Spotted leopard gecko (Leopard gecko). Leopard gecko

Among lovers of observing the life and habits of reptiles, the most common and popular is the leopard gecko, or spotted (leopard) gecko - an unpretentious tame domestic lizard.

Spreading

These lizards are widespread in Asia - India, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Iran. They prefer the arid areas of these territories, perfectly adapting to the local climatic conditions. The spotted leopard gecko is a nocturnal animal: during hot times of the day it hides from the scorching southern sun. Only at dusk do lizards go hunting.

In its natural habitat, the leopard gecko feeds on various insects and small vertebrates, including smaller lizards. During dry periods, cases of eating their offspring have been recorded.

Variety of species

The leopard gecko was described by the British zoologist Edward Gray in 1827, but even today this lizard causes a lot of controversy over whether it belongs to a specific species. This is probably due to the fact that some of them have not been fully studied. Today there are five types of toothfish:

• Iranian

Lives in Iraq and Iran. Much less common in Turkey and Syria. It is distinguished by the largest size in its family and long legs.

• Hardwick's leopard gecko

This species is sometimes called the East Indian spotted. It is native to India and Bangladesh. To date, it has been poorly studied. Individuals of this species are distinguished by red-brown stripes on their backs, and in addition, in case of danger, they can make piercing sounds.

• Afghan leopard gecko

Scientists conventionally consider it a separate species, although some zoologists prefer to consider it a subspecies.

• Turkmen

This lizard lives in the southern regions of Turkmenistan. It is considered an endangered species, which is listed in the Red Book of the Republic. A special feature of this species is the presence of scales (folidosis) and the ability to make loud sounds. Enough controversial species, most likely, is a subspecies of the leopard gecko. It is distinguished by yellow transverse stripes on its tail and back.

• Leopard (spotted) leopard gecko

The species that is most often kept at home. We will talk about it in more detail.

External features

It should be noted that the appearance of the spotted leopard gecko may differ significantly from its counterparts living in natural conditions. This is due to the fact that in nature this gecko lives in deserts, and the domesticated spotted leopard gecko is the result of selection. But this is one of those rare cases when human intervention was beneficial: it was possible to achieve a more saturated bright color compared to the natural one.

Today there are about a hundred different color variations - from very light to very dark. An indispensable condition is the presence of dark rings on the tail and spots on the body. It is for the spots that the gecko got its name - leopard. In addition, he drinks water like a cat, lapping it with his tongue. The eyes of the spotted leopard gecko are also similar to those of a cat - they are slightly convex and elongated.

These are quite large lizards - length adult on average ranges from 20 to 25 cm, but sometimes representatives up to 30 cm are found. The head is triangular in shape, the paws are small with five fingers. The tail is massive. During periods of drought, the spotted toothfish accumulates the necessary liquid in it. Like most lizards, when in danger, it can shed its tail, which grows back over time, but is no longer as massive as before.

Determination of gender

Inexperienced owners of these lizards are interested in: “How to determine the sex?” The spotted leopard gecko (male) is noticeably larger than the female, it has a more powerful build, a wide neck, a massive head, a thicker tail at the base with several preanal pores (yellowish-brown small dots). The sex of a leopard gecko can be accurately determined at six months of age.

Spotted eublefar: content

Undoubtedly, the leopard gecko is an exotic pet. However, this does not mean that it needs complex care. The spotted leopard gecko will not cause big problems even for an inexperienced owner. Keeping it in an apartment is not difficult at all. Some who want to buy such a lizard fear that it is a born predator, but at home it does not pose a danger to humans, since, born in captivity, these lizards are not aggressive, quickly get used to a person and very soon go into his arms. It's time to find out what you need to keep a spotted leopard gecko.

Terrarium

Of course, the first thing you need to think about is a home for your pet. A terrarium for a leopard gecko should be at least 30 x 30 x 30 cm in size. A container of this size usually contains young animals. For older individuals, the size of the terrarium should be larger - 40 x 40 x 40 cm. For three leopard geckos, a horizontal terrarium measuring 50 x 30 x 30 cm is suitable.

You can also use a vertical container, but provided that the side or back wall is designed in such a way that lizards can move freely along it, hide in shelters built into the wall, or sit on shelves. For young animals, it is not at all necessary to immediately acquire a large volume: it is difficult for them to hunt there, so they feel much more comfortable in small spaces.

However, after six months, leopard geckos begin to travel and explore the territory with interest. Many owners believe that in large quantities the spotted leopard gecko grows much faster.

Shelters

It is necessary to create several shelters for your pet throughout the terrarium: in a warm corner where the heating is located, and in a cold one. The gecko will choose a comfortable place to rest on its own. The leopard gecko requires a moist chamber for molting. It should always be in a warm corner, otherwise the gecko will hibernate itself and may refuse to eat. We will tell you below how the wet chamber is set up.

Coconut halves can be used as practical, environmentally friendly, inexpensive shelters.

Temperature

Since the leopard gecko is a cold-blooded lizard, it needs warmth to digest food. The most popular option is bottom heating. For this purpose, you can use a thermal cord or a thermal mat purchased from a specialized store.

