travel cage for leopard gecko

How to Travel with a Leopard Gecko (8 Easy Steps)

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Traveling with a Leopard Gecko may seem daunting. Nonetheless, with the correct planning and know-how, your gecko can travel safely, and your journey can remain stress-free. Find all suggestions, tips, and advice here. 

Traveling to a vet, on an extended holiday, or moving house may result in your leopard gecko being transported by car, train, or plane. Proper fore planning and carrier familiarisation are crucial, along with after-travel attention and maintenance. 

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Traveling with a Leopard Gecko

Before arranging your travels, it is essential to consider the type of care you require and what mode of transport is needed. 

Consider the degree of care needed

Your Leopard Gecko is always happiest when left in its enclosure at home. When it comes to the health and wellbeing of your gecko, the less disruption to their environment, the better. 

Your Leopard gecko can survive a day or two with no intervention. A weekend away should not cause them any harm, but if you have someone that can pop in, in the case of a power surge, that would be best.  

If it is possible to leave your Leopard Gecko at home when traveling, then do so. A fully prepped family friend or fellow Leopard Gecko enthusiast would be first prize, but there are local vets or pet sitters that can also assist. 

Although more expensive, local vets and pet sitters charge daily to care for your geckos. A trained sitter with detailed instructions is essential if you have multiple geckos with special needs. 

However, leopard geckos do not get lonely so don’t worry about their emotional health. The only reason to get a pet sitter would be to make sure they are fed and watered regularly.

Airplanes, trains, and Leopard Gecko travel

Few airplanes and trains permit reptiles, and those that do are expensive. Airplanes will insist on having your Leopard gecko checked in as cargo. 

I would only recommend traveling in a plane if you are relocating, as flying can be stressful for you and your geckos. 

Proper carrier labeling is imperative, and if you can maintain a carrier temperature of approximately 27 degrees Celsius (80 degrees Fahrenheit) for the trip, this would be optimal. 

Try to book a nonstop early morning or late night flight to avoid the heat of the day and start getting your Leopard Gecko accustomed to its carrier at least a month before you intend to travel. 

Steps for traveling by car with your Leopard Gecko

Car trips can be short or long-distance overnight journeys. Both need a degree of preparation to ensure that you and your Leopard Gecko have a peaceful, stress-free trip. 

Seeing that car journeys are far more commonly taken with Leopard Geckos than plane or train rides, we will outline some essential steps and precautions when planning a trip. 

Step 1: Consider how to transport Leo

It may be tempting to transport your Leopard Gecko in their existing enclosure. However, there are a couple of factors to be aware of. 

Existing enclosure travel concerns

If your gecko’s current enclosure is glass, I would, for obvious safety reasons, avoid transporting them in it.  

You would also need to remove all enclosure décor or objects that may tip over and injure Leo during a trip. A larger enclosure also increases the risk of Leo sliding and injuring themselves with any sudden car movements. 

A smaller carrier is best

When transporting Leopard Geckos in a car, it is usually advisable to place them in a smaller well-ventilated plastic container or Tupperware. Any plastic container can be used as long as it has air holes, or you can poke air holes in it. 

Take care to select a large container to allow Leo to move around but not too large that they are flung about with movement. I would strongly advise against any open-topped containers. You can purchase reptile travel carriers online and in pet stores if you want something sturdier. 

Step 2: Set up the travel carrier

Add carrier floor covering.

It is advisable to add a covering to the bottom of your travel carrier. This will provide extra protection and security during travel, and if the weather is cooler, some added warmth. 

Depending on your required insulation, you can use newspaper, pads, paper towels, or blankets. This will ensure that your Leopard Gecko does not slide with any car movement and will add some added grip. 

Add extra warmth

Leopard geckos can go up to 90 days without heat so additional warmth for a short trip to the vet will most likely not be needed unless you are dealing with extreme weather. 

A more extended trip may call for some added heat to keep your Leopard Gecko comfortable. Heat packs or hand warmers are great for keeping your gecko warm for several hours. You can purchase reptile-specific hand warmers made explicitly for travel online and in some exotic pet stores. 

On shorter trips, many gecko owners have successfully used a hot water bottle for added heat.

Covering or wrapping your carrier with jerseys and blankets will also help with heat loss.

On the flip side, if you are concerned about too much heat, you can wrap the carrier with insulated bubble wrap to block out the sun and prevent heat absorption. Bubble wrap can be cut to size but also remember to add some air holes. 

Step 3: Travel carrier familiarity

Purchase your travel container or carrier at least one week before leaving for your trip. You need to provide enough time for your Leopard Gecko to familiarize themselves with the carrier before leaving. 

Incorporate a couple of minutes of travel carrier time into your Leopard Geckos’ regular schedule. Do this daily and keep adding a few extra minutes until they are happy spending up to 30 minutes daily in the new carrier. 

One week of getting accustomed to the travel carrier is sufficient, but if you have the time to start earlier, it will only help. Getting your Leopard Gecko used to the carrier will help to reduce their stress levels during travel.

Step 4: Pack your travel essentials

A short drive to your local vet will not need the same planning as an extended trip away. 

Here is an extensive checklist of essentials for your next car trip.  

• Plastic container / Tupperware / carrier 
• Insulated bubble wrap or blankets and jerseys
• Food, water, and calcium
• Small plastic containers
• Vehicle harness
• Emergency contact list: vet numbers

Optional – long-distance trips

• Newspaper, paper towels, or pads 
• Hand warmers, heat packs, hot water bottle 
• Gloves, cleaning supplies, hand sanitizer
• Spray bottle with water 
• Thermometer

Overnight travel

• Basking light 

Step 5: Secure and prep the carrier

Before leaving, you must prep and secure the carrier or container for the journey ahead. 

This would involve securing your carrier to the car with a harness, insulating the carrier with blankets or bubble wrap, and ensuring you have all the essentials on hand. 

If you decide to add hides to the carrier, ensure they are secured down with duct tape or something similar. 

Many Leopard Gecko owners prefer to secure their carriers in the front passenger seat so they can better keep an eye on their geckos during the trip. 

If this is not possible, the backseat or a secure spot on the floor can also work. Ensure that wherever you position the carrier, there is no risk of them toppling over or items dropping on them.  

Try to position the carrier where direct sunlight will not cause a problem or use bubble wrap as protection. Close off or position your carrier away from aircon or heating vents to protect them from getting too hot or cold. 

Step 7: In journey checks and safety 

It is important to remember not to remove your Leopard Gecko from its carrier for the duration of the journey unless necessary. This will add unnecessary stress to an already agitated gecko. 

You will need to check up more frequently on your Leopard Gecko on longer journeys. Look out for abnormal behavior and try to stick to their usual schedule as much as possible . 

Check that your Leopard Gecko is eating and drinking enough, and on extended trips, stick to housekeeping schedules by clearing out any feces or left-over food. 

You do not need to be too concerned if your Leopard Gecko does not want to eat or drink unless this continues for an extended period. Leopard Geckos can go without food for up to 10 days. Although this is unhealthy, a day of not feeding will not kill them.

It is normal for geckos to temporarily refrain from eating when stressed. If you are concerned about them not eating or they are behaving oddly, it may be time to pull your emergency list out and give your vet a call for some advice. 

Step 8: Post-travel care

Travel can be stressful for Leopard Geckos.  Being placed in a new environment with new smells, sights, and sounds can be unnerving. 

Once you arrive at your destination, give your Leopard Gecko time to settle into its new environment. Your gecko may be scared. If it shies away from your presence, refrain from handling them until they are comfortable in their surroundings. 

A Leopard Gecko can exhibit signs of stress for seven days up to a month. Typically, they will return to normal within a week or two, but more time may be needed in severe cases. 

How to tell your Leopard Gecko is stressed

A stressed or anxious Leopard Gecko may not eat or drink and may even regurgitate its food. They may become lethargic , change color, or hide in the corners of their enclosure. Their defecations may also increase, decrease, or alter in appearance. 

You may notice bruises, inflammation, swelling, or sores if they have been injured during travel. In more severe cases, they may struggle to walk, look disorientated, or battle to breathe. Excessive saliva or bubbling from their nostrils may indicate a breathing issue. 

If any of this behavior persists or is of concern, it is always best to visit a local vet or arrange a telephonic conversation if still journeying.  

Final thoughts

Your Leopard Gecko may feel part of the family but leaving them home when taking a trip is usually a safer choice. A gecko enthusiast or prepped family member or sitter can help ease any anxiety when traveling for an extended period. 

If you must journey with your gecko, careful planning before leaving is vital to ensure a safe and stress-free trip. Knowing how to handle your Leopard Gecko after a journey is as crucial as putting their carrier and essentials in order before leaving. 

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Can You Travel With A Leopard Gecko?

If you’re a leopard gecko owner, you might be wondering if it’s possible to travel with your pet. The good news is that yes, you can definitely take your leopard gecko on trips with you! Here are a few things to keep in mind when planning to travel with your pet gecko.

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Yes, you can travel with a leopard gecko! They make great travel companions.

A leopard gecko is a wonderful choice when it comes to travel companions – they’re small, calm and don’t need a lot of complex care . Plus, geckos are social animals so if you have more than one of them, they’ll quickly become best buds!

As long as you provide your gecko with the proper housing appliances like sub-floor heating and spot lamps for basking, their environment will stay in balance.

They might even accompany you outside during temperate days! So the next time you plan your trip, don’t forget that geckos can come along too.

Here are some tips on how to make sure your leopard gecko enjoys the trip:

Taking a gecko on a trip is no easy task and can involve a lot of planning to ensure the gecko’s comfort and safety . To make sure your gecko enjoys the journey, it’s important to take the proper precautions.

Start by making sure they have plenty of food and water ahead of time, as there may be limited availability along the way. It’s also important that you keep any transportation items like cages and tanks clean, secure, and aired at all times.

Allow them some time for rest stops throughout the journey if possible, as geckos need plenty of entertainment and stimulation to stay content during long distances.

Finally, try not to make any sudden movements or changes in temperature to help keep your gecko calmer during their travels. With these simple tips, your gecko will be ready for whatever adventures await them!

– Choose a comfortable carrier that will fit everything your leopard gecko needs, including food, water, and hiding places

When you’re looking for a carrier to transport your gecko, make sure that it is comfortable and large enough to fit all of the necessary items. A gecko needs food, water, and hiding places in order to stay happy and healthy.

An aquarium with a lid or a plastic container with plenty of ventilation holes can work perfectly for young geckos; for adults, invest in an appropriate-sized terrarium. Be sure to select an enclosure that is strong and easy to clean. It should also be lightweight enough so it won’t cause strain when carrying it.

Additionally, you need added temperature controls including heating rocks and/or a thermometer placed inside the gecko’s environment so you can regulate their comfort levels.

When all these factors are taken into consideration, you will have truly created an ideal shelter for your gecko!

– Make sure the carrier is well-ventilated and has plenty of air holes

If you’re considering a gecko as a pet, it’s essential to make sure their carrier is well-ventilated and has plenty of air holes. Geckos need environments with fresh air, since the oxygen in overcrowded, stagnant places can easily run out and this can be dangerous for your gecko.

All containers should also have appropriate lid fastenings that can keep geckos safe but won’t restrict their access to proper circulation. Furthermore, geckos prefer temperatures between seventy-five to eighty-two degrees Fahrenheit, so ensure the area where your gecko’s container is placed is warm enough for them.

With adequate airflow and proper care, not only will your gecko stay healthy but they’ll be happy as well!

– Line the bottom of the carrier with paper towels or newspaper in case of accidents

When transporting geckos, it is essential to properly line the bottom of their carrier with paper towels or newspaper. Not only does this help keep the gecko comfortable, but it also serves as a buffer should they have an accident during transport.

Doing so helps to ensure that gecko remains contained and clean while traveling and minimizes the risk of staining or messes. It’s also a good idea to carry extra paper towels in case you need to do any additional cleaning or wiping up en route.

By taking these simple steps, you can help ensure that your gecko enjoys a comfortable and worry-free ride.

– Put a warm blanket over the top of the carrier to help keep your leopard gecko warm during colder weather

Leopard geckos are comfort creatures that can really suffer in the cold. To keep them happy and healthy, it is important to provide a warm environment for your gecko especially during colder weather.

One way to do this is to put a warm blanket or heating pad over the top of the gecko’s carrier so that they are able to have a steady and consistent temperature throughout the day.

This will help your gecko feel comfortable and safe, allowing them to explore their habitat without unnecessary stress.

Traveling with your beloved pet, a leopard gecko, is possible and can be an amazing opportunity for bonding. When it comes to being prepared for the trip, research ahead of time to make sure all of their needs are taken care of.

Find a comfortable carrier that can fit everything they need and line the bottom with towels or paper if needed. Ensuring their safety during travel is key, so make sure to place a warm blanket over the top of the carrier when its cold.

By taking these steps you are ensuring that the journey will be enjoyable for both you and your pet! Keep in mind that traveling with them can have its challenges but it will be worth it in the end when you look back on those once in a lifetime memories made together!

Related posts:

Hi – I’m Erika, the lead gecko enthusiast here at Geckopedia! I write articles about pet geckos, including what to feed your leopard gecko and how to help your pet gecko live a long, happy life! I graduated with advanced degrees from  UC-Berkeley , the University of Southern California (USC) and Indiana University-Bloomington , where I studied Biology and Animal Science. I use my experience to help others learn about gecko care, and I am an advocate for all topics gecko related!

Furry Folly

10 Best Leopard Gecko Carriers for Safe Travel: A Comprehensive Review and Buying Guide

Are you planning a vacation and feeling guilty about leaving your beloved leopard gecko behind? Or maybe you have to move to a new city and are worried about how to transport your pet safely? Whatever the reason may be, traveling with a pet is no easy feat, especially when it comes to reptiles like leopard geckos. They require a delicate and secure environment to ensure their wellbeing during transit.

Fortunately, there are numerous leopard gecko carriers available in the market that can make traveling with them a breeze. In this comprehensive review and buying guide, we will walk you through the top 10 leopard gecko carriers that provide a safe and comfortable transport option for your pet.

• 1 Best Leopard Gecko Carrier
• 2 1. Zoo Med ReptiBreeze Open Air Screen Cage
• 3 2. Exo Terra Breeding Box
• 4 3. Lee’s Kritter Keeper
• 5 4. Reptile Tubs
• 6 5. Komodo Habitat Moss Box
• 7 6. Exo Terra Faunarium
• 8 7. Leew Pet Reptile Carrier
• 9 8. Exo Terra Faunarium Large Flat Home
• 10 9. Lee’s All-Purpose Animal Carrier
• 11 10. Zoo Med ReptiHabitat Leopard Gecko Kit
• 12 Conclusion

Best Leopard Gecko Carrier

1. Zoo Med ReptiBreeze Open Air Screen Cage

The Zoo Med ReptiBreeze Open Air Screen Cage offers a spacious and breathable environment for your leopard gecko to travel in. It comes in varying sizes, with the small 16x16x20 inch size being the most suitable for transport. The lightweight mesh material allows for ample ventilation, reducing any concerns about overheating. The cage has a secure locking door mechanism and is easy to assemble and disassemble, making it a convenient option for travel purposes.

2. Exo Terra Breeding Box

The Exo Terra Breeding Box is designed with compactness and portability in mind. It is structured like a shoebox, making it easy to carry around without taking up too much space. The box is made of sturdy plastic that can withstand any bumps and jostles during transportation. It has a secure snap lock lid, ensuring your leopard gecko cannot escape or fall out during the journey. The Exo Terra Breeding Box comes in two sizes, with the small one measuring 7.8×5.8×3 inches, ideal for short trips and easy storage.

3. Lee’s Kritter Keeper

Lee’s Kritter Keeper is a see-through plastic container that offers excellent ventilation for your leopard gecko during travel. It comes in various sizes, with the large 11×7.6×8.3 inches size being the best option for transporting adult geckos. The container has a snap-tight lid, keeping your pet safe and contained, and the plastic material is sturdily built to avoid cracking during transport.

4. Reptile Tubs

Reptile Tubs make for an easy and affordable travel carrier option without compromising on convenience and safety. They come in different sizes, and the smaller ones, like the 6.5×7.5 inches, are perfect for short trips. The tubs offer ample ventilation and are straightforward to assemble, clean, and sterilize. They are made of durable plastic that can withstand any external impacts during transit.

5. Komodo Habitat Moss Box

The Komodo Habitat Moss Box may look like an unusual carrier option, but it has all the features necessary to make traveling with your leopard gecko comfortable and secure. The moss inside the box provides humidity control during the trip, preventing your pet from dehydration. The box is made of high-quality plastic that is resistant to heat and impact, and it comes in varying sizes, with the 20x12x14 cm being ideal for transport.

6. Exo Terra Faunarium

Exo Terra Faunarium is a versatile carrier that offers flexibility in housing other pets like tarantulas, chameleons, etc. It comes in compact sizes, with the medium size measuring 8x12x7 inches, making it easy to handle during travel. The faunariums are constructed with sturdy plastic that can withstand the rigors of travel. They have a locking mechanism to prevent accidental opening, and the lid provides excellent ventilation, reducing any concerns about suffocation.

7. Leew Pet Reptile Carrier

The Leew Pet Reptile Carrier is designed with portability in mind. It has a lightweight and compact design, with the collapsible feature making it easy to pack in a bag or store away after use. The carrier’s interior is made of breathable mesh fabric, promoting proper air circulation, and the exterior is constructed with durable waterproof material that makes it easy to clean. The Leew Pet Reptile Carrier is available in two sizes: small and medium.

8. Exo Terra Faunarium Large Flat Home

The Exo Terra Faunarium Large Flat Home offers ample space for your leopard gecko to move around during the journey. It is made of durable plastic that can withstand jostling and impact during transit. The carrier has two lockable openings that allow for proper ventilation and easy access. The flat bottom design makes it easy to pack away, and the carrier is dishwasher safe, ensuring hassle-free cleaning.

9. Lee’s All-Purpose Animal Carrier

The Lee’s All-Purpose Animal Carrier is a transparent plastic carrier designed to make transportation a breeze. It is built with durable plastic that can withstand any external damage during travel. The carrier has a locking mechanism to keep your leopard gecko safely contained, and the louvered vents at the top ensure ample air circulation. The Lee’s All-Purpose Animal Carrier is available in different sizes, and the small 9x6x5 inch option is ideal for short trips.

10. Zoo Med ReptiHabitat Leopard Gecko Kit

The Zoo Med ReptiHabitat Leopard Gecko Kit is a complete transport solution that comes with all the necessary components to make traveling with your leopard gecko comfortable and secure. It includes a glass terrarium, an under-tank heater, a digital thermometer, a hide, fake plants, and a care guide. The kit allows you to provide a complete and safe travel environment for your pet without taking up too much space. The Zoo Med ReptiHabitat Leopard Gecko Kit is available in different sizes, with the small size, measuring 10x20x12 inches, being the most suitable for transport.

With the varying options available in the market, choosing the right leopard gecko carrier can be overwhelming. However, this comprehensive review and buying guide have highlighted the top 10 carriers that provide a safe and comfortable travel experience for your pet. Remember, when selecting a carrier, always consider your leopard gecko’s size, the duration of the journey, and the convenience of packing and cleanup. With the right carrier, you can ensure that your leopard gecko travels safely and stress-free.

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How to Travel In a Car With Your Gecko? [6 Dos and 2 Don’ts]

Geckos are one of the easiest reptile pets to care for and are relatively low-maintenance – however, there are a few key things to keep in mind even if you’re only going to bring them along with you for a short trip to your exotic vet’s clinic. So how can pet parents properly and safely travel with their geckos in a car?

Regardless of the purpose and total time of travel, consider the following when traveling with geckos: 1) carrying container, 2) familiarity, 3) provisions, 4) temperature control, 5) covering, and 6) placement for security. It’s inadvisable to take your gecko on long trips with frequent stop-overs and loud music.

Come with me as I discuss all there is to know about car rides with geckos in greater detail!

Car Travel with Your Gecko: Start with the Basics

Let’s face it, life’s full of surprises and uncertainties. So as gecko keepers, we must always be ready to adjust and make changes in life as they come and go. In the same way, we should also know how to come and go while on trips with our lovely little reptile babies.

6 Things to Consider for a Car Ride with Your Gecko

You might go back home for an extended period or take a month-long vacation somewhere else. Ideally, you’d have someone else close to home that could take care of your baby for you.

Of course, you also need to need to move to a state miles away or regularly visit your local veterinary for a routine check-up. In all of the aforementioned situations, you will probably consider and need personally transporting your gecko while you travel by car.

I’ve briefly touched on this topic in a previous article on what to do with your geckos when you’re planning to go on vacation . But now, I’m going to give you the lowdown on traveling with your gecko!

#1 – Carrying Container

In reality, transporting reptiles, geckos included, is actually an easy and straightforward task. You could safely go on a trip with them without having to worry much about adversely affecting their health aside from possibly stressing them too much on your journey. That is, as long as you keep them in a good carrying container.

There are plenty of options available in your local supermarket, pet store, online shop, and even at home! Good options for temporary carrying containers include all-purpose pet boxes ( here on Amazon), deli cups, plastic terrariums ( here on Amazon), plastic bins, stacking drawers, and even food storage boxes.

Gold tip: Make sure to poke a few holes on the sides or in the lid for proper ventilation . These should be small enough so your gecko can’t escape through them.

If there are no locks on the container, you could also tape the lid to two opposite sides so it doesn’t suddenly pop off. Then, line the bottom with a paper towel for easier cleaning and replacement of temporary substrate.

Geckos should be kept in a well-ventilated small plastic container to restrict their movement and prevent injuries. Such temporary housing must be devoid of clutter if possible that could potentially harm your gecko (e.g., rocks, branches). Additionally, the bottom should be lined with a paper towel instead of a loose substrate.

Some owners have also brought their geckos along for the ride in their original tanks. However, I personally wouldn’t do this nor recommend it to you because it’s too spacious and might crack in case of an abrupt stop. Seeing as the car will constantly be on the move, they might get thrown all over the place. Plus, vivariums usually have a lot of decor in them that could move around and hit – or even crush – your soft-bodied friend.

I mean, sure, you could put a few essential things in there like a makeshift hide from a few crumpled papers or an even smaller plastic box. Soft plants are okay too to make it homier. Other than those, they don’t really need anything else.

I’ve also heard from a friend that he once saw a gecko owner bring their gecko to the vet using a foldable cat carrier. The gecko seemed pretty chill about it but I don’t think I’d try doing that anywhere in the near future.

#2 – Familiarity

Reptiles, geckos especially, are known to need quite a bit of adjustment time before behaving as they normally should when placed in a different enclosure.

So even if you don’t have plans of moving or going on a trip anytime soon, I suggest you prepare a carrying container for your gecko well in advance.

Have them familiarize themselves with their temporary tanks to reduce the risk of stressing them out once you do have to take them on a car ride. Ideally, they should be given at least a week to try out their temporary homes.

Let your gecko spend a few minutes a day in its carrying container. You can start with 15 minutes. Increase time increments for each session until your gecko is okay with staying in there for an hour or so. This is not necessary, but will limit the stress your gecko will undergo in such a travel, especially if the journey is many hours long.

Other than that, let them go about their day as they normally would. Let them eat, sleep, drink, and explore in their original vivariums. Keep their routine relatively consistent.

Don’t leave them alone in a separate room when you do though and do make sure that they don’t get too hot or cold. They might start associating their temporary carriers with negative experiences if you do.

#3 – Provisions

You might think that you should pack food and water for your geckos if you’re going to bring them with you while you travel by car. That, however, isn’t actually the case. Geckos, and most other herps, don’t need water and food especially on trips that take less than a day to complete unless ambient temperatures reach 86°F (30°C) [1].

Most people advise against feeding geckos two days before traveling as well as feeding them while still on the road to prevent indigestion and regurgitation of food. It might sound cruel but it actually isn’t. Remember, geckos, much like every other lizard, can last a few days without being given food and water .

Still, I do understand that most, if not all, keepers would prefer to stay safe than sorry and bring along a bunch of provisions for their reptile companions. There’s water, food, additional paper towels, other cleaning supplies, and many other things.

For short car trips (less than 24 hours), geckos do not need water and food. For long car trips longer than 24 hours, water and food should be supplied to them.

I would advise against placing a water dish in their carrying container when traveling. Just bring a small spray bottle to mist them every so often, they can lick off the condensation if they need to. If it’s hot out and in the car, moisten the paper towel lining the bottom as well.

