The Ultimate Guide to Leopard Geckos

By Phoenix Hayes Simmons

Dear Fellow Leopard Gecko Enthusiast, If you are interested in having your Gecko be the healthiest and live the longest , then this could ultimately be the most important information you'll ever read... Because: Recently, a new breakthrough in Leopard Gecko Care was discovered and reported in an amazing new eBook called The Ultimate Guide to Leopard Geckos . It's amazing, because it covers nearly every bit of information you wanted to know about Leopard Geckos, plus more... Just imagine being able to care for your Leopard Gecko in days (or less) without using a pet professional or spending a fortune on expensive books from the bookstore. And you could do this from the comfort of your own home, wouldn't that be great?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Phoenix Hayes Simmons
• Release date: Sep 30, 2012
• ISBN: 9781301928736

Phoenix Hayes Simmons

Meet the Author: Dear Friend of Leopard Geckos: My name is Phoenix Hayes Simmons and I've been caring for Leopard Geckos for over 10 years and in that time, I have become an expert on the subject of Leopard Geckos. I have done extensive research and talked to numerous Leopard Gecko owners and herpetologists.

Book preview

The Ultimate Guide

To Leopard Geckos!

By Phoenix Hayes Simmons

www.theultimateleopardgeckomanual.com

Table of Contents

*Introduction

*Basic Leopard Gecko Facts

*Choosing a Leopard Gecko

*Leopard Gecko Housing

*How To Build A Vivarium

*Feeding Your Gecko

*Leopard Gecko Health Problems

*Breeding Leopard Geckos

*Morphs and Genetics in Leopard Geckos

*Conclusion

The Ultimate Guide to Leopard Geckos

Introduction

Leopard geckos have been popular pets among reptile fans for a long time, and their ease of care and even temperament make it obvious why this is the case. They eat and breed more readily than nearly any other type of lizard, and can be cared for effectively even by amateurs. Of course, it's still important to know about how to take care of these fascinating lizards.

Leopard geckos are popular and numerous in the pet trade. They have been captive bred in the US for over three decades, and are currently quite well established.

They're one of the most commonly kept varieties of lizards, and you can find them in pet stores and at reptile shows all over the United States, as well as in many other countries. This makes it possible to be picky about your leopard geckos.

They also come in many different sizes, color morphs, and patterns, making them not only a good beginner choice, but a beautiful one as well. There's a very good chance that a leopard gecko might be the perfect pet for you!

You can find baby and adult leopard geckos from many different sources, and in a wide range of prices. Some of the most common options for obtaining these creatures include getting them from breeders, finding them in your local pet store, and choosing from the larger variety of options offered at reptile shows.

Looking online can help you find web pages for professional leopard gecko breeders and find out more, as well. Many professional breeders are happy to provide information about their lines, as they are extremely proud of the extensive amount of work they've put into them.

Pet stores generally offer only the most common varieties of leopard gecko, in the wild coloration or albinos, but at a relatively low price. It's important to remember that these stores may also not be offering the healthiest stock with the best background.

Do your research before purchasing. If your store owner or manager is not willing to discuss the health and care of their animals, you may be better advised to look elsewhere.

More unusual leopard gecko morphs can be found by contacting breeders online or meeting with them at reptile shows. The kinds of lizards you'll find this way are often showier animals, and are more likely (though not guaranteed) to be healthier and better bred.

They're also generally significantly more expensive, though you may be able to get a good bargain on more common morphs at a show. The more work that's gone into breeding a line of geckos, the more you can expect a particular specimen to cost. In addition, you'll pay more for better examples.

Leopard geckos are known for being easy to keep, requiring little special equipment in their enclosures, and requiring relatively simple diets. They have a relatively long lifespan, are not prone to frequent illness, and can be quite friendly for reptiles. They reproduce easily, though pet owners should take the time to think about whether or not breeding their animals is a good idea.

These little lizards take up a minimum of space and can be excellent first reptile pets for even the most inexperienced owner. However, they still appeal to people who've been keeping herps for many years.

They're also an excellent choice for classroom pets, since they're hardy and active little creatures that can be entertaining and fun to learn about. Make sure that children handling leopard geckos are supervised and have the right instruction, and they'll enjoy these fascinating creatures.

1. Basic Leopard Gecko Facts

The leopard gecko is native to the deserts of Asia, mostly in northern India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and some locations in Iran. Its Latin name is Eublepharis macularius, referring to its notable eyelids - a feature that most other gecko species do not possess, and to its spotted skin. This species was first described in 1854 by Edward Blyth, a British zoologist.

Five subspecies of leopard gecko have currently been identified, living primarily in dry, rocky grasslands and deserts. Vegetation in this area is usually grass and bushes, with minimal other plant life.

These animals are primarily nocturnal, spending their days in burrows or under rocks to avoid the heat of the sun, and coming out only at night to hunt. This native environment affects the way they need to be kept in captivity.

These areas do get cold in the winter, causing geckos to hide underground during this time. Temperatures in regions of Pakistan where leopard geckos are found can drop as low as forty degrees Fahrenheit at night in the winter, but may rise to a hundred and four degrees by summer.

Unlike many other lizards, the leopard gecko is not endangered in the wild. However, captive bred animals still dominate the pet industry and are greatly preferred, since they tend to be in better health and have more predictable genetics than wild caught geckos.

Wild caught reptiles may suffer from parasites, diseases, and genetic problems that aren't discovered until years into the animal's life, and often live for much shorter periods than captive bred ones.

Importation of wild caught leopard geckos is currently illegal in the United States and in several other countries. Pakistan is the only country that currently allows the export of wild caught geckos.

Leopard geckos are generally about one to three inches long (2.5 to 7.5 centimeters) when hatched, and grow to be eight to ten inches in length (20-25 centimeters). Some animals are larger or smaller than this, however, with giant and super giant morphs being most notable for their size differences.

The natural coloration of this small lizard is cream colored to yellow, with spots, stripes, or blotches in black that help it conceal itself in the wild. These spots are responsible for the gecko's common name, since they're thought to look like the spotting on leopards.

At birth, the geckos have no spots, instead sporting banding in dark and light tones all over the body. After a year, these fade and are replaced by adult coloration.

While this is the wild coloration and pattern, captive breeding has produced many leopard geckos which look quite different. It's possible to find morphs in tangerine, high yellow, lavender and blizzard (solid gray or white), as well as patternless geckos, albinos, striped geckos and several others.

New morphs are being created all the time, and unusual ones may be highly sought after. Interesting combination morphs are being bred out of existing mutations, with surprising results in many cases.

Some captive bred geckos may be unusually large, as well - up to a foot in length, and over a hundred grams each. The less common the morph, the higher its price tag in the pet trade is expected to be.

Some varieties can fetch thousands of dollars, and are extremely rare, though there are unscrupulous sellers out there offering less valuable morphs under the wrong name, as well as breeders who are simply mistaken. This is why it's important to know what you're looking for before you buy an unusual baby.