At the heating site, the temperature must be maintained between +28 and +32°C. The heating is placed in one corner of the terrarium, thereby heating from a third to a quarter of the area of ​​the bottom of the terrarium. If the air temperature in the room does not drop below +22 °C, then you can turn off the heating at night. For young animals up to three months old, the heating must be turned on constantly.

Humidity

A terrarium for a leopard gecko does not require constant maintenance of humidity levels, since it is a desert lizard for which dry air is its normal habitat. But create a small wet zone(camera) is necessary. To do this, take any container, fill it with wet sand (paper, sawdust) and place it in a cool area. The gecko needs it to make it easier to shed or to rest.

Priming

We have already said that the spotted leopard gecko does not require complex care at home. So he is not too strict about the soil in the terrarium. Sand, or better yet, newsprint, especially for young lizards, is an ideal option. But if the owner wishes beautiful design terrarium, you should use small pebbles with rounded edges.

In addition, it should be borne in mind that the leopard gecko is an extremely curious creature and tastes almost everything that comes its way. In this regard, it is better to avoid various mixtures and fillers.

Lighting

Leopard geckos are crepuscular animals, so they do not require lighting. You can install a regular 40 W incandescent lamp (mirror), which will help create an imitation of solar heating.

Water

Any low container is suitable for a drinking bowl. Leopard geckos drink clean, settled water, lapping it with their tongues, like kittens. Meanwhile, these lizards, like all geckos, love to lick droplets of fresh water, so there is no urgent need for a drinking bowl when sprayed every day, although it will not be superfluous.

Nutrition

At home, leopard geckos can be fed with the following foods:

• mealworm;
• crickets;
• locusts;
• little mice;
• feeding cockroaches.

Calcium must always be present in the terrarium. To do this, it is mixed with a vitamin mixture (for better absorption) and placed in a low container.

To control the amount of food eaten, it is better to use tweezers than free feeding. With proper care and maintenance, leopard geckos can live in captivity for up to twenty years or more.

Spotted leopard gecko (lat. Eublepharis macularius) – class Reptiles, order Squamate, family Eublepharaceae, genus Eublepharaceae. Previously, it belonged to the Gecko family (lat. Gekkonidae), so it is often called the spotted and leopard gecko.

International scientific name: Eublepharis macularius(Blyth, 1854)

Synonyms:

Cyrtodactylus macularius– BLYTH 1854: 738
Eublepharis fasciolatus– GÜNTHER 1864: 429 (fide SMITH 1935)
Eublepharis macularius- BOULENGER 1885: 232
Eublepharis macularius- BOULENGER 1890
Eublepharis macularius- SMITH 1935: 127
Eublepharis macularius- WERMUTH 1965: 29
Cyrtodactylus madarensis– SHARMA 1980
Eublepharis gracilis– BÖRNER 1974
Eublepharis macularius- KLUGE 1993
Eublepharis cf. macularius- ANDERSON 1999
Eublepharis macularius- RÖSLER 2000: 78
Eublepharis macularius- SEUFER et al. 2005

English titles: Common Leopard Gecko, Spotted fat-tailed gecko

German titles: Leopardgecko, Pakistanischer Fettschwanzgecko

Security status: According to the IUCN Red List (version 3.1.), the species is of Least Concern (LC).

origin of name

The Latin word gecko literally translates as “having good eyelids” and is a combination of the Greek words Eu meaning “good” and blephar meaning “eyelid”. The Latin word macula translates as “spot” or “blemish”; the animal received this name due to the natural spotting of the skin. The reptile is called leopard because the spots on its body are similar to the pattern of a wild cat () and the special “cat-like” expressiveness of its gaze. The species was described in 1854 by British zoologist Edward Blyth.

What does a spotted leopard gecko look like? Description and photo

Spotted leopard geckos are medium-sized lizards. The maximum length of their body from the tip of the muzzle to the base of the tail is 15.8 cm, including the tail it is 30 cm. Females are slightly smaller than males, but this is not always the case. Weight Limit the male reaches 80 g, the female – 70 g. The average size of females is 18-20 cm, males – 20-28 cm. Average weight females – 50-70 g, males – 60-80 g.

Head The animal's body is large, pointed, connected to the body by a short thick neck. At the end of the muzzle there is a pair of nostrils. There are large guards on the chin. On the sides of the head, the openings of the ear canals are visible, covered by the eardrums.

Eyes lizards are large, oval and convex, which is typical for nocturnal animals. The pupils are slit-shaped with a straight edge, located vertically. Unlike many geckos, the spotted leopard gecko has movable eyelids and a thin nictitating membrane. At the back of the upper eyelid there are eyelash-like projections.

Mouth voluminous, its corners are bent slightly upward. For this reason, the leopard gecko is often called the “smiling gecko.” This “good mouth” is filled with 100 small teeth, which are designed to hold and briefly chew prey. Teeth are present on both jaws and are attached to the inside of the bone. This connection is fragile (pleurodont), so the teeth are alternately replaced with new ones every 3-4 months, while young growing teeth are located next to the old ones.

Body The spotted leopard gecko is covered in skin that is soft to the touch but very durable. In nature, it protects the lizard from injuries that can be caused by grains of sand, sharp stones and dry clay. The top of the skin is covered with small scales, among which large cone-shaped scales stand out. These “warts” perform a thermoregulatory function. They promote heat accumulation and prevent its loss.