Also, if you’ll need to pack food for your gecko, you could opt for freeze-dried live feeders like this one on Amazon for less hassle and mess. You won’t have to deal with the nightmare of having live feeders hopping and crawling all over the car.

#4 – Temperature Control

As you probably know by now, geckos are very sensitive to changes in temperature since they are considered “ cold-blooded ” animals. Meaning, they rely heavily on their surroundings to regulate their body temperature.

Geckos don’t need heating and/or cooling materials while traveling by car unless the car temperatures are below 65°F (18°C) or above 90°F (32°C). Most often, a normal ambient temperature of about 75°F (24°C) in your car is safe for geckos.

You can’t exactly bring all their heating equipment in the car to make sure they’re comfortable. Since they’ll be confined in a much smaller space, doing so isn’t safe either. They could get thermal burns and dehydrate much quicker. So how do you heat and cool them up while traveling by car? Well, there are a few ways you could try out.

Use a shipping warmer pack ( here on Amazon), hot water bottle, or a warm bag of rice to help your gecko warm up while traveling in cold weather. Conversely, other solutions can be cold compress ( here on Amazon), an ice pack, a frozen rice packet, or a bag of frozen coconut oil to help your gecko cool down while traveling in hot weather.

Make sure none of the aforementioned materials come into direct contact with your gecko [1]. Wrap a few layers of paper or cloth around them first and then place them outside their carrying containers. Some people put it on top or below the containers. However, an acquaintance who worked for a large reptile shop says that doing so often causes death for animals being shipped.

It would be much better to position the heating or cooling element on a single side so that there is a temperature gradient within the small box. Don’t forget to monitor the temperature inside their temporary tank using a thermometer. Go the extra mile by placing their temporary tanks in an insulated shipping box, polystyrene foam cooler, insulated lunch bags, or with a simple thick towel.

#5 – Covering

Although there aren’t really many studies to explain and back up the theories behind it, several keepers and breeders have experienced seeing extremely stressed out geckos when they are kept in temporary carrying tanks that are all clear and see-through.

It’s highly possible that the ever-changing scenery, as well as the intense light entering the car, are enough to overwhelm and freak out your gecko.

To make sure your gecko doesn’t get upset by these, you can keep their tanks in another layer of insulation as I’ve previously mentioned.

You could also simply cover up all but one side of their tanks with dark tape or paper to make them feel much safer. By doing so, you can still check up on them even while you’re driving. Tote bags, pillowcases, and towels are great options as well.

Take it a step further by installing a few window shades inside your car. Better yet, have your windows tinted.

#6 – Placement for Security

From all the previous factors I’ve pointed out so far, it’s quite obvious that the placement of your gecko’s carrying tank is quite important.

Experts recommend placing temporary carrying containers either on the passenger seat or on the floor right in front of it. By doing so, you can readily check on your gecko.

It should preferably be kept away from places that received direct sun exposure like the dashboard. Placing it right in front of the air conditioning (AC) unit isn’t advisable either.

However, you shouldn’t keep it in the back because it will be harder to check on them in that way. They could be gaping from overheating and they might’ve even escaped without you noticing anything wrong.

Think about sudden breaks and speed bumps too – the shaking, tumbling, and all that. Even if you make sure to address all the 5 points I’ve listed, your gecko and its tank could get thrown all over the place if not tightly and securely restrained.

Use the seat belt, a rope, some harness, or a couple of bungee cords, to safely secure your gecko’s carrying tank in the car. Placing a pillow or thick towel below or around it can also provide additional cushioning.

2 Things to Avoid When Traveling with Your Gecko via Car

There are three major don’ts you should never do when traveling with your gecko. Although none of these will necessarily harm your geckos, it’s still best to give them a stress-free trip if you could. Remember, tail dropping is a common consequence of extreme distress.

#1 – Frequent Stop-overs

Though I have heard of rare cases where gecko owners have successfully transported their geckos, along with their many other pets, via car in as long as 3 days, it’s not something you’d hear frequently.

Even in those rare cases, they don’t drive straight continuously for days on end. Pet parents would usually check into pet-friendly hotels so they can rest. This gives them time to feed and check on their babies too.

Others recommend bringing bigger tanks for geckos to stay in at night but I think that would just exacerbate the stress they’re probably already experiencing. I mean, just imagine it – you’re kept in a dark box for hours but each time you’re taken out of your temporary home, your eyes are greeted by another strange and unfamiliar sight.

Why prolong the agony? The sooner your trip ends, the faster your gecko can get back to doing its normal routine. Stick to short trips with your gecko in tow, if you can’t don’t bring them with you.

#2 – Music on Full Blast

Who doesn’t want music blasting from the speakers during road trips and playing car karaoke? Well, your geckos might not be the biggest fan.

You could try and argue that the insulation you’ve wrapped your gecko’s temporary housing in would be enough all you want. But really think about it. If you have a neighbor that’s belting out his heart and soul while you’re trying to get some rest in bed, it can be pretty bothersome even when you try to block out the ruckus by covering your ears with a pillow.

Despite having ears that are less sensitive to sounds than humans, and most other mammals, geckos don’t do well with extremely loud sounds regardless if they’re abrupt or sustained.

Learn more about how geckos hear and their sound sensitivity by reading this article we’ve already published.

What to Expect After a Car Ride with Your Gecko

Understandably, your gecko may show mild signs of stress after taking a ride in your car for the first time. They may not eat anything or explore as much as they normally would for a day or two after arriving at a new place or getting back home.

Some owners say their little gecko dragons seem to take a liking to car travels after a couple of rides, however, others also say that their geckos never seem to get comfortable while traveling.

To make it easier for them to re-acclimate themselves, other pet parents said that slowly exposing them to their new environments has done wonders. They don’t wave their tails defensively or anything at all. Don’t be so quick to get them out. Instead, slowly take off the covers on their carrying tank before handling them.

Can Your Gecko Get Car Sick?

Newsflash – geckos can experience car sickness from traveling [2]. It hasn’t really been well-documented but there is some evidence for it.

At first, I thought that was just some sort of old wives’ tale within the reptile-keeping community. However, once I delved deeper into the topic, I found out that there was some truth to this claim.

Geckos, like humans and many other animals, may suffer from motion sickness. Signs include gasping, lethargy, and vomiting. In extreme cases, it could lead to death.

Because the information on this is scarce, I’m really not sure what causes this. I mean, they’re known to have sticky feet that allow them to basically defy gravity, right? Hopefully, in the future, more scientists will investigate this so we know how to prevent and treat it.

Taking all of that into consideration, I highly advise against frequently bringing your gecko round in a car for travel unless you actually need to.

If you need to travel by car anywhere with your gecko, give them a dedicated carrying container, let them familiarize themselves with it, bring necessary provisions with you, monitor and regulate for temperature, provide them some covering, and secure them in place.

Don’t go on long trips with frequent stop-overs and insanely loud music if your gecko is with you.

Geckos can experience motion sickness.

[1] https://environment.des.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/90614/cp-wm-captive-reptile-amphibian-husbandry.pdf

[2] https://academic.oup.com/jtm/article/2/3/182/1853034

Andrea, the found of reptile hero, is a guy that by emerging his scientific background (in his past life earned a Ph.D.) and passion for his little reptile companions can put in one place science and his (and more) experience to help others in caring for their little friends.

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Leopard Gecko Cage Setup Ideas For Happy Geckos

Neamul A. Sumon

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Are you a jubilant owner of a leopard gecko? Do you want to ensure your pet is living in a happy and healthy environment? 

One of the most important things you can do for your pet’s well-being is to provide them with an appropriate cage setup. 

In this blog, we will explain why leopard gecko cage setup is crucial for their happiness and how to create the perfect habitat for them.

From choosing the right substrate, lighting, temperature, decor, and accessories, we will cover everything you need to know about keeping your beloved pet comfortable and engaged.

We will also discuss common issues that may arise during the setup process and provide troubleshooting tips. So, if you want to ensure that your leopard gecko lives its best life possible, read on!

What size tank does a leopard gecko need? Leopard Geckos, cherished for their unique charm, thrive in a spacious and enriching environment. A tank size of at least 10 gallons provides ample room for exploration, promoting physical and mental health. This ensures these captivating creatures can exhibit natural behaviors, fostering a fulfilling and contented life.

Leopard Gecko Tank Setup Ideas: Set Up A Leopard Gecko Humidity

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Proper leopard gecko habitat is important for the physical and mental health of these reptiles. A well-structured environment reduces stress, encourages natural behaviors, and promotes their ability to thermoregulate.

Mimicking their natural habitat in their enclosure setup is key to promoting instincts, feeding, and breeding behaviors.

Besides, creating an environment that aids in their overall welfare helps leopard gecko owners ensure the happiness of their pets.

Considering the best way to set up the cage without sharp edges and providing suitable substrate options are important factors.

Understanding the impact of direct sunlight and maintaining optimal temperature levels in the enclosure are also essential for creating a healthy environment for these lizards.

Creating an ideal leopard gecko tank setup involves several key elements. It’s important to establish a warm side, and a cool side, and ensure adequate substrate depth for the gecko’s comfort and natural behavior.

Including live plants, natural hides, and basking spots enriches the tank environment and promotes the gecko’s well-being. Proper lighting, temperature gradient, and humidity levels are vital components of the tank setup to mimic the gecko’s natural habitat.

Using substrates that encourage natural behaviors and minimize health issues is essential for the gecko’s optimal health.

Ultimately, a well-equipped tank setup offers leopard geckos a safe and comfortable environment, leading to better overall health outcomes.

Enhancing the leopard gecko habitat involves incorporating various tank accessories such as water dishes, moist hides, and artificial plants.

It’s crucial for leopard gecko owners to provide appropriate water bowls, heating sources, and lighting accessories, ensuring a safe and stimulating environment.

Smooth-edged accessories are essential to prevent health issues, and heating mats, heat lamps, and UVB bulb lighting contribute to the overall welfare of the geckos.

Suitable tank accessories promote natural behaviors and grooming, mimicking their natural habitat and creating a comfortable living space.

Preparing a bioactive reptile enclosure involves establishing a self-sustaining habitat that supports a natural ecosystem.

This setup utilizes live plants, clean-up crews, and natural substrate to foster a healthy, low-maintenance environment for leopard gecko owners.

The bioactive elements provide mental stimulation for the geckos, promoting natural behaviors and activity while reducing stress and supporting natural feeding.

These enclosures offer geckos a more enriched environment, contributing to their overall well-being. It’s a great way to ensure that leopard gecko habitat is engaging and promotes their health.

Leopard geckos require essential elements for their cage, including a moist hide, fresh water source, and proper heating.

Natural hiding spots, a substrate for burrowing, and climbing structures are also crucial.

Providing varied temperature gradients, appropriate lighting, humidity levels, and feeding areas contribute to their wellness. A well-equipped and enriched cage allows geckos to thrive.

Selecting The Best Substrate For The Cage

When considering the best substrate for your leopard gecko’s cage, it’s essential to prioritize their health.

Preventing impaction and digestive issues is crucial, which makes choosing a quality substrate paramount.

By replicating their natural environment, substrates like reptile carpet, moss, or wood chippings can promote natural behaviors and reduce stress for your gecko.

Selecting the best substrate ensures your gecko can maintain proper hygiene and health within their enclosure, supporting their natural habitat and behaviors.

As leopard gecko owners, creating the right environment with suitable substrates is the first thing to address for their overall good health.

When considering the enclosure size for leopard geckos, it’s important to provide ample space for them to move, climb, and explore.

A spacious enclosure allows geckos to exhibit natural behaviors, reducing stress and health issues while promoting their physical and mental well-being.

The dimensions of the enclosure directly impact geckos’ activity levels, feeding behaviors, and overall health, contributing to their comfort, natural habitat representation, and overall well-being.

Ensuring the right tank size is essential for leopard gecko owners to create an environment where their pets can thrive. 

Setting up the habitat for leopard geckos, and selecting suitable substrate options is crucial for their wellness and comfort. Options like reptile carpet, slate, or natural moss enhance the geckos’ environment and enable natural digging, burrowing, and thermoregulation, replicating their natural habitat.

These substrates also promote hygienic conditions and support the geckos’ overall health. Opting for safe, moisture-retaining substrates from pet stores or regular shops further contributes to the geckos’ health and natural behaviors.

Choosing appropriate substrate options is a great way to ensure the comfort, hygiene, and well-being of leopard gecko owners’ pets and enhance their overall habitat.

Gecko owners benefit from incorporating adequate hiding spots, both moist and dry, to create a sense of security and comfort within the leopard gecko’s enclosure.

Well-placed hiding spots promote natural behaviors and reduce stress levels, contributing to the overall health of the geckos.

The inclusion of hiding spots is particularly crucial for leopard geckos, considering their unique tail anatomy.

These hiding spots also provide options for thermoregulation, supporting the geckos’ physical well-being.

Properly positioned hiding spots not only enhance the enclosure setup but also play a crucial role in fostering natural behaviors and the overall health of leopard geckos.

Creating The Ideal Lighting And Temperature Conditions

Leopard geckos, with their special anatomy that helps them blend in, do well when they have the right light and temperature setup.

Proper lighting is vital for the natural habitat simulation of leopard geckos. Maintaining optimal temperature levels is crucial for their health, requiring a balance of heat and cool areas in their enclosure.

Leopard geckos benefit from a temperature gradient, allowing them to regulate body temperature effectively.

Also, UVB lighting supports calcium metabolism and prevents health issues, essential for the well-being of leopard gecko owners.

When making the ideal lighting and temperature conditions, it’s important to consider the best way to provide these elements within the leopard gecko’s habitat, ensuring they are safe and free from sharp edges or direct sunlight.

Leopard geckos benefit from access to a natural day-night cycle, which is essential for their well-being. UVB lighting supports calcium metabolism, preventing health issues. 

A basking spot with moderate heat aids warmth and digestion, while a dimmable, natural daylight lamp supports their natural rhythm.

It’s crucial to provide lighting that does not emit heat, as it supports their health and well-being. Owners should ensure the lighting mimics their natural habitat, promoting the best way for geckos to thrive in their leopard gecko habitat.

To ensure the good health of your leopard gecko, it’s crucial to create a habitat with a warm side and a cool side, allowing them to regulate their body temperature effectively.

Adding a heat mat or heat lamp will help maintain the necessary temperature gradient in the enclosure.

Monitor the temperature levels daily with a thermometer to ensure that your leopard gecko’s habitat remains within the optimal range. 

Providing a temperature gradient is essential for your pet to thermoregulate effectively. Aim for a warm side temperature between 88-90°F and a cool side around 70-75°F to create the perfect environment for your leopard gecko’s enclosure.

In creating a comfortable leopard gecko habitat, heating devices like heat mats or heat lamps are essential for providing the necessary warmth.

Likewise, cooling devices such as ceramic heat emitters help maintain consistent temperature levels within the enclosure, promoting the overall well-being of leopard geckos.

It’s important to ensure proper insulation around heating devices to prevent direct contact and potential harm to the geckos.

Establishing a thermal gradient within the enclosure is crucial, as it allows leopard geckos to regulate their body temperature effectively.

Typically monitoring of temperature levels is also important to ensure the comfort and health of leopard geckos in their enclosure.

Selecting Decor And Accessories For Enrichment

When setting up a leopard gecko’s enclosure, it’s important to include stimulating decorative elements.

Artificial plants can provide hiding spots and enrichment for leopard geckos while incorporating live plants can promote their natural behavior and health.

In addition, essential accessories such as a water dish, moist hide, and dry hide are crucial for their well-being.

Creating an engaging habitat with safe decorative elements and accessories is the best way to ensure your leopard gecko thrives in its environment. As responsible leopard gecko owners, it’s our duty to ensure that the habitat is comfortable, safe, and enriching for our pets.

Incorporating safe and stimulating decorative elements is essential for their well-being while creating a leopard gecko’s enclosure.

Natural-looking decor with rounded edges should be used to prevent injury and ensure the safety of the geckos.

Adding naturalistic backgrounds can enhance the visual appeal and provide stimulation for the geckos.

To mimic their natural habitat, non-toxic, artificial plants should be included in the enclosure. Geckos also enjoy exploring and climbing on safe, natural wood and rock decor, which promotes their physical and mental well-being.

By providing secure and stimulating decor, leopard gecko owners can ensure an enriching environment for their pets.

When setting up a leopard gecko’s enclosure, it’s crucial for leopard gecko owners to consider the best way to create a stimulating environment for their pets.

An easy way to achieve this is by using substrates like reptile carpet, moss, or slate to provide engaging surfaces for geckos.

Terrarium accessories such as ledges, branches, and hides not only offer hideouts but also climbing opportunities for these lizards.

Including natural, live plants in the enclosure is a great way to enrich the leopard gecko habitat. It’s important to include water dishes, moist hides, and dry hides on a regular basis to support the geckos’ health and behavior.

Leopard gecko owners can ensure a comfortable and engaging habitat by considering the best way to set up a leopard gecko’s enclosure.

It’s important to avoid sharp edges and select the right gallon tank and screen lid. Providing a variety of substrates like loose substrates and incorporating natural elements is a great way to promote exploration and mental stimulation.

Besides, creating a balanced habitat that does not expose the geckos to direct sunlight and monitoring the enclosure regularly is key.

This easy way helps in mimicking the gecko’s natural habitat while also ensuring their safety and well-being.

Regularly tending to your leopard gecko’s enclosure is pivotal for their well-being. Daily spot-cleaning to remove waste and soiled substrate maintains a hygienic habitat, safeguarding your pet’s health.

For reptile-safe cleaning products to ensure a safe and sanitized environment. Additionally, regularly refreshing the substrate fosters a clean and healthy setup, preventing potential health issues.

By upholding a stringent cleaning routine, you are actively promoting a flourishing and comfortable environment for your leopard gecko.

Leopard geckos thrive in environments that mimic their natural habitat. Understanding their behavior and needs is crucial for leopard gecko owners.

Providing a moist hide supports proper shedding and hydration, while a warm, sandy substrate replicates their natural environment.

It’s essential to be aware of their feeding, temperature, and humidity requirements for a healthy enclosure.

Creating an enriching environment with natural elements promotes their well-being. Meeting these specific needs is the best way to ensure the happiness of pet geckos.

Understanding the right humidity levels for your gecko’s enclosure is crucial. A temperature gradient in the terrarium is essential for your gecko’s health, and providing a moist hide is necessary to maintain proper moisture levels .

Regularly monitoring calcium levels is important for your gecko’s bone health, and offering a variety of substrates can help prevent impaction issues in your gecko.

This ensures a healthy and comfortable leopard gecko habitat, replicating their natural environment.

By incorporating these measures, leopard gecko owners can create an optimal living space for their pets, promoting their well-being and longevity.

Observing the feeding habits of your leopard gecko can offer valuable insights into its overall health and well-being.

Noting its body temperature and basking behavior allows for adjustments to heating settings, ensuring a comfortable habitat.

Regularly monitoring moisture levels within the gecko’s enclosure is crucial to maintaining its health.

Paying attention to your gecko’s activity throughout the day provides essential information for making setup adjustments.

Observing shedding patterns can indicate the effectiveness of the enclosure setup, guiding necessary modifications.

Implementing these observations is the best way to ensure the habitat meets the specific needs of your leopard gecko.

When enhancing your leopard gecko’s enclosure, consider incorporating live plants to create a more natural environment.

UVB lighting helps maintain calcium levels and overall health, while a bioactive gecko enclosure offers a natural habitat.

Natural substrates like moss or slate contribute to your gecko’s comfort. Implementing a temperature gradient with heat mats and lamps mimics sandy deserts, resembling the gecko’s natural habitat.

These advanced tips elevate your leopard gecko’s habitat, ensuring a stimulating and healthy environment.

Leopard gecko owners can create the best habitat by following these guidelines and understanding the importance of a well-designed enclosure.

Leopard geckos require a spacious cage for movement and exploration. To maintain the ideal temperature of 88-92°F, a heat source like an under-tank heater or heat lamp is necessary. Providing humid hide boxes for security and moist hides for shedding is essential. Substrate options include reptile carpet, paper towels, or tile.

How Should A Leopard Gecko Tank Be Set Up?

To set up a leopard gecko tank, ensure it’s at least 20 gallons in size and has a heat source like an under-tank heater or heat lamp. Provide a hide box for privacy and use safe and easy-to-clean substrates such as reptile carpets or paper towels.

Do Leopard Geckos Like Big Cages?

Leopard Geckos thrive in big cages that allow them to move, explore, and hide. The recommended minimum is 10 gallons per gecko, but bigger cages offer more space for activity and reduce stress. A spacious setup with ample hiding spots promotes a healthy and happy gecko.

Do Leopard Geckos Need 3 Hides?

Leopard Geckos benefit from having at least two hides – one for warmth and one for coolness. Adding a third hide in the middle of the enclosure, providing a humid retreat, can enhance their mental and physical well-being. Multiple hides reduce stress and increase activity levels.

What Kind Of Habitat Is Perfect For A Leopard Gecko?

A vivarium with a warm basking area, a cooler side, and hiding spots is the perfect habitat for leopard geckos, as they are nocturnal and need a comfortable environment to thrive.

Providing a suitable habitat for your leopard gecko is crucial for its overall well-being.

Regularly assessing and adjusting the enclosure setup ensures your gecko’s health and happiness.

Understanding the specific needs of leopard geckos is key to creating an ideal habitat.

Enhancing the leopard gecko cage setup contributes to its physical and mental stimulation.

Proper monitoring and care of the gecko’s environment are essential for its longevity and quality of life.

By prioritizing these aspects, leopard gecko owners can create the best possible habitat for their pets, promoting a healthy and fulfilling life for their beloved lizards.

About the author

My name is Neamul A. Shumon. For over a decade, I’ve been passionately writing about nature and the intriguing world of cold-blooded reptiles. My deep love for nature and fascination with wild animals have driven me to embark on this writing journey.Exploring the wonders of nature has always been a part of who I am. for any quarry you can send an email [email protected] and to know more about me Click Here

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Setting up a suitable tank for your leopard gecko is paramount to its well-being. From the outset, you’ll need to pinpoint the optimal enclosure size tailored to accommodate the growth and activity of your gecko. However, tank dimensions are just one facet of the equation.

As you delve deeper into creating a habitat, you’ll discover a medley of requirements to fulfill—from selecting the right cage materials to ensuring adequate ventilation, proper access, and designing a visually appealing enclosure.

Tank Size Matters: For a single leopard gecko, a tank of at least 20 gallons is ideal, ensuring enough space for movement, hideaways, and thermal regulation.

Material Choices: While glass tanks are praised for visibility and chemical stability, consider lightweight plastic alternatives or affordable wooden terrariums with a waterproof coating.

Ventilation is Crucial: Ensure your tank has both passive and active ventilation. Mesh lids are common and effective for maintaining a healthy airflow.

Hideaways & Decor: Provide at least two hideouts in the tank—one in the hot spot and another in the cooler area. This aids geckos in body temperature regulation.

Plant Decor: While most plants struggle in gecko habitats due to light and moisture constraints, air plants are a viable, low-maintenance option. For an effortless touch of green, consider artificial plants, but remember to clean them regularly.

Leopard Gecko Enclosure: Mimic Their Original Environment

These geckos are scientifically known as Eublepharis macularius and they are common in desert regions of Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, and India. They can grow up to 6.5-8 inches long and live up to 15 years in the wild and up to 20 years in captivity.

They are native to desert regions and dry grasslands, which means you’ll need to mimic the same environment in their cage to make them comfortable. Despite the fact that they live in desert areas, they avoid places where the primary substrate is sand.

Leopard Geckos live in arid and semi-arid areas with sparse vegetation and sandy soils or clay. But they also love rocky habitats as they can use crevices as shelter. They remain hidden during the day and only come looking for prey at night.

When you set up a cage for your new Leopard Gecko you will need to be very careful about the temperature and humidity . They prefer hotter environments and a lower level of humidity. Not extremely dry but above 25% and below 40% is perfect.

These creatures are easy to maintain and can become great pets for even the most clueless reptile owner. Their cage is a pleasure to set up and easy to clean and the gecko makes lots of interesting movements that are great to admire.

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If you have a leopard gecko as a pet, you probably know that they’re typically happiest when left alone in their cozy little homes.

They require such minimal maintenance that they can even handle being left alone for a few days at a time. If you’re planning to go away for a weekend, 2-3 days to itself won’t do your leopard gecko any harm.

