Night Gecko (Eublepharis macularius)

🧠 1. Basic overview
Name Leopard gecko / Night gecko
Scientific name Eublepharis macularius
Origin Dry areas of Central and South Asia (Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, Iran)
Size 18–25 cm
Lifespan 10–20+ years in captivity
Activity Nocturnal
Diet Insectivore
Temperament Calm, shy

🎨 2. What they look like

The leopard gecko is a medium-sized lizard, often recognizable by:

📍 Appearance

Body: robust, muscular with a short trunk.

Head: large, triangular.

Eyes: large eyes with vertical pupils - adapted to nocturnal life.

Tail: strong and able to throw itself off independently when threatened (autotomy).

Skin: thick, in some individuals with a dotted pattern.

🎨 Color variations

In the wild:

The base color is gray-beige to yellow-brown with dark spots.

In captivity (species-bred morphs):

Mack snow

Hypo

Blizzard

Tang

High yellow

Albino / Bell albino

Super hypo

Many combinations of bred colors and patterns

These morphs give enormous variability in the breeding world.

🏠 3. Care requirements

The night gecko is relatively undemanding, but still requires the right environment.

🐢 Terrarium
📏 Size

1–2 adult geckos: at least 60 × 45 × 45 cm

For two males (only if compatible): larger terrarium

🧱 Substrate

Paper towels, repti carpet, ceramic tiles - safe and easy to clean.

Not suitable: sand or granular substrates - risk of steaming and impaction (blockage of the digestive tract).

💡 Lighting

UVB is not necessary, but weak UVB can benefit a healthy metabolism.

For correct biological rhythms, ensure a day-night cycle (10-12 hours of light).

🌡️ Temperature and humidity
Parameter Values
Day temperature 28-32 °C
Bathing area 32-35 °C
Night temperature 22-25 °C
Humidity 30-40% (with a moistened shelter)
💧 Humidity

For proper skin crawling, it is advisable to provide a moist shelter (mohair moss or paper towel).

🍽️ 4. Diet and nutrition
🦗 Basic food

The leopard gecko is an insectivore.

Live insect food:

Crickets

Grasshoppers

Waxworms, dubworms – as treats only

Oakworms

Supplements:

Calcium + vitamin D3

Multivitamin supplements

🐜 Feeding guidelines

Young individuals: every day

Adults: every other day

The size of the insect should be smaller than the width of the gecko's head

😊 5. Nature and behavior
🧠 Character

Nocturnal: active mainly at night and in the evening.

Calm and shy: does not like to be held during the day.

Not aggressive towards humans: with proper handling, it learns to tolerate contact, but is usually not a "pet".

🐾 Interaction with the owner

Some individuals get used to gentle touches.

Always be calm and patient when handling.

Never suppress natural behavior – respect that it is a nocturnal reptile.

🧪 6. Health and Common Problems

Although the leopard gecko is generally hardy, there are some health risks that can be prevented:

🩺 Common Health Problems

🔹 Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD)

Cause:

Deficiency of calcium or UVB / vitamin D3
Signs:

Soft bones

Deformities

Poor coordination

Prevention:

Supplemental calcium + vitamin D3

UVB - even weak - can help

🔹 Impaction (blockage of the digestive tract)

Cause:

Inappropriate substrate (sand)

Too large pieces of food

Signs:

Loss of appetite

Hardened abdominal contents

Prevention:

Safe substrate

Appropriately sized insects

🔹 Dehydration / skin problems

Cause:

Too low humidity

Inappropriate shelter when crawling

Prevention:

Moist shelter

Proper humidity

🧬 7. How to choose a healthy gecko

When buying a gecko, pay attention to:

✔️ Lively and clean eyes - no discharge
✔️ Clear skin without spots (except for morph patterns)
✔️ Active behavior - explores the surroundings in the evening
✔️ Body without swelling
✔️ Proper breathing - no hissing or whistling

🧱 8. Types and color variants (morphs)

The leopard gecko has a very diverse palette of morphs:

Morph Appearance
Wild type Wild pattern, light body with dark spots
Albino Light body without pigment, pink eyes
Hypo Lower number of spots
Hyper Very large and concentrated spots
Mack Snow Bluish shade with feather patterns
Tangerine Orange to yellowish-orange body
Blizzard Solid color, without pronounced spots

(Note: There are many combinations of morphs - the number of variants is growing every year.)

⚖️ 9. Advantages and disadvantages of breeding
👍 Advantages

✔️ Undemanding breeding - suitable for beginners
✔️ Relatively long life - 10–20+ years
✔️ Peaceful behavior - ideal for home terrariums
✔️ Remarkable morphs - many color variations

👎 Disadvantages

❌ Nocturnal lifestyle - may not be "active" during the day
❌ UVB / proper diet required - otherwise there is a risk of MBD
❌ Relatively short legs - not suitable for small children who want to carry it

🧠 10. Final recommendations

📌 Terrarium: large enough, safe substrate, UVB and a heating place
📌 MAINLY: regular daylight + night mode
📌 Spiš: fully insectivorous diet + calcium supplements
📌 Health: monitor breathing, skin and gait