🦎Leopard gecko: gear and buying guides

The leopard gecko is a nocturnal, calm lizard that tolerates gentle handling well, making it one of the most beginner-friendly reptiles. Equipment needs stay reasonable: an 80 to 90 cm terrarium, a warm spot around 30 to 32 °C, low-intensity UVB and, above all, a humid hide that is essential for shedding.

Profile : Around 20 to 28 cm as an adult, 15 to 20 years of lifespan, beginner level.

Leopard gecko gear, family by family

• 🍖 Food

  Strictly insectivorous: crickets, dubia roaches and worms, rotated for variety and always dusted with calcium plus occasional D3 vitamins. Mealworms should stay a treat, not a staple.

• 🧴 Care & grooming

  Shedding is the main concern: a humid hide lined with sphagnum moss prevents stuck skin on the toes. Spot-clean droppings regularly and monitor the tail, a fat reserve that reflects overall health.

• 🎾 Toys & enrichment

  No toys as such, but a rich layout works: several hides, flat rocks, low branches and live prey released in the enclosure to trigger nighttime hunting behaviour.

• 🏠 Bedding & habitat

  A horizontal terrarium of at least 80 to 90 cm for an adult, a 30-32 °C warm spot and a cool zone around 24 °C, with at least three hides (warm, cool, humid). Low-output UVB (2 to 5%) is increasingly recommended.

• 🧳 Travel & safety

  Transport in a ventilated rigid faunarium padded with paper towel and kept away from cold: the species is sensitive to temperature shocks. Never grab a leopard gecko by the tail, as it can drop off.

• 🧰 Accessories

  Plan a heat mat or lamp on a thermostat, thermometer and hygrometer, water and calcium dishes, feeding tongs and a shedding box. A complete starter setup often costs between 200 and 400 €.

Guides to read

• Complete bearded dragon setup: what starting budget should you plan for?Bedding & habitat

  Terrarium, UVB, heating, decor, food: everything a complete bearded dragon kit includes, with a realistic starting budget of 400 to 700 €.

• Complete leopard gecko setup: what starting budget do you need?Bedding & habitat

  An 80 cm terrarium, heat mat, hides and calcium: what goes into a complete leopard gecko kit, with a starting budget of 250 to 450 €.

• Which terrarium for a corn snake? Size, security and budgetBedding & habitat

  Minimum dimensions, secure locking, thermal gradient: how to choose a terrarium for an adult corn snake, with a detailed budget.

• 3D terrarium backgrounds and decor: polystyrene, cork or resin?Bedding & habitat

  3D background decor for terrariums: cork panels, carved polystyrene or resin, prices, installation and safety for geckos, bearded dragons and snakes.

• Branches, vines and climbing supports for terrariums: choosing wellToys & enrichment

  Natural branches, flexible vines, hammocks: which climbing supports to install in a terrarium, how to disinfect them and at what price.

• Combined LED + UVB lighting: the two-in-one terrarium fixtureAccessories

  Combined LED + UVB fixture for terrariums: benefits, spectrum, prices from 80 to 200 € and the species concerned, from bearded dragons to tortoises.

• Dimming thermostats and timers: regulating your terrarium smoothlyAccessories

  Dimming, on/off or pulse thermostats and day/night timers: how to regulate terrarium heating and lighting, with prices from 25 to 120 €.

• Temperature probes: where should you place them in the terrarium?Accessories

  Where to place temperature probes in a terrarium: height, basking spot, thermostat probe and control thermometer, plus mistakes to avoid.