

Gecko.qxd 7/23/2009 2:39 PM Page 1

LEOPARD

Most Common Disorders Leopard geckos (Eublepharis of Leopard Geckos macularius) are gentle, hardy, Intestinal parasites long-lived lizards that have fasci- Metabolic bone disease GECKOs nated beginner and advanced rep- Egg binding tile keepers alike. Originally native Gastroenteritis/ diarrhea to the deserts and dry savannahs Sand impactions Shedding problems of Afghanistan, India and Loss of digits Pakistan, leopard geckos are Tail loss now well established in captivity Stomatitis following decades of large-scale Respiratory infections commercial breeding. Leopard geckos are nocturnal; as free-ranging animals in arid grasslands, they shelter themselves during the day beneath rocks and Visiting your reptile veterinarian for routine health checks will in burrows. Most adults are yellow help prevent many diseases and support you in having a long, with black spots; however, as a satisfying relationship with your gecko. For help in finding a result of multi-generational captive reptile veterinarian in your area, contact the Association of breeding, several designer color Reptilian and Amphibian Veterinarians (ARAV) by visiting www.ARAV.org and click on “Member Directory.” and pattern varieties of leopard geckos are available.

Companion Reptile Care SERIES Gecko.qxd 7/23/2009 2:39 PM Page 2

What Your Veterinarian Looks for in a Healthy Leopard Gecko

What to Expect from Your Leopard Gecko Bright body colors eopard geckos have a well-deserved reputation emerged that include dried insects and frozen pre- Alert and responsive for making excellent pets. Their ease of maintenance, pared meats; however, leopard geckos need to be con- attitude moderate size and attractive appearance have earned ditioned to feed on these items and some are hesitant them high praise and popularity in the pet industr y. to adapt to them. Unlike many other geckos, leopard The diet may consist of commercially raised crickets geckos possess movable eyelids and with smaller numbers of mealworms, superworms V ital Statistics lack the sticky toe pads that enable (Zophobas), waxworms, silkworms, roaches and other Body length: 7-10 inches (17-25 cm) many other geckos to cling to glass live insects. Prey items should be fed a high quality No sign of old skin Body weight: 45-60 g or walls. A leopard gecko should not diet (“gut-loaded”) for at least 24 hours before feed- adhered to toes Fat tail Average life span: 10-25 years be caught or lifted by the tail; the ing them out. Age of sexual maturity: 10 months body should be fully supported Live prey should be offered in shallow containers, when it is handled. which will prevent mealworms from burrowing, reduce cricket dispersal in the enclosure and reduce acciden- Is Your Leopard Gecko a Male or tal ingestion of substrate by the gecko. Female? How to Keep Your Leopard Gecko Healthy, Happy and Safe! Appropriate-sized prey items should be offered ever y ✓ As juveniles, there is little difference between male and Take a newly purchased leopard Housing for your leopard gecko It is important for leopard geckos one to two days for juveniles, and two to three times a gecko to an exotic animal vet- should: to avoid: female leopard geckos. Interestingly, leopard geckos erinarian for a wellness exami- week for adults. As a general rule, feed crickets with a ✓ be at least 200 square inches ✗ coarse sand, corncob or walnut undergo temperature-dependent sex determination, nation and fecal check for (1290 cm2) of floor space and shell as a substrate body length no greater than the length of the gecko’s parasites. which means the sex of the gecko can be predicted 6 inches (15 cm) high for a ✗ free roam of the house head and about half the width of the head. Feed no ✓ Quarantine new geckos in a group of 2-3 animals based on the temperature at which the egg was ✗ cats, dogs or other predators separate area of the house for ✓ be easy to clean with good more than the animal will consume within 15 minutes, ✗ incubated. at least 30 days. ventilation (provide a screen being picked up by the tail which usually amounts to 4-6 food items. Beware that ✓ When housing geckos together ✗ As adults, males have a V-shaped row of enlarged top) being housed together with more hungry juveniles housed together may nip toes or tail in groups, include only one ✓ include clean fresh water than one adult male pre-anal pores along their inner thighs, whereas adult male to avoid fighting. tips off their cage mates. provided in a shallow container ✗ hot rocks or direct contact with females have only small pre-anal pits. Males also have ✓ Ensure a gradient of tempera- and changed daily heating elements or light sources While vitamin and mineral supplementation is tures in the enclosure, from ✓ contain a small bowl of pow- ✗ oversupplementation of vitamins paired hemipenal swellings at the base of the tail, 70ºF (21ºC) on the cool end to controversial, leopard geckos will tolerate a wide dered calcium supplement or minerals which females lack. Males are slightly more heavy- 84-88ºF (29-31ºC) on the range of supplementation regimes. Consult with your warm end. ✓ include acceptable substrates ✗ oversupplementation with UVB bodied and robust with a broader head and thicker such as paper towel, newspaper, light exotic animal veterinarian. Dusting prey items with a ✓ Mist the hide box substrate neck than females. Both males and females make orchid bark or fine sand (sand ✗ insects from the yard, which calcium supplement is probably beneficial. Prey are daily to promote normal skin is controversial) shedding. may be contaminated by equally good pets. ✓ dusted daily for juveniles, while prey are supple- ✓ provide a moist hide box filled pesticides Provide heat with a heating pad, with sphagnum moss, cypress Diet mented every 2-3 feedings for adults. Adding nutri- heating tape or basking light. mulch or vermiculite ®* ✓ Leopard geckos feed primarily on live, moving insect tional supplements, such as HEALx Sunshine Factor, As a nocturnal animal, leopard ✓ include a rough stone or bark geckos may be adapted to low prey. Commercially available diets have recently may be beneficial. for the leopard gecko to rub on light intensity and thus may during shed periods require lower levels of supple- *www.HarrisonsPetProducts.com mental UVB light in captivity than other reptiles.

Text and photos by Marc H. Kramer, DVM