How Many Mealworms to Feed a 6 Month Leopard Gecko
There are a variety of steps that you can take as a loving, responsible pet owner to ensure that your pet leopard gecko will have the happiest life they can. One of the most important things that you can do is make sure you've created a habitat for your pet where they will feel comfortable.
There's a lot to know about cultivating a safe, comfortable habitat for a Leopard Gecko, so we've broken it down for you to make it easier. Today, we're going to share our step-by-step instructions on how you can successfully put together a leopard gecko habitat.
First, we're going to share some information on leopard geckos–and yes, some of these fun facts might surprise you! After that, we'll answer the question, "Do leopard geckos make good pets?" After that, we'll discuss what your leopard gecko needs in their habitat and, finally, walk through the steps on how to make it happen.
All About Leopard Geckos
Leopard geckos make popular lizard pets for a variety of reasons. In addition to their distinctive appearance, they're also loving, wonderful additions to most homes. We'll begin by sharing some leopard gecko trivia with you.
Did you know that your leopard gecko can live to be up to 20 years old? It's true: so be sure that you're creating a habitat that will facilitate a long, healthy life! In addition, you should be aware that a leopard gecko can grow to be as long as ten inches. When out in the wild, these lizards live in a semi-arid desert and are nocturnal creatures.
We also want to note that leopard geckos are different from other lizards that have "sticky" fingers and toes. Your leopard gecko doesn't have this feature, so they're unable to walk on vertical surfaces or walls like many other lizards are. This can be helpful while deciding what type of habitat you're creating.
Leopard geckos are an extremely popular beginner lizard, and this is because they are largely considered to be relatively easy to care for. They originally come from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, or even Northwestern India.
Their personalities are also responsible for earning them accolades. Leopard geckos are known for their perky, fun personalities. They also move in a manner that can be interesting to watch.
One of the things that might have interested you about this lizard is their unique appearance. The leopard gecko is typically white, yellow, and featuring black dots. The hatchlings are actually striped, however, and grow to change into their spotted appearance.
In addition to this, there are a variety of different types of colorful, patterned morphs. While some colors are more desired and, therefore, valuable, you'll find that the normal coloration is not only readily available but also the most cost-effective. The leopard gecko is also known for having distinctive outer ears and eyelids too.
As we mentioned, leopard geckos make excellent pets. There are a variety of reasons for this. Of course, with any reptile pet, there are precautions that you should take. Nevertheless, if you decide to get a leopard gecko, you'll most likely find yourself extremely happy with your decision.
We do want to note that there are a few things you should keep in mind about your new pet. First, all animals are able to possibly carry viral, fungal, bacterial, or parasitic diseases that can be contagious to humans. That's why it's important to always thoroughly wash your hands with warm water and soap prior to and after contact with your animal–or their habitat.
In addition, if you have a child, you should assist them with handling and help ensure they are properly washing their hands before and after touching the pet or their habitat. It's these little things that can help ensure you and your family are safe.
Nevertheless, leopard geckos do make fabulous pets. Not only are they fun, as we mentioned, but they're also hardy and don't require heaps of maintenance. Another major perk? You will find that your leopard gecko is considerably easy to train. This can be attributed to their easygoing, docile energy.
How Do I Put Together a Leopard Gecko Habitat?
Now that we've provided you with plenty of background on leopard geckos themselves, and if they make good pets (which they do), we can dive into the steps necessary to put together a leopard gecko habitat. We promise: you'll find this hugely rewarding!
Leopard geckos tend to be hardy, which means they generally have a good chance of living happily even if their environment isn't perfect. Nevertheless, as a pet owner, it's your job to be sure you're giving your pet everything they need to thrive. Here's how to do precisely that.
Step One: The Right Terrarium
Your first step is to find a terrarium that will fit your leopard gecko correctly. Remember: your gecko will grow as they age, so if you want to avoid purchasing another terrarium, your best option is to choose one that will be large enough for the grown-up gecko.
You want to be sure that your leopard gecko has a well-ventilated terrarium. It should also have a screened lid. You can start with a 20-gallon tank. If you have a large old fish tank that doesn't have water in it anymore, this could also be suitable for a leopard gecko.
Leopard geckos are extremely territorial and should never be kept together in the same tank (both males and females). They should only be introduced for breeding purposes, and this really should be done by an expert.
Once you find the terrarium, you'll want to find the correct substrate to use. You can put tile or another semi-arid bioactive soil or substrate in the cage. Reptile carpet is not a great choice as your leopard gecko's nails could get snagged on the fabric and rip off.
If your gecko is shorter than six inches, your best bet is to use paper towels or tile. This is because the smaller geckos could accidentally eat some bedding material, which isn't good for them.
You will also need to be cognizant about providing your leopard gecko with hiding places. They need at least three or four "hides." There should be ones on the warm and cool side of the habitat. You can also put rocks and low branches in the cage so your gecko can get closer or further away from the basking light.
Step Two: Light and Heat
For a leopard gecko, having the correct heat and light in the cage is of extreme importance. You are able to use a regular white incandescent heat bulb to provide a daytime basking spot. Never buy colored lights (such as red) for your leopard gecko as their night lamp. This light will eventually cause them to go blind. Instead, opt for a ceramic light.
You might have heard about under-tank heating pads, but we don't recommend that. This is because they're not super effective at regulating the pet's temperatures correctly. If your gecko burrows down in their tank, then they can actually get burnt. Be sure that you keep the cage at the correct temperature for your pet. In addition, you should ensure that your gecko is not near any drafts or near a window/door.
As we mentioned earlier, these geckos are nocturnal. This means that they're usually active at night and, therefore, don't often require a lot of UV lighting. While in the wild, these animals also get an amount of UV exposure. A small amount of UVB light can actually be valuable when it comes to keeping your leopard gecko healthy.
Be prepared to equip your lizard with incandescent lighting and heat from the source. This will mimic the sunlight. In the summer, give your leopard gecko approximately 14 hours per day. In the winter, your leopard gecko will still need 12 hours. An automatic cage light could be helpful.
Step Three: Humidity
Your leopard gecko is a desert animal, and therefore, their cage doesn't need to be highly humid. If the humidity is too low–somewhere below 20%–you might find that your lizard has difficult shedding. If your leopard gecko needs a little help with shedding, providing a temporary "humid hide" is a great choice. Place a wet paper towel under a hide to provide moisture. Just make sure to watch for potential mold.
You should keep the humidity level at around 30-40%. This is usually similar to the humidity level in the home. One option is to keep a screen on top, and a heat source, to maintain a dry environment. You can check the humidity level using a humidity gauge or hygrometer.
A Habitat To Call Home
There you have it: how to put together the perfect leopard gecko habitat in just three easy steps! If you keep these things in mind when you're cultivating a home for your pet, you will find that they'll be happy with the environment that you create.
SOURCES:
A Guide to Caring for Leopard Geckos as Pets | The Spruce Pets
Leopard gecko care sheet | RSPCA
Leopard Gecko: Stats & Facts | Animal Planet
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Source: https://www.reference.com/pets-animals/leopard-gecko-habitat?utm_content=params%3Ao%3D740005%26ad%3DdirN%26qo%3DserpIndex&ueid=16c688a2-1300-462e-bd58-6519ce49f8ab
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