But, life happens, and sometimes you’ve got to take your little spotted friend with you, whether it’s simply a visit to the vet or a big move across the country. So, if you find yourself needing to take your leopard gecko along for a ride, you might ask:

How do I travel with a leopard gecko?

Traveling with a leopard gecko involves researching your travel method and planning ahead, allowing your gecko to become familiar with their travel carrier, and paying close attention to their well-being during and after arrival. You’ll want to make sure their travel carrier is safe and secure, and pack essentials like food, water, and heat sources.

In this article, we’ll explore all there is to know about how to travel with a leopard gecko, covering the main modes of transportation. Let’s get started!

How To Transport A Leopard Gecko

Leopard geckos aren’t fond of changes to their environment, and the process of moving them around can be quite stressful for them. Unless there’s no other alternative, it’s best to avoid traveling with your gecko.

However, sometimes traveling with your little buddy is unavoidable, so thankfully, there are a few different ways you can take them along with you.

No matter how you choose to travel – by plane, car, or train – the requirements for taking your leopard gecko along remain the same. It’s all about research, planning, and ensuring that your gecko has a safe and comfortable travel experience.

Here are some things you can do to help transport your leopard gecko successfully:

Step 1: Choose A Travel Carrier

The first and most important thing you’ll need is a sturdy and secure travel carrier that allows for proper ventilation.

Should you choose to use your gecko’s regular enclosure, you’ll want to make a few changes to it first to make it safer for travel.

Remove any loose substrate so it doesn’t slide around and smother your Leo, causing them to accidentally inhale or ingest any of it.

Also, be sure to take out any objects (décor pieces) inside that could move around or fall over. This will help to prevent any accidents or injuries to your gecko while you’re on the move.

However, if you’re able to securely attach a hide, or have a hide that is heavy enough that it will not fall over, it’s good to leave one of those in there for your leo to hide in if they feel stressed.

Alternatively, you can opt for a small travel carrier or container, like the ones you can purchase online for transporting small pets, or even use a large Tupperware container.

Ideally, you want a space small enough that they can move and stretch out a bit but not have enough space that they can tumble around if you make a sharp turn or hit a bump.

It’s also important to make sure that there are enough ventilation holes in the container for your gecko to get air, but you don’t want them to be big enough for your lizard to escape.

For a visual idea of how to pack up and move a leopard gecko, check out this video of someone moving 3 leopard geckos and a crested gecko to their new home!

Step 2: Familiarize Your Gecko With Their Travel Carrier

If using a newly purchased travel carrier or a container your gecko isn’t familiar with, allow them some time to become familiar with the space they’ll be traveling in. You can do this by gradually introducing them to it in the days before your adventure.

Start by placing your gecko inside the carrier for short periods, like a few minutes at a time. As the days go by, gradually increase the time to about 30 minutes or so.

This approach will help your leopard gecko become more comfortable in their new travel setup, minimizing their stress levels during the journey ahead.

Step 3: Secure The Carrier

If traveling by car, you’ll want to make sure you can secure the carrier in your vehicle so it doesn’t move or slide around. If you’re able to, buckle it in using one of your seatbelts.

It’s also a good idea to make sure there are no items above or around the carrier that could fall into or on top of it causing damage to your gecko or its carrier.

Step 4: Line The Bottom

To help stabilize your gecko itself and keep them from sliding around, it’s a good idea to line the bottom of the container with something that provides a good grip.

One option is using a non-toxic shelf liner, which works really well. Another option is to use paper towels or something else that has a textured surface for your gecko’s little feet.

Step 5: Monitor Temps

Depending on the weather and the distance of your trip, you might need to take some measures to control the temperature. It’s important to avoid extreme temperatures below 65 degrees or above 90 degrees Fahrenheit.

If it’s hot outside, you can keep your space cool by running the air conditioning. Make sure not to place the carrier directly under the air conditioning vent, though, because this could quickly cause your gecko to become too cold.

If it’s cold outside, you can keep the temperature comfortable in your car by turning on the heat.

Also, you can use a heating source like a heating pack or hand warmers to provide warmth for your gecko’s carrier, or you can place a towel or blanket over the carrier to keep it insulated and cozy. (Additional tip: this is also a great way to keep flashing lights or outside stimuli from bothering your gecko, helping to keep their stress levels low.)

Step 6: Pack All Of The Essentials

When getting ready to transport your leopard gecko, it’s a good idea to gather all of the necessary items you might need to ensure their well-being along the way.

For shorter trips, you can stick to the basics, but for longer journeys, it’s wise to be prepared for any unexpected situations. Here’s a checklist of what you should bring:

Food and water – Make sure to pack enough of your gecko’s regular food , any needed supplements, and a small dish for water.

Heating sources – Depending on the weather and travel conditions, you might need to pack heating sources such as heating pads or hand warmers to keep your gecko warm.

Thermometer – This will help you to monitor the temperature inside your leopard gecko’s travel carrier and ensure it stays within a comfortable range for your gecko.

Blankets and towels – These items will come in handy when creating a cozy and safe environment for your leo (if you’re covering their carrier to minimize stimulus, keeping them warm, etc.)

Cleaning supplies – It’s always a good idea to have some cleaning supplies and paper towels on hand to maintain cleanliness in your leopard gecko’s travel carrier.

Emergency vet contact – Have the contact information for an emergency reptile veterinarian on hand in case of emergencies or if you have any concerns along the way.

Overnight equipment – If you’ll be staying somewhere overnight, you’ll want to bring additional equipment like a UVB source , a basking lamp, and a hideout to provide a comfortable overnight setup for your gecko.

You may even want to consider using a USB port or cigarette lighter with an adapter to power any necessary electronics while in your car.

By packing these essential items, you’ll be well-prepared for a long trek to keep your leopard gecko as happy and healthy as possible. It’s always better to be over-prepared than under-prepared when it comes to situations like this.

Step 7: Be Mindful Of Stimulus

Think about how certain things like blasting loud music or having the windows down can create unnecessary noise and stimuli that might stress your gecko out even more.

To prevent this, try to keep a calm and peaceful environment by listening to tunes at a reasonable volume and having the windows rolled up.

You can also cover your gecko’s carrier with a blanket or towel to block out flashing lights and any other distractions that could bother your gecko (as mentioned above).

Step 8: Minimize Stops

If you’re able to, it’s best to keep stops to a minimum. The sooner you can reach your destination and get your gecko back into its usual habitat, the happier it will be.

So, try to plan your trip in a way that allows for a smooth journey with as few interruptions as possible. Your gecko will thank you for it!

Step 9: Monitor Your Leo

Don’t forget to check in on your leo from time to time. Keep an eye out for any unusual behavior that might indicate they’re feeling uncomfortable or stressed.

The longer the journey, the more attention you should give to your gecko to make sure they’re still doing ok.

Step 10: Return Your Gecko To Their Habitat Quickly Upon Arrival

Once you arrive at your destination, make it a priority to return your leopard gecko to its familiar habitat as soon as possible. This will help them to settle back into their normal routine and feel more at ease.

Keep a close eye on your leo and watch for any signs of stress or illness in the days that follow. This could look like a dramatic change in behavior, appetite, appearance, or even abnormal urate and feces .

If you notice that something seems to be wrong with your leopard gecko after a few days of arriving, it would be wise to reach out to your nearest reptile veterinarian.

Can You Bring A Leopard Gecko On A Plane?

Unfortunately, when it comes to traveling by air, bringing your leopard gecko on the plane alongside you is not an option as all airlines prohibit reptiles from traveling in the cabin.

However, there are some “lizard-friendly” airlines that do allow nonvenomous reptiles to be shipped as cargo, as long as they meet specific guidelines. This means your pet gecko might be able to fly with you in the belly of the plane if you coordinate your travel that way.

When transporting your leopard gecko via airline cargo, many of the safety requirements are the same as they would be if traveling by car.

In fact, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has put together a set of rules for all airlines that ensures pets have a comfortable and safe journey on any flight. These guidelines address important aspects like food and water, carrier size, temperature requirements, and more.

Ultimately, if the airline believes your pet could be at risk, they won’t allow them to fly.

It’s also important to note that different airlines have different rules based on their routes, aircraft type, and number of pets allowed in their cargo space. That’s why it’s always a good idea to give your airline of choice a call and check the rules before attempting to fly with your leo.

To help get you started, some airlines that currently allow nonvenomous lizards in cargo are: American Airlines , Air Canada , Aegean Air , Air Europa , Alaska Air , Finnair (uses third party) , and WestJet .

You can find more information about each airline’s rules and regulations around transporting pets in cargo by clicking on the links provided.

Can You Bring A Leopard Gecko On A Train?

Like airlines, most train companies don’t allow live reptiles to travel onboard with their owners.

However, since there are so many different train services in various parts of the world, there may be some that do. It would be a good idea to contact your local train company in advance of your trip to inquire about traveling with your leopard gecko.

Final Thoughts

With a little preparation, traveling with your leopard gecko can be a smooth and relatively stress-free experience.

Just take the time to do some research, prepare the necessary supplies, and pack essential items for the journey ahead. Once you arrive at your destination, monitor your gecko for a few days to make sure they’re settling back in ok.

With these simple steps, and by following the recommendations given in this article, you should be all set for a safe and successful adventure with your scaly friend.

Safe travels!

About The Author

Stephanie Barreto

6 Best Leopard Gecko Setup Ideas

Both children and adults like keeping leopard geckos as pets. They are little, silent, colorful, and simple to handle, but they need the right surroundings to survive, just like other reptiles. 

A leopard gecko’s health and general happiness in your care depend on having a correctly constructed enclosure. Especially for new reptile keepers, establishing a leopard gecko environment can be complicated because of the need for the right lighting, temperature, humidity, and decorations.

A leopard gecko’s tank layout should closely resemble the animal’s natural environment. The first thing to remember is that leopard geckos are native to Asia and can be found in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Western India, Iraq, and Iran. These regions all share a characteristic–they are all hot, bright places that resemble deserts.

Look through this guide for leopard gecko tank setup ideas if you need help setting up your leopard gecko’s environment!

Leopard Gecko Tank Setup

Due to their resilient and adaptable nature, leopard geckos thrive in various enclosures and tank types. They are used to surviving in various difficult environments, including cracks between railroad ties and holes on the banks of arid riverbeds. 

When selecting a tank, there are many options available. There are differences in the materials, size, ventilation, and insulation between tanks.

Fortunately, selecting the ideal tank for such a leopard gecko is simple. Leopard geckos don’t have a particular preference for their habitat. Despite this, a few factors still distinguish some tanks from others.

Your gecko can live in a vivarium that is approximately 86 x 37.5 x 42 cm in size. To keep your gecko inside, and any potential predators (like cats) outside, and give your gecko access to enough fresh air and lighting conditions, ensure your tank has a screen lid.

Using a heat mat for reptile tanks can help you regulate the ground temperature within the vivarium. These can be purchased online or at any pet store.

Basking Lamp

Your leopard gecko must receive the proper kind and amount of light throughout the day. To do this, utilize a basking lamp since the environment must resemble your gecko’s native habitat.

Make sure to include a UV gradient. With the aid of a solar meter, the gradient can be determined to be Ferguson zone 1 with a UV index range of 0 to 0.7.

Infrared Heat Lamp

Using an infrared heat lamp, you can keep the air temperature stable at night.

The humidity in the tank can be measured using a hygrometer. If it is too high, consider using a smaller water bowl and boosting airflow through the tank; if it is too low, use a larger water dish or raise the level of wet moss in the tank.

Thermometer 

Within your leopard gecko’s vivarium, there must be a temperature gradient, with one side of the tank maintained warmer than the other. Monitor its vivarium temperature with a thermometer on both sides.

Paper Towels

A reasonable and simple choice that is especially suggested for juvenile geckos is paper towels. They may be shredded and need to be changed frequently, but they do not endanger your gecko’s health.

Reptile Sand Mat

Since all the “sand” particles are attached to the mat like gentle sandpaper, there is no chance of impaction. However, this texture could make cleaning difficult.

Tile made of slate is simple to remove, clean, and is excellent at retaining heat. They are also better looking than paper towels.

Leopard Gecko Tank Setup 1: Hideouts

A leopard gecko necessitates a large number of hiding places throughout its habitat so that it can hide there throughout the daytime to feel comfortable and secure. These hideouts can range from being as straightforward as Tupperware containers to as intricate as a real timber log or rock cave.

They also require a moist hideout to aid in shedding and hydration, in addition to basic hideouts. Three hideouts are a minimum requirement for a leopard gecko’s tank. One should go on the warm side, one on the cold side, and one in the middle. Your leopard gecko may thermoregulate by basking in a warmer or cooler environment thanks to its three hideouts.

Even while three hideouts are the minimum, adding more will give them a sense of security and more room to roam. Aim to disperse between four and five hideouts around the tank.

Warm Hideout

Most of the day will be spent in this hideout by your gecko. Put this immediately over the substrate that is covered in a heat mat.

Moist Hideout

Wet moss, paper towels, or EcoEarth should be used to maintain the moisture of this crucial hideout. When it comes time to shed skin, your gecko will look for a wet spot. Therefore, the middle or chilly side of the enclosure would work well because the water won’t evaporate as rapidly.

Optional Hideout

Adding a second hideout to the cage is not required, but it is preferred because it allows your gecko more alternatives for controlling its temperature and selecting the right environment.

Leopard Gecko Tank Setup 2: Plants

Numerous plants, rocky outcrops, bushes, and rocks are present in a leopard gecko’s native habitat to help them blend into its surroundings and give cover. They will feel more at ease and secure in their tank if decorated.

A fantastic enhancement to a leopard gecko’s habitat is live plants. They imitate their original habitat, release oxygen, control humidity, provide shade, and give off a native feel and look. The greatest plants can endure warm, dry conditions while remaining small.

Real Plants

Due to a lack of light and moisture, most genuine plants cannot grow in a leopard gecko habitat, unlike tropical vivaria. Air plants are one of the uncommon exceptions. These rootless, slightly-alien-appearing plants can be affixed to rocks or walls and require little upkeep. At least some light should be present, and misting should occur once or twice weekly.

Even if choosing a terrarium with less light would make it challenging, some advise succulents without spikes. Additionally, vulnerable to stagnant air are succulents. The risk of exposing intruders outweighs their affordability and ease of use. Your leopard geckos could get sick from worms, mites, or other microscopic invertebrates.

Artificial Plants

A lot of settings involve fake plants. Whether or not you want artificial plants for your terrarium is a personal choice. There are some quite lifelike fake plants available. When performing routine terrarium maintenance, give elaborate models a good wash because they can easily become dusty.

Appropriate plants include:

• Holiday Cactus
• Prickly plants
• Animate stones

Leopard Gecko Tank Setup 3: Substrates

For leopard gecko substrates, there are some nice and not-so-good options. Sand is, however, sometimes advertised as a suitable substrate for leopard geckos at pet retailers. Unfortunately, this is among the most damaging piece of false information regarding caring for one and is untrue.

Sand should not be utilized as a leopard gecko’s substrate since impaction is quite likely. The following are the ideal substrates for a leopard gecko enclosure:

Bioactive Substrate

A mixture of clay, organic soil, pebbles, and sand is a bioactive substrate. It is a great option because it closely resembles their natural substrate.

Stone tiles are quick, inexpensive, and a beautiful substrate that is easy to maintain while creating a natural appearance. The roughness of patterned stone and the way tiles retain heat to appeal to many lizards. A simple and inexpensive solution that is more difficult to maintain than tiles is a reptile sand mat.

For those who don’t mind their leopard gecko’s setup having a more industrial appearance, they make a terrific, simple substrate.

Leopard Gecko Tank Setup 4: Temperature

Leopard geckos are ectothermic, which means their environment influences their internal temperature. Due to this, you must give both a temperature gradient—a warmer and a cooler area inside the terrarium—and a relatively consistent temperature in their tank. When they need more heat, leopard geckos will bask in a hot spot, but they will move to the opposite area to cool off if they grow too hot.

Leopard geckos, like all reptiles, benefit from a temperature gradient in their terrarium.

• Basking surface temperature: 94-97°F (34-36°C)
• Hide temperature: 90-92°F (32-33°C)
• End temperature: 70-77°F (21-25°C)

Leopard geckos like to spend the daytime in warm hiding places to “charge” themselves for activity at night. To aid thermoregulation, a leopard gecko’s enclosure should contain at least two hideouts in various locations: one on the warmer end close to the heat source and another on the cool end.

Your leopard geckos can be heated in various ways: 

Suitable Lights 

Reptile lights in black or red provide heat and hidden lighting. They work best with heated pads and shouldn’t be utilized as the only heating source.

Ceramic Heaters

In their place, ceramic heaters are used. In contrast to bulbs, they do not produce any light. In all typical situations, they must be capable of heating.

Heating Pads

Simple heaters, called heating pads, are placed beneath the tank. They use little power and are affordable. They are positioned beneath one area of the tank, allowing you to establish a crucial temperature gradient.

Never use direct heating or heat pebbles since they could burn your gecko’s delicate, silky skin.

A thermometer must be used to check the temperature in both the hot and the cooler sections to ensure that the tank remains in a good range.

Leopard Gecko Tank Setup 5: Lighting

It’s a frequent misperception that UVB light is unnecessary for a leopard gecko’s lighting arrangement. They are solitary and primarily active at night, so people presume this.

Although leopard geckos are nocturnal, they require a light source during the day to simulate a cycle of day and night. The leopard gecko’s lighting system on a timer should provide ten hours of lighting and 14 hours of darkness. It will maintain their health and assist in controlling their circadian rhythm.

It has been demonstrated that UVB lighting enhances vitamin D and calcium absorption, lowering the likelihood of vitamin deficiency and metabolic bone diseases. 

Place a T8 or T5 UVB fixture with a 6.0 to 10.0 bulb solely on a single end for your leopard gecko’s arrangement. A typical daytime basking bulb should be used with a UV light fixture.

Leopard Gecko Tank Setup 6: Decorations

Leopard geckos require some tank decoration to add complexity and enrichment to their habitat. Incorporating decorations toward the tank is acceptable as long as enough room remains for them to move around. Not only will decor improve the aesthetic appeal, but it will also add a sort of stimulation to the mind and body.

Bogs and Rocks

Bogs and rocks are crucial components of the decor. You may arrange your leopard gecko’s home with rocks and wood, giving critters shelter and climbing areas. The only thing that matters is adhering to particular safety regulations.

Any rock constructions you build must be tightly fastened to other rocks or the terrarium’s walls. Silicone glue is a straightforward method.

Always choose softer rocks over harder ones. In contrast, nature only sometimes provides smooth rocks, and your gecko may find it challenging to scale entirely smooth rocks. It is better to use your judgment when determining what kind of rocks to place in your terrarium.

Among the most popular pet geckos worldwide is the leopard gecko. They are adored for their simple setup, maintenance, and amiable attitudes. These lizards are indigenous to the deserts of Southwest Asia and the Middle East in the wild. Many inhabit rocky cracks and caves.

Leopard geckos make good pets and don’t require a complicated setup. Every hour of every day, your leopard gecko will engage with his terrarium surroundings. A good setup is crucial for your gecko’s quality of life.

Also important to consider is the vivarium’s aesthetic appeal as a decorative addition to your leopard gecko’s home setup.

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• / BlackBox Leopard Gecko Enclosure Setup

BlackBox Leopard Gecko Enclosure Setup

Leopard Geckos can go into any of our 3 foot enclosures and larger.

You will need to provide a basking spot and UVB for your Gecko.

**IMPORTANT - if you have an albino leopard gecko, PLEASE do some research about UVB and light in general. You need to be careful about lighting as they are very sensitive.

All our setups are designed so that your Gecko can get optimal basking and UVB and also be able to escape the heat and light if needed.

The XT3  is a great option for a Leopard Gecko. In this enclosure, the setups we can offer are;

• Two screen cutouts for external dome lights (UVB and a Ceramic Heat Emitter or Deep Heat Projector)
• 8 Watt T5 7 %  UVB light with one screen cutout. The UVB would mount on the inside top of the enclosure and the screen cutout would be used for a CHE or DHP.

These enclosures with external dome fixtures cannot be stacked. If you are interested in stacking, you should go with one of our XA3 BIO enclosures which are taller (24") to accommodate the height of the internal lamp holders. We have an XA3 BIO18 36x24x18 and an XA3 BIO24 36x24x24

Pictured above are six XT3   's on the left on top of an XT6 and 3 XA3 BIO18 's on the right.

XA3 BIO Recommended Setups

• One 8 Watt T5 7 % UVB and 1 lamp holder with a heat lamp cage (pictured above in the XA3 BIO18)
• Two Lamp Holders - one for the UVB and one for the CHE or DHP
• If you keep your house very cold, you might consider  One 8 Watt T5 7% UVB and 2 lamp holders with heat lamp cages. You can add a DHP and a CHE for supplemental heating.

Accessories - We have small hides available for your leopard gecko

Need more info? -  Check out  our  FAQ   page. If you still have questions, please email [email protected] for assistance.

Reptile Carrier Guide: Gecko Travel Made Easy

Geckos are fascinating creatures that have captured the hearts of reptile enthusiasts around the world. These small, colorful, and low-maintenance pets can be a perfect addition to your home. However, when it comes to transporting your beloved gecko, it’s crucial to ensure their safety and comfort. That’s where reptile carriers come in! In this comprehensive guide, we’ll dive deep into the world of reptile carriers, exploring various types, how to choose the right one, and tips for using them effectively. So, buckle up, and let’s get started on our journey to making gecko travel a breeze!

Understanding Reptile Carriers

Reptile carriers are specially designed containers used to transport geckos and other reptiles safely and comfortably. The primary purpose of a reptile carrier is to provide a secure, temperature-controlled environment for your pet while traveling. Whether you’re taking your gecko to the vet, moving to a new home, or embarking on a road trip, a well-designed reptile carrier is essential for their well-being.

Using a reptile carrier is not only important for your gecko’s comfort but also for its health. Stress from improper transportation can lead to a weakened immune system, making your gecko more susceptible to illness. Furthermore, using a reptile carrier reduces the risk of injury and escape, ensuring your pet arrives at its destination safe and sound.

Types of Reptile Carriers

There’s a variety of reptile carriers available, each with its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Let’s take a look at the three most common types:

Hard-shell carriers

These carriers are made from sturdy materials such as plastic or metal, providing excellent protection for your gecko. They usually feature a secure door or latch and can be easily cleaned. However, they can be heavier and bulkier than other carrier types.

Soft-sided carriers

Made from durable fabric, soft-sided carriers are lightweight and easy to carry. They often include mesh panels for ventilation and a zippered door for easy access. While they may not provide as much protection as hard-shell carriers, they can be more comfortable for your gecko.

Mesh carriers

Mesh carriers are designed with a breathable, lightweight material that allows for optimal airflow. These carriers are great for short trips and provide a comfortable environment for your gecko. However, they may not offer as much protection from external elements or temperature fluctuations.

Other options

For short, simple trips, as well as for bonding, you can also choose a carrier pouch of some sort to keep your reptile close to you!

Choosing the Right Reptile Carrier

To select the perfect reptile carrier for your gecko, consider the following factors:

Size requirements: Make sure the carrier is large enough for your gecko to move around comfortably, but not too big that they feel insecure. A good rule of thumb is to choose a carrier with dimensions at least 1.5 times your gecko’s length and width.

Key Takeaway

Material and durability: Opt for a carrier made from high-quality, durable materials that can withstand regular use. Hard-shell carriers tend to be the most durable option, while soft-sided carriers offer a balance between durability and comfort.

Ventilation and temperature control: Reptiles, including geckos, rely on external heat sources to regulate their body temperature. Choose a carrier with adequate ventilation to prevent overheating and maintain a stable temperature. Mesh carriers provide the best airflow, while hard-shell carriers may require additional ventilation holes.

Ease of cleaning and maintenance: Carriers should be easy to clean and maintain, as geckos may soil their environment during transport. Hard-shell carriers are the easiest to clean, while soft-sided carriers may require more effort.

Security features: Ensure the carrier has a secure latch or closure system to prevent your gecko from escaping. Some carriers may also include locking mechanisms for added safety.

Tips for Using Reptile Carriers

To ensure a smooth and stress-free experience for your gecko during transport, follow these helpful tips:

Preparing the carrier: Before introducing your gecko to the carrier, clean and disinfect it thoroughly. Add appropriate substrate and a hiding spot to create a familiar environment for your pet. This will help them feel more secure during travel.

Introducing the gecko: Gently place your gecko in the carrier and close the door securely. Avoid sudden movements or loud noises that may startle your pet. Give them a few minutes to acclimate to their new surroundings before beginning your journey.

