LEOPARD GECKO

John Courteney-Smith MRSB of Arcadia Reptile looks at what we know about the universally popular leopard gecko from the wild, and how this information can be best utilised to care for these lizards in vivarium surroundings.

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The leopard gecko (Eublepharis macularius) consistently ranks as one of the most popular lizards in the hobby, appealing both to owners starting out for the first time with a pet reptile through to those who have extensive experience. It is not hard to see its appeal, which has been reinforced by the emergence of a wide range of colour mutations or ‘morphs’.

The leopard gecko has proved to be prolific and keen to breed throughout the year, and this has aided its popularity too, ensuring that stock is readily available, both from reptile stores and specialist breeders alike. Alongside this development, however, there has also been an ever-increasing understanding in terms of the husbandry requirements of this species over recent years, meaning that it is easier than ever to keep these small lizards in good health.

The range of the leopard gecko in the wild.

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More orange colouration may be beneficial within some parts of the leopard gecko’s range. Colour variations have been recorded in the wild.

Photo courtesy Svetlanistaya/ www.shutterstock.com

Lifestyle

In the wild, leopard geckos are robust by nature, as well as being boldly coloured. They are also fairly territorial, associating in loose groups where males are dominant, and, in contrast to many of their kind, they are mainly terrestrial by nature, although they will sometimes venture up into low branches. In fact, leopard geckos are unusual in lacking the enlarged toe pads that facilitate climbing in many species of gecko.

Their adaptability is nevertheless reflected by the variety of different habitats in which they are to be found. These range from areas of developing and established scrubland, as well as lightly forested areas, to stretches of rocky and rather arid terrain.

The leopard gecko is recorded as being quite common within the sparsely vegetated mountainous regions of Afghanistan and Pakistan. However, when we include different subspecies and their localities, it has a noticeably wider distribution. Indeed, it is clear that we still have much to learn, with a greater number of subspecies seemingly existing than are currently recognised.