The Leopard Gecko Manual E-Book

Philippe de Vosjoli

• Herausgeber: CompanionHouse Books
• Kategorie: Lebensstil
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2017

Seitenzahl: 222

Beschreibung

The leopard gecko has fast become the reptilian version of the parakeet or goldfish. Considered to be the first domesticated species of lizard, the leopard gecko is attractive, perfectly sized, and easy to breed. Leopard Gecko Manual takes a close look at all the characteristics that have made these attractive lizards so amazingly popular in the pet world. Written by a team of herpetoculture experts and gecko specialists, this up-to-date and authoritative guide provides reliable guidelines for keepers who wish to add a gecko to their vivarium and maintain their pet in excellent health and condition. This second edition is revised and expanded to include new sections on Gecko nutrition and feeding, housing, breeding, and banded Geckos. Inside the Leopard Gecko Manual: How to select leopard geckos as pets or for breeding Understanding the anatomy and behavior of these fascinating lizards Feeding your leopard gecko a nutritionally sound diet, with the latest insights on feeder insects and prepared foods How to design and maintain the ideal naturalistic habitat for your leopard gecko Detailed information on all aspects of breeding, egg-laying, and incubation What you need to know about skin shedding cycles and tail loss Recognizing signs of disease and how to handle health issues Special chapters on African fat-tailed geckos and other eublepharids

Leseprobe

THE LEOPARD GECKO MANUAL

CompanionHouse Books™ is an imprint of Fox Chapel Publishers International Ltd.

Project Team

Editorial Director: Christopher Reggio

Editor: Amy Deputato

Copy Editor: Laura Taylor

Design: Wendy Reynolds

Index: Jay Kreider

Copyright © 2017 by Fox Chapel Publishers International Ltd.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of Fox Chapel Publishers, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in an acknowledged review.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: De Vosjoli, Philippe, author. | Mazorlig, Tom, author. | Klingenberg, Roger J., 1954- author. | Tremper, Ron, author. | Viets, Brian E., author.

Title: The leopard gecko manual : expert advice for keeping and caring for a healthy leopard gecko / Philippe de Vosjoli, Tom Mazorlig, Robert Klingenberg, DVM, Ron Tremper, and Brian Viets, PhD.

Description: 2nd edition. | Mount Joy, PA : Fox Chapel Publishing, [2017] | Includes bibliographical references and index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2017027735 (ebook) | ISBN 9781620082256 (ebook)

Subjects: LCSH: Leopard geckos as pets—Handbooks, manuals, etc.

Classification: LCC SF459.G35 (ebook) | LCC SF459.G35 D42 2017 (print) | DDC 639.3/95—dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2017028427

This book has been published with the intent to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter within. While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this book, the author and publisher expressly disclaim any responsibility for any errors, omissions, or adverse effects arising from the use or application of the information contained herein. The techniques and suggestions are used at the reader’s discretion and are not to be considered a substitute for veterinary care. If you suspect a medical problem, consult your veterinarian.

Fox Chapel Publishing, 903 Square Street, Mount Joy, PA 17552

Fox Chapel Publishers International Ltd., 7 Danefield Road, Selsey (Chichester), West Sussex PO20 9DA, U.K.

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Introduction

Since the publication of my first book on leopard geckos in 1990, the herpetoculture of this species has undergone a revolution, transforming the leopard gecko into the first domesticated species of lizard. The leopard gecko is now the reptilian version of the parakeet or goldfish. As with goldfish, selective breeding for xanthism (predominance of yellow and orange skin pigments produced by cells called xanthophores) launched the course for domestication. Today, a number of leopard gecko morphs are commercially available, with many more on the horizon. As with fancy goldfish or koi carp, breeders eagerly seek prize specimens, which can fetch hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

Like other domesticated animals, the leopard gecko has certain characteristics that make it particularly suitable for this kind of endeavor. It is one of the hardiest of all lizard species: easy to keep, easy to breed, and potentially long-lived. It is a convenient size, neither too small to be appreciated and handled nor so large that it presents risks or requires an enclosure that can’t be readily integrated into the average household. And the leopard gecko is undeniably beautiful, from the near-velvet texture of its skin to its gold eyes and pastel shades of color. Like other animals developed as forms of living art, the leopard gecko is extremely variable in color and pattern. These lizards also have nice personalities, by reptilian standards. By the time they are adults, many leopard geckos become quite docile and are slow and deliberate in their movements. The leopard gecko is one of the finest pets you could own.