Monitoring during transport: Keep a close eye on your gecko during travel, ensuring they remain comfortable and stress-free. Maintain a stable temperature inside the carrier by using heat packs, if necessary, and avoid exposing the carrier to direct sunlight for extended periods.

Ensuring safety and comfort: Make sure the carrier remains secure and stable throughout the trip. Avoid placing heavy objects on top of the carrier or subjecting it to sudden jolts or movements. Provide your gecko with fresh water, if needed, and minimize travel time to reduce stress.

Top Reptile Carrier Brands and Products

When choosing a reptile carrier, it’s helpful to consider recommendations from other gecko owners and experts. Here are a few top brands and products to start your search:

Exo Terra Reptile Carrier

A durable, hard-shell carrier with a secure door and ample ventilation. Available in multiple sizes to accommodate various gecko species. Exo Terra is a well-known and trusted brand in the reptile space, so you know you can trust their products to be safe for your reptile!

Soft-Shelled Reptile Carrier

A lightweight, plastic carrier with a secure lid and ventilation holes. Great for small to medium-sized geckos. Just make sure to carry it carefully, as the soft shell provides less protection against bumping into things, or objects falling on your gecko!

Siivton Carrier Bag

If you are looking for something larger, this bag is just what you need. For geckos over 10 inches, choose a travel bag like this one to provide them enough space to move around, while also being well-protected by the durable shell. Always make sure to buy a bag specific for pets, as the interior fabrics and materials need to be safe for your pet!

Additional Accessories and Considerations

To further enhance your gecko’s travel experience, consider incorporating the following accessories and considerations:

Heat packs : To maintain a stable temperature inside the carrier, use heat packs designed specifically for reptile transportation. Make sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for safe usage.

Substrates and hiding spots : Add appropriate substrate and a hiding spot to the carrier to create a familiar and comfortable environment for your gecko.

Food and water provisions : Provide fresh water for your gecko during travel, especially if the journey is long. However, it’s generally best to avoid feeding your gecko during transport to minimize stress.

Traveling with multiple reptiles : If you need to transport multiple geckos or reptiles, consider using separate carriers or dividers within a single carrier to prevent potential conflicts or stress.

Legal and Ethical Considerations

When transporting your gecko, it’s important to be aware of the legal and ethical implications:

Transporting across borders : Research and adhere to any regulations or restrictions on transporting geckos across state or country borders. This may include obtaining permits or health certificates.

Compliance with laws and regulations : Familiarize yourself with local laws and regulations regarding reptile ownership and transportation to ensure compliance.

Ethical concerns and best practices : Treat your gecko with respect and care during transportation, minimizing stress and potential harm. Follow best practices for gecko care and consult with experts or fellow gecko owners for advice.

Common Questions

How often should i clean my reptile carrier.

It’s essential to clean and disinfect your reptile carrier before and after each use. Regular cleaning prevents the buildup of bacteria and ensures a healthy environment for your gecko during transport.

Can I use a reptile carrier for other pets like snakes or lizards?

Yes, reptile carriers are designed to accommodate a variety of reptiles, including snakes and lizards. However, always choose the appropriate carrier size and type based on the specific needs of your pet.

What if my gecko gets stressed during transport?

If your gecko shows signs of stress during transport, such as heavy breathing or erratic behavior, try to minimize disturbances and maintain a stable environment. Keep the carrier in a quiet, temperature-controlled area, and avoid sudden movements or loud noises. If you’re concerned about your gecko’s well-being, consult with a reptile expert or veterinarian for guidance.

How can I keep my gecko’s temperature stable in the carrier during winter months?

In colder weather, use heat packs designed for reptile transportation to maintain a stable temperature inside the carrier. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for safe usage, and monitor your gecko’s comfort throughout the journey.

Do airlines have specific requirements for reptile carriers?

Airlines may have specific requirements for reptile carriers, such as size restrictions or guidelines for ventilation and security features. Always check with your chosen airline beforehand to ensure your carrier complies with their regulations and avoid any issues during travel.

Selecting the perfect reptile carrier is an essential step in ensuring the safety, comfort, and well-being of your gecko during travel. By considering factors such as size, material, ventilation, and security features, you can find the ideal carrier for your pet. Don’t forget to follow our tips for using reptile carriers, and consider additional accessories to further enhance your gecko’s travel experience.

Always be mindful of legal and ethical considerations when transporting your gecko, and strive to adhere to best practices and regulations. With the right carrier and proper care, you can make your gecko’s journey a stress-free and enjoyable experience.

So, whether you’re taking your gecko to the vet, moving to a new home, or hitting the road for an adventure, this comprehensive guide has got you covered. Armed with this knowledge, you can confidently choose the perfect reptile carrier and ensure a happy, healthy gecko wherever you go!

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Leopard Gecko Care Sheet: New Owner’s Guide

As any fan of reptiles knows, the leopard gecko’s adorable grin draws people in, making this delightful creature popular among people of all ages and experience levels in reptile care.

This perky little lizard is an excellent beginner’s lizard (opens in new tab), since they are generally docile, easy to tame, have minimal care requirements, and don’t require a huge budget . 

Leopard Geckos, also known as Leos, also make GREAT pets for more experienced reptile owners who are interested in breeding unusual color morphs and patterns ! 

Compared to other lizards, they’re also a bit different from their counterparts among their own class (more on this later).

What You’ll Learn In This Leopard Gecko Care Sheet:

• Background information on Leopard Geckos.
• Best place to buy a healthy Leopard Gecko (plus what to look for!)
• Relative cost of a Leopard Gecko (including rare morphs)
• Proper diet for all ages
• How to properly set up a Leopard Gecko enclosure
• Health concerns to be aware of (plus how to prevent them!)
• Expert handling & bonding tips
• & So much more!

Whether you’re experienced in reptile care, or if a leopard gecko will be your first reptilian pet, this in-depth care guide is packed full of helpful tips to ensure your lizard companion is happy , healthy for years to come .

In This Article

Leopard Gecko Background Information

Leopard Geckos are small, ground-dwelling lizards that hail from the Middle East and India. These lizards are typically found in rocky, grassland, and desert areas.

They are naturally nocturnal, but while in captivity, they generally abandon their true nocturnal behavior and become more active during the day, but still continue the height of their activities overnight.

Leopard geckos generally do not bite and are slow-moving , which makes them an ideal pet for the beginner reptile enthusiast.

⭐️ Fun Fact: Did you know? Leopard Geckos can be vocal lizards , especially when they are hungry, making a variety of chirps and squeaks. You can see these noises for yourself here . How cute!

Compared to other lizards, leopard geckos require minimal care, and with proper husbandry, they can live for an average of 6 to 10 years . However, male geckos commonly live 10 to 20 years, while the oldest known leopard gecko reached 27 years of age!

Leopard geckos are commonly a mixture of yellow and white and are spotted with black dots. Hatchlings are striped and gradually change from stripes to spots.

While not as colorful as some reptiles, leopard geckos can appear in a few different patterned morphs or variations . Certain colors are more desired and valuable (for example, Albino leopard gecko ), while the normal coloration found in the wild is readily available and most affordable. 

Besides coming in a variety of color morphs, leopard geckos can derive from bloodlines that grant a larger size . In fact, if a male leopard gecko comes from a giant bloodline, he may reach nearly a foot in length at maturity! 

Normally, hatchlings measure 3 to 4 inches long, while adult females are 7 to 8 inches, and males are 8 to 10 inches.

On average, these geckos can range in cost from as little as to over 0 for the rare and highly desirable color morphs.

Initial startup costs for a Leopard Gecko habitat  with all the furnishings will run you around $200, since these are small lizards and don’t require much space.

In total, leopard geckos make the ideal pet for someone who is just beginning to venture into reptile care , as normal color morphs are easy to find and very budget-friendly.

🔑 Leopard Gecko Background Key Takeaways: Leopard geckos make great pets for both beginner and expert lizard owners alike. Generally docile, these easy-to-care for lizards can  live to be between 6 and 10 years in captivity. Costs tend to be affordable , with the bulk of the investment being upfront to purchase the lizard and set up their habitat. 

Where to Buy a Leopard Gecko & What to Look for

As one of the most popular reptilian pets, leopard geckos are readily available at pet stores, but it’s always best to purchase geckos from a reputable breeder.

Either search online for a leopard gecko with excellent reviews, clear policies, and healthy animals, or visit a local reptile expo to view a variety of geckos for sale in-person. 

When choosing your new leopard gecko, look closely at the tail since it can be a key indicator of overall health.

Ideally, your new Leopard Gecko should…

• Have a tail that is plump and fat, preferably as wide or wider than the space between the gecko’s shoulders
• Have eyes, nose, and mouth that appear clear, with no visible discharge.
• Have a vent (an opening for urinating and defecating) that appears clean and not swollen.

Captive-bred leopard geckos can be found in pet stores, at reptile shows , and online through breeder websites.

On breeder websites, you can learn about the geckos they have available for purchase, and peruse their stock, looking for the perfect addition to your home.

Breeders also offer much more unique and wider color morph variations than what you can find at pet stores. However, these rare color morphs can cost you well over 0.

If you’re just starting out and aren’t interested in getting a fancy morph, then a high-quality, well-cared for pet with the typical color pattern for leopard geckos will cost around $20 to $30.

Wherever you choose to purchase your leopard gecko, check your new pet over carefully for any signs of health issues first.

While it may be tempting to rescue the sickly lizard and attempt to nurse it back to health, you may be left with heartbreak and hefty veterinary bills.

Instead, choose the healthiest gecko you can find from a reputable source and you will have an entertaining companion for many years to come.

🔑 Leopard Gecko Purchasing Key Takeaways: When it comes to purchasing a Leopard Gecko, you’ll have the option of going to a pet store or locating a reputable breeder (recommended). When choosing a Leo, you can ensure it’s healthy by looking for 1) a tail that plump and fat, 2) no visible discharge around eyes, nose, or mouth regions, and 3) a vent that is clean and isn’t swollen.

Leopard Gecko Diet and Feeding Guidelines

Leopard geckos are insectivores who thrive on a diet consisting of crickets, waxworms, mealworms, and superworms.

Waxworms are high in fat, so they should only be fed as a treat, while the main diet should mostly consist of gut-loaded and dusted crickets (more on this soon).

If you’re breeding geckos, you can feed a breeding female a tiny pinky mouse for additional calories and fat, but these food items are best avoided in pet geckos, since they can rapidly become obese if fed too many. 

When feeding your leopard gecko, place your pet in an empty tank. These lizards are prone to snatching up their substrate, particularly sand, if fed in their usual habitat. For this reason, sand is best avoided in your gecko’s enclosure to prevent an impaction. 

Depending on the age and the size of your leopard gecko, you may expect to spend anywhere from $15 to $30 per month to feed your pet a variety of crickets, worms, and appropriate supplements.

Components of a Leopard Gecko Diet

Although you know leopard geckos do well on a diet of crickets, ensure the insects are gut-loaded prior to feeding your lizard.

Essentially, this means the crickets or worms you feed must be fed a nutritious meal 24 hours before feeding to your leopard gecko, so your pet can obtain these nutrients as well.

Before offering your leopard gecko a meal, you will also need to coat the insects with a calcium and vitamin D3 supplement. This technique of coating insects is often referred to as “dusting”.

To do so, put the crickets or worms in a ziplock bag with some of the powder supplement. Shake the bag quickly to coat, then drop the insects into the tank with your lizard.

⭐️ Dusting vs Gut Loading Simplified: Dusting quite literally refers to the act of coating a feeder insect’s body with calcium or a multi-vitamin powder of your choosing and then feeding it directly to your pet reptile. In contrast, gut-loading refers to feeding the insects various nutrients that temporarily fill their gastrointestinal tract. These insects are then fed to your pet who ultimately ingests the nourishing mixture.

Hatchlings and juveniles need the calcium and vitamin supplement at every feeding, whereas adults only need it at every other feeding.

In addition to dusting your lizard’s food with a calcium and vitamin D3 supplement, keep a small dish full of a calcium supplement (with or without the vitamin D3 supplement).

This ensures that they have their calcium needs met to help stave off a variety of health issues that lead to weight loss and bone damage.

Leopard Gecko Diet Based on Age

As your leopard gecko grows, it can tackle larger prey, and eat more food items at once. A general rule of thumb for feeding your leopard gecko is to offer two appropriately sized insects per inch of lizard length.

For example, a 6-inch long gecko should be offered 12 crickets per feeding. To choose appropriately sized insects for your lizard, choose food items that are no longer than the length of your gecko’s head. 

How Often to Feed Your Leopard Gecko

Babies .

Juvenile leopard geckos need to be fed several crickets every day. When your gecko is a baby, allow your pet to eat as much as it is able to in a span of 10 minutes every day . As your gecko becomes older, you can stretch out feedings to every other day.

Adults 

If necessary, adult leopard geckos can skip several days between feedings , but most gecko owners offer a meal every other day.

Be sure to remove the uneaten crickets after 10 to 15 minutes , or place your gecko back in the regular habitat to help keep the enclosure clean and to prevent the crickets from pestering your gecko.

🔑 Leopard Gecko Diet Key Takeaways: Leos are insectivores which means their diet consists of a mixture of succulent worms and crickets. Remember to gut-load and dust your feeder insects with calcium and vitamin supplements. Offer two appropriately sized insects per inch of lizard length and change their feeding frequency as they age. Lastly, always choose food items that are no longer than the length of your gecko’s head. 

Leopard Gecko Habitat and Tank Setup

Size of the Enclosure

Unlike some other reptile species, leopard geckos can be housed together. Fighting and other poor behavior among leopard geckos is uncommon, unless males are housed together.

To prevent injury between your pets, avoid housing male leopard geckos together. 

General rules for housing leopard geckos are as follows:

• A 10-gallon enclosure is sufficient for babies , while an adult needs 20 gallons. Too large of an enclosure can make your leopard gecko stressed, so increase the habitat size as your lizard grows.
• A 15- 20-gallon tank can be large enough for two adult leopard geckos, but there should only be one male per habitat. 
• Ideally add 10 gallons to your tank size for each adult gecko. For example, three adult geckos—two females and one male—should have a 30-gallon enclosure.  
• Be warned that when housing male and female geckos together you can soon have babies on your hand. In fact, you can have up to six egg clutches per year, so you may be quickly overrun with babies if you don’t sell them!

Keep in mind that it is also a good idea to have a separate enclosure in which to feed your leopard gecko.

These little lizards are prone to gulping down substrate along with their meal , which can potentially cause an impaction.

Once your pet is done eating, simply place your gecko back in the regular enclosure.

Type of Enclosures 

As with most reptiles, one of the most popular enclosures are glass aquariums. You can easily find old aquariums that leak so fish owners are selling them for cheap, and glass aquariums make ideal leopard gecko habitats.

Alternatively, you can DIY and build your own enclosure using wood-framed enclosures with glass or plastic doors that allow easy access.

Whatever enclosure type you choose, be sure to use a screen top, which will help keep your gecko’s habitat at the ideal humidity level by allowing evaporation.

Ideal Temperature Gradient

Since leopard geckos originate from desert areas in the Middle East, they thrive best in a warm, dry climate.

An ideal daytime basking spot of 88 to 92 degrees Fahrenheit can be produced by an under tank heat mat.

Avoid using heat lamps, since they can cause burns and vision problems to the leopard gecko’s sensitive eyes. 

Allow the thermal gradient to shift down to about 75 degrees on the cool side of the enclosure, with nighttime temperatures dropping down to 70 to 75 degrees.

By using an under tank heat mat with a thermostat, you can ensure the ambient temperature remains above 70 degrees, with a toasty-warm hot spot of 88 to 92 degrees.

Ideal Humidity Levels

These lizards are a desert lizard, so they do not need an overly humid environment like amphibians.

However, if the humidity level is too low—below 20%—your leopard gecko may have trouble shedding its skin.

An ideal humidity level falls between 30% and 40%, which is similar to the humidity level in your home.

Since the humidity level is similar, a screen top on your pet’s enclosure, paired with a heat source, should keep the environment relatively dry.

Be sure to monitor the habitat with a hygrometer , and make humidity adjustments as needed. 

⭐️ Pro Tip: One key tip to remember about caring for your leopard gecko is to ensure you provide a moist hide. This hide allows your lizard to safely and smoothly shed its skin. Discover exactly how to properly do this and more by reading below!

To Create a Moist Hide…

• Purchase or make a cave-style hide
• Place moisture-retaining substrate inside. Substrate options include paper towel, soil, coco hummus, or vermiculite, but the most popular choices are sphagnum or peat moss.
• Dampen the substrate to allow for easy skin-shedding, but avoid over-saturating it so that mold does not occur.
• Switch out the substrate occasionally to prevent bacteria from forming.

In this moist hide, keep the humidity level between 20% and 40%. A higher humidity level may cause your leopard gecko to develop a bacterial infection.

Lighting Requirements

Being nocturnal, leopard geckos are most active at night and do not require a lot of UV lighting.

In the wild, they typically get their UV lighting requirements from the minimal sunlight around dawn and sunset. A small amount of UVA and UVB lighting will go a long way to keeping your pet healthy. 

Your leopard gecko will need incandescent lighting to mimic natural sunlight. During the summer, provide 14 hours of light per day, then decrease to a 12-hour day in the winter.

If your under tank heater does not provide enough warmth to meet the basking temperature requirement, you can use a heat lamp to provide both a basking area and light. However, since leopard geckos are nocturnal, you may need to use an infrared heat lamp to provide proper heat without disturbing natural behavior.

Substrate 

Leopard geckos are prone to eating sand when catching their meals , so they shouldn’t be kept on a sand substrate, unless you feed your pet in a separate enclosure.

You can play it safe and completely eliminate sand and other loose substrates from your lizard’s habitat , since sand ingestion can lead to an intestinal blockage, which can require surgery to remove.

Also, be sure to avoid wood shaving for your gecko’s habitat, since the oils found in shavings can be irritating. 

Suitable substrate options include:

• Paper towels and newspaper. Both are  absorbent and easy to change, minimizing the chance for bacterial contamination.
• Non-adhesive shelf liners.  Provides an affordable and easy to maintain option that will last longer than paper towels or newspaper.
• Tile floors. If you can get the tiles cut to fit the enclosure, this is by far the best long term substrate option in terms of cleanliness and durability.
• Bioactive soil. Bioactive soil combines multiple substrates and even bugs to create something similar to what they’d find in their natural habitat.
• And many more!

Spot clean the cage once a day to remove feces , then deep-clean the entire enclosure once monthly. Disinfect the cage and accessories, and replace the substrate with fresh material. 

Decor and Accessories 

To keep your leopard gecko happy and healthy, it is recommended to have three separate hides in the enclosure —a hot hide, a cool hide, and a moist hide.

I. The hot hide. The hot hide allows a place for your lizard to retreat to digest its food, or to relax and soak up the warmth on the higher end of the temperature gradient.

II. The cool hide. While the cool hide is not crucial, it is nice to offer a place for your lizard to seek shelter and cool down if needed.

III. The moist hide. A moist hide can double as a cool hide, since if you place your moist hide on the hot side of your enclosure, the moisture will evaporate in the high heat. The moist hide should always be placed at the lowest end of the tank’s temperature gradient and outfitted with moisture-retaining substrate to promote easy shedding.

Plants and Rocks

While your leopard gecko’s hides provide most of the necessary security needed for resting and shedding skin, live or artificial plants also offer important opportunities to hide.

Since leopard geckos don’t eat plants , live plants should be safe with your lizard, but they can raise the humidity level, plus they’re messier to clean around. Artificial plants provide a great alternative, and beautiful greenery to your pet’s enclosure.

Rocks and logs also offer fun activities and the opportunity for exercise for your leopard gecko.

Ensure these objects aren’t too tall and have no sharp edges, since your lizard can’t climb well without sticky foot pads. 

🔑 Leopard Gecko Enclosure Key Takeaways: Leopard Geckos don’t need large habitats and can do just fine in a 20-gallon tank (for adult Leos). When it comes to temperature and humidity, the ideal gradient includes a daytime basking spot of 88-92 degrees Fahrenheit which shifts down to about 75 degrees on the cool side and humidity between 30-40% . Lastly, always include elements for enrichment and three separate hides -a hot hide, a cool hide, and a moist hide to help with shedding.

Leopard Gecko General Health Information 

Metabolic Bone Disease

One of the most severe conditions that can affect leopard geckos is metabolic bone disease. Just like humans, geckos become ill if they don’t get enough calcium and vitamin D in their diets.

Similar to Bearded Dragons , Metabolic bone disease (MBD) causes painful spine and limb deformities.

Signs of MBD in leopard geckos includes:

• Slow movement
• Progressive weight loss due to spongy jaw and inability to eat

This disease can be corrected with vitamin D injections and administration of liquid calcium. A long-term treatment plan includes appropriate calcium and vitamin D3 supplementation.

Like other lizards, leopard geckos that are undernourished or live in a cage with insufficient moisture may develop dysecdysis .

Dysecdysis, which looks like dry skin, causes the gecko to have difficulty shedding and can affect its vision. With too-low humidity levels, cool temperatures, and lack of available furniture to rub against, your gecko may retain patches of skin.

If the eyelid skin is retained, your pet can have vision issues. The tip of the tail and the fingers can necrose and die if the skin fails to shed and restricts blood flow. 

If you notice your leopard gecko having issues shedding—this process should be completed in one to two hours—place your lizard in a shallow dish of water to increase moisture.

Check out our leopard gecko shedding guide for more information on the process and how you can help your pet.

Intestinal Impaction

Leopard geckos can commonly suffer from an intestinal impaction if they are kept on improper substrate, such as sand or small gravel.

These lizards may eat their substrate if their diet is deficient in calcium, their food is placed on improper substrate, or they are learning about their environment and accidentally eat sand or gravel. 

Signs of impaction in your leopard gecko include:

• Swollen stomach
• Constipation
• Lack of appetite

If you suspect your gecko is suffering from an impaction, your veterinarian can take an X-ray to determine if something is indeed stuck, and then provide instructions or assistance in removing the blockage.

The most common health issues in leopard geckos are caused by improper temperature and humidity levels, and inadequate nutrition from a poor diet.

At the first hint of illness, closely examine your husbandry habits for any issues. 

🔑 Leopard Gecko General Health Key Takeaways: Like all reptile species, Leopard Geckos are susceptible to a variety of health concerns. Fortunately, you can help prevent them from suffering from a weakened immune system and becoming sick by ensuring their diet and habitat are on point.

Leopard Gecko Handling and Bonding Tips

When you first bring home your leopard gecko, give them a few weeks to settle in .

They will typically tolerate a certain amount of contact, but don’t overdo it, or your leopard gecko may become stressed , especially at the beginning of your relationship. They are almost as hard (or better not at all) to handle as Tokay Geckos or Giant Day Geckos .

If threatened, your gecko will naturally amputate its tail, so a slow taming and bonding process is best . The new tail will begin to grow in a few days, taking about three to four months to fully regrow. However, the new tail might not be as nice as the previous tail.

Always handle your leopard gecko with care and avoid grabbing it by the tail. Support the lizard’s entire weight by placing your hand or arm under the belly. 

Leopard geckos make ideal pets for beginners and are great lizards to introduce people to reptiles, as they are slow-moving and rarely bite. Plus, their adorable grins and cute chirps are particularly endearing!

🔑 Leopard Gecko Handling & Bonding Takeaways: Don’t be surprised if initially your new Leo acts shy and aloof. Give your Leo time to settle in to their habitat before handling them. Remember, any extreme stress will cause them to drop their tails. With a little time and patience, not to mention the right techniques (see above) you and your pet will surely form a close bond that will last decades!

Is a Leopard Gecko Right for YOU ?

If you’re in the market for an easy to care for reptile with a perky personality, look no further than the leopard gecko.

These cute little lizards are excellent beginner pets, and also make ideal companions for breeding reptile enthusiasts to produce rare color morphs.

It is my hope that this care sheet has given you the knowledge and confidence to properly care for your new Leopard Gecko. 

Over time, your leopard gecko will bond with you and greet you with a series of chirps and squeaks, grinning up at you for attention and a meal. Their quirky smiles will make you burst into a laugh!

If you’re looking for a new reptile to welcome into your home, you simply can’t go wrong with a leopard gecko.

If you are looking for some inspiration to name your new baby, check out the leopard gecko naming guide here! 

