What tank size does a leopard gecko need?
The size of the tank that a leopard gecko needs depends on the type of habitat they are in. For example, if you have a naturalistic terrarium, then your gecko will need an enclosure with space for climbing and hiding spots.
If you live in an apartment, then it is best to get one of the smaller tanks so that you can take care of them easily.
There are many different sizes available at pet stores, but what matters most is getting one that fits into your home or apartment.
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What Tank Size Does a Leopard Gecko Need?
What tank size does a leopard gecko need?
A 20-gallon-long aquarium will work for up to 4 adult leopard geckos. There are many debates among reptile enthusiasts regarding which type or brand of cage is best for housing lizards in captivity.
I have used both the standard all-glass aquarium and a variety of commercially manufactured reptile cages.
When I was a new leopard gecko owner, I bought the biggest cage that I could find at my local pet store, which was an 18-gallon tall “habitat” tank.
As my collection grew, it became evident that this cage would not be large enough to house all of my geckos together in one enclosure.
When you are considering what tank size to buy for your leopard geckos, there are many factors to consider besides just how many lizards you plan on housing in one cage.
For example, if you plan on breeding your leopard geckos, then you will need an even bigger enclosure than one would need to house just a single male and several females.
If you plan on housing hatchling leopard geckos together in the same tank, then you will want to provide them with an enclosure that is large enough for all of them to live comfortably in (at least 4 times the size of the largest gecko).
Some reptile cages come with more than one level, which makes it easier to keep plants and branches in the enclosure for climbing.
You can also build additional levels out of wood or PVC pipes yourself. I was concerned about sharp edges on glass tanks when I first began housing my geckos in all-glass aquariums, but I’ve had no problem with any of them yet.
A corner litter pan will help keep your substrate cleaner by containing the mess in one area.
Do not place any objects that are taller than the screen lid in your leopard gecko’s tank or they can use them to climb out and escape (this is less of a concern when using taller cages with locking screen lids).
How to Clean a Leopard Gecko Tank?
Leopard geckos typically defecate in the same spot every time they go.
This makes it easy for you to locate their dropping in order to scoop them out or wipe them away so long as you remember where they typically go.
If you didn’t know where your leopard gecko usually poops, then it would be a good idea to keep a small flashlight in the tank with him at night so that you can find his droppings after he goes.
If you have more than one leopard gecko, then you will need to remove all of them from the tank before cleaning anything because they may eat each other’s poop.
You should also clean your gecko’s cage once every week or two depending on how many lizards are housed in there and how messy they tend to be.
If your geckos live in a room where lighting is set on a timer, then I would recommend keeping their light schedule consistent by switching it off for 12 hours every day instead of just turning it off doing full cage cleans.
The easiest way to clean your leopard gecko’s tank is by removing the substrate from the bottom of the tank and wiping it down with a mild disinfectant.
Then, replace the old substrate with a new one.
I would not recommend using any cleaners that have strong scents or harsh chemicals in them because some reptiles have very sensitive respiratory systems that could be damaged if they come into contact with these types of cleaners.
How Many Leopard Geckos Can You Put in One Tank?
Baby leopard geckos can be kept together. When you keep them, make sure to keep two from the same hatch. You should only have three or four per 10 gallons of the enclosure.
Leopard gecko morphs are one of the most diverse reptile morphs available in pet stores today.
Their unique pattern serves as an effective camouflage in their dry desert habitats.
This provides them with protection from both predators and prey while hunting for food at night time.
While there are many different patterns to be found among leopard geckos, many keepers try to breed new and different colors or patterns in their leopard geckos.
Albino Leopard Gecko
Albino leopard geckos have white skin, pink eyes, lack any pigment in their patterning, and have a normal bulgy appearance, which makes them look rounder than most other geckos.
Unfortunately, there is not a wide variety of albinos being selectively bred, so they are fairly rare to find even in captivity.
Carrot Tail Leopard Gecko
Carrot tail leopard geckos are an old leopard gecko morph that came about before the 1980s when new codes were added to help distinguish more morphs available in the marketplace.
Carrot tail leopard geckos have shorter and thicker tails compared to normal leopard geckos that they got their name from.
Can Two Female Leopard Geckos Live Together?
Yes, two female leopard geckos can live together. Some people say that geckos are solitary animals and should be kept alone, but this isn’t true.
Leopard geckos are solitary animals but there is no problem with keeping two or more females together in one vivarium as long as they are the same size, roughly the same age, and fed well.
The only reason for keeping a single leopard gecko would be if you wanted to breed them.
If this is not your aim, then it makes sense to keep female geckos together so they have playmates throughout their lives.
This way, you will save money on housing because once a roomy vivarium has been set up, all you need to buy is two hides, two water bowls, and a bag of live orchid insects to feed them.
Can I Keep Male and Female Leopard Geckos Together?
Male and female leopard geckos should never be kept together because they will breed all the time, which is bad for their health.
Males are very persistent with females and mating can go on all day if you let them get on with it!