The body is thick and slightly flattened. Compared to viviparous and snapping lizard The leopard gecko seems clumsy. He moves slowly, waddling from side to side.

Tail reptiles are thick in the middle, pointed, decorated with 2-3 lilac rings. It serves as a storage area for adipose tissue. Since spotted leopard geckos live in arid areas, they use this supply during dry periods as a source of water and during times of famine as nutrients. Lizards can discard the entire tail or part of it. This happens especially often with young individuals. From fear, pain, or to protect themselves from persecution, they contract special muscles that contribute to autotomy.

Autotomy is the act of throwing away a limb or organ by an animal.

In young lizards, the tail grows quickly, while in old lizards the regeneration process takes a long time. The new tail will not be as long as it was before, but it will be thicker. It differs in color, its scales are smaller, and there are no tubercles.

If in nature the tail is dropped before wintering, then the animal is left without “strategic” reserves and may get sick and even die. Typically, leopard geckos return to the place where they lost such a nutritious part of their body and eat it.

This leopard gecko's tail fell off and then grew back. Photo by: Unibrow1994, Public Domain

Legs reptiles of medium length, cylindrical, with five extended, rounded fingers at the end, devoid of “suction” pads. There are tubercles on the subdigital plates. All the toes of each paw are rounded and equipped with thin, sharp claws that help the animal climb vertical soft surfaces, such as branches and leaves.

There are no denticles (sand skis) along the edges of the toes, characteristic of lizards living in deserts. The armpits of the front legs of the spotted leopard gecko are transformed into deep skin pockets; their purpose has not yet been clarified.

Young reptiles painted in yellowish or flesh tones with dark stripes on the body and a dark brown “cap” on the head. On the cap in the eye area and near the crown of the head there is a light pattern that looks like a bird's track. By 8 months of life, leopard geckos become adults, and then their color changes.

In mature animals, a pattern of brown spots is placed on a light gray or light yellow background, which is more saturated on the body. On the underside of the tail and head the spots are less bright, and on the abdomen there are none at all. The combination of numerous dark brown spots and light thin spaces between them creates a mesh pattern on the head. A light stripe, more or less free of spots, runs along the spine. The belly of the leopard gecko is pale pink, the sides are white.

Here's how they work sense organs lizards:

• Leopard geckos have well-developed hearing. It allows you to detect prey while hunting.
• Nocturnal animals see only black and white colors. But vision helps them remember the place where eggs are laid and constantly return to it to leave new offspring.
• Leopard geckos have developed taste buds: animals are good at distinguishing sweets, but are little sensitive to bitter.
• The sense of smell is less developed than other senses, but at a short distance leopard geckos can find objects by smell. Lizards can breathe freely even if there is food in their mouths, since reptiles have internal nostrils located next to the throat. In addition, lizards have a vomeronasal organ, or Jacobson's organ, which is located on the upper palate. It is a peripheral part of the accessory olfactory system of some vertebrates. Thanks to it, reptiles smell food in their mouths and also recognize the odors that surround them. To determine what is around, the lizard often sticks out its tongue, the signal from which enters the olfactory cavity (Jacobson's organ).
• There are suggestions that leopard geckos navigate by magnetic field Earth just like birds can do.
• When in danger, leopard geckos make hissing sounds.

Having noticed the object of the hunt, the leopard gecko rises on its paws, sneaks up and with a sharp lunge grabs the animal with its mouth. Just before throwing, he slowly moves his tail from side to side.

He drinks water, like lapping it with his tongue, or licks drops of dew from different surfaces.

Where do spotted leopard geckos live?

The habitat of the spotted leopard gecko is exclusively Asia. It is found in northwestern India (Rajasthan, Ajmer, Punjab, Jammu), eastern Iran, Pakistan, and eastern Afghanistan (CARRIÓN et al. 2003). It settles in dry, hot conditions: in rocky foothills, in steppes on clay-gravel soil and in places overgrown with parfolia bushes (lat. Zygophyllum). Found in mountains up to 2500 m above sea level.

Leopard gecko active at night and at dusk. During the day, he rests in shelters: among stones, in caves, in natural or burrows made by other animals. In the early morning hours he takes sunbaths. Ultraviolet rays are beneficial for the digestive functions of his body.

Lives in “harems” of several females and one male. Occupied territory the male protects from the encroachment of other contenders for the role of father of the family. During fights, leopard geckos can bite off pieces of meat from the sides, tear off each other's tails and eat them. Rarely, but the case may end in the death of one of the rivals.

The optimal environmental temperature, most favorable for the life of the lizard, is in the range of 26-42°C. At home, the spotted leopard gecko prefers a soil temperature of 20-24°C. In the habitats of the species, seasonal temperatures can drop below 10°C, at which time the number of arthropods decreases significantly, and then the lizard falls into a state close to suspended animation. During this period, the animal consumes substances stored in the tail. Spotted leopard geckos sleep for about 2 months, from December to February.