Why Use Scientific Names?

If you are new to keeping reptiles as pets, it may seem odd to see scientific names (these are the strange-looking words in italics that come after the familiar name of an animal). Scientific names are used commonly within the reptile- and fish-keeping communities.

The scientific name of an animal is agreed upon by the global scientific community and is used instead of any regional names for a given animal. The leopard gecko is Eublepharis macularius whether you are in Maine or Mozambique, whether you are speaking English or Estonian.

Scientific names ensure that everyone is discussing the same organism. If someone says “green tree frog,” you don’t know if that person means the commonly seen green tree frog of the United States or another type of tree frog that happens to be green. However, if the person instead refers to Hyla cinerea, you can be sure that it is the common American frog known as the green tree frog.

Scientific names are composed of two words. The first word is capitalized and is called the generic name. A genus is a group of closely related species, and this word tells you which genus the animal is in. Leopard geckos are in the genus Eublepharis. The second word is always lowercase and is called the specific name. This word tells you the exact species in question. For the leopard gecko, this is macularius. When you put the two together, it forms a unique combination that identifies the exact species.

On occasion, you may see a scientific name that has three parts. The third word is the subspecies. A subspecies is a variation of a species. The variation is not great enough for these animals to be considered a separate species, but it is distinct enough to be given some recognition. With further research, sometimes subspecies are elevated to full species; other times, the subspecies designation is eliminated because the variation was not considered truly distinct.

When a scientific name is used once in a given work, the generic name can be abbreviated to the first letter when it appears again: for example, E. macularius. With subspecies, you can abbreviate both the generic and specific names and retain the full subspecies name.

CHAPTER 1

Introducing the Leopard Gecko

To start with the very basics, what is a leopard gecko?Leopard geckos are small lizards that are members of a hugely diverse group called geckos. Normally colored leopard geckos are pale yellow with numerous darker spots, which is why they are called leopard geckos. They are personable, with ever-smiling faces that have won them legions of fans. They are most active at night and feed primarily on insects and any other small animals that they can catch. Their attractive appearance and ease of care have made these lizards one of the most popular pet reptiles in the world.

Scientifically speaking, all geckos belong to an infraorder called Gekkota and are classified into seven different families. Older references consider the geckos to all belong to one family, Geckonidae, but Geckonidae is now considered as just one of the families of geckos within the infraorder Gekkota. Geckos are believed to be more closely related to each other than to other lizards. There are at least 1,500 species of geckos found in warm regions around the globe.

With a group as large and diverse as the geckos, they do not share many features in common, but one thing that nearly all geckos do is vocalize. Geckos can call, chirp, or bark, depending on the species. Their calls announce their presence to other geckos as a way of establishing territory. Some geckos use them as a threat, and most geckos will make a lot noise when restrained or surprised. In fact, the word gecko derives from the noises made by the Tokay gecko, an especially common and noisy gecko of India and Southeast Asia. Leopard geckos are quiet for the most part, but they will bark or squeal when they feel threatened. They may also emit a squeaky hiss when startled.

What’s in a Name?

The scientific name of the leopard gecko is Eublepharis macularius.  This name can be translated as the following: eu means “good” or “true,” blephar means “eyelid,” and macularius means “spotted.” The name refers to two of the most obvious features of leopard geckos: their well-developed eyelids and their spotted pattern. In the pet trade, leopard geckos were sometimes sold under the common names of Indian or Pakistani fat-tailed geckos, although those names are almost never used now. Some scientific literature also lists this species as the spotted fat-tailed gecko.

