How to Select a Pet Leopard Gecko

A leopard gecko (Eublepharis macularius) is a nocturnal, terrestrial (ground-dwelling) lizard that are naturally native to the deserts of Asia, throughout Pakistan, and into parts of India.

Leopard geckos are very wide spread in captivity and are now privately and commercially bred and sold.

Any person who chooses to own a reptile(s) as a pet, whether a beginner or a veteran, could own, handle, and care for a pet leopard gecko. Leopard geckos are incredibly tame and docile lizards who are very tolerate to human interaction.

Leopard geckos are bred on a large scale. Therefore, if a person (or family) has decided to purchase a leopard gecko as a pet, there are many options open as to were to buy a leopard gecko.

• Any large pet shop that sells reptiles.

• Expos or conventions.

• A local pet shop.

• A local breeder.

• An on-line breeder.

Purchasing a leopard gecko as a household pet can be a little daunting since there are so many different varieties, shapes and sizes of geckos. One will be exposed to baby geckos, adult geckos, and even mid-sized geckos. It is important to understand that the care differs depending on the size of the animal purchased.

Baby geckos are small (under four inches) and are very delicate and should not be handled often (if at all). There are multiple reasons why one would purchase a baby gecko. Baby geckos have a long lifetime, so for people who are seeking a long term reptile pet, should look into purchasing a baby. People who plan to breed geckos should also seek a baby to ensure that the animal has healthy reproductive organs and are able (and ready) to breed when they are of maturity. (Children should not hold baby geckos at all).

Adult geckos are fairly large (about six to eight inches) and are fairly rugged and one is to handle an adult animal more often. An adult gecko is fairly old as well and will not live as long as a baby pet. Also, an adult gecko will most likely not be able to breed and will be past its sexual maturity. There are reasons why a person would decide to purchase an adult gecko. One reason is that adult geckos are more docile and tolerant to handling more often. (Children will be able to handle an adult gecko).

Mid-sized geckos are between three to six inches. Mid-sized geckos are usually at sexual maturity and are more tolerant to handling than a baby gecko. Most people choose to buy mid-sized geckos because they are large enough to hold, they still have a long life span for a long lived household pet, and they are still at sexual maturity (even though one may not know the breeding history of the mid-sized gecko).

A Leopard Gecko at any size makes a great household pet because these lizards are so easy to care for, and are docile, tamable creatures who are very tolerant to humans.

Both male and female geckos are equally calm, tame, and docile creatures (even though some males tend to be a tad more jumpy and quick in their movements than females). If one decided to have multiple geckos, it is important that one has the knowledge that male geckos CAN NOT be housed together (but females can).

If gender is necessary any seller/vendor can sex the gecko before a purchase is made.

There are so many different types, morphs and varieties of Leopard Geckos on the market today (and with every near year comes a new morph). If one is only looking for a household pet, the morph should be chosen for the aesthetic appeal. If one chooses to breed Leopard Geckos, morph is particularly important to ensure what you produce is the morph one desires.

It can be difficult to determine whether or not a Leopard Gecko is healthy before one makes a purchase, but there are steps one can take to reduce the risk of buying an unhealthy reptile.

The pictures shown in this hub are that of healthy leopard geckos and can be used as comparison when purchasing an animal.

1. The outline of the animals body should be smooth, and the bone should not be visible. The tail should be rounded (the fatter the tail, the better). The tail should not have too many wrinkles (wrinkles in the tail could indicate that the animal Is not properly fed). Also, the tail should not look deformed at all, if the tail has any deformities it could indicate that it has been regrown (which means the lizard lost its original tail).

2. When the mouth is closed the jaw should be even. The jaw should not have any jutting in either the upper or lower jaw.

3. When examining the toes of the gecko, there should be no swelling or missing digits.

4. The eyes should be equal in size. Avoid a leopard gecko that has either small eyes or large, buggy eyes.

5. Look for fecal matter in the enclosure before purchasing an animal. The feces of a leopard gecko are pelleted in shape and are semiformed. The feces of a healthy gecko are dark colored with some white urates.

6. One should always hold the gecko and take a closer look at the animal before a purchase (or decision) is made. The Leopard Gecko should be alert while being handled (and even a little jumpy and quick in its movements). The belly and vent area of the animal should appear smooth and clean without swelling.

If the gecko appears healthy, then one can continue in the purchasing process. Remember there is no guarantee on buying a healthy animal, so please never impulse purchase a reptile or any other animal.

The number of leopard geckos a particular person (or family purchases) is a personal decision. One must decide whether or not they desire to breed leopard geckos now (or in the future) or if the Leopard Gecko(s) are only going to be a household pet.

Leopard Geckos are very tolerant creatures that make great household pets because the care for these reptiles is easy for any person. Leopard Geckos do not require attention and only need to be cared and attended to once a week.

The most important part of purchasing a leopard gecko is to have fun searching through different morphs and varieties, exposing yourself to both sexes and handling each gecko before making a decision on a purchase. Geckos are amazing creatures and great household pets for any person and/or family.

Before purchasing any animal please make sure you are well educated and informed on how to properly care for the animal. Please do not make impulse purchases when buying any type of animal (it is not fair to the creature).

Philippe de Vosjoli, Roger Klingenberg, Ron Tremper, and Brian Viets. The Leopard Gecko Manual. Irvine: Advanced Vivarium Systems, Inc. 2004. Print.