London Geckos Care Sheet
The Leopard gecko (Leo) is a nocturnal ground dwelling lizard that originates from desert areas in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and western India. They are one of only a few species of geckos that have eyelids, which help keep their eyes clean in their dusty natural environment.
Hatchlings measure 3 – 4 inches long. Adult females are typically 7 to 8 inches, and males are 8 to 10 inches. Some males of the giant bloodlines reach nearly a foot.
Leopard geckos are long-lived compared to some reptiles. On average you can expect your gecko to live six to 10 years, but many males live 10 to 20 years.
Two male Leo’s should never be housed in the same tank together. Being very territorial, they will fight and possibly kill one another. A single male can be housed with multiple females without any problems.
Substrate is required in your tank; this is the flooring your Leo will walk about on. We recommend Reptile carpet or paper towels. DO NOT use sand as this could be eaten by your Leo accidentally, which would cause impaction which could make your Leo very ill and even lead to death.
Leos will do very well on a diet of mealworms and crickets. These insects must be first given a nutritious powdered diet for at least 12 hours before being fed to your leopard gecko. This process is called gut loading, There should be fresh water put in the tank every day.
Leopard geckos will shed their skin approximately every four weeks. Prior to each shed the gecko will start to appear dull in coloration. It is very important to ensure that the gecko has a moist area in its habitat during this period to aid the shedding process. A hide box filled with moist moss or vermiculite is needed, so your leopard gecko can shed its skin properly. Shedding typically takes a few hours to complete and while you may see some of the shed skin at the bottom of the cage. Often this skin will be eaten immediately by the gecko.
If your gecko has any unshed skin, which can happen in areas like the toes, we suggest letting your gecko soak in a shallow container of lukewarm water (max ½ of water) for 30 minutes.
Heating and Temperature
Leopard Geckos are cold-blooded and rely on their environment to control body temperature. It is important that the heat source remains at approximately 90F and is situated at one end. To heat the tank, we use a heat mat. Geckos they are nocturnal they do not require a UVB light.
We recommend that you do not handle leopard geckos on a regular basis until they settle in and are more than 6 inches in total length. Once your gecko is large enough, let it crawl through loose fingers and hand-over-hand for 10 to 15 minutes per day until they are accustomed to your touch and smell. This taming process takes only five to seven days.
Never grab or hold your gecko by its tail, as its defence mechanism may cause it to drop its tail.