Wild-collected leopard geckos showing the species’ normal coloration and pattern.

Family Matters

Leopard geckos belong to the family Eublepharidae, which includes all geckos with movable eyelids. All other geckos lack eyelids; instead, they have clear scales covering their eyes, which they clean off with their tongues. The eyelids of leopard geckos lend them a lot of their cute charm.

The members of the family Eublepharidae also lack toe pads—more properly called subdigitalsetae—pads of tiny, hairlike, scaly projections on the undersides of the toes. These toe pads give the other geckos their famous climbing abilities. Therefore, leopard geckos and other eublepharid geckos are not able to climb smooth, vertical surfaces.

The family Eublepharidae is divided in two subfamilies: Eublepharinae and Aeluroscalabotinae. The subfamily Eublepharinae includes all geckos with eyelids except one: the odd little Indonesian creature known as the cat gecko, Aeluroscalabotes felinus. The cat gecko is classified in its own separate subfamily, Aeluroscalabotinae. The rare cat gecko is found in parts of Indonesia and Southeast Asia and is maintained and bred by only a small number of dedicated hobbyists. Some of the other well-known eublepharids (geckos with eyelids) in herpetoculture include the banded geckos (Coleonyx sp.) of the Western Hemisphere, the cave geckos (Goniurosaurus sp.) of East Asia, the African fat-tailed geckos (Hemitheconyx caudicinctus), and the occasionally imported African clawed gecko (Holodactylus africanus).

This book focuses on the popular leopard gecko but includes information on keeping and breeding all of the eublepharids found in the herp hobby. All members of the genus Eublepharis are known as leopard geckos. Besides the common leopard gecko, Eublepharis macularius of the pet trade, there are the Turkmenian leopard gecko, E. turcmenicus; the East Indian leopard gecko, E. hardwickii; the Iraqi or Iranian leopard gecko, E. angramainyu; and the West Indian leopard gecko, E. fuscus. The latter is of particular interest to hobbyists. It was initially described as a subspecies of the common leopard gecko (E. macularius fuscus) (Borner 1981) and then later elevated to full species status (Das 1997). The West Indian leopard gecko is one of the largest geckos, with a snout–vent length of nearly 10 inches.

The other leopard geckos are exceedingly rare in captivity. Most reptile keepers will never see one outside of a zoo, with the possible exception of the Iranian leopard gecko, which has been imported in small numbers. Because they are wild-caught, rare in the pet trade, and expensive, they are best left to advanced keepers and breeders.

Leopard Gecko Taxonomy

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Reptilia

Order: Squamata

Infraorder: Gekkota

Family: Eublepharidae

Genus:Eublepharis

Species:macularius

Leopard geckos’ feet lack toe pads, rendering them unable to climb smooth surfaces.

The Basics

The leopard gecko is found in Afghanistan, northwestern India, and Pakistan. Its habitat is desert and dry grasslands. The majority of the early captive stock was imported from Pakistan, although some imports are said to have originated in Afghanistan. Nearly all of the leopard geckos for sale nowadays have been hatched from eggs laid in captivity.

Size and Growth

Adult leopard geckos can attain a maximum length of a little more than 8 inches (20.5 cm). Hatchlings have a total length of 3.25 to 3.5 inches (around 9 cm). Giant leopard geckos have been selectively bred over generations to reach a larger size. Giant leopard geckos can reach about a foot (30.5 cm) in length and a weight of 6 ounces (170 grams).

Compared to large lizards, the relative growth rate of leopard geckos is minimal, a twentyfold increase in weight from hatchling to adult. Hatchlings weigh about .10 of an ounce (2.5 to 3 grams). Adults typically weigh from 1.5 to a little more than 2 ounces (45 to 60 grams) but can attain a weight of 3.5 ounces (100 grams). Young adults can breed at 1 to 1.2 ounces (30 to 35 grams), and they usually reach adult size by around eighteen months.

