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 Housing A Leopard Gecko:
Enclosures
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Things To Do:
- Ensure you have easy access to the enclosure for cleaning, feeding
and for the provision of fresh water.
- Ensure you have access to the necessary electrical outlets.
- Make sure the room is relatively quiet and has a relatively low
traffic level.
Things To Avoid:
- Do not put a glass tank outside! This can cause the tank to
heat up very quickly which means your gecko may overheat
and even die.
- Do not put the enclosure in the direct path of sunlight. This
can cause the tank to heat up very quickly which means your gecko may overheat
and even die.
- Do not have a lot of activity and noise around the enclosure or even
the room that the enclosure is in - this can create a significant
amount of stress for
the gecko.
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All glass aquariums:
- The most common type of enclosure used with leopard geckos.
- Be sure to purchase a secure-fitting screen
top.
- Sliding glass fronts can make your life much easier in terms of
maintenance and access to the enclosure. They can also be less
stressful on the gecko - hands coming down onto a gecko may be
perceived as a predator.
- Ensure that the gecko cannot escape.
Plastic aquariums:
- These enclosures are not suitable for housing leopard geckos.
- They are typically too small and the plastic will melt when exposed
to heat.
- Can be used for housing your feeder insects or transporting your
gecko.
Plastic storage boxes:
- Breeders typically use shoe and/or sweater boxes to house their
collections and hatchlings.
- Be sure to put the necessary ventilation
holes in the sides and/or top. This can be done using a drill or
a wood-burning tool.
- These enclosures are typically set on shelves that have recessed heat
tape on them which runs the length of the shelf under the
boxes. The heat tape should be controlled by some sort of a
thermostat or rheostat.
Custom-built enclosures:
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- Screen lids allow you to safely place overhead heating overtop the
gecko.
- Will prevent your leopard gecko from escaping should it decide to
climb on the cage
furniture or the inside of the cage itself.
- Provides the necessary ventilation
for the enclosure.
- Will keep out any unwanted pests such as cats, dogs, kids etc...
- Lids will also prevent any uneaten prey from escaping the enclosure.
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- The stand should be capable of withstanding the weight of the entire
decorated enclosure.
- Stands should be level - especially for glass tanks which may
develop pressure cracks if it they are set on an uneven surface.
Even wood enclosures can buckle if it is placed on an uneven surface.
- The best stands are strong, flat and level.
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When choosing the most appropriately sized enclosure for your leopard
gecko, always keep its overall quality of life in mind. How would
you like to be stuck in an overcrowded bathroom for the rest of your life?
- Floor space is more important that height because leopard geckos are
primarily terrestrial by nature.
- Most individuals will keep a single gecko in a 20gal enclosure
without any problems.
- Hatchlings can be raised in 10gal enclosures or even plastic
shoe/sweater boxes.
- Dr. Gecko strongly believes that larger is better in most cases as
it will allow the gecko to explore more of its natural
behaviors. His enclosure is 4ft long x 2ft deep x 2ft high.
Some standard size guidelines used in the reptile keeping community
include:
- The length of the enclosure should be at least 4 times the total
length of the gecko and at least 1.5 times the total length of the
gecko for the width.
- Should you decide to house multiple geckos together you should
add at least 1/3 - 1/2 this size per gecko.
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- Leopard geckos are not social creatures do not need
companionship like other mammals do.
- Males are extremely territorial and
should never be housed together.
- Many breeders will keep multiple females together but they should be
monitored closely for any potential problems that may develop.
- A solitary life can be less stressful on the gecko. Stress
can negatively affect the gecko's health.
- When housed individually, most geckos will fare better in captivity
because there will be no competition for: food, space, activity areas,
hiding areas etc...
- If you must keep multiple geckos together, make sure they are all
the same size and that the enclosure is large enough to provide them
with ample access to all the necessities (food, space, hiding areas,
activity areas).
- Overcrowding can often result in serious and potentially fatal health
problems.
A lower cage density means:
- Less enclosure maintenance for you.
- Decreased level of stress
for the leopard gecko(s).
- Decreased risk of the spread of any potential pathogens
and diseases.
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