How to set up a leopard gecko enclosure
Enclosure
- Adult enclosure
- 36×18×18 inches minimum. Horizontal orientation, leopard geckos are terrestrial.
- Hatchling
- A 20-gallon long is acceptable for the first year.
Heating
- Warm side surface
- 88-92°F (belly-heat for digestion).
- Cool side
- 75-78°F.
- Nighttime
- Can drop to 70°F.
- Heat source
- Halogen basking lamp directed at a flat warm spot. Older guides recommended under-tank heat mats; current consensus prefers overhead heat.
- Thermostat
- Required. Inkbird ITC-308 or equivalent.
Lighting
- UVB
- Recommended modern care. Arcadia ShadeDweller or Zoo Med Reptisun 5.0 T5 HO across part of the enclosure.
- Day-night cycle
- 12 hours on, 12 off.
Substrate (critical)
- Best choices
- Tile, slate, reptile carpet, paper towel, or compressed excavator clay.
- Avoid
- Calci-sand (impaction risk), loose sand for juveniles, walnut shell.
- Why this matters
- Impaction from loose substrate plus mealworm-heavy diet is the leading cause of juvenile leopard gecko death.
Humid hide (critical)
- Why
- Leopard geckos need a humid microclimate for shedding.
- How
- Small enclosed hide with damp sphagnum moss or paper towel. Always available.
- Without it
- Stuck shed on toes and tail tip, can cause tissue death.
Decor and enrichment
- Hides
- Minimum three, warm hide, cool hide, humid hide.
- Climbing
- Low branches and rocks, leopard geckos are not strong climbers but appreciate variation.
- Water bowl
- Shallow, easy to step out of.
Feeding
- Staple
- Dubia roaches or crickets, dusted with calcium-D3 most feedings, multivitamin weekly.
- Avoid as staple
- Mealworms (high chitin, low nutrition density).
- Treats
- Hornworms, silkworms, BSFL for variety. Waxworms rarely, high fat.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a leopard gecko setup cost?
$250-400 itemized: enclosure $80-150, low-output UVB $50-80, halogen basking lamp + thermostat $50, decor and substrate $50, supplements $20.
Do leopard geckos need UVB?
Modern care strongly recommends low-output UVB. Older guides said it wasn't necessary; current consensus has moved.
What's the best substrate for a leopard gecko?
Tile, slate, or compressed excavator clay. Avoid loose sand and calci-sand.
Why do leopard geckos need a humid hide?
For shedding. Without one, shed gets stuck on toes and tail tip, can cause tissue death.
Can I house two leopard geckos together?
Females sometimes coexist; males never together. Generally safer to house individually.