Subspecies of spotted leopard gecko

Conventionally, there are 5 subspecies of the spotted leopard gecko, of which only one is recognized by all scientific communities. Animals of different groups differ in the size and number of scales on certain parts of the body.

• Afghan spotted leopard gecko (lat.Eublepharis macularius Afghanicus Bö rner, 1976) previously considered as a separate species. Currently this is the only recognized subspecies. Lives in Eastern, Southern Afghanistan and Northern Pakistan.

It is slightly smaller in size than other subspecies, its maximum length from the muzzle to the tip of the tail is 158-170 mm, the weight of the reptile ranges from 35-55 g. The color of the dorsal part of the body of adult individuals is bright: straw yellow or pale yellow, often with shade of pink. Blue-black spots are scattered across this background, sometimes merging into lines and forming a network. Some individuals have a white stripe running from the head to the base of the tail. There is a mesh dot pattern on the head. Young Afghans are animals with a brown or black back and 2-3 yellow transverse stripes on it. A white stripe passes through the neck in front of the ear, down to the upper lip.

• Eublepharis macularius fasciolatus Gü nther, 1864 lives in South-East Pakistan.

• Eublepharis macularius montanus Bö rner, 1976 found in South and Central Pakistan.

• Eublepharis macularius macularius (Blyth, 1854) – nominative subspecies. Lives mainly in Pakistan, also found in North-West India.
• Eublepharis macularius smithi Bö rner, 1981 - endemic to North India.

Reproduction of the spotted leopard gecko

Leopard geckos reach sexual maturity at 10-12 months, but it is recommended to allow them to breed in a terrarium only after they have become stronger, that is, from about 2 years of age. Animals breed from January to April, immediately after hibernation. Under artificial conditions, the season shifts and can last from November to February. During this time, the female is capable of leaving up to 10 clutches, each of which contains from 1 to 2 eggs.

The species is characterized by a “courtship” period. Having noticed the female, the male begins to frequently stick out his tongue, checking the composition of the air. It contains substances that signal the female’s readiness for mating. The male walks around his partner, bites her on the fold of her neck, grabs her and scratches her sides with his paws.

Spotted leopard geckos bury their clutches in wet sand or place them in the shade under stones. Parents do not care for their offspring, but return periodically to bury new clutches. The eggs of the spotted leopard gecko are oval, 24-30 mm long and 14-15 mm wide, covered with a soft leathery shell. The incubation period lasts approximately 2 months. The sex of the cub depends on the temperature of the environment during incubation. At 26°C or less, more females develop; at temperatures above 31.5°C, males predominate in the offspring. And in the range from 29 to 30°C, approximately the same number of individuals of both sexes appears. Interestingly, females that develop at high temperatures are born with the habits and character of males and are unable to give birth.

Taken from the channel: www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIydIZOfTQk

Newborn leopard geckos have a length of 65 to 84 mm and weigh 2-5 g. They are brownish in color with whitish stripes. At the age of 8 months they acquire adult coloration.

The spotted leopard gecko is a pretty large leopard gecko, which is very popular among lovers of various exotic animals. This reptile is easy to care for, it is peaceful and can live quietly in small terrariums.

On top of that, the leopard gecko is quite easy to breed and has a variety of color variations, which makes it even more attractive to many terrarium keepers. From this article you can learn about the natural habitat of the leopard gecko, the conditions for keeping it at home and how to properly care for it.

Spotted leopard gecko in nature

This animal lives on the slopes of rocky mountains, which are almost devoid of vegetation, in semi-dry and dry steppe areas. The homeland of the leopard gecko is countries such as:

Appearance and features of the spotted leopard gecko

This is one of unpretentious and friendly reptiles that easily and quickly get used to people. The average leopard gecko weighs about 50 grams, but there are also large individuals.

It reaches a length of up to thirty centimeters, of which one third is the tail, and in case of acute pain or severe fright, the reptile can throw it away. For young lizards, it is not a problem to quickly restore the lost part of the body, but in an adult gecko it will take a long time to grow back and lose its former beauty. Although these are rare cases, since this reptile is not a shy one.

These animals store nutrients in their tails, which is why they are so thick and chic. Leopard geckos can be kept in aquariums even with the lid open, because the suckers on their feet are undeveloped, unlike some other types of geckos, but the walls of its home must be quite high so that the reptile does not get out. For greater comfort for your pet, additional bottom ventilation is provided in the terrarium.

Spotted leopard gecko: content

Terrarium

It's enough for one animal a small terrarium is enough 30 or 40 cu. cm. For three reptiles, a horizontal terrarium of 50/30/30 cm is suitable, although a vertical one can also be used if the side or back wall allows leopard geckos to move freely around them, hide in built-in shelters and sit on shelves. For children, large housing volumes are not immediately recommended, although they grow faster in them.

Heating

Leopard geckos are cold-blooded lizards, and they need heat to digest food. Bottom heating would be the best option for this. To do this, you can use a thermal cord, a thermal mat or shoe dryers.

The temperature in the heating area should not exceed 32 degrees. It can be adjusted using a thermometer and the thickness of the soil when installing heating devices. The heating is placed in the corner of the terrarium, “heating” from 25 to 33 percent of the bottom area, while achieving a temperature gradient in the lizard’s home. At a room temperature of at least 22 degrees, the heating can be turned off at night. Kids up to three months constant heating is required.

