Introduction
Setting up the perfect enclosure for your leopard gecko is essential to ensure its health, happiness, and well-being. Whether you’re a first-time gecko owner or looking to upgrade your pet’s home, creating a suitable enclosure involves more than just picking out a tank. You’ll need to consider factors like temperature, humidity, substrate, and hiding spots to provide your gecko with a safe and comfortable living space. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the essential steps to set up an ideal leopard gecko enclosure.
Step 1-Tank
The first thing you need in your gecko’s setup is a tank. Leopard geckos can either be housed in a glass terrarium or plastic bin. The size of the enclosure is also important. Baby geckos live well in a 10 gallon tank(20″x12″ bin). If you gecko is an adult a 35 gallon enclosure(36″x18″ bin) will work. Whether you chose a glass terrarium or plastic bin be sure the enclosure has proper ventilation and has some sort of lock so your gecko won’t escape. Below I have links to some tanks I recommend from Amazon.
Step 2-Substrate
Next you will need to choose a substrate. There is a lot of debate around substrate for leopard geckos and picking the best one for you and your pet can be hard. There are two main types of substrate loose and solid. Many people recommend a mixture of dirt, sand, and clay for a loose substrates. While, a loose substrate will look more naturalistic it also comes with the risk of impaction. Impaction is when your gecko accidentally swallows its substrate and it causes blockage to their digestive system. Although many people have kept their geckos on loose substrate with no issues, if you are worried about impaction you should choose a solid substrate. Good solid substrates include paper towels, newspaper, or even tile. A solid substrate will be easier to clean and potentially safer, but it won’t be the most stylish option.
Step 3-Heating and Humidity
Reptiles, including leopard geckos, are cold blooded which means there body temperature is affected by their environment. With that being said, it is important to have a cool side and a warm side in their enclosure. The warm side should be between 80-85F(26-29C) with the cool side being between 72-80F(22-26C). For heating I recommend a heat mat because it can be kept on during the day and at night and your gecko can use it while hiding. If you do get a heat mat you will also NEED a thermostat. The thermostat will monitor the temperature of the mat so it doesn’t get too hot and burn your gecko. You can also get a temperature gun to check the temperature of anywhere in the enclosure. Humidity is also an important thing to keep in mind; Luckily, this is pretty easy for leopard geckos. They need a humidity between 30-40% which is the average humidity in most homes. Although the humidity is easy to keep, you will still need a humidity gauge to monitor it. This all can get pretty confusing so I have linked some products I recommend below.
Step 4-Hides, Plants, and Water Bowl
Finally, now on to the fun stuff…decorating the enclosure. While decor items may seem unnecessary they are just as important to keep your reptile happy and healthy. First, you need a water bowl. The bowl should be big enough so that your reptile has plenty to drink, but it shouldn’t too big or the humidity could rise too high. The next thing your gecko needs is hides. You should have at least three hides and you should spread them throughout the enclosure. These are important because they make your gecko feel safe and secure. Your gecko will also need some form of enrichment to improve their mental health. This could include things like fake plants, logs, and rocks. Just make sure that whatever you add is sterilized and safe for your pet. If you need some inspiration for decor I have linked a few things below.
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