For the past 9 years I have been lucky enough to have owned my leopard gecko called ‘Flash’, he is an orange Leopard gecko measuring 10 and a half inches in length and weighing about 80 grams. Over the 9 years that I’ve had him so far, I’ve learnt a few things about care and why these low maintenance reptiles should be your go to if looking you are looking for a cute, cost-effective companion.
On average, Leopard geckos live for about 20 years in the wild and up to 30 in captivity, being as hardy as they are; their low-cost food and easy to clean vivariums allow a cost-efficient pet to own that merely has a few heating, climate, stimulus and feeding requirements. Originating from Afghanistan (following the coast) to the majority of India, these soft skinned reptiles adapted to an arid environment, therefore having to be provided a constant temperature of about 30° Celsius to about 32° Celsius, in a relatively dry habitat with infrequent showers using a water filled spray bottle. These geckos are also insectivores, meaning that they will only eat insects such as: morio-worms and locusts, around twice or thrice a week if adults, and nearly every day if juveniles and or babies, of which can be bought from pet shops around the country, along with these worms a calcium powder can also be bought from these stores to give the gecko an extra nutritional boost. Geckos also require shelter (i.e. A small cave) and a quiet stress-free environment without loud sounds. Due to their docile nature, it may be hard to tell if they are happy or not, however if they are perky and explore their homes a lot, they should be fine.
In conclusion, if you want a small pet that will accompany you for a quarter of your life, a leopard gecko should be your first pick.