Shelters

In the lizard's home, there should be several shelters in warm and cold corners. And the leopard gecko will make the choice of a more comfortable place. And also, do not forget about the necessary section of the terrarium - a wet chamber, which should be located in a warm corner where the animal will molt. We will talk about it a little later.

You can use inexpensive, practical and environmentally friendly shelters, made from halves of a coconut, which have proven themselves well and are liked by the Zublefar. It is also not a problem to order decor or shelter from a master or make it yourself.

Priming

As soil for the leopard gecko's home, they make a mound of large pebbles and stones, but not sea or river ones, since they are slippery for the pet's paws. To prevent the animal from accidentally swallowing pebbles, their size must be appropriate. It is advisable not to use ordinary sand, otherwise the leopard gecko will have problems with digestion if it is swallowed.

Special carpets are very suitable for terrariums. It is safe, beautiful and convenient when cleaning an animal’s home. Any soft door mat will also work perfectly. Babies should be kept exclusively on paper towels or napkins.

Water

Any low and small container is suitable for drinking. Leopard gecko lizards love to drink clean settled water, lapping at her with his tongue like kittens. They also happily lick droplets of fresh water and with daily spraying there is no special need for a drinking bowl, although it will never be superfluous.

The drinking bowl can be designed to match the style of the terrarium or made from the simplest of available items. Alkaline water is considered the most beneficial in its composition.

Lighting

The leopard gecko is a crepuscular animal and therefore does not require lighting. A regular 25-40 watt incandescent mirror lamp is quite suitable for simulating solar heating. Although the best option is bottom heating using a thermal mat, thermal stone or thermal cord.

Ultraviolet radiation is also a necessary element that ensures the synthesis of vitamin D 3 in animals. For this, special ultraviolet lamps are used. Although, if you add the necessary vitamins and minerals to your pet’s food and provide it with bottom heating, then it will not need an ultraviolet-emitting lamp. The fact is that the vitamin complex, in combination with the correct thermal regime, provides the animal with vitamin D 3 in full.

It is important to know that albino leopard geckos do not like bright light. Therefore, when using lamps, you need to take this circumstance into account and, if possible, consult an appropriate specialist.

Humidity

Humidity in your pet's home should not exceed 50 percent. To increase the humidity to the required level, if the apartment is too hot, it is necessary to periodically spray the soil in one corner of the terrarium, especially if there is no humid chamber.

During molting, the old skin of a domestic reptile must come off completely and this process must be controlled, otherwise the pet under a certain set of circumstances may stop hearing, be left without fingers, etc. Therefore, you need to know that adult individuals shed once within 1–2 months, teenagers - once every two weeks. And this may not even be immediately noticeable, since the reptile eats the old skin after molting. Due to their rapid growth, babies shed much more often than their counterparts.

Features of molting and wet chamber

If the leopard gecko's skin begins to turn white, crack and peel, it means that normal molting has begun. In order for this process to take place without unpleasant consequences, you need to place a damp chamber in the terrarium.

For this purpose, a container with a lid slightly smaller in size is quite suitable. more reptile. A hole about 4 cm in diameter is cut in the lid, which serves as an imitation of a hole. A damp substrate (coconut shavings or vermiculite) is placed at the bottom of this container.

If the leopard gecko is in good shape under the right conditions, shedding is easy and the skin peels off almost like a whole stocking. But if the situation is different and the skin remains on the tail or other parts of the body, then you need to help your pet by holding the area with the remaining skin under warm water. And then carefully remove it with a soft cloth or cotton swab.

Periodic spraying of one of the corners of the terrarium cannot guarantee ideal molting due to unstable humidity levels. And in the case of laying eggs, a wet chamber is simply an irreplaceable element, as it protects the laid eggs from sticking to the bottom of the terrarium, which, if torn off, can lead to their death.

Snake shelters, which are sold in specialized stores, are used as wet chambers. Although this camera is not difficult to make with your own hands using available materials and minimal knowledge on its design, which can be gleaned from the Internet.

Ventilation

Leopard gecko in a terrarium good ventilation is necessary. In this case, the air should circulate freely throughout the living space, passing through its entire area. Air stagnation can negatively affect the health of the leopard gecko in the form of:

• Inflammation.
• Dermatitis.
• Fungus.

Therefore, do not underestimate proper air exchange in the terrarium. Improper air circulation can create great discomfort for your beloved pet.

Nutrition

Spotted leopard geckos primarily feed on insects, small rodents and lizards, spiders and even their young. But the optimal food at home is small cockroaches and crickets. But there is no need to abuse such delicacies as zofobas and mealworms. This can lead to obesity of the animal and negatively affect its reproductive function. In the summer, good insect food options include:

• Locust.
• Grasshoppers.
• Green caterpillars butterflies that are not covered with hairs.

Giving maggots is strictly prohibited because of their external system digestion, which begins to digest the zublefar from the inside, as a result of which they may die. It is also not recommended to feed earthworms, as well as citrus products.