Longevity

Leopard geckos are long-lived lizards. There is record of a male that was more than twenty-eight years old at the St. Louis Zoo. Herpetoculturist Ron Tremper reported another captive male specimen that lived to almost thirty-two years of age. Female leopard geckos generally have shorter life spans than males. The longevity record for a female leopard gecko is twenty years and ten months (Slavens and Slavens 1997). The normal life span of a pet leopard gecko is up to ten years, although males can live up to twenty years.

The leopard gecko’s natural habitats include deserts and dry grasslands.

Sexing

Males are somewhat more heavy-bodied and have slightly broader heads and thicker necks than females. The only reliable method for determining sex is to look at the underside of the animal. A male has a V-shaped row of enlarged preanal pores in front of the vent (the combined opening for wastes and mating) that may exude a waxy secretion. Another obvious characteristic of a mature male is the presence of paired swellings at the base of the tail. These swellings are called the hemipenal bulges because they house the hemipenes, which are the male sexual organs in lizards and snakes. In contrast, females have preanal pits rather than enlarged pores and lack paired swellings at the base of the tail.

Juveniles that are at least one month old can be sexed with some reliability by checking for developing preanal pores (in contrast to the barely hinted pits of female hatchlings). To look for these on juveniles, you will likely need a magnifying glass.

You might think that if you never intend to breed your leopard gecko, it doesn’t matter whether you have a male or a female or that you don’t need to determine the sex of your pet. However, it can matter for several reasons. For example, male leopard geckos are territorial and often will fight when kept together. If you plan on keeping more than one gecko, you must house only one male per enclosure. A female leopard gecko can sometimes develop eggs even if no male is present. The eggs will be infertile, but you will need to provide her a place to lay them just the same. And pet owners like to know whether their leopard geckos are males or females for naming purposes.

Useful Terms

Every hobby has its own jargon, and keeping reptiles is no exception. Here are some reptile-specific terms you will find in this book.

captive-bred: hatched from an egg that was laid in captivity.

herp: collective term for both reptiles and amphibians.

herper: a person who is interested in herps and has herps as pets; also called a herp hobbyist or herp keeper.

herpetoculture: the keeping and breeding of herps as pets.

herpetoculturist: someone who practices herpetoculture.

herpetologist: a scientist who studies reptiles and amphibians.

snout–vent length (SVL): the length of an animal from the tip of the nose to the vent; in other words, the length of the animal, not including the tail.

vivarium: an enclosure housing reptiles, amphibians, or other small animals, usually containing live plants, soil, and other natural features.

wild-caught: brought into the pet trade from its natural habitat.

Left: Close-up of a male leopard gecko’s tail base, showing enlarged preanal pores and hemipenal bulges. Right: Close-up of a female leopard gecko’s tail base.

CHAPTER 2

Your Pet Leopard Gecko

If you are reading this book, you are likely already interested in keeping a leopard gecko as a pet. You have already been charmed by the leopard gecko’s bright colors and cute face that seems to be perpetually smiling.

If so, you are in great company. Leopard geckos are one of most popular of all reptile pets. They have earned their popularity by being hardy and easy to care for as well as by being docile and having beautiful coloration. Additionally, they are not noisy and—as long as you clean the cage—do not smell. They will even tolerate some handling. If you think you ever want to breed reptiles, leopard geckos are ideal as your first breeding project.

In order to successfully keep a leopard gecko, you need to know where to find leopard geckos, how to pick out a healthy one, and how to handle one safely.

Many adult leopard geckos, especially males, will remain calm with regular but brief periods of handling.

Leopard Gecko Sources

Leopard geckos are popular pets, but if you’ve never kept a reptile before, you might not know where to find one. The obvious source is a pet store, and, indeed, that can be a great place to get a leopard gecko. There are also some other options that you might want to consider.

