Leopard geckos are one of the most popular lizards for a pet. And are probably the first domesticated lizard species.
Leopard Gecko’s Are Easy Pets
So far, you have probably already learned that they are a beginner lizard. Because they are a smaller lizard in size, they are pretty sturdy, and quite easy to care for too. Meaning that they are not as hard to take care of as chameleons, skinks, tegus, and agamids.
However you should be aware of a number of things when you are buying your first leopard gecko. They are offered at a lot of pet places like Petco and Petsmart. And I really don’t like buying a leopard gecko from Petsmart or Petco because there are much better options out there. Since these lizards live up to 20 years you’re going to need to choose one carefully. You’re going to have a little buddy that will be with you for many years to come. So down below I will discuss some of the best places for finding your first leopard gecko.
First, Let’s Talk About Petsmart & Petco
These are two of the biggest companies that sell everything from dogs, kittens, fish, birds, and yes you guessed it, lizards too.
The only drawback is these stores don’t have very high end morphs of leopard geckos. They typically don’t have the best colors, and often the workers don’t know very much about reptiles. Because they don’t specialise in them – they know just a little bit about lots of animals insead.
In fact, here’s a true story. At Petsmart they actually tried selling me a UVB light for a leopard gecko. These reptiles don’t require one! Not to mention they will try to sell you dried mealworms, grasshoppers, crickets etc. Which don’t actually move (because they’re already dead!). Since these bugs are not actually moving your leopard gecko will not want to eat them. I have already made this mistake before, and wanted to warn anyone that is considering a leopard gecko to NOT buy dried food. It’s cheaper but it won’t save you money because it will be a waste instead when your leo just ignores the dried up dead things.
I often wonder about the well-being of the reptiles at these two companies too. Because leos are nocturnal and kids want to see them, they will bang on the glass and disrupt the geckos sleeping cycle. Pretty stressful for the poor geckos day after day.
So it just all seems to be hit or miss with reptiles at Petsmart and Petco. A better option would be a local specialist reptile shop in your area – even if it means travelling a bit further away. They are better options because they deal with reptiles exclusively and know how to properly care for them.
Specalist Leopard Gecko Breeders
Breeders are better option for purchasing leopard geckos. Why? Because they have a passion for the animals and don’t just do it to make money (well most of them – there’s always some bad ones). They actually care for the reptiles properly. It’s their business and they have built a business out of doing something they love. Typically a breeder will know a lot about geckos, and have years of experience taking care of them. A lot of times they come with paperwork so you know about the morph you own and even a hatch date. With leopard geckos from the store, you usually don’t even know how old they are or where they came from.
You can find some of the best leopard gecko breeders here.
Checklist for Buying a Leopard Gecko
- Leopard geckos sleep during the day. So if they’re sleeping when you go to pick them up in their tank, and they don’t act alarmed when you stick your hand in there they could be sick. They should be timid and untrusting to new people trying to pick them up.
- A leopard gecko’s tail tells you a lot about the gecko. They should have a fatter tail compared to their body. They store food in their tail as fat reserves. They do this in case they can’t eat for a couple weeks at a time. It makes them more resilient in the wild.
- They shouldn’t be super skinny and look like they are struggling to get around. Don’t buy one out of guilt because you’ll just end up with a dead gecko a month on down the road. They should be fat or have some meat on their bodies.
- Their skin says a lot about the gecko. If they have scratches, burns or sores on their body then there is a good chance they are pretty unhealthy and haven’t been looked after properly.
- They shouldn’t have anything coming out of their mouth or nose. Leopard gecko’s eyes should be clear.
- Their living environment should be clean. There shouldn’t be weeks and weeks worth of poop in the cage. The poop should be blackish brown with a little white (which is calcium). Don’t buy a leopard gecko if see their poop is read because that means blood which isn’t good.
- Your gecko should be stronger than you think. They shouldn’t be struggling to climb or move around their tank – their legs should look strong and not bendy.
- If they’re shedding it’s a good sign. This means they are eating properly and growing well.
Common Questions When Buying a Leopard Gecko
Why should I avoid buying a leopard gecko from large pet stores like Petco and Petsmart?
Large pet stores may not provide the best care for the geckos. The staff may not have specialized knowledge about reptiles, and the geckos may not be in the best health or condition.
Where should I buy a leopard gecko from?
It’s recommended to buy from specialist reptile shops or breeders. These sources are more likely to have a passion for the animals and extensive knowledge about their care.
What should I look for in a healthy leopard gecko?
A healthy leopard gecko should be alert and not overly skinny. Its tail should be fat, as they store food in their tail as fat reserves. The skin should be free of scratches, burns, or sores. The gecko’s eyes should be clear, and there should be nothing coming out of its mouth or nose.
What does a leopard gecko’s living environment tell me about its health?
The living environment should be clean, without weeks’ worth of poop in the cage. If the poop is red, this could indicate blood, which is a bad sign. The gecko should also be able to move around its tank easily, with strong, not bendy, legs.
How long do leopard geckos live?
Leopard geckos can live up to 20 years, so choosing a healthy one is important as it will be a long-term commitment.
What should I feed my leopard gecko?
Avoid feeding your leopard gecko dried food, as they prefer live prey. Dried mealworms, grasshoppers, and crickets may be ignored by your gecko as they do not move.
