I Got a Leopard Gecko
Last Saturday I caught a blue-tailed skink in my backyard. He hated captivity and would rather helplessly dig against the glass instead of eating crickets. On Sunday I decided to let him go and buy a more domestic reptile. I've wanted a pet leopard gecko ever since I watched one for a childhood friend while they were out of town. I named the gecko Gary and put him in a 10-gallon tank where I used to keep a house gecko. He is around 2 months old and about 5 inches long. At about 6 months old, he will nearly double in size. I will post updates whenever he does something worth sharing. 🦎
Facts About Leopard Geckos:
The common leopard gecko (Eublepharis macularius) is a ground-dwelling lizard native to the rocky, dry grassland and desert regions of Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, India, and Nepal. The common leopard gecko has become a popular pet, and due to extensive captive breeding, it is sometimes referred to as the first domesticated species of lizard.
- Unlike most reptiles, members of the family eublepharidae (true eyelids) can close their eyes and do so while sleeping
- Leopard geckos lack the adhesive toe pads (lamellae) characteristic of many geckos, instead staying close to the ground
- They are hardy desert animals that can survive food shortages by using fat reserves stored in their tails
- Leopard geckos are often bred for their wide variety of patterns and traits known as "morphs"
- As crepuscular animals, they are most active at dawn and dusk when they hunt insects close to the ground
- When threatened, they will wave their tail at predators and break it off if a predator grabs it. Their dropped tail will move for about 30 minutes while the tail-less gecko escapes to safety
