Leopard gecko

Leopard Gecko Care Guide

Housing, heat, insects, health and morphs.

A complete guide in nine chapters, checked against veterinary references, published studies and experienced keepers. Every number in it carries a source, listed in the last chapter.

Disclaimer: I'm not a veterinarian and I don't hold a degree in animal science or animal care. This guide is compiled from the published sources listed in every chapter. For a sick animal, a reptile vet is the authority.

  1. 01Start Here: Is a Leopard Gecko Right for You?

    What a leopard gecko needs, how big it gets, how long it lives, and the key numbers for a healthy setup.

  2. 02Housing and Environment

    Enclosure size, overhead heat, thermostats, optional UVB, the humid hide and safe substrate for a leopard gecko.

  3. 03Feeding

    How often to feed a leopard gecko, which feeder insects to use, how to gut-load, and the calcium and vitamin schedule.

  4. 04Handling and Behavior

    How to tame and handle a leopard gecko, why they live alone, what to do after a tail drop, and whether they need a winter cool-down.

  5. 05Health

    Quarantine and Cryptosporidium testing, stuck shed, the common leopard gecko illnesses with signs and when to see a vet, and Salmonella hygiene.

  6. 06Breeding

    Sexing, breeding weight, cooling, pairing, lay boxes, incubation and temperature-dependent sex, hatchling care and calcium for laying leopard geckos.

  7. 07Genetics and Morphs

    How leopard gecko morphs are inherited, the albino strains and popular combos, which morphs to avoid, and how to read a listing.

  8. 08New Owner Checklist

    A printable one-page checklist for a new leopard gecko owner: setup, feeding, handling, shedding, vet warning signs and hygiene.

  9. 09Sources

    Every source cited in this leopard gecko guide, numbered to match the in-text citations and grouped by chapter.

Last revised November 6, 2026.