SleepyDee Geckos

General Leopard Gecko Info

Wild-Normal Type Leopard Gecko

Leopard Geckos - Eublepharis macularis - along with various Eublepharis sub-species are originally from south-eastern Afghanistan, throughout Pakistan, north-west India, and parts of Iran, Syria and Turkey.
In the wild they inhabit rocky, dry/arid foothill regions with hard packed substrate ~ contrary to popular belief their natural environment is not loose, dune type sand.
In its natural environment, the Leopard Gecko - being terrestrial - lives under rocks or in small caves and burrows to avoid temperature extremes.They are nocturnal insectivores and tend to be more active at dusk and dawn when they hunt and eat a variety of insects. Leopard Gecko's are one of the few gecko species that have true eye-lids and also unlike other gecko's they have small claws instead of adhesive toe pads. There are several species/ sub-species of Eublepharis including E.m. fasciolatus, E. m. afghanicus, E. m. macularius, E. m. montanus and E. m. smithi, E.angramainyu, E.turmenicus, with most geckos in the pet trade being captive bred and with crossbreeding between them it would now be hard to determine the subspecies of most captive bred geckos.

Leopard Gecko Distribution

Like most lizards the leopard gecko can drop its tail in a process called caudal autotomy. When frightened or disturbed muscles at the base of the gecko's tail constrict and snap the vertebrae, severing most of the tail. The detached and wriggling tail distracts the predator so the gecko can escape. Although the leopard gecko will eventually grow a new one, the regenerated tail will be different to the original, appearing more rounded and stumpy.
Growing on average to between 7” and 9” leo's are hardy and easy to keep providing the correct care is applied and can live in excess of 15 years. Leopard geckos are probably among the most recommended lizards with which to start the hobby of caring for reptiles.

Examples of natural habitation for Leopard Geckos

Most leopard gecko’s available today are bred in captivity and come in a variety of different morphs such as the High Yellow, Mack Snow, Jungle, Tangerine, Carrot-Tail, Blizzard varieties etc and new ones appearing all the time - the latest of which are the Emerald/Emerine morphs developed by Ron Tremper and the RADAR Bells developed by JMG Reptiles.

*The information written on my website and in my various care sheets has been gathered
through my own personal experiance and research over the years ~
Please do not use or replicate any information or photographs without permission ~ thankyou *