Leopard Gecko Cage: How to Setup the Perfect Gecko Habitat

• Post author By faunalicious
• Post date July 3
• Categories In Reptiles

Leopard gecko cage and gecko’s natural habitat should be as close as possible to ensure their well being. Even though leopard gecko is one of the easiest reptile pet to care for, proper set up and daily maintenance are very important.

Choosing the Right Terrarium and Substrate

Housing a lizard should be no more than three, with one male and the other are females, since the males will fight over the territory. Leopard gecko should be kept in a glass terrarium to prevent them from escaping. Ventilate the terrarium and use screened-lid for safety.

Leopard gecko has sensitive skin, so the substrate should be non-abrasive and non-irritating for their under skin, yet should be easy for cleaning and replacement. Good substrates that you can use are artificial turf, reptile carpet, paper towel, or newspaper.

The tank decoration should include proper landscaping, furniture, plants, and hiding spot. Make the inside of the gecko tank as natural as possible, do not over-decorate it. Place rocks or thick branches for the leopard gecko for exercising and climbing spot.

Artificial plants or holes, overlapping rocks, curved bark, can be the perfect hiding spot for this hide-and-seek-lover lizard as well as sleeping area. These hiding spot should be more than two, especially if your terrarium houses more than one gecko.

The basking area for your leopard gecko can be rocks or a piece of wood under a light. In choosing the decoration, whether for above or bottom area, avoid something sharp or toxic woods since gecko tend to rub its body during shedding. There should be food and water bowl as well that need to be fill with fresh water and food every day.

Humidity and Temperature

Leopard gecko is an ectothermic animal or can’t produce their own body heat, which means it relies on their surrounding area’s temperature. In daytime, the temperature should be 87-90 degrees Fahrenheit (for basking area) and 70-80 degrees Fahrenheit (for cooler side). At night, the temperature should be 70-75 degrees Fahrenheit. If we are able to maintain the proper temperature levels with UTH (under tank heaters), then we can use any standard light bulb as a light source in your tank.

When you are deciding on housing some leopard geckos, to ensure their healthy and longevity lives, wisely set up your own leopard gecko terrarium.

• (800) 941-2243

Custom Gecko Cages

When you want to provide a comfortable home for your leopard gecko, crested gecko, mourning gecko, or others, look no further than a gecko enclosure from Custom Cages.

We offer a wide variety of styles and sizes for gecko cages. These enclosures not only provide comfort for your pet, but they also look great in any setting.

Read on and you’ll find some of our popular gecko enclosures, along with some things to consider to properly care for your gecko(s).

Gecko Enclosure Designs

Custom Cages builds furniture-quality enclosures for any type of gecko. And with our long list of customizable options, you can truly make this gecko enclosure your own.

The most popular design for our gecko enclosures is the  Hybrid® Reptile Tank . Some of our customizable options include:

• Enclosure size
• Equipment for climate control
• Exterior colors
• Interior decor
• Scenic background image

You can even customize a Hybrid® Reptile Enclosure today! Simply visit our free  Hybrid® Cage Configurator  to get started!

Housing Multiple Geckos

Just like most reptiles, geckos are very secluded animals and they enjoy their space. They enjoy their space so much that it’s best to have only one gecko in an enclosure.

But, what if you need to house a leopard gecko and a mourning gecko? How can you do this without conflict or having to buy multiple large enclosures?

We have a few options for you.

Pull-out Dividers

You can purchase one large enclosure and use one of our pull-out dividers to keep your geckos in their own space.

Hobbyists will often purchase a larger cage, like an iguana cage , and use our divider to create two or more separate gecko habitats. This tactic has helped our customers house their geckos comfortably, while saving money in the process.

There is a little more setup involved, as you’ll need to provide the proper environmental conditions on both sides of the divider. But this is a more cost-effective option than buying multiple gecko cages.

Stackable Gecko Cages

We also offer stackable enclosures for housing multiple geckos.

At Custom Cages, we have engineered one of the most innovative stackable cage systems on the market. These let you easily fit multiple gecko cages in a single space!

Plus, these enclosures interlock securely so you won’t have to worry about any of them sliding off or tipping over.

Vision Gecko Enclosures

Another excellent housing option for your gecko is a Vision Cage from our sister company, Vision Products.

In fact,  Vision Cages for reptiles  are some of the most durable and highly rated gecko enclosures on the market.

These cages are typically smaller and less decorative than our Hybrid® designs, but still offer the optimal space and climate control for leopard geckos , mourning geckos, and more!

Reptile Cage Information

• Reptile Cages
• Lizard Cages
• Snake Cages
• Custom Reptile Cages
• Large Reptile Cages
• Glass Terrariums

• Bird Aviaries for Dentist Offices
• Hotel Bird Aviaries
• Bird Aviaries for Retirement Homes
• Macaw Cages
• Canary Cages

for the gecko enthusiast in YOU!

Going on Vacation With (and Without) Your Geckos

As much as we love our home and our pets, sometimes we just need to get away.  Whether you own a single gecko or have a large, multi-species collection, plans must be in place for care and feeding of your pets while you’re gone.

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When considering care for geckos, the most important thing to remember is that reptiles are not mammals.  They don’t require the same amount of calories and  frequency of intake that mammals need because reptiles don’t burn calories to maintain a specific body temperature.  Adult reptiles are rarely fed every day and can survive for longer without food than their mammalian counterparts.  There are 3 aspects of care to consider for all geckos:  food, hydration and habitat management.  Many older juveniles and adult geckos can go without food for 10 days to 2 weeks, though this is not ideal under normal circumstances.  All geckos require more consistent hydration.  Geckos that have humidity, temperature and lighting needs that differ significantly from the “outside” environment will easily become stressed if these conditions are not maintained.  Babies and hatchlings are more delicate and require more frequent and precise feeding, hydration and habitat management.

Taking Your Gecko With You

Some people choose to bring their geckos with them when they go away.  This is not recommended for geckos that can’t be handled, those who are very sensitive to changes in their environment or for short, weekend vacations.  Obviously, it would be difficult and impractical to transport large collections.  Most public transportation systems such as airlines or trains won’t permit live reptiles to be transported and sneaking your reptile on the airplane would be a very poor choice.  If you’re going away for a week or more and will be in a single location during this time, pack up the gecko the same way vendors do when taking their reptiles to a show: place the gecko in a deli cup with holes punched, put the cup in a secure place and transport the cage separately.  This will insure that the gecko isn’t harmed by falling items in its regular enclosure if there’s a sudden stop or an accident.  The gecko will be fine if its exact temperature requirements aren’t met temporarily although running the air conditioning in the car will probably not be appreciated.  Many people have been known to transport their geckos this way if they are going away for the summer or during long college vacations.  I even heard of one person who drove from northeastern United States to Florida with a reptile incubator plugged into her cigarette lighter, though this is a little extreme.  On arrival at the vacation destination, set up the gecko’s enclosure and return the gecko to it.  If the trip will take several days, the gecko can either spend one night in the deli cup (I do this with my geckos when I take them to shows that are a distance away) or can be put into its enclosure overnight.  It’s best not to feed geckos who are going to travel.  Although many will do well, some do regurgitate (maybe they get carsick!).

Leaving Your Gecko at Home

If the gecko or geckos will be left home when you travel, some care will have to be arranged.  As a general rule, most geckos can survive without any intervention for one or two days.  If you plan to be away for a weekend, it’s probably safe to leave your gecko alone, though it’s always a good idea to have someone available in case there’s a  household emergency such as a power outage that will impact the geckos. For longer absences, there are a variety of choices for gecko care:

— the “kennel” approach:   some pet stores, pet sitters or other animal facilities will board your gecko for a daily fee.  The advantage to this solution is that there is experienced personnel on site for extended periods of time and, if you’ve chosen wisely, quality care.  The disadvantages are that it’s expensive and there’s no way to insure that quarantine from other reptiles on the premises will be carried out to your standards.  If you have a friend who’s knowledgeable about geckos and is willing to house your pet while you’re gone (and quarantine it appropriately from any reptile he or she may own), you may be able to overcome all the disadvantages.  I had a very positive experience caring for a pair of leopard geckos that needed medication for several weeks, after responding to a request on craigslist (I don’t recommend this method, but it did work out for me and the gecko owner).

— limited care in the home : For medium length vacations of 1-2 weeks, your gecko can survive without food, though this is not ideal.  Your gecko should do well if there is someone who can come in every day or so, provide water and check to make sure the heat is working adequately.  The “gecko checker” should be comfortable opening the cages and filling water bowls or misting, if necessary.  He or she should have contact information for the gecko owner or other knowledgeable person and should be told what to do in case of emergency such as a power outage, flood or fire.  Back in the days when I had only 1 leopard gecko, my house-sitter agreed to provide water for her when I had to take a 10 day trip across the country.  Although she wasn’t fed during my absence, she was fine when I got back (that was 6 years ago and I still have her) with no obvious weight loss.

— experienced care giver : This alternative is essential for those who have large collections, geckos with special or specific needs, eggs due to hatch or hatchlings.  An experienced gecko caregiver can be paid to come into your home every few days (or daily if you prefer) to provide the care that your collection requires.  The care giver can be a professional pet sitter, a fellow herper, or even someone that you have trained.  It’s essential that you prepare thoroughly.  Cages should be labeled with species and names if appropriate.  Food, including feeders and supplements should be labeled as well.  Provide detailed, written instructions about exactly what you want done with each gecko.  As in the case of the “limited care” described above, be sure to provide written suggestions for how to proceed in case of an emergency and contact information.  If your geckos are under the care of a reptile vet, provide this information as well.  I have found this method to be very successful.  I have a friend who is comfortable and experienced with animal care.  She comes in every 2-3 days on the rare occasions when I go on vacation and provides care according to my written specifications.  She has also checked my incubator for eggs and moved new hatchlings to their enclosures which I had prepared ahead of time.  I’ll never forget her text message to me about a newly hatched leopard gecko that looked different from all the other ones she’d ever seen.  My first super snow!

Going on vacation with or without your gecko is a balancing act.  When deciding how to deal with the situation, you need to weigh your needs and resources against the degree of stress put on your gecko by changes in its habitual routine.  Remember, as you consider all the factors, that both you and your pet are capable of being flexible!

care collection gecko heat trip vacation

What do you think?

Written by Aliza

Aliza is a home care speech therapist living in the Boston area. She successfully bred a variety of gecko species between 2005 and 2017. She currently cares for a large number of geckos as well as a few frogs and bearded dragons. Other interests which she pursues in her copious free time include work in ceramics, practicing aikido and surfing the internet.

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Me and my husband just got a white lined gecko. We are about to leave for vacation for a week or two. Now we have heard we can put live crickets in there jus enough for him to eat hes an adult so. We have a humidifier n we have both that and the lamp for his heat set at certian times for it to come on so sofar its been working good he wont eat the dry or dead meal worms n crickets so should we jus put enough crickets in there for if he gets hungry he can get them. The crickets like to hide up top where there is a crease between top on tank near lamp you think he will be fine? If were only gone for a week or two. Is there anything specific we should do to make sure hes good. Or ok while we are gone

My get go got out and we can not find him, he is in the house somewhere. Any ideals on how to find him and how long will it live without food

Read this article in Gecko Time: http://geckotime.com/finding-an-escaped-gecko/

Some can go for months because they find bugs in the house.

Hi Aliza…

Just wanna ask,is it stressing the gecko when we bring it to travel….?? Its now 3 months old…more less,but if I left it in my house(no one is in my house during that time) what should I do? Put many mealworms? AND IT JUST ARRIVED IN MY HOUSE YESTERDAY..

Should I bring… OR Should I left…. ???????

Thank you..:-)

If there’s no one to take care of it while you’re gone, and you’re going away for more than a weekend, you will need to bring it with you unless you can bring it to someone else’s house while you’re gone. Hopefully you’re going to a single vacation spot where you will be staying. If that’s the case, travel with the gecko in a deli cup and set up its home when you get to your destination. If you’re going to be on the road for awhile with many stops, please find a friend to care for it or a pet store where you can board it.

If you are going on vacation do not leave a lot of crickets in with your gecko This is because the crickets will get hungry and can possibly eat the geckos eyes or tail off which could get infected and this will be harmful to the gecko or possibly kill the gecko So whatever you do, do not just put a bunch of crickets in the turrarium with the gecko if you go away. Thank you for reading

I just bought a leopard gecko Saturday a baby. He won’t eat.He has blue on his stomach was thwre when I bought it. I heard it was impacted? I’ve tried warm baths and stomach massages and he still doesn’t eat. And when I try and give him the meal worm or crickets he backs away or kinda lays down?

The blue may just be some of its internal organs. It’s not unusual for a new gecko not to eat for awhile. For now, leave it alone and just keep providing the food. Check back in a week if it’s not eating after that.

I have had my babies for about 2 years. I am actually moving to Japan in 6-7 years and I want them to go with me. But I’m worried that flying isn’t the best option. Any recommendations?

A lot of things can happen in 6-7 years with your babies, with flying laws and all sorts of stuff. I recommend that when the times gets closer, you investigate the laws about what you’re allowed to take with you and look at your options then. Remember, that every time a gecko is shipped from one place to another, it goes on a plane.

Hi Aliza! I will be getting an AFT about 4 months old, still considered young.

About once or twice a month, I’ll drive to visit family who live 2 hours away from town. I am wondering if she can come with me so I can feed her every day and provide fresh water? I would be stationary at home.

I would recommend you time it so you give your AFT a chance to settle in before you travel with her. If you’re going for a weekend or so, you can really leave food and water for her and she’ll be fine. If you really want to take her with you, get a small carry container, small enough so she won’t slide around in it too much, for transport. Set up a cage for her with your family so she can transfer to a “permanent” enclosure while she’s there. In general, she’ll probably do better staying at home.

Hi!! I have had this adult leopard gecko, and i took her in the car with me for the day, and i think she is having a carsick… she didn’t vomit, but she is sleeping non stop for few hours already, and i am worried because she might be stressed

She may be less active because she got stressed, or even because she got cold and it slowed her down. Try not to worry about it. Leave her alone and give her some time to relax. Stress isn’t the worst thing in the world and eventually she’ll get over it.

Hello! I was wondering if it is okay to take my gecko around with me on my shoulder for the day. One of my friends brings his bearded dragon around and just puts her on his shoulder. I was wondering if it is okay to do that with a gecko. Mine is about a year and a half old and is sometimes a bit sensitive but other that that, he’s fine.

I’ve had leopard geckos that have been comfortable on my shoulder. Remember, though, that it’s easier to feel a beardie getting restless than a leo so you have to be really aware of when it’s had enough.

I will be going on a four day vacation and I am pretty sure I’m going to take my gecko with me, but the trip to the hotel is about 4 1/2 hours will she be okay?

Get a deli cup or other small plastic container. Put your gecko in there for the trip and bring along a set-up for the gecko while you’re on vacation (don’t drive with the gecko in the cage; it will slide around too much). If you stop for a meal, don’t leave your gecko in the car because it will get too hot. Get a canvas bag, put the deli cup in the bag and bring it into the restaurant. Don’t make a big production about having a gecko in the bag. There’s no reason for anyone to know what’s in there. Enjoy your trip.

Hi there, I am moving away and I will be taking a three and a half hour plane ride and I really want to take my leopard gecko with me. I have no idea how old he is but I’ve owned him for about 5 years now. I’m really worried about him getting too stressed out on the plane as the company says he will have to be put in the cargo area I’m just worried he could stress to the point of passing away. Will he survive ?

There are 2 ways you can get the gecko to your new destination: 1. check out “Delta Dash” which is an air service that will transport your gecko to an airport near you. 2. package up your gecko and mail it to the FedEx hub nearest you and have them hold it for you In either case, check out http://www.shipyourreptiles.com for instructions about how to package up your gecko for shipment. If you follow those directions, you may even be able to send your gecko along with you in the cargo hold (the gecko will be traveling in the cargo hold for both of the two options above and next day air shipment of geckos is very common and safe).

I’m going on a 10 day vacation tomorrow and I’m leaving my leopard gecko at home with no one coming to take care of him. I just bought him 15 large crickets so he won’t be hungry while I’m gone. I’m not sure if I should leave the heat lamp on the entire trip or keep it off. Also, will he be fine with not having the water cleaned/changed daily? And can you tell me more about what misting is? My brother gave him to me late last year and he wasn’t very good with handling Raj (my lizard). Can you give me some advice on how to start actually holding him? He’s tried to bite my finger once and I’m afraid he might do it again. Thank you. It’d be helpful if you replied tonight, because I’m leaving tomorrow. 🙂

The food isn’t as important as the water. Leaving the crickets is fine. Can you possibly get someone to re-fill the water bowl every few days? It doesn’t have to be daily. Ideally you should be using an under tank heater as opposed to a heat lamp because the heat lamp will dry out the air a lot, but that’s for another day when you’re not leaving. Misting: this means spraying the cage with water. You don’t need to do that with a leopard gecko, so don’t worry about it. Handling: When you get back from vacation, talk to him every time you feed him. Let him see that you’re the one feeding him. See if he’ll let you put your hand near him. If you can, eventually, slide your hand under him and lift him gently, supporting his body. Just hold him a few inches above the cage floor and then put him down. When that seems to be working well (after a couple of times), try making a little cave for him out of your hands when you pick him up and lift him to the top of the cage. Good luck and enjoy your vacation.

No :/ I’ve tried asking a few people I trust but most of them are in vacation. I know that the water won’t dry out, but he likes to walk in the bowl sometimes so it gets dirty fast. Another question, ive heard other owners say they bathe theirs? How is this supposed to be done and is it required? I’m trying to be a good caretaker. Thank you.

He’ll be OK. They’re desert animals so don’t need bathing unless they have stuck shed. If you need more info about taking care of the gecko, read some of the articles on this site (www.geckotime.com/archives – check out the list of articles that have been written) or read my personal care sheet: https://geckcessories.wordpress.com/leopard-gecko-care-sheet/

This is a tough spot to be in! Luckily I have a friend/business partner that can keep everything taken care of for me when I leave. There should be another article on here about what to do with a collection during a storm since a lot of people had to learn this the hard way with the hurricane we just had.

Hi, I am wanting to get a Crested Gecko, i travel just about once every month for work and will be gone each time for a week. Will my gecko be okay if i leave it for a week? Or is it absolutely needed for it to have someone mist/water it. I would like to take it with me at least sometime, the drive is 9 hours, will it be okay that long of a car ride in the container?

It can probably survive without being misted for a week (especially if there are live plants to hold the humidity and a water bowl) but it would be best to get someone in halfway through the week to mist, in my opinion.

You could also consider getting an automatic, programmable mist system (e.g. mistking.com)

Hello Aliza. Your advice and tips are wonderful! Thank you for spending time responding to our many questions. My daughter purchased a gecko yesterday, and in our excitement forgot about leaving for a couple of days for the holiday. I am unclear about the lighting. Do we leave the black night light on, or the daylight on, or nothing on. ??

Why kind of gecko did she get? Is the light the only source of heat? If she got a leopard gecko, they don’t really need light at all as long as they are getting heat from the bottom of the enclosure and there is ambient light in the room. In any case, it’s easy to get a timer for the lights if you feel the gecko needs them.

I have a young African Fat Tail Gecko (not sure of the exact age) and I will be leaving for a 4 day trip. I am trying to make things as simple as I can for the neighbor who has agreed to take care of her while I am gone. I will ask her to mist the cage and change the water daily, but my question is about lighting. I have an under tank heater, and I switch between a white light during the day and a black light at night. Do I need to have her switch lights, or would it be okay to just have one or the other while I’m gone?

If you don’t have the lights on the timer, just turn them both off as long as there is some ambient light in the room. Otherwise, you could have the neighbor turn the white light on and off. Unless there are live plants in the enclosure, the gecko doesn’t really need the lights at all and certainly doesn’t need the black light.

Hi, I am going on vacation for 5 days and I was wondering if leaving my gecko with mealworms, a water reservoir, under tank heat mat plus the vitamin D on a dish would be enough for those days? I have no one to look over him and Im really worried. Also, in terms of its poop. Will leaving the poop in the cage for a few days be an issue of bacteria? All of this gets me worried.

I would highly appreciate your thoughts on this. Thank you.

5 days is probably the longest period that works adequately. I’ve had to do it a few times this year. Usually I get someone to check in once and mist the tropical geckos (I have a lot of geckos), but once this winter the person forgot to do it and everyone was fine. Geckos can easily go quite awhile without food. Be sure you have a deep enough water dish so it doesn’t dry up (and even if it does, it probably won’t be till the last day or so). The poop is fine in the cage for that amount of time. Enjoy your vacation.

Thank you so much Aliza. Also, for the quick response. Very helpful. Thanks again.

I’m planning on getting a Crested Gecko, but I need to set up a travel plan first. I have a 1-week vacation every six weeks, and I have no clue what to do with it. I’m not sure I will be able to take it with me, or if somebody could keep an eye on it. I know all they need is a gecko-smoothie, so is there a way I could create a week’s worth and leave it in the tank? Will misting be a problem for 1 week? Or is there some sort of 5-gal travel tank I can bring (I have a 10-gal)?

Do you go away for the whole week every time? Do you go to the same place? How do you get there? I have left my geckos for a maximum of 5 days. The crested geckos did fine without being misted in that time (I misted them well right before I left). If you could get someone to mist even once in a week long period, it would probably be fine. If you go to the same place and could have an enclosure for him there, and if you drive, or take a bus or train to where you’re going, you could put the gecko in a deli cup, and then put it in the “vacation enclosure” when you arrive. If you’re planning to get a very young one, by the way, a 10 gallon will be fine, but you’ll need something bigger for an adult (though a 10 gallon at the vacation location will do fine).

I am getting a leopard gecko and will be leaving to go on a 4 day vacation in an RV. I was planning on just leaving him home and was curious if that was okay to do.

I have left my geckos for 4-5 days without a problem. Make sure you feed it right before you leave and have a water bowl deep enough so you don’t run out of water while you’re gone.

Hello, I’m going to travel across the country from Colorado to Michigan, so its about a 20 hour drive. What are the recommended traveling precautions i should take, as in what should he be in while i travel? Also will he be okay without the UV light for 20 hours straight? i will not have the a/c on as it does not work. Thanks in advance

I’m not sure what kind of gecko you’re talking about, but I’d assume a crestie. I’d recommend putting him in a deli cup with holes punched. If you’re going to be staying places overnight, get a small cage so he can be a bit less confined overnight. The absence of UV is not a problem. Don’t leave him in the car if you make a stop for lunch or something. Get a small canvas bag, put the deli cup in there and don’t say anything to the restaurant people. Have a good trip.

If I pick up a leopard gecko as I am leaving vacation, will it be able to stay in the car for 30 hours? It’s a baby no more than a couple weeks but if I put it in a well insulated container during the summer will it be ok?

It depends on what’s going to be happening for those 30 hours. If you mean you’ll be driving somewhere and making stops, you could keep it in the car but whenever you get out I recommend you take the gecko with you (put the container in a canvas bag and don’t advertise what you’re carrying. If you mean can you leave the gecko alone in the car that’s not traveling for 30 hours, I wouldn’t recommend it.

Hello, I want a crested gecko, i never travel much, only 2 hours away every 3-4 months. I dont know. And am away for one night, a few times a month, and what is (in your experience the best choice of food for cresties.?) I have heard they don’t need much floor space as a cage just more heighth. Is that correct? Do they need heating lamps? Or cooling systems?

Thank you! I

You’re correct that they are arboreal, so they need a taller cage. As long as the temperatures in the room are reasonable for humans, it should be OK for the crested gecko. Generally, temperatures above the low 80’s (F) aren’t recommended, though in my experience a day or two of high heat should be OK. Crested geckos mostly eat some form of re-hydrated “Crested gecko diet” (CGD) and also enjoy crickets. They don’t need to eat every day so going away for a night isn’t a problem. Based on the questions you’re asking, I highly recommend you read a care sheet or a book about crested geckos before getting one.

I have a a trip next week for about four days and my gecko is still growing, it is not exactly an adult yet. should I just give it water and leave? I need advice please.

Give it a generous feeding and water before you leave. It will probably be fine.

So I have been really reasearching crested geckos and I really want to get one, but in the summer I am going away for 10 days and cannot bring my gecko with me. I can ask my family to mist them while I’m gone, but they don’t know anything about geckos and I’m afraid they might do something wrong. Also, would it be ok if I just left the food in the cage for the duration of my trip?