Approximate diet of leopard geckos:

• During the first few weeks, no more than two small crickets at a time.
• The older small generation up to three months - not more than three average crickets per day.
• From three to six months - no more than five large crickets at a time and every other day.
• Up to a year - no more than six large crickets at a time and several times a week.
• Over a year old - no more than ten large crickets at one time and several times a week.

It should be remembered that feeding the reptile low-fat food it is necessary based on the individual characteristics of the body, i.e. how much it will eat, the main thing is not to overfeed. And it is advisable to feed leopard geckos in the morning and evening, adding minerals and vitamins to its diet, otherwise without them it may simply die.

Physiology of leopard geckos

Do not keep several male leopard geckos in one terrarium to avoid fights for territory, which may result in the death of one of the “fighters”.

One male needs no more than ten females, and if there is one, he will simply “torment” her.

Heterogeneous zublefars are kept together only until they are four months old. In the future, you need to take into account the fact that he will be able to fertilize a female of any age.

If the female is not fully formed and has already become pregnant, this usually leads to a stop or delay in her physical development, and sometimes to death.

Leopard gecko diseases: rickets

Quite dangerous, but not a contagious disease, obvious signs of which are the curvature of the paws. Appears as a result of calcium deficiency at any age. Therefore, you need to constantly monitor its visual manifestations, which are expressed in the curvature of the pet’s legs and its uncharacteristic movements (the abdomen should not touch the ground during active movement).

In an advanced stage, this disease leads to curvature and destruction of the tooth's spine, resulting in its death. To avoid this big trouble, you need to strictly monitor your pet’s diet, including all the necessary fortified elements that will always keep him in good and healthy shape.

And in conclusion, I would like to say that the life expectancy of your pet directly depends on the maintenance and care of it. Therefore, before purchasing this exotic animal, first take care of all the necessary and vital household items that you will need for correct content leopard gecko. And if he is provided with all the conditions for home living, then your pet will delight you with his presence for many years to come.

Catalogs

Leopard gecko - an exotic pet

The leopard gecko (Eublepharis macularius) is an excellent lizard for both beginners and experienced breeders of terrarium pet lizards. The leopard gecko is easy to care for, it is not picky and only needs feeding and simple maintenance after you create the necessary habitat for it.

The leopard or spotted gecko is a desert dweller and leads night image life, therefore loves warmth and is more prone to active life at night. This is an amazing lizard, it is always very interesting to watch it while feeding, and it is very funny when hunting.

Leopard geckos (leopard geckos) get along well with children, but their interactions need to be supervised. These lizards rarely bite and are very trainable. The gecko can hang onto your clothes and learn to climb onto your shoulder without any training. Improper handling, however, can cause stress to the animal: never pick up a leopard gecko by its tail (like most lizards) as it may detach it from its body.

Leopard geckos are very hardy and breed easily in captivity. There are many interesting specimens available for keeping at home. A common pattern with a light base color, covered in spots, and many color varieties (morph). The leopard gecko is found with and without spots, in many colors including albino, snowstorm, tangerine, carrot tail and other tail colors including spotted, and other variations.

Origin and description

Albino

The leopard gecko (Eublepharis macularius) was described by English zoologist Edward Blyth in 1854. The insectivorous lizard is native to Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan. Lives in the desert, leads a nocturnal lifestyle. The leopard gecko is not listed as an endangered species.

The leopard gecko is a lizard with many spots or no spots at all, depending on the variant of the species. If there are several color variations of the leopard gecko with a typical pattern, as well as albinos, snowstorm, tangerine and other popular varieties. Young geckos do not yet have spots, but they appear as they mature.

Leopard geckos grow up to 20 cm in length and weigh 150-220 grams. The same care is required for lizards of any variety of this species. Leopard geckos live 5-7 years, and when good care up to 20 years.

You can distinguish a male from a female by the protrusion at the base of the tail. In the female it is one long bulge; in the male it is divided into two parts.

Feed and feeding

Leopard geckos are fed crickets and mealworms. Other worms can be offered, but the amount in the diet should be limited. It is advisable to use grasshoppers or crickets from commercial feeds offered for sale. This is already fully prepared food, rich in vitamins and minerals necessary for the lizard. It is recommended to add calcium and vitamins to any food offered to these pets.

Mandarin

Since leopard geckos are nocturnal animals, they will be deficient in vitamin D3. To compensate for its deficiency, you can add fluorescent lamp with UV, or again include vitamin supplements with calcium in the diet. Lizards require vitamin D3 in their diet or they will not be able to absorb calcium.

Geckos should be provided with a bowl of water, preferably dechlorinated (distilled). If you want to use a dechlorinator to get rid of chlorine, use Repti Safe - it will not only remove all harmful impurities from the water, but will also make it as close to natural as possible and reduce the risk of stress and disease by saturating it with electrolytes.

Terrarium

One leopard gecko can be kept in a 37 liter terrarium or aquarium. For two and more lizards you need a long container with a volume of 70 liters. Do not use acrylic tanks to keep any lizards - heat lamps can melt the acrylic. Leopard geckos must have a hiding place where they will sleep during the day. They also like to climb, such as on vines and other driftwood, which can be purchased at a pet store.