Pet Stores

Local and large chain pet-supply stores frequently offer leopard geckos and other small reptiles for sale. Before buying your pet from any store, make sure it’s a reputable place. It should be clean and well lit, and not have an offensive odor (within reason—when dealing with live animals, it’s nearly impossible to be odor-free). All of the animals should be kept in clean conditions appropriate for their species. If the store does not meet these standards, don’t reward them with your business.

It is a sound idea to browse the store to see if it carries all the supplies you will need going forward. You will need a source for your food, vitamins, substrate, and more. You may want to see if the store can special-order the particular items or brands you want.

Before buying your gecko, inquire about the store’s animal guarantee and return policy. Most stores will guarantee their animals for two days to two weeks. Make sure you understand the store’s policy—get it in writing if you can—so that if you end up with an unhealthy gecko or have some other issue, you will have some recourse.

Cage before Lizard

Always buy the enclosure and other accessories before you bring a leopard gecko home. Set everything up at least a day in advance and make sure all of the equipment works. Check that the enclosure’s temperature falls in the correct range. Arrange the landscape to find the look you want.

Having the vivarium ready before you bring your new pet home lowers the stress it will experience. As soon as you get your gecko home, you can introduce it to its new digs instead of making it wait in a box while you scramble to set up its enclosure.

Reptile Shows

In many areas of the United States, there are semi-regular reptile shows, also called reptile expos. These are one- or two-day events that bring together many vendors selling live reptiles, supplies, and related items. One of these shows can be a great source for your leopard gecko. You can find out about reptile shows online or in reptile publications.

At a show, you will likely have many geckos to choose from, and you will be able to see them all up close—but don’t just buy the first nice gecko you see. Visit several vendors and be sure to make note of the vendors who have geckos that catch your eye.

Because reptile shows attract both big-name and hobbyist breeders, it can be easier to find specific color varieties—usually called morphs—at shows than in pet stores. Shows can also offer good opportunities to talk directly to breeders or other experts about gecko care. Remember to be considerate. While most will perfectly happy to talk to you, they are there to sell animals and supplies. For some, reptile shows may be a significant part of their income. If a vendor you’d really like to talk to is busy with customers, ask for his or her contact information and reach out at another time.

Some of the same rules for buying a gecko at a pet store apply here. Make sure you are getting a healthy gecko. Ask to hold the gecko in which you are interested to get a closer look. If you see someone selling dirty, underweight, or otherwise unhealthy animals at his or her table, choose a different vendor.

Some vendors will offer a guarantee at the show; others will not. It’s not necessarily a sign of a bad vendor if he or she won’t offer a guarantee. After all, how does the vendor know that you didn’t leave the gecko in your hot car for a few hours while you went for lunch? If your chosen vendor does offer a guarantee, be sure that you understand the details and get his or her contact information before you complete the sale.

The leopard gecko’s distinct looks and behavioral qualities make it a popular reptile pet.

Online Sellers

It’s becoming more and more common to buy reptiles and other animals via the Internet. Usually this means buying directly from a breeder’s website, but you could be buying from a retailer who did not produce the geckos him- or herself.

Buying online might be the best method of obtaining a leopard gecko if you want a specific morph or want to purchase from a specific breeder. Most breeders have photos of their stock on their website. You can select the exact gecko you want and pay via credit card, and the seller will ship the gecko to your door.

The downside of buying online is that you cannot inspect the gecko for health, nor can you check out the breeding facility. It’s a good idea to research the vendor’s online reputation and avoid those sellers who have many negative reviews. Again, be sure you understand whatever guarantee the seller offers. Most online vendors guarantee only live arrival; that is, they guarantee that the gecko will be alive when it reaches you, but you are on your own afterward.

Leopard gecko lines developed by David Nieves: tangerine (top) and high-contrast with orange tint (bottom).