This is my opinion: one solution would be to wait to get the gecko until you come back. You can also check in to local boarding opportunities (some of the non big-box pet stores may do this). If you decide to get the gecko before vacation and can’t find a place to board it, it will be really important not to get a young juvenile. An older gecko would do better. I think you can teach someone how to mist the cage; it’s not that hard. I also think the gecko, if provided with enough humidity and hydration (which they get with the misting) would probably be OK without being fed for that period of time. It’s not ideal, but I think it could work out.

I have a question for you. Can I bring Phoenix (crested gecko) in Arizona. I little bit concerned about temperate is 120 degree. Can kill any reptiles? Thanks Aliza.

Are you asking whether you can take the crested gecko to Arizona for a vacation, or whether you can have a crested gecko in Arizona? In my experience, if the temperature is high for a few days (I live in New England and have no AC, so it can get into the 90’s in my living room in the summer on occasion) the crested gecko will probably be OK. If it will be in 120 degree temperatures for days and days, it might not do well. If it gets really hot I put ice packs in the cages. If you send a few more details, I may be able to give a better answer.

Leading up to the trip should you feed them the same amount of food that you would normally or should you feed them more ?

They’re only going to eat as much as they have room for, so it kind of doesn’t matter. If you’re going to be away without feeding them for awhile, you could put some extra in there to tide them over, though they do fine fasting for a short time.

I read a suggestion about a tupperwear container with a hole, like a moist hide, with mealworms in it. I’m going on a cruise this winter and I’m looking for options. Thoughts? I’m also an SLP!

If you get a container, make holes in it for air and put powdered grain gutload in it, the mealworms will be fine for the duration of the cruise.

Hello, I am going home for Christmas for 3 weeks and I have no one to feed my leo gecko while I am away. Therefore, I plan on taking him with me, however, I am unsure what precautions I should take. The trip is approximately 4 hours away and the last hour and a half is a pretty bumpy ride. My gecko is pretty cool with anything and loves being handled, however, does not do so well in small spaces, therefore, I don’t think he will be okay in a deli cup. I live in -20 degree weather, so i know ill have to have the car heated before I bring him out, but, I am looking for any more recommendations for my trip. Thank you!

I have driven from Boston to NY in January with a car load of geckos to do a show, so I know it can be done. If you feel your gecko won’t do well in a deli cup, get a 6 qt. plastic tub with a lid (or larger if desired). Cut a square hole in the lid and hot-glue some mesh over the hole, or else just make some holes in the sides (a soldering iron works really well). Put a very light weight hide in there as well. Even if you get into an unheated car, it will be warm within a few minutes so it’s not really a problem. It would be great if you can take a more permanent enclosure with heat along for your stay. Your gecko should be fine, even the bumpy part of the ride.

I am going to Texas over the summer and I’m planning to get a leopard gecko with all the necessary accessories. However, it will be a juvenile leo and I’m not sure how to go about carrying it. The drive will be 18 hours and for three weeks, so I was planning on bringing a pack of mealworms and calcium but should I have a little carrying cage or my 24x24x18 cage in the car? It would be rather awkward carrying it considering I’ll have 3 others in the car with me. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I was planning on using the little portable hand held cage but I’m not sure how I’d go about heating/cooling it. Thanks.

I’m assuming you’re going to Texas for 3 weeks and it’s an 18 hour drive each way? If that’s the case you have several options. I recommend you get a 10 gallon traveling cage. Get some Zoo-med 11′ heat cable (pretty cheap on Ebay) and some Nashua tape from Home Depot or equivalent and get a thermostat. When you’re driving, keep the gecko in the 10 gallon with a lightweight hide, so it won’t get hurt if something slides. If you stop for lunch or something, don’t leave the gecko in the car because it will get too hot. You should have either a deli cup with holes or a small critter keeper that you can put the gecko in. Put that smaller enclosure in a canvas bag and don’t tell the restaurant people that you’re carrying a gecko around. When you get to your stop for the day, plug in the heater and feed/water the gecko. It may not eat too much but it should be OK. Alternatively, you could look into finding someone to care for it while you’re gone.

I am going out of town for five days and may not have someone available every day to check on my Leos. The big issue here for me is that there won’t be anyone to switch over their night and day lights. Would it be detrimental to leave the night bulb on while I am away? Or is there a better way to go about this? Thanks for the help!

If there is light in the room where they are, I don’t see any need to do anything with the lights in the cage. If there is no light in the room where they are, if you could get a lamp and a timer and have it on for 12 hours and off for 12 hours that should do it. I have a lot of leopard geckos and none of them have any lights except for daylight coming in through the window and everyone is fine.

I’m going on a trip that requires a bit of driving… I was hoping I could bring my young crested gecko along with me. I got the little one at repticon and it (not 100% sure on gender yet) didn’t seem to have any problems with the car ride home and actually fell asleep. I would be at a beach and then the mountains and it’s about a eight-ten day trip (not sure on exact return date). I have a lot of anxiety on vacations and Chimera (my crestie) has been my own little support gecko. This also means that I’m not as “out and about” as the rest of my family members on vacation. I would be in the place we’re staying often, but I will be going out to the beach occasionally or on hikes in the mountain which would leave my crested gecko alone for an hour or so. The temperature isn’t extreme where we’re going and we’ll have a thermostat as well. I was thinking of using the 10 gal enclosure I have with the substrate I usually use. I would provide a small hide since Chimera is pretty small and I may even cut in half a roll from paper towels. I have things for climbing that I can also place in the enclosure that are light and pose no threat if they fall over. Would this work out or should I try and find someone to watch the little one? Most people I trust with my animals won’t be around when I’m away which is why I rather bring Chimera with me, but if it could put Chimera in danger I would want to know. I also would love suggestions on how to improve my enclosure plan. I may also have two geckos by our next trip and have two enclosures I can set up like this, I was hoping to get someone’s advice to see if my plan would be okay. Thank you heaps!!!

I have my leopard gecko on a day and night cycle light where I have to switch it every twelve hours. I’m going on vacation and don’t have someone to switch his lighting or do anything for him. What do I do about that

Go to Home Depot or equivalent. Get a timer that you can plug your light into and then plug the timer into the wall. Set it the way you want and you can use it all the time.

It sounds fine to me. I tend to feel that most geckos are pretty hardy and can take lots of changes. Other people will feel differently.

i am going on a trip to the beach from sunday morning to wednesday night i have no one to watch Hoops “my gecko” so i got the whole lighting system to work, i used automatic lights, but my question is can my leopard gecko go that long without food, could i feed him sunday morning and wednesday night because then it would only be two days without food. but the problem is i don’t know how old he is except that he is 5 to 6 inches long would you be able to determine the age please?

I have no way to determine age. However, I have geckos that don’t eat (by choice) for weeks. I have left my geckos, even when I had juveniles, for that long before with no problem. Just give them extra before you go and if you think their water will get dry, find a deeper water bowl.

I am going on vacation to Cali. around October, and I have a leopard gecko named Max. I will be gone for about 4 days, and not sure about what to do with my gecko. Will Max be okay if I don’t feed him for that long? Also, I’m not sure what to do about his lamp and if I should leave it on or off. Should I feed him extra before I leave and extra when I come back? I really appreciate any help, this is my first pet and I want to make sure to do the right thing. Thanks!

If you’re also heating with an under tank heater, and there’s light in the room he’s in, leave the light off. If you need the light for heat (under tank heater is better), get a timer and set it up. If you can get a deep enough water bowl so he’ll have water, use that. Put some food in right before you go and he’ll be fine.

I’m leaving for 2 days for my birthday would it be okay to leave my crested gecko without someone to mist them? I dont know anyone where I live she also has 2 eggs so I’m super worried

I have left my crested geckos for up to 4 days without misting. When you say that she has eggs, do you mean that she’s gravid and hasn’t laid the eggs yet, or that she has laid the eggs and they’re buried in the substrate? In the wild, there are probably times when it doesn’t rain so much, so I would imagine you’re OK

I am going on a long weekend trip for 4 days. I have a approx 3 month old Leo — I do not have anyone that can come check on it while I am gone. I have done a little bit of research short of calling my local pet shop for their advice. Some sites say a baby leo cannot go an extended period of time without eating and others say they would be fine for that length of time. What do you suggest?

My only other option is to bring my leo to my sisters house and have her geckosit, but I feel that could be excessive with moving his enclosure around.

In my opinion, it’s not ideal but it’s doable. I’ve done it before with a houseful of hatchlings during the summer. Find a water dish deep enough so the water will last. Put in extra feeders. It should be fine.

I just purchased a fancy gecko several days ago that has yet to eat. I purchased a feeding starter kit that consisted of dried/dead crickets, calcium powder and dried mealworms(a separate container of dried mealworms in a separate bottle also)…I understand that it may be temporarily stressed but also read that you should avoid feeding them any insects that aren’t alive? What do you recommend?

I don’t know where you read that you shouldn’t feed them any insects that aren’t already alive. Most leopard geckos will not eat anything that’s not moving, so it’s not surprising that the gecko won’t eat the dried insects. You need to get live mealworms and/or crickets. Two things to be aware of: –it is true that some leopard geckos can take a week or more to settle into a new place and may not eat during that time –some people do say that any live insects left in the cage after 15-30 minutes should be removed so they don’t hurt the gecko. In my experience, this does not usually occur and, especially with a new gecko, it’s a good idea to leave the feeders in the enclosure to give the gecko time to feel comfortable enough to eat them. I also recommend you google some more leopard gecko care sheets and see what they have to say about care and feeding.

Helloooooo this is a cool website thanks for all the tips!!!

Im moving to Alaska with a gargoyle gecko. Will the temperature be ok for him?

can my beardie be left at home for 27 days without care?

I wouldn’t recommend it. How will he get water? What if the light burns out? I think he can be OK enough with minimal care which would include him being checked on at least once a week, fresh water provided (I know beardies don’t usually drink from a bowl, but they can, and, obviously if he doesn’t get any food he won’t have any source of hydration), either live feeders or greens provided. Some pet stores board beardies and you may also be able to pay someone to do this minimal care, which is what I do when I go away.

Are you asking about the temperatures while you’re transporting him or the temperatures when he’s living in Alaska with you? Presumably you will be in a house where the temperature is comfortable for you, meaning, at least in the mid 60’s. If that’s the case, he will be fine. If you’re going to have things colder than that, you will need to give him a heating pad or a ceramic heat emitter to keep the inside of his cage at least n the 60’s

My female leopard gecko has not eaten for a few months after summer into fall and winter.

It’s not unusual for geckos not to eat for awhile. Mine stuff themselves from August into early September and all of a sudden most of them stop eating very much at all. If the gecko isn’t visibly losing weight it’s probably fine.

Hi! I really want a Crested Gecko, but my parents want to know if / how the Gecko will survive a 9 hour car journey, + how the gecko will thrive when we arrive without a terrarium (since there is no room in the car with 5 people plus luggage ), before I can get one. I also need to know what to do with the gecko when I have arrived at where we will be a few days / weeks, depending on the holiday / events. If I can travel far and short with the gecko without problems, and be in another place possibly without his / her terrarium, I will be allowed to buy the gecko, according to my parents. I hope you have some good advice! I really want a Crested Gecko because I have wanted it for a long time, and I need a little friend who can support me in everyday life. Thank you so much for the tips!

I’m not quite sure of the exact situation. Are you saying that if you get a crested gecko, you’ll be making a 9 hour trip the same day, or that when you go on vacations it’s usually 9 hours away. So here’s my general response without knowing the exact situation: a crested gecko can travel in a deli cup with holes punched in the sides for air. This keeps the gecko from suffocating in the plastic. You can buy deli cups with holes punched in the sides of the actual cup or you can make small holes in the sides of a 16oz deli cup that you could buy from a food store that sells things in cups like that. The gecko will be able to tolerate the drive as long as you don’t leave it in the car for more than a few minutes when you make a stop (it will be too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter with the car not running). The best way to deal with this is to put the deli cup in a nice canvas bag, take it into the restaurant or hotel, and don’t make a big deal about what you’re doing. Once you arrive you will need some place to keep the gecko. You can do this for awhile by getting a plastic tub with a cover from a store like Target. While you’re traveling, take the cover off the tub and put other luggage inside. Read up on the things that need to be in the “terrarium” and have those separately as well. When you arrive, set up the temporary vivarium. When you’re ready to go back home, pack it up the same way.

Hi! I have to be out of town from Thursday-Sunday (leaving Thursday afternoon and returning Sunday night). I have a ~4 month old leopard gecko with no one to feed her while I am away. Will she be okay if I leave extra food in her dish before leaving tomorrow (and of course filling her water)? How many mealworms should I leave in her bowl? Thank you!

Fill her bowl with mealworms (don’t worry how many), and fill the water bowl. If the bowl is shallow use a bigger one. It should be fine.

I’m going in vacation for about a week and can’t bring my leopard gecko with me. Is it ok for me bring her to a friend’s house so they can watch her for me? I have a second cage that’s a little smaller that she can stay in while she’s there

It should be fine. Just make sure there’s heat in the smaller cage.

Hello I love your website.I am think about getting a leachianus gecko and I am wondering how long can they go without food if i go on a vacation?

The most important thing is that they get access to water, which means that the cage gets misted at least every other day (when you’re home, they get misted every day but if you’re away every other day should do it). My leachie seems to go quite awhile sometimes without eating, even when food is offered, so I don’t think that’s too much of an issue. It would be important to find someone to come in and mist the cage every other day or to find a place to board it if you can’t find anyone to take care of this in your home.

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Leopard Gecko: Care Guide, Pictures, Varieties, & More

The leopard gecko is a very intriguing pet to own that requires a precise care regimen. They can be an extremely rewarding reptile because of their agreeable temperament and calm demeanor. They have many qualities that set them apart, including widespread color selections, exciting patterns, and individual personalities.

Many people prefer leopard geckos because they have an independent personality. They require minimum handling. In fact, if you handle them too much, they can become stressed. That can be excellent for caretakers who don’t have a lot of time to spend with their pet but love the idea of owning one.

• Quick Facts about the Leopard Gecko
• Leopard Gecko Care Overview

The leopard gecko hails from dry deserts in Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, and certain parts of India. They are nocturnal ground-dwellers that spend their most active time venturing at night.

If you keep one in captivity, their environment will need to reflect their natural habitat. As long as you have the proper nutrition, cage additives, heat sources, and aquarium size, you should be good to go.

• How Much Do Leopard Geckos Cost?

One huge perk of owning a leopard gecko is that they’re a semi-inexpensive lizard to care for after initial start-up costs . If you buy one from a breeder or pet shop, you can expect to pay an average of $30.

Though that may make you feel very relieved, they are by no means cheap to own. They need particular resources to cater to their instinctual needs and mimic their natural environment.

With the cage, cage components, food, and cost of your leopard gecko , you can expect to start the total price to fall around $250 .

• Typical Behavior & Temperament

Leopard geckos tend to be very mild-tempered creatures. Because they aren’t frisky or fast, they work very well for smaller children because they won’t run off of their hands to escape. They are non-aggressive, not known for biting or acting skittish.

They are the type of reptile that you can handle daily. However, it would help if you didn’t handle them for too long at a time. Overhandling can lead to your leopard gecko getting stressed out, which can cause them to get sick.

Also, even though they make ideal pets for kids, they need respect while handling. If you have a child that is too young to know how tightly to hold them or how often to get them out, it might be best to wait until they are a bit more mature.

• Related reads:  How Big Do Leopard Geckos Get? (Size + Growth Chart)
• Appearance & Varieties

As you may guess from the name, leopard geckos tend to have spots all over their bodies. But this is a general fact, as they can vary drastically in color mutations and morphs .

• See also: Do Leopard Geckos Have Teeth?
• Normal— yellow with black spots
• High Yellow— more yellow, fewer black spots
• Tangerine— bright orange body, the tail can be striped or spotted black
• Carrot Tail— orange body, carrot-colored tail (with or without black spots)
• Blizzard — all-white to pale pink
• Halloween Mask— light tan to orange color with large black spot patterns
• Lavender — body can be pale to orange with purple hues and black spots
• Aberrant— generally yellow with bands of white and black spots
• Hypo-Melanistic — vibrant yellow or orange with minimal to no black
• Raptor— plain orange bodies with red eyes
• Reverse Stripe— yellow to orange bodies with noticeable stripes down the spine
• Super Giant— white and yellow-banded
• Baldy— pale orange to yellow bodies with white and black banded tails

How to Take Care of Leopard Geckos

Leopard geckos do not require an extremely large aquarium space. For a singular gecko, you need a minimum of 10 gallons of space. The more you add to the environment , the more you’ll need to increase cage space to accommodate.

Their terrarium will need to be well-ventilated and neither too hot nor cold. If there is too much or too little moisture, it can cause respiratory illness . If mold forms in the cage, it can also cause your little guy to get very ill.

• Related Read:  Can Leopard Geckos Swim? Facts & Safety Guide
• Habitat, Tank Conditions & Setup

These lizards require very particular cage conditions. Let’s go through each aspect that creates the ideal environment.

• You May Also Like: Albino Leopard Gecko: Info & Care Guide With Pictures for Beginners

Your gecko should have a 10-gallon cage if you have a singular pet. With each additional gecko, add 5 gallons of space.

• Temperature Control

Within your cage, you should offer a hot and cool side so they can choose a perfect comfort level. They might benefit from a heating pad under the cage during colder months, preferably located under a hide.

You can put two thermometers on both sides of the cage to ensure each one is the correct temperature.

During the day, the cage should be between 75-80 degrees Fahrenheit. At night, you should lower it by 10 degrees.

You can buy a humidity gauge for the terrarium that lets you know the percentage. Your gecko should live in 30% to 40% humidity. Your home should naturally be in this range, and you should have a screen top on the cage for proper ventilation.

The substrate is essentially the flooring of your gecko’s cage. You have a wide range of options that will work. Ultimately, it’s up to you and whatever you think suits your gecko best.

Some popular choices are:

• Reptile carpet
• Paper towels

Some substrate can get into the mix when eating live prey, and your gecko can eat it by accident. If they do, it can seriously harm their digestive system. It can even cause death—so definitely try to steer clear of any substrate that has tiny particles.

• See Also:   What Do Geckos Eat in the Wild & as Pets?

To err on the side of caution, try to avoid:

• Loose mulch
• Wooden chips
• Terrarium Decor

You can dress your terrarium up like a wild paradise for your gecko. You can offer safe plants to keep oxygen fresh, branches for your gecko to climb, and hides for them to slip off into.

It’s important to give them a space that they can spend in total darkness. Whether it’s a hollow log or little hut, they will appreciate the privacy.

• Are Leopard Geckos Good Tank Mates?

You can house more than one leopard gecko at a time. However, if you want to keep more than one, you will need to make sure that you’re not keeping males together as they tend to be territorial. It’s best to keep only females or one male with females to keep everyone safe.

It would be best if you never had geckos of drastic size differences together in the same container. You could cause premature breeding, or the larger geckos may torment the smaller ones.

If you own other reptiles, you should never house them together. They require different environmental factors, but different species also don’t mix so well together in such a small space. To keep everything as it should be, it is best to have separate terrariums for each species.

What to Feed Your Leopard Gecko

As far as diet is concerned , leopard geckos are insectivores, meaning they only eat insects. The best diet for geckos is nice, meaty crickets.

But they also can have:

• Dubia roaches
• Butterworms

If your leopard gecko is under 1 year old, you should feed them daily so that they can keep up their body weight and ever-growing pace. After they turn 1 year old you can spin feedings out every other day.

If your gecko gets sick, they must keep up their strength. If they are unhealthy, you can feed your gecko every day until they regain their strength and start feeling better.

• See also: How Long Can Leopard Geckos Go Without Food?

Sometimes, you can feed your gecko insects that don’t agree with them, which can be very dangerous.

Insects your gecko should never eat:

• Wild-caught insects
• Butterflies
• Cockroaches

These insects can do some real damage to your gecko, so make sure to avoid them entirely.

Leopard geckos are one of the easiest reptiles to breed in captivity. Accidental breeding might happen if you house a female and male together by mistake.

Alternatively, you may just want to get into breeding as a hobby. You should have one male per four females, at max.

• Use a 10-gallon tank for your male, 20-30 gallon tank for your female(s)
• Give them a heat mat for extra warmth
• Create a laying box for the female’s cage filled with peat moss (you can use an old shoebox)
• Introduce the male
• Check periodically for eggs over a few weeks
• Remove and incubate the eggs once you get a few

Once you actually have eggs, you can focus on the incubation process—if you so choose. Raising baby geckos can be a rewarding process, but it isn’t without its work!

You may also be interested in:

• How Much Does a Leopard Gecko Cost? (Price Guide)
• How Many Eggs Do Leopard Geckos Lay?
• Are Leopard Geckos Suitable for You?

If you enjoy the variety, temperament, and care process of owning a leopard gecko , you know you have the basics for general care. You can gauge what to expect so you won’t be side-blinded by surprises.

Owning leopard geckos won’t be a fit for everyone, but if you’re a reptile lover—you should definitely own at least one gecko in your lifetime .

Related reads:

• Crested Geckos vs Leopard Geckos: Which Pet Should You Get?
• Bearded Dragon vs Leopard Gecko: Which Pet is Best for You? (With Pictures)
• Do Leopard Geckos Require UVB? What You Need To Know!

Featured Image Credit: Eric Isselee, Shutterstock

Oliver Jones

Oliver (Ollie) Jones - A zoologist and freelance writer living in South Australia with his partner Alex, their dog Pepper, and their cat Steve (who declined to be pictured). Ollie, originally from the USA, holds his master's degree in wildlife biology and moved to Australia to pursue his career and passion but has found a new love for working online and writing about animals of all types.

Related articles

How to travel with a leopard gecko: 7 useful tips & tricks, do geckos make good pets what you need to know, 7 rarest leopard gecko morphs (with pictures), do leopard geckos need baths does it help them.

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• Sep 17, 2023
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Build a Terrific Terrarium for Your Leopard Gecko: A Comprehensive Reptile Care Guide

Updated: Nov 16, 2023

One of the most popular pets for new reptile owners, leopard geckos have taken over the pet stores. Their relative low-maintenance care is attractive for those who are new to the reptile keeping world, but there are still many specific requirements that come with keeping one. Learn to build a terrific terrarium, provide a balanced diet, and create a healthy, natural habitat for your new gecko friend!

What does a leopard gecko look like?

If you're brand-new to the world of leopard geckos, I have a helpful photograph of my beautiful Cleo to the left here! Leopard geckos have bumpy skin, claws on their toes, moveable eyelids, and their signature large, fatty tail. They are an arid gecko, which means they come from the desert. They come in a variety of morph colors, ranging from bright yellow and orange to albino. In the wild, their natural coloration is yellow with black spots.

What does a leopard gecko cost?

When you walk into a typical chain pet store, such as Petco, PetSmart, or Pet Supplies, the average cost for a leopard gecko ranges anywhere from $25-50. The cost depends on the coloration, age, and breeding source. A leopard gecko that has dropped its tail is often sold at a large discount since this is considered a cosmetic defect.

Do leopard geckos bite?

The best rule of thumb is this: anything with a mouth can bite! A leopard gecko has teeth and can snap down pretty hard for their small size, so a bite from a leopard gecko certainly doesn't feel good, but their teeth are so small that they don't cause any damage.

Most leopard geckos are pretty friendly if treated with respect, however, and will refrain from biting in general. They only lash out as a last resort. As with snakes, a leopard gecko's only aggressive defense is biting, so if you recognize their signs of stress and interact only when they are calm, you likely won't get bit.

How big should a leopard gecko's terrarium be?

A leopard gecko's terrarium should be at minimum 15 gallons. Even though most babies only require about ten gallons, it's best to allow them space to grow into. Adults must have 20+ gallons for proper exercise.

You will want to provide as much walking space for your gecko as possible. In the wild, leopard geckos roam around a small territory within the desert mountains in search of tasty bugs. Although they don't walk miles per day like tigers do, they can be very active at night. Be sure to provide plenty of open, accessible space for your gecko to roam.

You won't need a terrarium that's tall, either. Twenty gallon aquarium tanks typically come in long and tall versions; you'll want to pick the long version to optimize your gecko's walking space.

That isn't to say your gecko doesn't like to climb, though! Leopard geckos enjoy rock climbs as a way to exercise, strengthen their muscles, and naturally shave down their nails. Be sure your terrarium is at least sixteen inches tall.

What does a leopard gecko need in its cage?

