The leopard gecko (scientifically known as Eublepharis macularius) is a majestic reptile that has a leopard-like appearance. It is a yellow-colored reptile with dark spots.
Their tails are large and store fat. They can also regenerate themselves after being cut. The tail is also used by this reptile to communicate with other geckos. It rattles the tail during mating, hunting, and showing others that it has been seen.
These reptiles can be identified by their yellow and black markings. However, Leopard Geckos are available in a variety of colors, patterns, and weights. Like other reptiles and their age, the size and weight of a leopard geckos determine its sexual maturity.
Facts about Leopard Geckos
Family
Leopard geckos have been kept in captivity for over 30 years. Although they are naturally single, they can be raised in a group. Another family structure is a group consisting of one male and several women or female gecko groups.
Habitat
These reptiles can be found in dry areas of the Middle East, Eastern, and Southeastern Asia, where they are most common in the rocky grasslands. To avoid the heat of the day, they burrow into the ground.
Diet
Leopard Geckos hunt insects at night with their sharp eyesight. Their diet is primarily composed of caterpillar-like species, mealworms, crickets, and mealworms.
Personality
Leopard geckos, small, beautiful lizards, are gentle and harmless. They are quick to learn and easy to care for.
Predators
They are prey to snakes, foxes, and large reptiles. Geckos are able to hide in the desert’s rocky grasslands due to their leopard-print skin.
They can hide for long periods of time, and they only rely on the fat storage in their tails until they feel safe. These geckos shed more frequently than other lizards to keep predators away from their scents.
Leopard Gecko Growth Chart and Size Chart
| Age | Weight | Body Length |
| Hatchling | 2-5 g | 3″-4″ |
| 1 Month | 15-20 g | 4″ |
| 2 months | 18-30 g | 5″ |
| 6 Months | 25-60 g | 5″-6″ |
| 18 Months | 40-80 grams | 8″-11″ |
What is the Full Size of Leopard Geckos?
Leopard geckos typically measure 3 to 4 inches in length at birth. It is considered a baby when it weighs at least 3 grams. Young juvenile geckos can grow to between 3 and 30 grams in a matter of ten months.
Leopard geckos reach adulthood at 12 years old and can weigh up to 120g. Female geckos can grow to 7-8 inches in length.
Male geckos can grow to as much as 8 to 10 inches in length. These lizards can continue growing for up to 18 months after their birth until they reach full size as full-sized frown leopard geckos at one and a quarter years.
The Ideal Diet for Optimal Growth
Leopard geckos are carnivores and eat mostly live insects. They feed primarily on mealworms and crickets. You can also give them waxworms and cockroaches as well as tomato hornworms, sowbugs, and beetles.
Overfeeding them can cause obesity. Do not feed large insects. Feed them in a matter of 15-20 minutes.
The age of a leopard and its well-being will determine how you feed it. You can feed baby geckos once a day while adult geckos need to be fed only once a day.
Leopard geckos can be picky eaters and will change their food preferences. Mixing up the diet of your leopard gecko with different insects, such as worms or crickets, will give it variety.
What other factors affect the growth of Leopard Geckos?
1. Poor Habitat Conditions
Your pet’s growth and health will be affected if the enclosure is too small or there are not enough hides to protect it.
2. Inaccurate Humidity, Light, and Temperatures
These reptiles are accustomed to subtropical climates. A pet leopard gecko will not grow if it is kept in a similar environment.
You should ensure that the temperature of your enclosure is between 75 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit in the daytime and 65 to 75 at night. To ensure maximum growth, humidity should be maintained between 60% and 70% relative humidity.
3. The Wrong Substrate
The wrong substrate can cause impaction, which will affect its growth. The correct reptile substrates such as reptile carpets and shredded coconut fiber will preserve moisture and provide the humidity necessary for optimal growth.
4. Parasites
Parasites can cause diarrhea in leopard geckos.
5. Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD).
