When it comes to providing a home for your gecko, you will have to keep some basics in mind. It needs warmth, humidity, a place to hide, and a substrate for the flooring. Have all necessary equipment ready such as glass terrarium, basking spot lamp 75watt, thermometer and humidity gauge, reptile fogger terrarium humidifier, and set up your equipment before you acquire your leopard gecko. It's not a good idea to leave them sitting and waiting in their carrying boxes while you still in the making of their homes.
For the enclosure, the best choice is a glass terrarium (aquarium), readily available at any pet store or, possibly, from garage sales or online. You don't want to keep your gecko in a place where you cannot see and find it. Glass allows you to easily observe your pet and display it. A pair can live comfortably in a ten gallon tank, but bigger is always better. Crowding your geckos will only cause stress, health issues and territorial fights. An average size of a gecko are 6 to 9 inches long and can grow to as long as 2 feet. So choose the suitable size of your glass terrarium.
Keep your tank temperature at 88 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit or 31 to 32 degrees Celsius, on one side using heat lamps to get to that level if necessary, and arrange the other side to remain down in the mid 70s degrees Fahrenheit or 21 degree Celsius. It's important to allow the animal a temperature gradient, as that will let it regulate its own body temperature. 75 watt bulb can effectively take care of both environment heat and light. As geckos are naturally nocturnal creatures, there is no need to invest in any special lamp, such as ultra-violet lighting. Provide an under tank heat mat for your geckos would be ideal, which will allow them to bask and receive that heat directly into their bellies.
Be very careful about the substrate you choose. Avoid aquarium gravel, walnut shells or calcium sand to prevent impaction.When a gecko eats the substrate and it becomes impacted in its gut, it blocks digestion and will result in a very costly trip to the veterinarian. "ReptiFresh" substrate is recommended as it is the first odor eliminating substrate for use in reptile terrariums. Newspaper, paper towels, slate or tiles will make fine substrate.
Lastly, provide your gecko with somewhere to hide to make him feel more secure. Inverted plant saucers, plants or wood will all suffice for this, and be sure to put something on both the warm and cool sides of the tank. To help your gecko shed properly, add in moist peat moss, sphagnum moss or paper towels to keep the humidity level just right.