How can I tell if a leopard gecko breeder is reputable?
A reputable breeder will have extensive knowledge about geckos and years of experience caring for them. They should be able to provide information about the gecko’s morph and hatch date, which is often not available when buying from a store.
Are leopard geckos good pets for beginners?
Yes, leopard geckos are considered a good beginner lizard due to their smaller size and relatively easy care requirements compared to other reptiles like chameleons, skinks, tegus, and agamids.
Help there! New leopard gecko owner here. I’ve had my baby gecko for 4 days and he still won’t eat. Should I be concerned?
Don’t worry! Mine did the same thing, they’re just getting used to their new environment
Thank you for talking about how leopard geckos sleep during the day. I can see how knowing this can help you rest assured that they are not sick or anything when you buy them if it is day time. It is important to remember that taking the time to do a proper research and know how these lizards behave and how to treat them can help yours stay happy and live a long life.
Hello, I am planning on buying a leopard gecko soon and I would like to say thank you for all your wonderful advice for buying and taking care of them. Since this is my first lizard I would like to make sure I am not making any mistakes, such as I bought dead mealworms for the Brown Anole I caught from my yard. He did not eat them because they were, well, dead. So my first question is will Leopard Geckos do well in the Florida climate? And if not are there any other gecko species that will? My second is what heating items do Leopard Geckos need? (The difference between heating rocks and heating mats is confusing) My last question is can Leopard Geckos use the ExoTerra desert starter kit? Thank you for all the wonderful advice!!
I’m going to go with your tip and seek out a breeder. I’m glad you listed what to look for in a gecko, I wouldn’t have known what to look for. I’ve always loved how these lizards look.
Hi Garen:
Interesting info about Petco and Petsmart not being the retailer of choice for buying a gecko. Sad that people wouldn’t do their research before purchasing and pay good money for an pet that will not last very long. A quality breeder seems like the right choice even if you do pay a little more.
Hi Garen,
What an interesting article, I really enjoyed reading it!
To be honest, I’ve never had a leopard gecko in my entire life. I love animals but never thought to adopt a leopard gecko. Are those animals domestic? Do you think they are happy the way they live in an aquarium? Or it does not matter to them? Just curious about this:) Maybe they don’t have feelings? It’s important for me to know these details, because when I adopt an animal, I would like to receive as much love as I give them. My dogs are always happy to see me and cats sleep on me all the time.
Sorry for all those questions:)
Thank you
Reptiles don’t care one bit about other living creatures. The reptilian mind is much different than the human mind. I could drop dead right in front of them and they could care less.
But, seriously, they do seem happy with their life. They come out at night and hunt and then pass out all day long. Wish I had that kind of life 🙂
Dude animals are smart. If you fell on purpose to get a reaction they would know you’re faking. If you don’t take care of them then they won’t love you, if you do take care of them then they will love you.
Outstanding information I love lizards, my sister has a bearded dragon I think? More people should do research before buying any pets.
I think it’s disgusting for store owners to employ people with no knowledge or not train them up to a standard of care, I personally would class that as cruelty.
Thank you so much for this article I want to buy one just got to convince the wife.
Speaking of animal cruelty I have actually seen YouTube videos where Petco or Petsmart employees actually put Iguana’s in the dumpster. I do really like bearded dragons too. I own 3 of them 🙂
Good luck convincing your wife to let you get a leopard gecko!
I have a black and white tagu and i used to have leopard gecko’s till i had to sell them because i couldn’t have them where i was moving into. They make great starter pets if you know what you are doing and know how to take special care of them. And the pet-co here where i live actually has people that take very good care of the reptiles and they know a lot about them. It depends on who takes care of them. But me personally i would rather order my reptiles than go to a store.
I have had 2 carribean boas and a bearded dragon, but never a leopard gecko. They are beautiful and interesting. I love all the information you have here as they are very different from the herpes that I am most familiar with. I think I spent almost an hour here reading info and enjoying the videos and now I am ready to go this weekend and meet some live leopard geckos!
I’m so mad at myself for buying a leopard gecko that was brittle and his tail was very thin. I was a little hesitant when purchasing the little guy, but finally decided to go ahead and do it. I thought I could nurse him/her back to good health, but as it turns out it died last weekend. The local pet store did replace the leopard gecko, though. But, I do agree that Petsmart and Petco are two places you should avoid for buying leopard geckos!
Sorry to hear about your leopard gecko. Yeah, I would never buy a gecko out of guilt. It will probably just die.
I live in Omaha Nebraska and for real. There’s no reptile stores near me, just Petco and PetSmart, but what I’ve heard these are really bad places to buy leopard geckos from. Is there any way you can order a gecko online at a reptile store?
I was wondering if leopard geckos can climb? I am a little scared of it getting out of it’s tank.
Oh they can. And trust me. The babies will. Mine jumps too. However as long as I’m gentle and don’t disturb him much he’s stays at the bottom. He only goes and sits near the top when scared. If it makes you feel better you can get a tank with a safety lock on the lid. That’s what I have because my little guy is an it of an escape artist and it’s worked so far.
They don’t have the adhesive pads other geckos have. They have little claws since they are more like ground lizards.