Metabolic bone disease is caused by calcium deficiencies in the leopard gecko’s bodies. Captive geckos are unable to absorb calcium, which results in rapid weight loss and low skeletal development. To prevent this, you can give captive geckos vitamin supplements and UVB lighting.
Why is my Leopard Gecko not growing?
These are the top reasons your leopard gecko may not be growing.
Poor Nutrition
A low diet is the main reason your pet doesn’t grow. If the food does not have all the nutrients it requires, then feeding the gecko the right amount of food at the right time is ineffective.
Transfer of Nutrients
If your pet’s tail is healing or is recovering from a sickness, it can stop growing. It is because the body is consuming extra energy and using up nutrients to “repair” the damaged tail or heal from an illness. You can only wait and give the body supplements to get it back to normal.
Cold temperatures
Reptiles need heat to digest food. If the tank is too cold, their food might not be able to digest properly. Their immunity is also affected by too much cold.
Feeling insecure
Leopard geckos are territorial. If you have more than one leopard gecko, keep them in separate enclosures.
The other leopard gecko is likely to be bullying your gecko for food, water, or hiding spots. This could cause one gecko to not grow properly. Poor nutrition and stress can lead to stunted growth.
Last Thoughts
Because leopard geckos are easy-going pets, it’s simple to make a home for them. They can also live up to twenty years if they are fed the right nutrients and have the right living conditions.
Because they are calm and passive, housing them is easy and simple. They don’t need large enclosures.
Your lizard friend can be affected by a lot of things, including distractions, poor nutrition, and a lack of hiding places and substrates. It can also develop devastating metabolic bone disease if it doesn’t stunt its growth.
What size is a full-grown leopard gecko?
Adult female geckos are 18 to 20 cm (7.1 to 7.9 in) long and weigh 50 to 70 grams, whereas adult male geckos are 20 to 28 cm (7.9 to 11.0 in) long and weigh 60 to 80 grams. Ectothermic are common leopard geckos.
Is it possible for a gecko to bite you?
A gecko rarely bites, however they can if they feel threatened or are territorial. Because they are fearful creatures, they are more prone to flee rather than attack.
Do leopard geckos lose their tails?
By rapidly lowering their tails, geckos and other lizards can confuse predators. The tail vertebrae are punctured, making it simpler to separate them without scar tissue or blood loss
Can geckos infect you with rabies?
Reptiles (such as lizards and snakes), amphibians (such as frogs), birds, fish, and insects are immune to rabies.
Is it possible to become sick by touching a gecko?
Turtles, frogs, iguanas, snakes, geckos, horned toads, salamanders, and chameleons are colorful, calm animals that are frequently kept as pets. These animals usually contain Salmonella germs, which can cause serious sickness in humans.
Which gecko is the most amiable?
Leopard geckos are low-maintenance pets that are ideal for beginners and youngsters over the age of eight. Leopard geckos are simple to handle and have a mild temperament, with an average length of 9 inches.
What causes a leopard gecko to smile?
HOW TO KEEP YOUR LEOPARD GECKO SAFE, HAPPY, AND HEALTHY! Daily spray the hide box substrate. UVB light at a modest level is provided. Leopard geckos, as nocturnal animals, may be acclimated to low light intensity and hence require less supplementary UVB light in captivity than many other reptiles.
How long does it take a leopard gecko to grow to its maximum size?
Between 18 and 24 months A leopard gecko’s typical length is 8 inches (range of 7 to 10 inches). The usual adult weight is between 45 and 60 g, however, leopard geckos have been recorded to weigh up to 100 g. Adult size is often achieved between the ages of 18 and 24 months. Weight, not age, determines sexual maturity.
Is it difficult to keep leopard geckos alive?
Leopard geckos, sometimes known as leos, are relatively easy to care for. They do not require much cage upkeep, but you should still pay close attention to their habitat. Leopard geckos are typically nocturnal, ground geckos that are peaceful and simple to tame.