This puts huge strains on both males and females, wearing them out physically so that they don’t have enough energy to eat properly, which often leads to sickness or even death in some cases.
In addition, eggs can become stuck inside the female’s body, which causes issues when they try to lay them.
If the eggs do hatch, the babies will need to be separated from the adults before any harm is done and this can lead to a high level of stress for all concerned.
Can I Keep Many Male Leopard Geckos Together?
Male leopard geckos should not be kept together purely because they are territorial animals and will fight each other until one dies or is driven out, which can take weeks.
With so many people keeping more than one male in the same vivarium, it seems strange that this article has been written but, unfortunately, there are still some people who think that two or more males can live together quite happily.
This theory may have come about because stud books contain records of brothers living together without any problems, but these cases were only possible because the males were related and did not have a chance to breed.
In addition, the vivarium was very large and well-planted so that any disputes could be settled without anyone being hurt.
When you consider how expensive leopard geckos are, it makes sense to avoid putting them together in case they fight because even one or two dead geckos are a high price to pay for what might be a completely false theory!
It’s a good idea to have two hides in the vivarium so there is somewhere for each gecko to get out of sight from the others if they want some peace and quiet.
In addition, you should include plenty of live plants because not only do these look attractive, they also provide cover from which your geckos can ambush one another.
It’s also important that water bowls are hidden well within the plants because leopard geckos like to go into them when they need to drink. If their water bowl was on display, it would be impossible for them to get away without being seen by one of their tank mates!
You don’t need tons of live orchid insects (which seem to be very popular with some people) to feed your geckos because these are just easy snack that doesn’t fill them up.
It’s far better to give each gecko a cricket or two each day, which will provide valuable protein that helps with the calcium absorption process and then offer tiny amounts of wax moth larvae once or twice a week, along with pieces of fresh fruit like grapes, strawberries or raspberries.
How Many Leopard Geckos Can Live in a 40-gallon Tank?
That depends on the size of the leopard geckos, but generally no more than two.
How big do they get? Leopard geckos typically reach a length of 7 to 9 inches (17.8 cm). Males tend to be slightly longer and thicker than females.
Overall, most healthy adults weigh between 40 and 60 grams with females usually weighing slightly more than males either at maturity or when gravid (carrying eggs).
Most captive-bred animals are much smaller than their wild counterparts due to strong inbreeding, which results in weak immune systems and very small adults that rarely exceed 30 grams in body weight.
Leopard geckos kept under optimum conditions can become quite large reaching over 100 grams in body weight.
How to Create the Ideal Leopard Gecko Habitat?
One of the most important things to consider is creating a habitat that will allow your leopard gecko to thrive.
There is a lot of material online about how to build a suitable habitat for these lizards, but not everything you see or read is accurate. As a result, many people make mistakes and end up with less-than-ideal results.
In this article, I try to give you as much information as possible from both my own experience keeping pet leopard geckos and from what other keepers have told me over the years.
What follows are some great tips on how to create the best leopard gecko environment possible!
What Do You Need in Your Leopard Gecko Habitat?
The biggest mistake that first-time leopard gecko keepers make is putting too much in their tank. You do not need a reptile fogger, heat mat, under-tank heater, and so on. In fact, you can create an excellent leopard gecko habitat for about $150 or less!
Here are the 4 most important things that will ensure your leopard geckos’ health and well-being:
- UVB light.
- Basking spot temperature of between 90 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit. A basking spot 25-watt infrared lamp is usually sufficient to achieve this. The best way to locate the basking spot is by placing the lamp as far away from the enclosure as possible and then using a thermometer placed on the substrate to decide which area is best for the basking spot.
- Proper room temperature of between 72 to 78 degrees Fahrenheit. A low-wattage incandescent light bulb will be sufficient for this. The best place for it is above or within inches from one side of your enclosure, then use a thermometer placed on the substrate to decide which area is best.
- Substrate that retains moisture and is easy to clean such as Zoo Med Eco Earth.
In addition, you also need:
- An Exo Terra waterproof vivarium heater mat if your room temperatures drop below 60 degrees Fahrenheit (15°C). Place this under half of your leopard gecko habitat.
- A high-quality leopard gecko food such as Repashy Superfoods Crested Gecko Diet.
- You will also need a spray bottle to mist your tank twice daily, a calcium supplement, vitamin powder, and sand for smaller reptiles.
- An excellent book on this subject is Leopard Geckos in Their Terrarium by Jim Harrison. There are other great resources, too, but I’ve found that Jim’s books are consistent with my experience over the years. This book teaches you how to set up the best possible environment for your leopard geckos.
Conclusion
What tank size does a leopard gecko need?
Your leopard gecko will need a tank that is at least 30 gallons. Leopard geckos are not aggressive, but they do require plenty of space to roam and explore their environment.
A larger enclosure also means you can house more than one animal together without feeling cramped for space!
For the best care possible, make sure your pet has an appropriate size cage lined with bedding material made specifically for reptiles.
