Glass Reptile Terrarium

July 23rd, 2010 | Published in Reptiles

Leopard Gecko Cage Terrarium

A terrarium habitat type is the most suitable to keep the geckos in captivity. If you choose to have more than one animal, you must provide two separate spaces, since males tend to fight over a territory. An ideal terrarium should provide an environment that is as natural as possible.

Leopard geckos are native animals of the desert climate of northern India and Pakistan, but not of the Sahara desert. If you are expecting to see a terrarium with lots of sand and a leopard gecko, then you can just forget about it. These animals are no natural to sand, but rocks, stones, boulders and more rocks. With that said, you must arrange a terrarium with a minimum of 70cm long by 45cm wide and 45cm high to have two or three reptiles in captivity. It should be well ventilated and constructed of glass or wood.

The bottom should not be covered with sand as it can be ingested and cause intestinal damage, exposing the animal to illness. Preferably, you should use any material that can not be swallowed. Since the Leopard Gecko do not have suction cups on their feet like most Gecko species, in the terrarium, you should install some decorative elements such as branches that allow the animal to climb. Ensure that the branches have the capacity to withstand the weight of the animal. Also add some hiding places like rocks and small plants.

The water container should be shallow so as to allow the gecko to climb, drink and run without the risk of drowning. For drinking, simply use a jar lid or whatever works for that purpose depends on your preference. There should be fresh water in the terrarium every day.

The daytime temperature should be between 27 ° c and 32 c and at night between 16 º c and 21 º c. These temperatures can be achieved easily through a specific lamp for reptiles to be placed on top of the terrarium. A heater that is suitable for two thirds of the bottom of the terrarium is also ideal. In order to easily control the temperature levels and the proper functioning of the heater, we recommend using a thermostat.

It is recommended to use a Tupperware with an opening to look like a cave, with moss in it, or any material that keeps moisture inside the cage because gecko changes its skin and a moist environment helps through the process. A simple Tupperware's upside down with a wet clothe (you may use a wet napkin, is simple and effective) since during skin shedding, these animals could use more humid environment. One sign that the gecko is changing its skin is when the reptile's skin is looking white or pale. The change takes between one and two days.

The substrate must be formed while the gecko is young by using kitchen towels or wipes such as those that are used in restaurants. Even in adults, this is the best material to use. Do not use sand or other thin or loose substrate, as the geckos, like most reptiles, use their tongues to "smell" everything near them. And ingestion of sand that can get stuck on the tongue can lead to an intestinal compression which in most cases is fatal.

About the Author

JF Abrigo is a contributing writer for GeckoPetsInfo.com