Leopard Gecko
Eublepharis macularius
The leopard gecko, Eublepharis macularius, is a small terrestrial gecko from arid and semi-arid parts of Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and Iran. Unlike many house geckos, it has movable eyelids, no sticky toe pads, and a thick tail that stores fat. Wild-type animals are yellow to tan with dark spots as adults, while juveniles start with bands. Captive breeding has produced many color and pattern morphs, including albino lines, hypo, tangerine, snow, and patternless forms, making it one of the most common reptiles in private herpetoculture.
Good leopard gecko care is straightforward but not casual. They need a secure dry enclosure with a warm hide, cooler retreat, and a humid shedding hide, plus a diet of appropriately sized insects dusted or gut-loaded for calcium and vitamins. Loose sandy substrates, chronic overfeeding, and inadequate heat are common causes of trouble. Many adults do best housed singly, since bullying can be subtle and injuries may occur during feeding or breeding. When buying, captive-bred geckos from healthy lines are preferable, and morph selection should account for welfare concerns linked to certain neurological or vision-sensitive lines.
