The leopard gecko is member of the reptilian class of animals and is also one of the smallest known reptiles in existence. Some tiny geckos have been known to only grow to reach a length of 0.6 in (or 1.6 cm). An adult leopard geckos can however, grow to reach lengths of 8 to 12 inches long and weigh as much as 60 to over 100 grams.
They originated from different parts of India, Afghanistan and Pakistan where they inhabited dry, rocky and dessert like environments.
The Leopard gecko has already become one of the most commonly bred lizards in Asia, The U.S. and Europe and is growing in popularity as a household pet.
Even though they are big headed, hard bodied reptilians they are considered to be very good natured creatures and they are pretty easy to care for.
One thing that makes Leopard and Fat-tail geckos different from most other geckos is that they have well developed eyelids along with toes that do not have expanded toe tips (or webs), most other geckos lack these two features.
One of the things that makes the gecko so popular with those interested in the world of lizards is the vast and diverse amount of different and vibrant colors available with these animals. through generations of breeding a wide variety of new and unique colors and patterns have been created over the years.
There are at least twenty different varieties (or morphs) of the leopard gecko that are available commercially.
Some of the many different leopard gecko morphs include the las vegas (rainwater) albino, bell albino, tremper albino, tangerine, carrot-tail, stripe, reverse stripe, red stripe, giant, jungle, APTOR, mack snow, line bred snow, patternless, enigma, eclipse, and blizzards just to name a few.
The Leopard geckos are nocturnal creatures meaning that they are most active at night. They are also terrestrial animals which means they prefer to live on dry land.
With good care from their owners geckos can live up to 20 years in a proper environment. But in order to keep them healthy and happy, you should make sure you provide them with a few basic things. They shed their skin habitually. For this they need a humid type of habitat which aids in them being able to properly shed their skin.
Getting a shed box for your pet gecko is a get way to help accommodate your pet. A shed box is essentially a hide box with damp sphagnum moss. This aids the leopard gecko in the shedding process. They also must maintain a good diet. They store the extra fat within their tails. This helps to ensure that they don’t starve in times of scarcity.
A leopard gecko with a fat tail is in fact a healthy gecko. They should also be provided with a source of light and heat. It is also important to provide a temperature gradient for your gecko. A temperature gradient is basically having a warm end and a cool end of the enclosure that will allow your gecko to regulate its own body temperature.
Like many reptiles all geckos are possible carriers of salmonella and other infectious diseases. Owners must always wash your hands before and after handling your leopard gecko and/or the habitat contents to help prevent the potential of spread of these diseases.
As time goes on geckos are gaining in popularity and will continue to be one of the most kept reptiles in captivity. As their popularity grows breeders will continue to breed ever more unique and interesting specimens.
To learn more about this very unique and love-able please visit my website at http://leopardgeckoscenter.com
