Leopard Gecko — Black Night
Eublepharis macularius
The palest and physically smallest of the albino strains, characterized by extensive pink tones, highly washed-out mottling, and surprisingly dark eyes.
Environnement
Terrestre
Humidité
30 - 40 %
Température diurne
30 - 32 °C
Température ambiante
25 °C
Température nocturne
20 - 22 °C
Point de repos chauffant
30 - 32 °C
Taille adulte
23 cm
Enclos minimal
>= 60 L
UVB
Ferguson 1
UVI
0 - 0,7 UVI
Description de l'espèce
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Eublepharis macularius is native to the semi-arid regions of Southern Asia, distributed across Pakistan, Afghanistan, northwestern India, and parts of Iran. It inhabits rocky deserts, dry grasslands, and clay foothills. The 'Black Night' morph is an ultra-rare hypermelanistic line bred exclusively in captivity through years of selective line-breeding to enhance black pigmentation, and does not exist in the wild.
Taxonomy and Genetics: Belongs to the family Eublepharidae, genus Eublepharis. Originally described by Blyth in 1854. The 'Black Night' morph is a polygenic hypermelanistic trait; this means the intensity of the black coloration varies depending on the parents' lineage and requires careful genetic management to avoid inbreeding depression.
Behavior and Habits: Primarily nocturnal and crepuscular. During the day, it remains hidden inside cool, damp caves to avoid the heat, becoming active at dusk to hunt. It is a terrestrial gecko known for its docile, slow-moving nature and ease of handling. It communicates through tail-waving gestures and soft squeaks when startled.
Morphology: Features the typical robust body shape of leopard geckos, with a thick tail that stores fat reserves. Adults measure around 20-25 centimeters in length. Unlike many other geckos, it possesses moveable eyelids and lacks adhesive toe pads, instead having small claws suited for traversing rocky terrain. The 'Black Night' morph has a solid jet-black or dark slate-grey coloration.
Soins, reproduction et cohabitation
Terrarium Setup: Requires a dry rocky terrarium measuring at least 60x40x40 cm (24x16x16 inches) for a single gecko. The substrate should not be loose sand to prevent accidental impaction; use slate tiles, clay mats, or paper towels. Provide at least three hides: one warm hide, one cool hide, and one humid hide filled with damp moss or coco fiber to aid shedding.
Lighting and Heating: Being nocturnal, they do not require intense light, but a low-level (2.0% or 5.0%) UVB bulb is recommended to support calcium absorption. Heating must be provided via an under-tank heating mat or heat cable connected to a thermostat, creating a warm spot of 30-32°C (86°F - 89.6°F) and a cool side of 24-26°C (75.2°F - 78.8°F). Turn off heating at night (20-22°C).
Humidity and Hydration: Overall humidity should be kept low (30-40%), but the humid hide must be kept damp (70-80% internal humidity) at all times. Provide a shallow dish of fresh water on the cool side, replaced daily. Lightly mist the enclosure once a week to simulate dew and support indirect hydration.
Feeding and Supplementation: Strictly insectivorous. Feeds on live crickets, roaches (Dubia or Lateralis), mealworms, and occasionally waxworms. Insects must be gut-loaded. Dust prey with pure calcium at every feeding, and with calcium plus Vitamin D3 twice a week. Leave a small bottle cap filled with pure calcium in the terrarium at all times.
Compatibility: Strictly solitary. Males must never be housed together as they will fight to the death. Females should only be cohabitated in very large enclosures under close supervision, though solitary housing is highly recommended to avoid stress. Introduce males only for controlled breeding purposes.
Health and Common Diseases: Susceptible to metabolic bone disease (MBD) from lack of calcium/D3, retained sheds on toes (which can cause necrosis and toe loss), and intestinal impaction from loose sand. The highly selected 'Black Night' lineage requires careful husbandry and monitoring to ensure health and vigor.
Origine et répartition géographiques
Eublepharis macularius is native to the semi-arid regions of Southern Asia, distributed across Pakistan, Afghanistan, northwestern India, and parts of Iran. It inhabits rocky deserts, dry grasslands, and clay foothills. The 'Black Night' morph is an ultra-rare hypermelanistic line bred exclusively in captivity through years of selective line-breeding to enhance black pigmentation, and does not exist in the wild.
Origine
Sélection et cultivarsEurope, Méditerranée et Asie occidentaleAsie du Sud et du Sud-EstCosmopolite ou introduit
Profil de reptile
- Régime alimentaire
- Insectivore
- This terrestrial species sustains itself entirely on a diet of live arthropods, showing a strong preference for actively moving prey. Keepers must provide a rotating menu of gut-loaded insects, ensuring adequate supplementation of calcium to support their skeletal system and prevent nutritional deficiencies. During feeding, they are remarkably focused and will often stalk a cricket for several seconds before accurately snapping it up.
- Taille adulte
- 23 cm
- Mode de vie/microhabitat
- Terrestrial
- They are strictly terrestrial geckos, well-adapted to living on the ground in arid, rocky environments. While they cannot climb smooth vertical surfaces due to the lack of adhesive toe pads, they enjoy exploring and climbing low, textured structures like rocks and cork bark.
- Cycle d'activité
- Crepuscular
- Leopard geckos are primarily crepuscular, meaning they are most active during the twilight hours of dawn and dusk. In captivity, they may also show bursts of activity during the night. They spend most of the day hiding in secure, dark crevices to avoid the heat.
- Sociabilité
- Solitary
- Known for their highly manageable temperament, these geckos are among the most popular and docile reptile pets available. They spend their days resting in secure, dark hides and emerge at dusk to begin their nightly routines of hunting and exploring. In the wild, they rely on their thick, segmented tails to store fat reserves for times of scarcity, a feature that also serves as a distracting decoy for predators.
- Reproduction
- Oviparous
- They are oviparous reptiles that exhibit a high reproductive output when provided with the correct seasonal cues and optimal husbandry. A single female can lay up to eight clutches of two eggs in one season, requiring significant nutritional support to replenish her calcium reserves. The development of the embryos is highly temperature-sensitive, which ultimately determines the gender ratio of the resulting offspring.
- Tolérance aux manipulations
- Tolerant
- Leopard geckos are renowned for their docile and calm temperament, making them one of the best beginner reptiles. They tolerate handling very well once accustomed to their owner. It is important to support their body fully and avoid grabbing their tail, as they can drop it if they feel threatened.
- Brumation
- Brumation is not strictly necessary for pet leopard geckos, but a mild cooling period (around 65-70°F or 18-21°C) during winter can be provided, especially if breeding is intended. During this time, their appetite and activity levels will naturally decrease.
- Mue
- Regular
- They shed their skin every 2 to 4 weeks depending on age and growth rate. Providing a humid hide box filled with moist sphagnum moss or paper towels is essential to help them shed cleanly, especially around the toes and eyes. They typically consume their shed skin to recycle nutrients and hide their scent from predators.
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