Enclosures

Creating A Suitable Enclosure For Your Leopard Gecko

Minimum tank size: 40 gallons (36x18x16in or 91.4x45.7x43.2cm)
When looking for an enclosure, make sure your tank has good ventilation (such as a mesh lid) and is able to hold heat (no cages or fully open sides)
Enclosures should be kept longer horizontally than vertically. Leos live primarily on the ground and do not need as much climbing room as other species (such as crested geckos)
Leopard geckos need a temperature gradient ranging from 70-75F (21-24C) on the cool side to 80-85F (27-29C) on the warm side as well as a basking area of about 90-95F (32-35C).
Leopard geckos should not have a high humidity percentage. Their humidity level should stay between 35-65%.
Hides should be placed in all three sections of the tank (cool, middle, and warm) and there should be at least one humid hide. The bare minimum number of hides is three.
There should also be at least one water bowl and a bowl of calcium powder
The more clutter the better! Leos feel safest when there is lots of coverage for them to hide in. You can add in plants, more hides, and decorations to help cutter up the tank.
Leopard geckos do best in confinement when solitary. Do not keep two leos in the same enclosure! It can lead to aggression, resource hogging, and death. For more information on cohabitation, please visit the cohabitation page.

Safe Substrates For Your Leopard Gecko

An ideal substrate for leopard geckos is a substrate that allows them to dig. They love to dig, bury things, and make tunnels. It also simulates their natural environment. However, there are times where this is not feasible and another kind of substrate must be used (such as keeping hatchlings/juveniles, seniors, disabled geckos, sick geckos, or a quarantine setup) This is just a quick guide on what substrates are safe to use for your leo, and it's up to you to decide what is best for your gecko's needs!

***Note: this page does not list ALL safe substrates nor does it list ALL unsafe substrates***

70:30 Soil and Sand Mixture

This mix can be achieved with top soil (organic and fertilizer free) and play sand.

You can also do a different version of this mix using reptisoil and sand.

Arcadia Arid Earth Mix

Biodude Terra Sahara

Exoterra Stone Desert

ProRep Leolife

Paper Towels

Paper towels are a simple and cheap option for substrate. It is a great choice for juveniles, seniors, and disabled leos as well as leos going through their quarantine period.

Paper towels must be changed daily so bacteria doesn't build up and cause infection.

Plastic Reptile Liner

(non-adhesive)

Slate/Ceramic Tiles

Unsafe Substrates For Your Leopard Gecko

Sand

Sand is easy to accidentally ingest and can cause impaction.

Reptile Carpet

Reptile carpet is known for breaking toes and snagging nails. Leos can easily get their nails caught in the carpet, and as they walk, it rips off the nail and sometimes even the entire toe. It also harbors lots of bacteria.

Coconut Coir/Fiber

Coco fiber is very dusty when kept dry and holds too much moisture when kept wet. It is best for tropical species' tanks.

Wood Shavings

Wood shavings do not at all replicate a natural environment, they are extremely dusty, they can cause impaction if ingested, they can carry bugs such as wood mites, and the oils can be toxic to leos.

Adhesive Shelf Liners

The adhesive chemicals can become toxic to the gecko when heated and result in death.

Crushed Walnut Shell

Crushed shells are another dusty and sometimes sharp substrate that can also cause impaction if ingested.

Substrate Enhancers For Your Leopard Gecko

While these are not safe/suitable as standalone substrates, they can be added to a suitable substrate to enhance the environment and provide more enrichment.

Sand

Excavator Clay

Leaf Litter

Coconut Fiber/Coir

Suitable Lights For Your Leopard Gecko

Leopard geckos are cold blooded creatures meaning they need external heat sources to survive. As gecko owners, it is our job to provide our leos with the correct heat and light fixtures to give them the nutrients and warmth they need.

In addition to lights, you should also have thermometers placed within the tank to monitor the heat. Digital thermometers are recommended as they are the most accurate. Make sure to place at least one thermometer per heat section (cool, middle, warm, basking)
It is recommended to get a digital thermostat to regulate the heat and light emitted by the heating bulbs. These thermostats can automatically switch on/off lights at certain times of day and when certain temperatures are reached.
Leos should have 14 hours of daylight in the warmer months and 12 hours in the cooler months. This helps them maintain a healthy sleep cycle and regulate other bodily functions.
Overnight, temperatures may drop as the lights are not turned on. It is completely safe for temps to reach as low as 60-65F (16-18C).
Temperatures for each zone
- Cool Side: 70-75F (21-24C)
- Middle: 75-80F (24-27C)
- Warm Side: 80-85F (27-29C)
- Basking Spot: 90-95F (32-35C)

Linear UVB

Linear UVB bulbs are the best for leopard geckos. They emit visible light and heat and disperse it evenly over a wide area. This can help reduce the risk of burns and/or one area becoming too hot.

Halogen Bulb

Halogen bulbs are great because they produce visible light, heat, and are the closest replication to natural sunlight among bulb types.

Incandescent Bulb

Incandescent bulbs are very similar to halogen bulbs as they also produce visible light, heat, and replicate sunlight.

Unsuitable Lights For Your Leopard Gecko

Heat Mats

Heat mats are the worst form of heat for leos. They produce no visible light, they don't at all replicate the sun's natural qualities (therefore providing no nutrients), and leos can't absorb the heat properly when the heat source is coming from under them rather than above.

Ceramic Heat Emitter

CHEs provide no visible light and stray quite far from replicating natural sunlight. They also get extremely hot and increase the risk of burns on your gecko as well as yourself if you happen to touch it. A ceramic bulb set to maintain a temperature of 80F within the enclosure can reach over 150F to the touch. With this extreme heat emission, it can also increase the risk of starting a fire.

Coil Bulbs

Coil bulbs are very prone to burning leos. Coil bulbs cover a very small, concentrated area and all of their heat gets put only in that one area. If a gecko spends too much time under this bulb, it can result in bad burns. This bulb is also bad for heat gradients as it only covers such a small area and can lead to overheating in that one spot. They also just have a very short usage and are known to burst/blow.

Colored Bulbs

Contrary to popular belief, colored bulbs are extremely bad for leopard geckos. Red bulbs can lead to distortion in depth perception as well as disruption in the circadian rhythm. Blue and black bulbs disrupt their photoperiod which affects their eating, sleeping, and behavioral habits.

Humidity

Leopard geckos are not tropical animals and therefore do not need high levels of humidity. Overall, their tank should remain in the 35-65% humidity range. Some things that can help maintain this level are having humid hides and having a soil-based substrate.

Humid hides are very important for leopard geckos. They can aid in shedding by loosening the shed and making it easier for the gecko to slip out of.
Too low of humidity within the tank can lead to stuck sheds, injuries due to improper shedding, and cause breathing issues.
Too high humidity can lead to URIs, fungus growth, fungal infections, bacterial infections, and mite infestations.
To measure humidity, you can use a digital hygrometer to get a clear reading of the tank's current humidity level.
To create humid hides, you first need a hide that is almost fully closed off as it needs to trap in moisture. Many people use hides specifically made for humidity or household items like mason jars. You can then add moisture-holding elements like damp paper towels, coco coir, or sphagnum moss.

Examples Of Suitable Enclosures

Examples Of Unsuitable Enclosures

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