Most active at dawn and dusk when temperatures in their native Pakistan and Afghanistan are ideal. During the day they shelter in rock crevices. In captivity, a gecko appearing inactive during daylight hours is completely normal — not a sign of illness.

A widespread misconception is that the tail acts like a camel's hump storing water. It stores fat used during food scarcity. A plump, rounded tail indicates good body condition. A severely thinned tail base warrants a vet visit.

Autotomy — voluntary tail shedding — is a defence mechanism. The regenerated tail is rounded, fatty, and made of cartilage rather than bone. It will differ in texture and colour from the original. The gecko survives and feeds normally throughout regrowth.

Unlike most gecko species which use van der Waals forces to climb smooth surfaces, leopard geckos have conventional claws. They cannot escape smooth-walled enclosures. This means front-opening vivariums work perfectly and no screen top is required for containment.

The moveable eyelid is unusual among geckos. Most species have a fixed transparent brille fused over the eye. Leopard geckos have true eyelids, making eye infections and retained shed around the eyes easier to spot and treat.

Hold your gecko up to a light source and look through one ear opening — you can see light through the other side. The ear canals run straight through the skull. This is entirely normal anatomy that alarms many first-time keepers unnecessarily.

Leopard geckos exhibit Temperature-dependent Sex Determination. Eggs at 79–81°F produce predominantly females. Eggs at 88–90°F produce predominantly males. The 82–85°F range produces a mixed clutch with a female bias. There are no sex chromosomes — genetics play no role.

Geckos consume their shed skin immediately after completing a shed. This reclaims nutrients and removes evidence of their presence from predators — a survival behaviour from the wild. If your gecko misses some shed, simply remove it.

MBD results from calcium deficiency, D3 deficiency, or an imbalanced Ca:P ratio. Symptoms include rubbery limbs, tremors, inability to walk, and jaw deformity. It is caused by skipping calcium dusting on feeders. Dust every feeding for juveniles, every other feeding for adults.

They are among the longest-lived lizards kept as pets. Females have shorter average lifespans because egg production, which occurs even without a male present, is metabolically costly. A gecko bought as a juvenile is a 15–20 year commitment.

Crypto is caused by Cryptosporidium varanii. It causes progressive wasting and death with no cure. It is highly contagious between reptiles via faecal-oral transmission. All new geckos must be strictly quarantined with completely separate equipment — never share hides, water dishes, or tools without sterilisation.

When hunting, leopard geckos ingest substrate along with prey. Sand, gravel, walnut shell, and calcium sand all pose impaction risks. Calcium sand is particularly problematic despite marketing — it clumps in the digestive tract. Safe substrates include ceramic tiles, vinyl, paper towel, and bioactive mixes.

Leopard geckos are ectotherms that regulate body temperature by moving between zones. Warm end: 88–92°F surface. Cool end: 73–76°F. Belly heat from under-tank heaters or heat cable on a thermostat is more important than overhead heat alone, as digestion depends on warmth from below.

Leopard geckos were historically kept without UVB by supplementing D3 in calcium powder. Research since 2018 shows crepuscular geckos do encounter UV naturally and benefit from low-level exposure. UVB allows natural D3 synthesis and may improve immune function. Not strictly required but increasingly recommended.

The slow deliberate side-to-side wave is a pre-strike behaviour seen when stalking prey. The rapid rattle — similar to a rattlesnake's — signals agitation or a threat display. Learning to read these behaviours helps you understand your gecko's state before handling.

Repeatedly scratching the enclosure walls indicates a problem — most commonly incorrect temperatures, a reflection perceived as a rival, an enclosure that is too small, or a gravid female seeking to lay eggs. Check temperatures first, then cover reflective surfaces.

Leopard geckos may eat less and become less active between October and February even in captivity. This is a response to seasonal light changes. As long as temperatures remain correct, water is available, and the gecko maintains weight, this is normal. Do not force-feed.