Be careful when using calcined sand as bedding. If sand is the only source of calcium, reptiles may begin to consume large quantities of it, which will affect the lizard's gastrointestinal tract. This can eventually create a blockage and kill the gecko. It is better to use regular sand, sawdust, nut shell bedding and others natural materials, not prone to fluid accumulation.

These lizards cannot be kept outside a terrarium (aquarium). Outdoors, temperatures can fluctuate unpredictably and there is a risk of tick infestation.

Temperature

The temperature of leopard geckos should be 29-31C daytime and 22-25C at night. Because these lizards are nocturnal animals, they do not require UV light to absorb calcium like many other lizards, but it can be a useful supplement for these purposes.

For lighting and warmth, you need 40-60 W incandescent lamps, located in the upper part on one side of the terrarium. The light can be white or red (infrared). You can also use blue lamps. Red and blue lamps, in addition to providing warmth, will help you monitor your pet at night. Leopard geckos regulate their body temperature themselves, moving from cold to warm areas when they need it. Therefore, by leaving the lamp on one side of the terrarium, you create both warm and cool zones for the lizards.

For additional heating, you can use a heating pad or a heater next to the terrarium. This is especially important if you use only white light for heating and turn it off at night. Hot rocks are not recommended as they can burn your geckos. Use a thermometer to monitor the temperature in the terrarium to prevent overheating.

Care

Everything you place in the terrarium should be disinfected and washed weekly. This applies to food and water containers and decorations. The litter should be changed every three to four months. Products containing phenol should not be used as cleaning agents. Cleaners containing chlorine and alcohol are acceptable, but should be rinsed off thoroughly.

Leopard geckos are generally easy to care for and defecate in one area of ​​their home. Any approved product, such as Jurassi Clean, can be used for cleaning. To remove feces, you can use a scoop with holes, immediately sifting clean sand.

Behavior

Spotted lizards are nocturnal, like many desert inhabitants. They are friendly and good with children. They rarely bite and are quickly tamed; they can sit perched on a shoulder or hang on clothes.

Male leopard geckos are relatively friendly with females of their species, but two males placed together will fight to the death. Therefore, in one terrarium you can keep only one male and any number of females, provided that there is enough space.

Spotted geckos, when in danger, if grabbed by the tail, can detach it from the rest of the body. The tail will regenerate, although it will never be the same again.

Reproduction

If you can keep a male and female and have space for them to breed, you can have as many offspring as you have females. The main thing is to be able to accommodate this offspring.

It is very difficult to determine the sex of leopard geckos younger than 3-4 months visually. In adults 6-9 months old, it is quite easy to determine the sex. Males are usually slightly bulkier and have a wider head and neck than females. The male also has a pair of protuberances behind the anus at the base of the tail. The female has no bulges.

If you are not sure what gender your lizard is, add another lizard to the terrarium. If both geckos are wagging their tails from side to side, they are most likely trying to attack each other, which means they are two males.

The mating process of reptiles is tough and you might even think that the male is attacking the female. He nibbles on her tail and then slowly moves up her body until he reaches her neck.

Female spotted gecko lays one or two eggs at a time. To obtain predominantly female offspring, the incubation temperature should be 25-28C; for mixed offspring 29-32C; to obtain males 31-32.3C. Please note that the higher the incubation temperature, the more colorful the offspring will be, and the eggs will hatch faster. The incubation period is 46-60 days.

Young lizards will not eat until their first moult. The gecko should eat the shed skin as it contains vitamins and nutrients that the lizard needs. After this, young monitor lizards begin to eat small, pinhead-sized crickets and small worms.

This time the article is devoted to another representative of these reptiles - the leopard gecko.

The spotted gecko (Eublepharis macularius) or leopard gecko (Leopard gecko) is one of the most beloved lizards of terrarium hobbyists. What did he do to deserve such love? You will understand for yourself as soon as you look into these huge, expressive eyes and touch this amazingly delicate skin.

In addition, these lizards are the object of numerous laboratory studies, because this species is long-lived (the average lifespan is 12-15 years, and the maximum lifespan is 25 years), which makes it possible to observe for many years.

Habitats

Habitat: mainland and island Asia, eastern and southern Afghanistan, Pakistan and northwestern India. It rises in the mountains to 2500 m above sea level (Szczerbak, Golubev, 1996). Taxonomists distinguish 5 subspecies of spotted leopard gecko: Eublepharis macularius afghanicus (Northern Afghanistan); E. macularius fasciolatus (Southeast Pakistan); E. maculariusmacularius (Northeast Pakistan); E. macularius montanus (Southern and Central Pakistan), E. macularius smithi (Northern India).

Appearance

Spotted leopard gecko - not very good large lizard, leading a nocturnal lifestyle. Males and females differ in size. Males reach a length of 110-158 mm, and females - 109-127 mm, excluding the tail. The tail is quite thick and is of strategic importance for survival. After all, it serves as a reservoir of fat and nutrients. In nature, this reserve is used by lizards during wintering and hungry and dry periods. In addition, in case of danger, the gecko throws away its tail, saving itself from predators. But if this happens before wintering, the new tail will not have time to grow, and the lizard will die, left without “reserves.”