Inside your leopard gecko's terrarium, you will need to incorporate everything your gecko needs to not only survive, but thrive in a happy, healthy environment. You're going beyond the simple food, water, space, clean air, and shelter here: you're making an enriching, interactive environment for your gecko to enjoy for years

You'll need the following in order to create the home of your gecko's dreams:

Water Dish : Your gecko will need a water dish that needs cleaned and refilled with chlorine-free water daily. Place this item where it won't get dirty or trampled easily, for example, in the corner of the terrarium. Make sure your gecko has easy access to it, though, and it's easily visible.

Dry Hide : This is a either a rock or natural-type shelter where your gecko can hide and stay warm during the day. Place it on the side of your terrarium where the heat is most intense. Try using a rock hide that retains heat for maximum comfort.

Wet Hide : Your gecko would normally find moisture in small rock crevices containing mosses or puddles in the wild. To replicate this in your terrarium, simply create a hide, place moss or a wet paper towel inside, and locate it on the cool side of your terrarium.

Deep Substrate : Did you know that leopard geckos enjoy digging or burrowing? Don't deny them this natural enriching behavior! Provide at least three inches of substrate of your choice to ensure your gecko has every opportunity to dig to their heart's content.

Lighting : Leopard geckos require heat and UVB light fixtures to regulate their body temperature and absorb vitamins and minerals into their bloodstream. Make sure to buy BOTH fixtures and place them over top of your terrarium!

Temperature Gradient : Since leopard geckos are cold-blooded animals, they cannot regulate their body temperature like we do, instead relying on their environment to provide them the heat or chill they need. To accommodate this, simply place a heat lamp on one side of the terrarium and a UVB fixture on the other, or keep both fixtures together on one side of the terrarium. The warm zone should hit 80-95 degrees during the day, and the cool zone should remain at an ambient temperature of 75-80 degrees. Let the temperature fall as low as sixty degrees overnight to replicate their natural extreme desert environment.

Rock Climb : Leopard geckos come from a rocky, mountainous environment. In order to keep their muscles strong, their joints healthy, and their nails filed down, provide a rough rock climb at a small incline. You can make it decorative or naturalistic according to your preference.

Decorations/Live Plants : In order to keep your leopard gecko feeling safe, provide live foliage suited to an arid environment or decorations that mimic the desert terrain. Place these decorations or live plants throughout the terrarium. This way, your leopard gecko will not feel exposed, which limits their stress and maintains good health.

Terrarium Lid with Clips : You wouldn't want your leopard gecko climbing right out of their nice, safe home, would you? Buy a terrarium lid fitted to your tank size and get clips to secure it in place. This way, you won't have to deal with stressful escape situations, and your leopard gecko will always be safe and healthy inside their home.

Miscellaneous : You may choose to feed freeze-dried food to your gecko via a shallow food bowl placed in plain sight. Additionally, if your home gets very cold during winter months, you may choose to place an under-tank heat mat under your gecko's terrarium to provide a constant source of heat. NEVER place a heat mat inside your gecko's tank to prevent burns and electric shocks.

What does a leopard gecko eat?

A leopard gecko's diet is much more varied in the wild than it will be in the walls of your (hopefully) bug-free home. As an insectivore, these lizards derive all their nutrients from the bugs they hunt in their rocky territories. You will want to feed them as many crickets, mealworms, soldier fly larvae, and calcium worms as you can get your hands on.

Be careful, though, that you do not overfeed your gecko. Obesity is unfortunately common in the pet gecko world, and it is entirely due to the owner overfeeding the gecko.

Your leopard gecko only needs to eat one to twice per week as an adult. In addition, only feed them as many live bugs as they can hunt in the span of five to ten minutes.

You are in control of your gecko's health—be sure to feed them according to their activity level, and adjust as necessary!

Additionally, keep in mind that most feeder insects are lacking in certain nutrients that your gecko would normally receive from their diverse diet in the wild. You MUST provide a calcium and vitamin B12 supplement to maintain your gecko's health.

Calcium is one of the biggest determining factors in bone development, and a chronic deficiency can lead to bone deformities that impair your gecko for life. Do not skip on this essential supplement in your gecko's diet!

For Babies: Baby and juvenile leopard geckos are in a state of fast growth and require more frequent feedings than adults. Be sure to feed babies a few pinhead crickets and live diced blackworms each day, and for juveniles, back it off to every other day. NEVER feed your gecko a food item larger than the width between its eyes; anything bigger is a choking hazard.

Do leopard geckos need special lighting?

Although before, it was considered unnecessary, recent herpetological veterinary studies have discovered that UVB lighting is essential to leopard geckos' growth, development, and health maintenance.

Without proper UVB, leopard geckos cannot absorb calcium and other important nutrients into their bloodstream, even if they are regularly fed the proper supplements. Leopard geckos living without UVB lighting were found to have low blood-calcium levels and weak bone density.

When choosing your UVB lighting, you may decide on either a UVB light bar or a simple lamp and UVB bulb fixture. Be careful to ensure your leopard gecko cannot directly touch the surface of the lamp or bulb to prevent burns. Choose a bulb somewhere between 15-25 watts to properly replicate the UVB index they would receive in the wild.

Do leopard geckos shed?

Yes! Like all reptiles, leopard geckos periodically shed the outer layer of their skin. They, just like all lizards, have a tendency to shed their skin in pieces rather than all at once like a snake. Additionally, they almost always eat their shed, which is a natural behavior in geckos. It's simply their way of reclaiming otherwise wasted nutrients!

You may notice your gecko taking on a gray or dusty appearance right before they shed. This is normal! They aren't sick; it's the outermost layer of skin dying off cell by cell until it's ready to slough off. And there's no need to help your gecko shed—they do this naturally on their own their entire life!

The only time you might have to help your gecko shed is if they get pieces of their shed stuck to the layer of skin beneath. This condition, called stuck shed, is common in leopard geckos. It's a sign that the humidity in your terrarium is too low for you gecko's specific needs.

To assist your gecko with stuck shed, first attempt to soak the skin in warm, but not hot, water or use a wet cue tip to gently rub at the affected area. If the skin still doesn't come off, DO NOT attempt to peel it off! This could damage the layers of skin underneath and cause bleeding, infections, and other superficial injuries.

Contact your exotic veterinarian with concerns about your gecko's shed, and they will recommend proper next steps, such as using specific products or coming in for a vet treatment.

Do leopard geckos need humidity?

Leopard geckos do, in fact, need humidity, just not as much as a tropical gecko. Your gecko will thrive in arid conditions, which means a humidity less than 60% at any given time. As long as you have a wet hide that is constantly maintained and available to your gecko, they should be able to regulate their humidity needs.

If your gecko consistently gets stuck shed or sheds less than usual, consider upping the ambient humidity level of your terrarium. It's actually common for a leopard gecko to have an individual preference for higher humidity.

In the wild, they enjoy rocky crevices with running water or soaking moss, which is a high-humidity environment. Some geckos love this kind of weather, while others prefer it hot and dry. Adjust according to your gecko's preferences!

Can leopard geckos live together?

This is a commonly asked question with a resounding answer: no . Leopard geckos may live together while they're young, but as soon as they hit the late juvenile stage, they begin to establish firm territories. The risk of fighting among cohabitating leopard geckos is extremely high, and the subsequent risk of injury is just as high.

It's considered best practice to house leopard geckos alone. There are rare exceptions where leopard geckos grow up together and tolerate one another with a large enough territory provided, but overall, leopard geckos are solitary animals. They do not form families like human beings do. They prefer their alone time in peace and quiet.

During breeding season, leopard geckos tolerate one another for a short period, but as soon as breeding is complete, they tend to go back to fighting. If you're considering breeding leopard geckos, take into account the fact that you will still have to house your geckos separately; they should only be together for mating, and they should be closely monitored for signs of aggression.

What substrate does a leopard gecko need?

Although leopard geckos are considered arid desert animals, they should not live on sand exclusively. In fact, they prefer a more rocky, hardier terrain mixed with loose soil they can dig in, just like the mountainous rock crevices they rule in the wild.

For the most optimal substrate, a mix of sand, reptile soil, and rock will yield the best results. You can easily DIY most of this by purchasing a 50lb bag of Play Sand, a giant bag of lava rocks, super glue, reptile soil, and naturalistic aquarium gravel for under $40.

Glue your lava rocks in any formation to a piece of cardboard and let it dry. Mix the sand and reptile soil together in a 1:2 ratio, then pour it into the bottom of your terrarium until it reaches a height of two inches. Place your lava rock formation on one side of your terrarium, then cover most of it with substrate, only allowing the very tops of the rocks to protrude from the soil. Sprinkle your aquarium gravel throughout the rest of the terrarium as a finishing touch, then voila! You have a wonderful substrate for your gecko.

Do leopard geckos like to be held?

This is a tricky topic, because the word like doesn't necessarily fit the bill here. Reptiles do not form the same emotional bonds with us that a dog or cat may form. At most, they tolerate us and are curious about what we're doing, how we smell, or the way we dress.

Some leopard geckos are phenomenal handling animals, meaning they sit there and allow us to pick them up, poke and prod at them at the vet, and pet them all over without blinking an eye. Others will panic the moment they see your hand. Still others may tolerate being picked up, but don't like being petted, poked, or touched.

You will have to gauge this according to your gecko's personality. Some geckos may change their opinion of handling over time, and it can be for the better or for the worse. As long as you are patient, pay attention to your gecko's behavior, and take care of their needs, you will likely have a rewarding handling experience.

There are plenty of ways to increase your gecko's handling tolerance over time. Simply spending your evenings reading around your gecko's enclosure may allow them to adjust to having you around and increase their tolerance for handling. Your individual gecko may warm up to you quickly, or they may learn at a snail's pace. Take your time, allow your gecko to decide when they're comfortable, and give space during setbacks in the handling process.

How do you maintenance a leopard gecko terrarium?

Maintaining a leopard gecko terrarium is one of the easiest husbandry tasks in the animal world. If you have a bioactive terrarium, you won't have to do any maintenance at all aside from feeding and watering!

For the rest of you that don't have a bioactive terrarium, the maintenance is this: pick up droppings weekly, clean water/food dishes daily, rewet the wet hide materials daily, and water any live plants you may have growing in your terrarium. Replace the top layer of your substrate every few months. Replace heat and UVB bulbs every three to six months to ensure proper light and UV emittance.

Do leopard geckos go to the vet?

Leopard geckos don't need to visit the vet regularly like cats and dogs, but there's a handful of exotic vets ready to help you and your gecko should you run into any health issues. Exotic vets have a special license to treat reptiles, amphibians, and/or birds in addition to the general practice license. They know exactly what to do if you bring in your unique gecko friend!

There are some common health issues that pop up with leopard geckos that you can easily treat on your own, but if you find yourself in a situation where your gecko is rapidly losing weight, acting lethargic, refusing to eat, not going to the bathroom, is injured, or otherwise appearing/acting VERY strangely, don't hesitate to reach out to an exotic veterinarian.

To find an exotic vet, you can look up a vet near you on the website for the Association of Reptile and Amphibian Veterinarians (ARAV). They have an entire registry of vets licensed to take care of your leopard gecko. It's updated constantly, so you should be able to find a vet and their practice's location/website with ease.

What are some common health issues in leopard geckos?

Some common health issues in leopard geckos are as follows:

Stuck Shed : This is a condition where your gecko's dead skin gets stuck on the layer of new skin beneath it. It's usually an indicator that the humidity is to low in your terrarium. To treat, try to soak the affected area in lukewarm water or rub it gently with a wet cue tip.

Impaction : This is a scary condition where your gecko has a buildup of undigestible materials in their intestines. Signs are lethargy, appetite changes, behavioral changes (such as excessive sleeping and hiding during active hours or new aggression), not going to the bathroom, refusal to eat, and a bulging abdomen.

The cause is typically the ingestion of substrate such as sand over time or eating a foreign object. Contact your vet right away if you suspect impaction, because if left untreated, this condition is lethal.

Metabolic Bone Disease : Unfortunately, this condition is common in the pet industry due to ignorant pet owners and lack of education in pet stores. Metabolic bone disease occurs when a reptile isn't receiving enough calcium and other vital nutrients during development and into adulthood. It causes permanent bone deformations that, if left to continue, impair the reptile's ability to walk.

If caught in time, a reptile may be able to retain some function of the affected limbs, but there is no cure for this disease once the bones have been deformed. Report anyone who tries to sell you pets with MBD. To prevent it from occurring in your own gecko, provide a varied diet with the proper calcium and vitamin supplements.

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Building a Magical Mountain Home for Your Leopard Gecko: A DIY Reptile Terrarium Guide

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Leopard Gecko Travel Cage

Leopard geckos are a type of reptile that is often kept as a pet. Many people choose to keep their leopard geckos in a cage or tank inside their home. However, there may be times when it is necessary or desirable to take the leopard gecko on the go. In these cases, it is important to have a travel cage that is the right size and is appropriate for the needs of the leopard gecko.

There are several things to consider when choosing a travel cage for a leopard gecko. The size of the cage is important, as the leopard gecko needs room to move around. The cage should also be tall enough that the leopard gecko can climb to the top and bask in the sun. Additionally, the cage should have a secure lid to prevent the leopard gecko from escaping.

One option for a travel cage for a leopard gecko is a plastic storage container. This type of cage is often the right size and is easy to transport. It is also easy to clean and can be disinfected if needed. Another option is a small animal carrier. This type of carrier is often made of wire mesh and has a plastic bottom. It is important to make sure that the carrier has a secure lid to prevent the leopard gecko from escaping.

When choosing a travel cage for a leopard gecko, it is important to make sure that the cage is big enough for the leopard gecko to move around in and that it has a secure lid.

• 1 Can I travel with my leopard gecko?
• 2 How do you take care of a leopard gecko while on vacation?
• 3 Can you leave a leopard gecko alone for a week?
• 4 How do you transport a leopard gecko?
• 5 How long can a leopard gecko be in a car?
• 6 How long can leopard geckos be out of their tank?
• 7 What to do with reptiles when you go on vacation?

Can I travel with my leopard gecko?

Yes, you can travel with your leopard gecko, but there are some things you need to know first.

The first thing you need to do is make sure your leopard gecko is healthy and free of parasites. You also need to make sure it is properly vaccinated.

Once you have done that, you need to make sure you have the right supplies. You will need a secure cage, food, water, and a heat source.

If you are travelling by car, you can put your leopard gecko in a secure container and place it in the backseat. If you are travelling by plane, you will need to check with the airline to see if they allow reptiles on board.

If you are travelling to a cold climate, you will need to make sure your leopard gecko has a warm place to hide.

If you are travelling to a hot climate, you will need to make sure your leopard gecko has a cool place to hide.

Overall, travelling with your leopard gecko is not too difficult, but it is important to take the necessary precautions.

How do you take care of a leopard gecko while on vacation?

Leopard geckos are one of the most popular pet lizards and can be easy to care for as long as you have the right supplies. If you’re going on vacation and need to take care of your leopard gecko while you’re gone, there are a few things you need to do to make sure he or she stays healthy.

The most important thing is to make sure your leopard gecko has a place to hide. Leopard geckos like to hide in dark, enclosed spaces, so make sure you have a hiding place for him or her. A small cardboard box works well, or you can buy a special lizard hide.

Another important thing is to make sure your leopard gecko has plenty of water. You can buy a special lizard water dish, or you can use a small dish or cup and fill it with water every day.

Your leopard gecko will also need food while you’re on vacation. You can buy a special lizard diet or you can use crickets. Be sure to buy enough crickets to last your leopard gecko the entire time you’re gone.

If you’re going to be gone for a week or more, you may want to consider finding a pet sitter to take care of your leopard gecko for you. A pet sitter can make sure your leopard gecko has food, water, and a place to hide while you’re away.

If you’re not able to find a pet sitter, you can leave your leopard gecko with a friend or family member. Just be sure to give them a list of what your leopard gecko needs so they can take care of him or her properly.

No matter who you leave your leopard gecko with, make sure to pack up all of his or her supplies so he or she will have everything they need while you’re gone.

With a little preparation, you can easily take care of your leopard gecko while on vacation.

Can you leave a leopard gecko alone for a week?

Leopard geckos are a popular pet choice and can make great companions. They are relatively easy to care for and do not require a lot of attention. This means that they can be left alone for a period of time without any issues. However, it is important to understand that there are some things that you should not do when leaving a leopard gecko alone.

One of the most important things to remember is that leopard geckos require a certain level of humidity in their environment. If the humidity is too low, they can experience health problems. You can help to maintain the proper humidity level by providing a water dish that they can drink from and by misting the enclosure a few times a day.

Another thing to keep in mind is that leopard geckos need to be kept at the correct temperature. The ideal temperature range for leopard geckos is 70-80 degrees Fahrenheit. If the temperature is too low, they can experience health problems. If the temperature is too high, they can experience health problems or even die.

It is also important to make sure that the leopard gecko’s enclosure is clean. Leopard geckos can be prone to developing skin problems if their environment is not kept clean.

In general, leopard geckos can be left alone for a week without any issues. However, it is important to take into account the things that I have mentioned here. By following these guidelines, you can help to ensure that your leopard gecko stays healthy and happy.”

How do you transport a leopard gecko?

Leopard geckos are one of the most popular reptile pets and for good reason – they’re relatively easy to care for and are known for being docile. If you need to transport your leopard gecko for any reason, here are a few tips to make the process as stress-free as possible for both you and your gecko.

The first step is to find a suitable container in which to transport your leopard gecko. A small box or container with ventilation is ideal. You may also want to place a few towels or other soft materials inside the container to provide your gecko with some comfort.

Once you have your container ready, it’s time to gather up your leopard gecko’s supplies. Be sure to include a water dish, food dish, and a few climbing branches or other objects your gecko can use to climb on and hide in.

If you’re travelling by car, it’s best to place your leopard gecko’s container in the backseat so it’s away from the wind and sun. If you’re travelling by plane, be sure to check with the airline to see if they have any restrictions on travelling with reptiles.

If you’re travelling a long distance, it’s a good idea to stop every few hours to allow your leopard gecko to get some exercise and use the bathroom.

Overall, transporting a leopard gecko is a relatively easy process. By following the tips above, you can help make the journey as stress-free as possible for both you and your gecko.

How long can a leopard gecko be in a car?

Leopard geckos are one of the most popular reptile pets, and they can make great companions for those who are looking for an easy-to-care-for pet. One question that many people have is how long can a leopard gecko be in a car?

The short answer is that a leopard gecko can be in a car for a few hours without any problems. However, it is important to make sure that your leopard gecko is kept in a cool and comfortable environment while it is in the car. You should also make sure that your leopard gecko has access to water.

If you are traveling with your leopard gecko, it is important to make sure that you have a safe and secure place for your pet to ride. You should also make sure that your leopard gecko is properly secured in its carrier.

It is important to note that leopard geckos are not the best pets for car trips. If you are traveling a long distance, it is best to leave your leopard gecko at home.

How long can leopard geckos be out of their tank?

Leopard geckos are a popular pet lizard and can be kept in a variety of environments, including a tank. While they can spend some time out of their tank, they should not be out of their tank for more than an hour at a time.

What to do with reptiles when you go on vacation?

If you’re a reptile owner, the question of what to do with your pet when you go on vacation is an important one. Luckily, there are a number of options available to you.

The first option is to find a friend or family member who can take care of your reptile while you’re away. This is often the easiest option, as your reptile will be in familiar surroundings and will likely be taken care of by someone who is familiar with their needs.

If you don’t have anyone who can take care of your reptile, you may want to consider boarding them at a local pet store or veterinarian’s office. This can be a good option if you’re worried about your pet’s welfare, as most pet stores and veterinarians have experience caring for reptiles.

Finally, you can also choose to leave your pet at home. This option is not recommended unless you have a friend or family member who can check in on your pet regularly. If you choose this option, be sure to provide your pet with a safe, comfortable place to stay and enough food and water to last the duration of your trip.

No matter which option you choose, be sure to give your pet plenty of time to adjust to their new surroundings before you leave. This will help ensure a smooth transition for your pet and minimize the stress of being away from home.

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School of horrors? Kanye West threatened to lock kids in cages at his private Christian school, new suit says

A pr. 3—An explosive new lawsuit adds to the troubling picture of Kanye West's private Christian school, with a former employee alleging that the rapper and fashion mogul once told two young students that he wanted to "shave their heads" and lock them in "cages."

The former employee at West's Donda Academy further accused the artist, also known as Ye, of creating a hostile work environment by spewing antisemitic remarks at staff meetings, including by allegedly saying "the Jews are out to get me" and "the Jews are stealing all my money," according to reports by The Daily Beast and the New York Times.

When West summoned the employee, Trevor Phillips, for a private meeting at the Nobu Hotel in Malibu, Phillips' lawsuit said the rapper spent three hours denying the Holocaust, complimenting Hitler and attacking the LGBTQ community, by saying that "Gay people are not true Christians."

The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in Los Angeles Superior Court, is the latest legal action filed by former employees of West's embattled K-8 school, which has been shrouded in mystery ever since it opened. The status of the Simi Valley school is currently not known, the New York Times said.

Named for West's late mother, the school is unaccredited, but reportedly charged $15,000 a year and required parents to sign non-disclosure agreements to prevent leaks. During an interview with "Good Morning America" in 2022, West called Donda Academy his "gospel school," saying that it gives "kids practical tools that they need in a world post the iPhone being created."

Last year, three former teachers filed wrongful termination lawsuits, portraying the school as a "dystopian institution designed to satisfy Ye's idiosyncrasies," NBC News reported. The teachers alleged that they were fired in retaliation for reporting code violations. The teachers claimed there were no janitorial services or medical staff and that forks, jewelry and clothes that weren't black or designed by West were banned. The teachers, who are Black, also claimed that they faced racial discrimination and that administrators failed to respond to severe bullying.

In the new suit, Phillips said he was hired in November 2022, around the time that West launched a series of public antisemitic rants that lost him a major-label record deal, the New York Times said. Adidas and Gap also cut business ties with Yeezy, West's fashion brand.

Phillips said he initially was hired to oversee "projects related to growing cotton" and other plants in an effort to make Yeezy "self-sustainable. But Phillips then went to work Donda Academy, the Daily Beast and New York Times said. In this hybrid role, Phillips said he was was expected to always be on call despite not receiving his full salary, the Daily Beast reported.

At Donda Academy, Phillips' lawsuit alleged that West boasted about using school funds to help fund a multimillion-dollar trip to Paris. More troubling, the lawsuit said that West touted his "discriminatory conspiracies of Jews during meetings," which staffers felt they needed to ignore out of fear of losing their jobs. The lawsuit also contained a screenshot of a text message West allegedly sent to Phillips taking issue with how he carried out a task. "I am on some complete Hitler level stuff," West said, adding, "Minus the gas chambers."

Phillips' lawsuit also recounted a conversation he witnessed West have in front of two students. The suit alleged that West "started to openly discuss how he only likes to date white women." West then turned his attention to two young students, telling them that "he wanted them to shave their heads and that he intended to put a jail at the school—and that they could be locked in cages," the lawsuit said. "The staff quickly distracted the children, and escorted them out of the room," the lawsuit said.

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A History of Moscow in 13 Dishes

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19 Unique And Fabulous Experiences In Moscow

• Destinations

Thinking of visiting Russia? When visiting such a famous city, one must, of course, visit the iconic landmarks first. Moscow has plenty of those, most of them in the center of the city, which is very well-planned for tourists. Once you’ve seen the sights that are on most travelers’ lists, it’s time to branch out and visit some of the lesser-known sites, and there are some fascinating places to see and things to do.

I know this list is long, but I just couldn’t help myself. You probably won’t have the time to see them all. But that’s okay. Just scroll through the list and choose what sounds the most interesting to you. Where possible, make sure to book in advance, as things can get crowded, especially during high season.

1. The Red Square, Kremlin, And Surroundings

Red Square (Krasnya Ploshad) is the heart and soul of Russia, and where much of the country’s history has unfolded. This is the most famous landmark in Moscow and indeed the whole country, it’s an absolute must-do! The square is always full of people and has a rather festive atmosphere!

Saint Basil’s Cathedral

This is the famous church with the rainbow-colored, onion-domed roof. The cathedral was commissioned in the 1500s by Ivan the Terrible and according to legend, the Tsar thought it was so beautiful, that he ordered that the architect’s eyes be cut out afterward, so he could never build anything more beautiful! He wasn’t called Ivan the Terrible for no reason!