Rescues and Shelters

The leopard gecko’s popularity means that sometimes geckos are purchased by owners who decide that they no longer want their geckos. These geckos may end up in animal shelters or reptile rescues. If you don’t mind starting with an older leopard gecko, or you like the idea of giving an animal a chance at a better life, consider adopting from a shelter or rescue. The best way to find leopard geckos in need of adoption is to go to Petfinder.com, which will direct you to the closest sources of adoptable leopard geckos.

Selecting a Leopard Gecko

Most of the leopard geckos sold in the trade are captive-bred juveniles. Subadults (those of nearly adult size but not yet able to breed), retired breeders, and imports are sporadically available.

Wild Imports versus Captive Bred

Relatively few wild-collected leopard geckos are now imported into the United States, and they are primarily of interest only to breeders who want to diversify their gene pools. Compared to the captive-bred leopard geckos offered in the pet trade, wild imports typically appear dull-colored, beat up, and thin. Captive-bred and captive-raised animals are best for aspiring leopard gecko owners because they are generally more attractive and healthier than wild forms. Captive-bred geckos are already adapted to living in captivity, so they will not be overly stressed by the move to their new owners’ homes. Given the huge numbers of captive-bred leopard geckos available and their advantages over wild-caught ones, there is no reason for anyone other than large-scale breeders to purchase wild-caught leopard geckos.

Kids and Leopard Geckos

It is often a child in the family who wants a pet leopard gecko. There is nothing wrong with getting a leopard gecko for a child, but an adult has to be responsible for the lizard’s care. No matter how much a kid wants a leopard gecko, there is a good chance that his or her interest will wane over time as new things attract the child’s attention. Therefore, to make sure the gecko doesn’t suffer from neglect, an adult in the household will need to make sure it is properly cared for.

All interactions between children and leopard geckos must be supervised.

Size

If your interest is captive breeding or having a long-lived pet, then the best choice is an immature leopard gecko less than 6 inches long. You can reliably assume that a gecko of this size is younger than one year old. For beginners, animals at least 4 inches long are better choices than small hatchlings, which tend to be more delicate.

If you are attracted to a particularly large and robust adult, probably a retired breeder, remember that it may be old and, in the case of a female, probably not capable of producing many more eggs. This does not mean that an older gecko will not make an excellent and long-lived pet. The mother of one of the authors adopted a leopard gecko when it was estimated to be five years old, and that lizard was still going strong at the age of twenty-three.

Sex

Male and female leopard geckos make equally nice pets. If you plan to breed leopard geckos, you will need only one male for every ten or so females, and males cannot be housed together when mature. If you want to introduce a new mutation, such as albinism, into your colony, a single male is a better investment than a single female. If your goal is to beat existing longevity records for the species, a male is also a better choice.

The jungle morph is characterized by an irregular dorsal pattern and an unringed tail.

The striped pattern was derived from selectively breeding jungle phase leopard geckos.

Morphs

There are many varieties of leopard gecko, and every year seems to bring some new variation. The primary criterion for selecting a morph should be the aesthetic appeal it has for you. If your interest is primarily in the financial benefits of breeding one morph or another, research your market carefully before investing.

A lavender and yellow leopard gecko.

Health Considerations

The following guidelines will help you select a potentially healthy leopard gecko. However, careful examination prior to purchase does not always guarantee good health. Diagnosis of illness may also require veterinary examination and testing, such as fecal exams. On two occasions, one of the authors bought what appeared to be relatively healthy animals that were later diagnosed with coccidiosis (a parasitic infestation). On the bright side, most of the captive-bred leopard geckos sold in the pet trade are healthy.

1. The body outline should be smooth, the outline of the hip bones not visible, and the tail rounded without wrinkles that give it a shrunken appearance. In the case of imports, a wrinkled tail may simply mean that a leopard gecko has not been fed for an extended period of time.

2. The mouth, when closed, should appear even, with no jutting upper or lower jaw.