
What NOT to do With Your Pet Leopard Gecko
Though leopard geckos are considered docile and easy-to-maintain pets, there are,of course, a number of do’s and don’ts. Environmental factors, certain food choices, and the caretaker’s lack of understanding of the gecko can all cause stress and even illness to the gecko. Understanding the necessities and learning about the important factors of taking care of a gecko should keep your pet happy and healthy.
Poor Lighting
As cold blooded creatures, they naturally require lots of warmth and light. Having adequate lighting does not necessarily mean very bright lighting. Instead, consider UVB light bulbs. UVB bulbs are used to help geckos produce vitamin 3D, which is mandatory to bone growth and bone health. One thing to watch out for is the light cycle, considering how important lighting is to geckos, recreating a natural light cycle is a good idea. For example, using a timed reptile terrarium extension cord to turn the lights on and off at designated times may create a natural light environment for your gecko. Having too much or too less lighting can both stress your gecko out, to avoid this, a solution to this is by purchasing or creating a small hide or dark area for the gecko to hide from illumination.
Lack of Clean Water
Like any animal, water is essential to a gecko’s health. There should always be easy access and availability of water. Using a shallow bowl for water will allow your gecko to easily get access to water. It is advisable to clean the container used to hold the water often, ensuring there is no harmful bacteria. There is no alternative to having a clean bowl of water for your gecko, as having dirty water can formulate bacteria, which is often the cause for many zoonotic diseases.
Housing Two or More Geckos Together
There is often controversy with this topic, however, it is heavily agreed upon to avoid housing two or more male geckos together. Leopard geckos for example are highly territorial, and will very likely fight. One gecko may be weaker, and ultimately become the target, or prey. It is common for fighting geckos to not only lose the battle, but also lose their tails as well. Housing two female geckos is the safest option, though not completely safe. A single gecko already requires lots of space and a relatively big enclosure, to have a second gecko in the same enclosure, it is recommended to have an enclosure twice the size. Additionally, if the geckos vary in size, the bigger gecko might try to monopolize the food, causing the other to be malnourished. If one gecko develops an illness, it is likely to spread to the other gecko living among each other. The best way to avoid this, is to simply house the geckos separately.
With this in mind, your gecko should be living healthily. These factors are relatively easy to avoid, so your gecko can live happily without stress. Your gecko should always have adequate lighting to warm itself and recreate the natural light cycle, easy access to clean water, and a safe and large enclosure without any threats or harmful predators.