Geckos · Care guide
Eublepharis macularius
A terrestrial, crepuscular/nocturnal gecko from arid and semi-arid Pakistan, India and Iran — one of the most popular pet lizards. Dry heat with a probe target of 84 °F, Shadedweller UV, a wet box for shedding, and an insect-led diet.
At a glance
Key parameters for day-to-day husbandry. Full detail is in the sections below.
Daytime probe
84 °F
29 °C · thermostat sensor
Night drop
~10 °F
~74 °F · ~23 °C
Diet
Insects
Method of 5 · 4:1 dust
UVB
Shadedweller
Nocturnal / crepuscular UV
01 · Housing
Terrestrial geckos from arid and semi-arid Asia. Give plenty of floor cover — hides, branches, a wet box with damp moss for shedding, artificial foliage, dry substrate, and a clear temperature gradient. Adult minimum is 24″ × 18″ × 18″.
Adult minimum size
24″ W × 18″ D × 18″ H
Wooden vivarium, or larger as desired. Dry terrestrial setup with heat bulb, Shadedweller UV, wet box, and cool-side water bowl.
Housing diagram
Enclosure example
Front view 24″ wide × 18″ tall (depth 18″) · hides · branches · wet box · foliage · cool water bowl
Setup diagram · 1 of 2
Top-down view
Heat bulb & probe left–right positions · Recommended temps need this layout
Setup diagram · 2 of 2
Front view
Looking into the vivarium · bulb on the ceiling · probe hangs down the back
02 · Climate
Dry heat with a clear cool-to-warm gradient, Shadedweller UV for a nocturnal species, and a wet box for shedding rather than high ambient humidity.
When the heat bulb and thermostat sensor are placed as instructed, a probe target of 84 °F (29 °C) creates this spread. The probe point is not the basking spot.
| Zone | Temperature |
|---|---|
| Cool side | ~80 °F (~27 °C) |
| Probe point (thermostat probe target) | 84 °F (29 °C) |
| Middle | 86–88 °F (30–31 °C) |
| Warm side | ~95 °F (~35 °C) |
| Night drop | Reduce thermostat by ~74 °F (~23 °C) at night · ~10 °F drop |
Climate diagram
Lighting setup
Shadedweller UV on the ceiling · heat dome on the warm side · match UV to heat
Always have the thermostat dial turned down before you plug it into the mains for the first time. Set the probe to 84 °F (29 °C) for daytime once the heat bulb and sensor are in place.
03 · Nutrition
Insect-led diet with method of 5, dusting every feed, and well gut-loaded insects.
At a glance
Fed regularly
In moderation only
Dust every feeding with a 4:1 mix of calcium : Nutrobal (4 parts calcium to 1 part Nutrobal). Store the mix in an airtight container and use it to coat food every time you feed.
New Leopard Geckos often will not eat well for the first few days. This is perfectly normal. Once settled, appetite usually increases.
Offer 5 insects at a time
Wait until they are eaten before adding more
Prevents dumping 10–15 insects that go uneaten — reducing stress and insect-related injuries
Gut-load insects before offering — variety matters for calcium-to-phosphorus (Ca:P) and vitamins.
Feeder insects must be well fed before offering. In the wild, lizards eat insects that themselves ate a wide variety of foods — providing complete nutrition and a better calcium-to-phosphorus (Ca:P) ratio.
Hand feeding can help bonding, but excessive hand feeding can lead to obesity. Hunting and chasing food provide exercise and enrichment.
Speak to a member of staff for more feeding advice.
04 · Behaviour
Patience first. Settling and regular feeding come before handling.
Allow the lizard to settle and begin eating regularly before handling — we recommend at least two successful feeds first. Adapting is stressful; early handling can make it worse.
Initial sessions: 5–10 minutes only. Lengthen as the lizard becomes more comfortable.
Always wash or disinfect hands before and after handling to prevent bacteria transfer both ways.
Do not use aerosols or plug-in air fresheners near the enclosure — the chemicals can harm your lizard.
05 · Welfare
Prevention starts with correct husbandry — heat, UVB, hydration, and supplementation working together.
Correct temperatures, supplementation, hydration, and UVB keep the immune system and gut working well — supporting essential physiological processes.
Pros
Cons
Questions
Adult minimum is a 24″ × 18″ × 18″ wooden vivarium, or larger. They are a dry terrestrial species — use pelleted straw or coarser desert sand (not fine sand), fill the floor with hides and branches, add a wet box with damp moss for shedding, artificial foliage for cover, and a cool-side water bowl. Use a heat bulb with the ¼/¼ probe method and Shadedweller UV for nocturnal/crepuscular reptiles.
Set the thermostat probe to 84 °F (29 °C) by day with the heat bulb about one-quarter from one side and the probe one-quarter from the opposite side, hanging down the back a few inches from the floor. That creates a gradient of about 80 °F cool, 86–88 °F middle, and around 95 °F warm. At night reduce the thermostat by about 10 °F to around 74 °F (23 °C).
Although nocturnal, use a Shadedweller UV system designed for nocturnal and crepuscular reptiles (terrestrial or arboreal forms). Match UV on/off to heat. Daytime heat about 12 hours in winter and up to 16 hours in summer when days are longer.
Allow the gecko to settle and begin eating regularly before handling — at least two successful feeds first. Early sessions 5–10 minutes only; lengthen as they become more comfortable. Always wash or disinfect hands before and after. No aerosols or plug-in air fresheners near the enclosure.
Offer five insects at a time and wait until eaten before adding more. Once settled, about 5–10 crickets daily is common. Dust every feed with a 4:1 calcium : Nutrobal mix. Staples: crickets, locusts, calci worms, and mealworms; waxworms and morios in moderation. Food size no larger than the distance between the eyes.
Next steps
Shop heating, housing and lighting on this site, browse livestock when available, or speak to our team for a tailored kit list.
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