Lenin’s Mausoleum

The “love-it-or-hate-it” of tourist attractions in Russia. A glass sarcophagus containing the embalmed body of Russian revolutionary, Vladimir Lenin. It may seem a bit bizarre to display the mummy of a person, but it has been there for almost half a century and the 2.5 million visitors who come each year, clearly feel the queuing and thorough body search are worth it, to be in Lenin’s presence.

Pro Tip: no photos and no loud talking are allowed inside the Mausoleum.

Eternal Flame

There is an Eternal Flame in honor of an unknown soldier on the left side of Red Square. The hourly changing of the guards is worth seeing.

The Kremlin is the official residence of the Russian president. You can see it from the outside, or you can take an excursion to one of the museums located inside. This is the biggest active fortress in Europe, and holds a week’s worth of attractions! Once behind the 7,332-feet of walls, there are five squares, four cathedrals, 20 towers, various museums, and the world’s largest bell and cannon to see. Worth a special mention is the Armory Chamber that houses a collection of the famous Faberge Eggs.

Pro Tip: You can only go inside the Kremlin if you are part of a tourist group.

2. Bolshoi Theatre

Bolshoi Theatre translates to “The Big Theatre” in Russian, and the building is home to both the Bolshoi Ballet and Bolshoi Opera — among the oldest and most famous ballet and opera companies in the world.

Pro Tip: It’s hard to get an inexpensive ticket, so if you’re reading well in advance of going to Moscow then try buying tickets on the official website . Last-minute tickets cost around $250 per person. If this is out of your budget, about an hour before a performance, you can try buying a ticket at the entrance from a reseller. Most can speak enough English to negotiate the price.

Tour the Bolshoi Theatre: You can take a group guided tour of the Bolshoi Theatre which focuses on the history and architecture of the theatre and behind the scenes. There’s an English language tour that lasts 2 hours and costs around $300 for a group of up to six.

3. Luxury Shopping At GUM And TSUM

Russia’s main department store, GUM, has a stunning interior that is home to over 100 high-end boutiques, selling a variety of brands: from luxurious Dior to the more affordable Zara. Even if shopping is not on your Moscow to-do list GUM is still worth a visit; the glass-roofed arcade faces Red Square and offers a variety of classy eateries. TSUM, one of the biggest luxury malls in town, is right behind the Bolshoi and GUM. It’s an imposing building with lots of history, and worth a visit just for its design and its glass roof.

4. Christ The Savior Cathedral

This is one of Russia’s most visited cathedrals and is a newer addition to the gorgeous array of Muscovite cathedrals, but don’t let its young age fool you. After perestroika, in the early 90s, the revived Russian Orthodox Church was given permission to build a cathedral on this site. It did the location honors and built the largest temple of the Christian Orthodox Church. The façade is as grand as you’d expect, but it’s the inside that will mesmerize you, with its domes, gold, gorgeous paintings, and decor!

The cathedral is located just a few hundred feet away from the Kremlin and was the site of the infamous Pussy Riot protest against Putin back in 2012.

Pro Tip: Bring a shawl to cover your hair as is the local custom.

5. Gorky Park

Moscow’s premier green space, Gorky Park (Park Gor’kogo) is the city’s biggest and most famous park. There is entertainment on offer here for every taste, from outdoor dancing sessions to yoga classes, volleyball, ping-pong, rollerblading, and bike and boat rental in summer. In winter, half the park turns into a huge ice skating rink. Gorky Park is also home to an open-air movie theater and the Garage Museum of Contemporary Art. There is also Muzeon Art Park, a dynamic contemporary space with a unique collection of 700 sculptures. It is located right in front of Gorky Park.

6. Sparrow Hills Park

If you take a walk from Gorky Park, along the Moscow River embankment, you’ll end up in the city’s other legendary park, Sparrow Hills. Although the park doesn’t offer as many activities as its hip neighbor, it has a great panoramic view of the city

Pro Tip: You can take a free walking tour to all of the above attractions with an English-speaking guide.

7. River Cruising

One of the best ways to experience Moscow, and see all the famous landmarks, but from a different angle, is from the Moscow River. Take a river cruise. Avoid the tourist crowds. There are little nameless old boats that do the cruise, but if you are looking for a more luxurious experience take the Radisson Blu cruise and enjoy the sights with some good food and a glass of wine.

8. Metro Hopping

Inaugurated in the 1930s, the Moscow Metro system is one of the oldest and most beautiful in the world. Started in Stalinist times, each station is a work of art in its own right. I’d recommend touring the stations between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. This way, you’ll be able to properly see it without the crowds. Ideally, I’d recommend taking a tour with a knowledgeable guide with GuruWalk, who will tell you stories of forgotten stations and how the history of the country is interconnected with the metro development. If going by yourself, then I definitely recommend checking out: Mayakovskaya, Ploschad Revolutsii, Kievskaya, Kropotkinskaya, Kurskaya, and Novoslobodskaya stations.

Visit the free Moscow Metro Museum: For real train enthusiasts, located in the southern vestibule of Sportivnaya station is a small free museum. Here you can take a peek into the driver’s cabin, see a collection of metro tokens from different cities, and see different models of a turnstile, traffic lights, escalator, and more.

9. Moscow State University View

In his effort to create a grander Moscow, Stalin had seven skyscrapers built in different parts of town; they’re called the Seven Sisters. The largest of these buildings and the one with the best view is the main building of the Moscow State University. Although this is a little outside the city center, the view is more than worth it.

10. Izmailovsky Market

Mostly known for the city’s largest flea market, the district of Izmaylovo is home to a maze of shops where you can get just about anything, from artisan crafts to traditional fur hats, handcrafted jewelry, fascinating Soviet memorabilia, and antiquities. It’s also one of Moscow’s largest green spaces. There are often no price tags, so be prepared to haggle a bit. Head to one of the market cafes for a warming mulled wine before continuing your shopping spree.

The History of Vodka Museum is found here, and the museum’s restaurant is the perfect place to sample various brands of the national drink.

Once you’ve covered the more touristy spots, Moscow still has plenty to offer, and the places below will also be full of locals! So for some local vibes, I would strongly recommend the spots below!

11. Moscow City

With a completely different vibe, Moscow City (also referred to as Moscow International Business Center) is like a mini Dubai, with lots of impressive tall glass buildings. Here is where you’ll find the best rooftops in towns, like Ruski Restaurant, the highest restaurant both in Moscow City and in Europe. Moscow City is great for crowd-free shopping and the best panoramic views of the city.

12. Tretyakov Gallery

Tretyakov Gallery started as the private collection of the Tretyakov brothers, who were 19th-century philanthropists. They gave their private collection to the government after their deaths. If there is just one museum you visit in Moscow, I recommend this one!

13. Tsaritsyno Museum-Reserve

Tsaritsyno was a residence of Catherine the Great more than two centuries ago. It became derelict during the Soviet era but has now been fully renovated. With its opulently decorated buildings, gardens, meadows, and forests, Tsaritsyno Park is the perfect place for a green respite in Moscow.

14. Kolomenskoye

A 10-minute metro ride from the city center is Kolomenskoe Museum-Reserve, where you can get an idea of what Russia looked like 200 years ago. You’ll find ancient churches (one dating back to the 16th century), the oldest garden in Moscow, and the wonderful fairytale wooden palace of Tsar Alexey Mikhailovich, father of Peter the Great.

15. Ostankino TV Tower

Built in 1967, Ostankino TV Tower was the tallest free-standing construction in the world at the time, it’s still the 8th tallest building in the world and the highest in Europe. It’s also the best observation deck, with a glass floor and 360-degree views. The speedy elevators take you 1,105 feet in next to no time.

Pro Tip: You need to book in advance; entrance is based on specific ticket times and the capacity is limited and only a certain number of tourists are allowed per day. Don’t forget your passport, you’ll need it to get through security.

16. Zaryadye Park

Zaryadye is a newly opened, landscaped urban park so new you won’t find it in a lot of tour guides. The park is near Red Square and is divided into four climatic zones: forest, steppe, tundra, and floodplains, depicting the variety of climatic zones in Russia.

These last three suggestions are a little quirky, but all are really worth checking out.

17. Museum Of Soviet Arcade Games

Release your inner child playing on 66 arcade machines from the Soviet era! What a great way to spend a couple of hours when tired of visiting museums and palaces. The staff speaks excellent English and are happy to explain how the games work.

18. Moscow Rooftop Tour

Take a 1-hour private Moscow rooftop tour with an experienced roofer. I can just about guarantee none of your friends will be able to say they’ve done it! For your comfort, I recommend wearing comfortable shoes. Take your camera, there are some amazing photo opportunities out there!

19. Sanduny Banya

This classical Russian bathhouse opened its doors in 1808 and is famous for combining traditional Russian banya services with luxurious interiors and service. If you enjoy spas and saunas, then you should experience a Russian bathhouse at least once in your life! Go with an open mind and hire a specialist to steam you as it’s meant to be done — by being beaten repeatedly with a besom (a leafy branch)! This is said to improve circulation, but is best done by a professional!

So there you have my list of things to do in Moscow. I could have gone on and on and on, but I didn’t want to try your patience! There are so many things to do in this vibrant city that you’ll definitely need to allocate several days for exploring.

Here are some other reasons to visit Moscow and Russia:

• 7 Reasons To Put Moscow On Your Travel Bucket List
• Russia 30 Years (And 30 Pounds) Ago
• Massive Mysterious Craters Appearing Again In Siberia

Born and raised in Sydney, Australia, before moving to Africa at the age of 21, Sarah Kingdom is a mountain climber and guide, traveler, yoga teacher, trail runner, and mother of two. When she is not climbing or traveling she lives on a cattle ranch in central Zambia. She guides and runs trips regularly in India, Nepal, Tibet, Russia, and Ethiopia, taking climbers up Tanzania’s Mount Kilimanjaro numerous times a year.

Things to do in Moscow: how to visit Moscow | Unmissable, cool & unusual

• September 2, 2023

What are the best things to do in Moscow? What to do in Moscow? First, I will list the main places to visit by theme, passing by the must-sees, but also more unusual places in Moscow. Then, I will describe what to see in Moscow in one day and how to visit Moscow in 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 days. Let’s go!

Good to know. For more information, click on the places to open the dedicated blog posts.

Main places to visit in Moscow & best things to do in Moscow

I worked in Moscow and I loved this city for its dynamism and energy. We find there from time to time to see friends, remember good memories and enjoy this giant city! Then the time has come for us to share with you our practical guide.

TOP 5 must-see places in Moscow

• Moscow Red Square
• St. Basil’s Cathedral
• Cathedral of Christ the Savior
• Bolshoi Theatre

Places of cultural, historical and religious interest in Moscow

• Novodevichy Convent and cemetery
• Tretyakov Gallery
• Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts
• Kremlin Izmaïlovo (pseudo-historic place, recently built in the image of the old, one of the best things to do in Moscow for your Instagram account 😉 )
• Park and ancient village of Kolomenskoye

Visit Moscow of the Soviet era

• Moscow State University and Sparrows Hill
• VDNKh and the Museum of Astronautics, one of the key landmarks of the Soviet era in Moscow
• GULAG Museum
• Metro stations
• The Stalinist skyscrapers, scattered all over the city

Less touristy places in Moscow

• Gorky Park and the GARAGE museum
• The old Krasny Oktyabr factory
• Zaryadye Park
• Center for Contemporary Art, WINZAVOD
• Business center, Moscow City

Main districts of Moscow to visit

• Patriarch Ponds
• Tchistye Prudy
• Kuznetsky most
• Arbat Street

However, regardless of the length of your stay, whether you are going to visit Moscow in 4 days or in 2, you need a visa. The article Obtaining a tourist visa for Russia could then be useful in any case.

What to do and see in Moscow in one day?

List of things to see and do in Moscow in one day:

• Go to Red Square
• Visit St. Basil’s Cathedral
• See Kremlin walls (but not to visit)
• Visit Cathedral of Christ the Savior
• Discover Kuznetsky most districts and see Bolshoi Theatre building
• And if you have time at the end of the day: go to the Sparrows Hill or to the Moscow City for a beautiful view

Things to do in Moscow in 2 days

If you want to visit Moscow in 2 days, there are 2 purposes: do not miss the essential places of Moscow and optimize travel.

• First day: Red Square , Saint Basil’s Cathedral , Zariadye Park, Bolshoi Theatre , Kremlin
• Day 2: Cathedral of Christ the Savior, the former Krasny Oktyabr factory on Balchug Island, Gorky Park, Moscow State University (one of the Seven Sisters buildings ) and Sparrow Hill

As 2 days os really short, be sure to choose an accommodation in the best districts where to stay in Moscow .

Walking on Red Square in Moscow: one of the unmissable things to do in Moscow

Iconic place and one of the must-see places in Moscow and even in Russia! Besides, if there was only one place to visit in Moscow in 2 days, this place would then be Red Square, without hesitation. Therefore, starting the city tour with Red Square is ideal . Several buildings are on the square, but not all of them have to be visited. Check out my blog post about Moscow’s Red Square in detail to learn more and not miss anything.

Visiting Saint-Basil’s Cathedral inside

Even more emblematic than Moscow’s Red Square! Built in the middle of the 16th century under the orders of Tsar Ivan Le Terrible, this cathedral is one of the most beautiful monuments of Orthodox art, and definitely one of the unmissable places in Moscow. Visiting Saint-Basil’s Cathedral inside is one of the most beautiful things to do in Moscow!

• Visit estimate time : 1h30
• Entry ticket : 700 RUB. Tickets can be purchased on the cathedral’s official website 45 days before the tour.
• Audio guide (recommended): 500 RUB
• Opening hours : June to August 10 am-6pm; from November to April: 11 am-5pm; May, September, October 11 am-5pm. Cathedral closed on Wednesdays. Entrance is closed 45 minutes before closing.
• Find out more in the dedicated article: Saint Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow

Take a walk in Zariadye park: one of the coolest things to do in Moscow after visiting Red Square

Zaryadie Park is just a 10-minute walk from St. Basil’s Cathedral, so it’s easy to include in your itinerary if you’re going to visit Moscow in 2 days. From its heights, you can see the red walls of the Kremlin. But, the most impressive point of view is the platform which overlooks the Moskva river. A must see! And clearly one of the coolest things to do in Moscow!

• Open 24 hours a day
• Good to know! Park Zaryadye is also a place to visit in Moscow in winter. Find out more here: What to do in Moscow in winter?

See the Bolshoi Theatre and discover the Kuznetsky Most district

The Bolshoi Theatre is the most famous Russian theater in the world. The most economical way to see a presentation at the Bolshoi Theater is to take the tickets on the theater’s official website in advance, so here is our tutorial to help you: How to buy entrance tickets to the Bolshoi? In addition, several pedestrian or one-way streets

The Bolshoi Theater is the most famous Russian theater in the world. The most economical way to see a presentation at the Bolshoi Theater is to take the tickets on the theater’s official website in advance, so here is our tutorial to help you: How to buy tickets to the Bolshoi? In addition, several pedestrian or one-way streets are located north of the theater. It is therefore very pleasant to find them to leave the main axes of the megalopolis.

Visit the Moscow Kremlin

Visit Kremlin is on top of things to do in Moscow. A place of power for centuries, the Kremlin then shows us a whole different image when viewed from the inside. If you want to visit Moscow in 2 days, the Kremlin is certainly one of the must-see places in Moscow.

• Opening hours : Daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., except Thursday.
• See our blog post about visiting the Moscow Kremlin

Visit the Cathedral of Christ the Savior

This impressive Moscow Cathedral is the seat of the Russian Orthodox Church. It is a must see if you visit Moscow in 2 days and clearly one of the things to do in Moscow. The Cathedral of Christ the Savior was first built in 1883 in memory of Russia’s victory over Napoleon’s Grand Army. Then in 1931 Stalin ordered its destruction. It was then rebuilt again (identically) only in 2000.

• Where? Ulitsa Volkhonka 15. At the foot of the Kropotkinskaya metro station.
• Opening hours . Daily: 10: 00-17: 00, except Monday: 13: 00-17: 00
• Free entry (some closing restrictions, for example a short)

Good to know! In orthodox religious places, one must avoid excessively uncovered clothing. Women should cover their heads. After visiting the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, you can explore Bolotny Island and Gorky Park. This is one of the routes our guide to Moscow.

The old Krasny Oktyabr factory: one of the coolest things to do in Moscow

If you cross the Moskva River by a pedestrian bridge which is located just in front of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, you will enjoy a beautiful view of the city and at the same time you can discover Balchug Island. Furthermore, if you want to visit Moscow in 2 days, you can include this island in your itinerary between the cathedral and Gorky park. Here is the old confectionery factory Krasny Oktyabr, which has gradually turned into a fashionable micro-district. There are then some elements of street art, cafes and restaurants and some Moscow bohemian side. At the end of the island you can see a gigantic 98-meter-high monument dedicated to the Russian reforming tsar Pierre The Great.

Good to know! You can find on this island are the trendiest nightclubs in Moscow. On weekends, there are taxi caps after midnight so there are so many people. On the other hand, if you go there in winter and during the day, the island is quite empty and less interesting to see.

Gorky Park is one of the TOP places to visit in Moscow, because it allows you to better understand the life of the locals and their rhythm. In fact, it’s a huge entertainment park. For example, in winter there is a giant ice rink and in summer – free dance or yoga lessons, sandy beaches for playing volleyball, an outdoor cinema. So, like the locals, have a Stakantchik (ice cream or cooked corn), and enjoy the atmosphere of the place: that’s one of the interesting things to do in Moscow to discover the city.

• Where? Krymsky Val 9. 20 minutes’ walk from Krasny Oktyabr, along the quays.

Sparrow Hill and Moscow State University

The Sparrow Hill, Vorobiovy Gori in Russian, is the highest point in Moscow. It is rather known to Russians, but less to travelers. A nice view on Moscow opens from the hill, and in particular on the Luzhniki Stadium. In addition, on the hill itself is the Moscow State University: an impressive skyscraper from the Soviet era.

• How to get there? By bus T7 (35 min) from Oktyaborskaya station, near Gorki Park. By metro (Vorobiovy Gorki station) + climb the hill on foot. On foot along the Moskva along the Gorky Park (1h30) + climb in funiculars.

Good to know! It is possible to cross the Moskva river by funicular. We actually tested it and it was pretty cool! That is one of our favorite things to do in Moscow!

What to do in Moscow in 3 days?

If you are going to visit Moscow in 3 days, it would be interesting to dive into the Soviet era which strongly marked the country and the city. After the Bolshevik Revolution, the capital was transferred from Saint Petersburg to Moscow, in order to mark the change of power. Moscow then became the world showcase for communist ideology. Here are the best things to do in Moscow for 3-day-trip!

VDNKh, visit Moscow of the Soviet era

VDNKh is a large exhibition center in the north of Moscow, where there are still several striking witnesses of the USSR. The most interesting are the Museum of Cosmonauts and the Statue of the Worker and the Kolkhozian , which will certainly impress you with its size!

GULAG History Museum

The explanations of the museum are very well done. We really have the feeling of going back in time. If you are going to visit Moscow in 3 days and you are interested in history and this subject in particular, I recommend this museum. Visit the GULAG History Museum is one of the most interesting things to do in Moscow.

Discover the Patriarche Pounds district

It’s a nice neighborhood in Moscow where you can come across rather affluent locals, but not necessarily very bling-bling. Take a walk in this area is really a cool thing to do in Moscow! In addition, the Ponds of Patriarch is one of the places of Bulgakov’s novel “Master and Margarita”. As this is an interesting area to see, we have included it in a walking tour of Moscow. The route ends at the Moscow Kremlin, which is very convenient, because you will be able to visit Moscow in 3 days by optimizing your trips.

What to visit in Moscow in 4 days: TOP things to do in Moscow in 4 days

If you want to visit Moscow in 3 days, you will already see a lot of things. On the other hand, if you stay one more day, you have plenty to do! The Novodevichy Convent, the Tchistie Proudy district and the Izmaylovo Kremlin are very good candidates for you, if you are going to visit Moscow in 4 days.

Visiting Novodevichy Convent in Moscow

The Novodevichy Convent is one of the most brilliant examples of Russian architecture, according to UNESCO. This beautiful complex was built in 1524 and today consists of the convent, but also of a cemetery whose status could be compared to that of Père-Lachaise in Paris. Visiting Novodevichy Convent is one of the great things to do in Moscow, if you want to go a little bit outside of the center!

Discovering Tchistye Proudy district

It’s one of the most popular areas of Moscow, with many cafes, restaurants and bars nearby. It is therefore a place to discover if you want to visit Moscow in 4 days. It is just as pleasant for a stroll as for the discovery of local life. For example, in winter the pond turns into an ice rink.

Visiting the Izmaylovo Kremlin, one of the coolest things to do in Moscow!

The Izmaylovo Kremlin is more of a tourist than a historic place. On the other hand, it is a pretty impressive place to discover, especially on weekends. Inside the Kremlin, there is a flea market where you can find a little bit of everything, but mostly good souvenirs to bring from Moscow. For example, chapka, traditional Russian scarves or matryoshka (Russian dolls). Add the Kremlin and the Izmaïlovo market to your itinerary if you are going to visit Moscow in 4 days, because it is a nice and very colorful place! Visiting the Izmailovo Kremlin is one of the things to do in Moscow, if you want to put colors in your Instagram account! 😉

In 4 days, we will have the opportunity to see several Moscow: Classic Moscow, Moscow of old Russia, Soviet Moscow and a little bit of the new Moscow. So what to visit in Moscow on the 5th day of travel?

What to visit in Moscow in 5 days?

Art lovers will be delighted to discover the Tretyakov Gallery and the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts, while others will prefer to stroll along Arbat Street, see the buildings of Moskva-City or visit Bunker 42.

Admiring Russian art at Tretyakov Gallery

Founded in 1856 by an industrialist and great lover of art, the gallery has grown over the decades, and then bequeathed to the state. Today the collection includes more than 140,000 pieces, 15,000 of which are paintings. Visiting the Tretyakov Gallery is one of the things to do in Moscow if you want to discover Russian art!

• Where? Pereoulok Lavrouchinski 10. A 5-minute walk from Tretiakovskaya station
• Opening hours. Open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. Thursday and Friday. Closed on Mondays.
• Entry tickets. 500 RUB.

Visiting the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts

The Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts presents the treasures of ancient Egypt, the paintings of Rembrandt and Cézanne, a fine collection of Impressionism.

• Where? Ulitsa Volkhonka 12
• Opening hours. Daily: 10: 00-20: 00, except Thursday: 11: 00-21: 00. Closed on Mondays. The boxes close an hour before closing.
• Entry tickets. The prices vary according to the collections from 300 to 750 RUB.

Walking on Arbat Street

All Russians know Rue Arbat. So, walking on Arbat street is one of the things to do in Moscow. However, after the years, little by little it became very touristy. This is a pedestrian street only. There are souvenir shops, restaurants and cafes there, but it is no longer the most authentic neighborhood in the city.

Seeing the buildings of Moskva-City (Moscow City)

Moskva-City is Moscow’s business center, much like Paris’s Defense district. The skyscrapers of Moskva-City are among the tallest in Europe: 373 meters high! Very nice place to see at dusk.

Good to know! You can admire a nice view of Moscow City from the docks of Tarasa Shevchenko. It’s especially beautiful in the evening with all the lights on.

Bunker 42, one of the most unusual things to do in Moscow

Bunker 42 is a secret military complex which was to be used by the Soviets in the event of a nuclear attack: a space of 7000 m² 65 meters underground!

• Where? 5 Kotelnitcheski Lane, 11.
• Prices. 2200 RUB per person
• Opening hours. Open daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Restaurant inside. Original, but rather a tourist trap.

What to visit in Moscow in 6 days or more?

There are still so many places to see, because Moscow is a big megalopolis and there is always something exciting to do there. For example: the ancient Kolomenskoye village or the WINZAVOD contemporary art center .

If you are interested in history and want to see Russian cities on a rather “human scale”, it would certainly be interesting for you to discover the cities of the Golden Ring . For example, it is very easy to get to Sergey Posad from Moscow (less than 2 hours in train). Visiting the Golden Ring is one of the best things to do in Moscow if you are staying more than a 5-6 days.

There are still plenty of places to see in Moscow, however I did my best to list here the best things to do in Moscow, what to see in Moscow in one day, but also in 2, 3, 4 or 5 days in Moscow!

Moscow travel tips:

• Airport transfer: how to go to Moscow?
• Where to stay in Moscow (hotels, districts)?
• Tourist voucher for Russian visa
• Christmas and New Year in Moscow
• What is the best time to visit Moscow?

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