The species is very variable in color, but the main color ranges from fawn to bright yellow or very light with a purple tint. Dark spots of irregular shape are scattered throughout the body, like those of a leopard (hence the name “leopard gecko”). They were obtained in culture various options coloring, including no stains at all. Babies are characterized by juvenile coloration. Instead of spots, like adults, they have transverse dark stripes.

Terrarium and its equipment

Since the leopard gecko is much smaller than the bearded dragon, which we talked about in the previous issue, a smaller terrarium is needed to keep it. To keep a group of animals, a terrarium measuring 40x40x30 cm is sufficient. It requires a small container of water. The temperature at the heating point should be about 35 °C, the background air temperature during the day is 27-28 °C during the day and 20-22 °C at night. Air humidity during the day should not fall below 50%; at night it can reach 75-90%. It is better to arrange heating by laying a heating cable in a place of shelter under the bottom of the terrarium.

It is better to use newsprint as a substrate. Sand can cause blockage in the digestive tract, as the lizard can swallow it while feeding.

Special lighting is not required for these animals. Leopard geckos are nocturnal lizards and do not like bright light; moreover, it is harmful to them. Ultraviolet irradiation is not required for these lizards.

Nutrition

Unlike bearded dragons, which eat both plant and animal foods, leopard geckos are true predators. In nature, this species feeds on a wide variety of food - grasshoppers, crickets, beetles, small lizards (both its own and other species), and lizards are a constant, and not an occasional component of the diet.

The hunting style of leopard geckos is peculiar. Seeing a food object, the animal rises on its paws, slowly creeps up and grabs the prey in a sharp lunge. Immediately before throwing, lizards often vibrate their tail.

Up to 3 months of age, leopard geckos require a daily feeding regimen, from 3 to 6 months - every other day, then 2-3 times a week. At home, leopard geckos readily eat different kinds crickets, cockroaches, locusts, mealworms and newborn mice.

It should be noted that not all mice eat mice. According to some observations, females eat mice more willingly and more often than males. This may be due to the greater need of females for calcium, which is spent on the formation of egg membranes. It is necessary to add calcium supplements and vitamins to the food of leopard geckos (especially young animals and females during the breeding season). With a lack of calcium, decalcification often develops, which manifests itself in the “rubber jaw” syndrome, curvature of the limbs, refusal to eat, and a general deterioration of the condition. Without professional intervention, all this can lead to a drop in reproduction and even death of the animal.

The general health of a leopard gecko can be determined by its tail. A healthy animal's tail is elastic and noticeably thickened.

Breeding

Adult male leopard geckos are territorial and very aggressive towards each other, so it is impossible to keep several males together. Females behave peacefully towards each other, and keeping 3-5 females and one male would be optimal.

During the year, leopard geckos reproduce for 7-8 months. Under proper conditions, breeding spotted leopard geckos is not particularly difficult. The male can be easily distinguished from the female by the presence of clearly visible preanal pores. Female spotted leopard geckos become sexually mature at 8-10 months, and males at about a year.

For breeding success, it is necessary to provide the lizards with a cooling period (“wintering”) lasting 2-2.5 months. Animals should be well fed before wintering. Then they turn off the heating and stop feeding. The temperature is maintained within 16-20 °C. During wintering, monitor the general condition of the lizards; in case of weight loss, the individual should be placed in a separate terrarium and the temperature should be brought to normal values ​​within 2-3 days.

After leaving winter quarters, animals should not be boarded immediately; it is better to keep males and females separately for a month. After landing, the lizards mate at night. 2-5 days before laying eggs, females stop eating. There are two eggs in a leopard gecko's clutch. Over the entire breeding season, one female can produce 4-7 clutches.

To lay eggs, place a container with moistened vermiculite or a mixture of coconut chips and vermiculite in the terrarium. Layed eggs are placed in an incubator with a temperature of 27-30 °C. Leopard gecko eggs are encased in a soft "parchment" shell, which, unlike calcium-coated eggs, makes them more sensitive to humidity conditions during incubation. The incubation period under such conditions is on average two months. It's interesting that when different temperatures During incubation, the ratio of males and females changes. At 27°C all hatchlings will be females, at higher temperatures males will predominate.

Newborns reach 4-5 cm in length. On the second or third day after hatching, young leopard geckos molt and begin to actively feed. Their behavior is sharply different from adult lizards. Young leopard geckos are quite susceptible to stress, the main concomitant of which is frequent restlessness. Therefore, it is necessary to equip the terrarium with several small shelters, inside of which low humidity should be maintained, because dependence on moisture, the danger of drying out and, in connection with this, disruption of molting in young individuals is quite high. In addition, unlike adults, babies react very aggressively to any foreign stimulus: they raise their torso above the ground, swell, noticeably increasing in size, and, making a piercing squeaking sound, with open mouth make throws towards the stimulus.

Over time, this “youthful fervor” passes. And if you want to raise a friend for yourself, take him in your arms (although, quite possibly, he will try to bite you), communicate with him. The baby will become calm and flexible, he will get used to you, and you will get used to him. And soon you will be able to easily walk with a gecko proudly sitting on your shoulder not only around the house, but also along the street (of course, only in warm weather).

Alexey Evsyunin, Tula Regional Exotarium, Tula. Photo: Evdokimova Margarita