Leopard Gecko — Galaxy
Eublepharis macularius
The palest and physically smallest of the albino strains, characterized by extensive pink tones, highly washed-out mottling, and surprisingly dark eyes.
Ambiente
Terrestre
Umidade
30 - 40 %
Temperatura diurna
30 - 32 °C
Temperatura ambiente
25 °C
Temperatura noturna
20 °C
Local para se aquecer
30 - 32 °C
Tamanho adulto
25 cm
Gabinete mínimo
>= 60 L
UVB
Ferguson 1
UVI
0 - 0,7 UVI
Descrição da espécie
Morph/Variant Note: An incredible combination of Super Snow and Eclipse. A striking white-bodied gecko speckled with black dots, with solid white extremities (nose, feet, and tail tip) and solid black eyes.
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Inhabits dry desert plateaus, steppes, and rocky areas of the Middle East, from northern Pakistan and northwestern India to Afghanistan. A terrestrial and burrowing reptile that spends the day in damp shelters.
Taxonomy and Genetics: Underfamily Eublepharinae. Unlike most geckos, leopard geckos possess movable eyelids and lack adhesive pads under their toes, possessing claws instead.
Behavior and Habits: Extremely docile, calm, and curious. Crepuscular and nocturnal. They use their thick tails to store fat reserves. They have excellent sight and smell.
Morphology: Stocky and robust, reaching 20-25 cm. The wild-type coloration is yellow with black spots, but this Galaxy morph features a high-white background with black spotting. Males have wider heads, preanal pores in a V-shape, and hemipenal bulges.
Cuidado, criação e companheiros de tanque
Terrarium Setup: Low and wide terrarium (minimum 80x45x45 cm). Use a dry clay-sand-soil mix substrate. Provide three hides: warm side, cool side, and a mandatory humid hide filled with damp sphagnum moss.
Lighting and Heating: Provide a warm spot of 30-32°C using a thermostat-controlled heat mat, with a cool side of 24°C. Night drop to 20°C. Provide low 7% UVB lighting.
Humidity and Hydration: Maintain low humidity (30-40%). Provide a shallow water dish. Keep the humid hide moist to assist with shedding and prevent toe necrosis.
Feeding and Supplementation: Insectivorous. Feed crickets, roaches, and mealworms. Dust prey with pure calcium at every feeding, and calcium+D3/multivitamins once or twice a week.
Compatibility: Strictly solitary. Never house males together. A male can be kept with females only in large terrariums, but single housing is recommended.
Health and Common Diseases: Watch for thinning tail ("stick tail disease") indicating parasites. Prone to Metabolic Bone Disease if calcium is lacking. Handle gently to prevent tail loss.
Origem e distribuição geográfica
Inhabits dry desert plateaus, steppes, and rocky areas of the Middle East, from northern Pakistan and northwestern India to Afghanistan. A terrestrial and burrowing reptile that spends the day in damp shelters.
Origem
Melhoramento seletivo e cultivaresAmérica do NorteEuropa, Mediterrâneo e Ásia OcidentalSul e Sudeste Asiático
Perfil de réptil
- Dieta
- 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.
- Tamanho adulto
- 25 cm
- Estilo de vida/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.
- Ciclo de atividades
- 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.
- Socialidade
- 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.
- Reprodução
- 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.
- Tolerância de tratamento
- 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.
- Brumação
- 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.
- Muda
- Periodic
- 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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