Leopard gecko care: what a family needs to know
Ask your vet about your own pet. This page is general information from the sources below.
Leopard gecko care, from RSPCA and others on this page. RSPCA says leopard geckos often eat their own shed skin after it softens in the damp hide. CDC says children under 5 should not handle or touch reptiles or their homes, because Salmonella can make them very sick, and suggests a different pet for homes with young children. RSPCA does not say if geckos suit children.
Checked October 29, 2026.
How long they live
RSPCA says up to 20 years.
Home
RSPCA gives a minimum of 60 cm long x 40 cm high x 30 cm deep for one adult, and says bigger is better. Warm end 28 to 30 degrees C, cool end 24 to 26 degrees C, humidity about 30 to 40%, plus a damp hide for shedding and UVB light. Avoid loose sand-type floors, which can cause a dangerous blockage.
Food
RSPCA says live insects such as crickets and locusts, no bigger than the gecko's head. Waxworms only sometimes because they are fatty. Food is dusted with vitamin and calcium powder. Young ones eat daily, adults every other day.
Company
RSPCA says keep them alone; they don't need company and can be aggressive.
Handling
RSPCA says handle only a little, never grab, and scoop with both hands so all four feet are held. Never pull the tail. Keep it to about 10 to 15 minutes.
Is it a good pet for children?
CDC says children under 5 should not handle or touch reptiles or their homes, because Salmonella can make them very sick, and suggests a different pet for homes with young children. RSPCA does not say if geckos suit children. They need heat, light and live food, so a grown-up must do the real caring.
Washing hands
Wash hands with soap and running water after feeding, after touching the animal's food, waste or equipment, after cleaning the tank, and before eating or drinking. Clean tanks and gear outside if possible, never where food is made, and don't kiss the animal or hold it near your face.
The vet
RSPCA suggests regular check-ups with a vet who knows reptiles.
Good to know
RSPCA says leopard geckos often eat their own shed skin after it softens in the damp hide.
A job for the children
With a grown-up (child 5 or older), watch and write down the temperature on the thermometer each day, with the grown-up doing all touching and cleaning.
"A grown-up is the real carer for leopard geckos. Our job is the small, steady part."
Leopard gecko facts
Leopard gecko: facts from the sources below, in the sources' own words.
- A gecko needs fresh, clean water every day.
- A new tail starts growing right away, but it is smooth, shorter and wider.
Leopard gecko card
A leopard gecko is a quiet night animal, and a grown-up does the heavy jobs.
- Home. A glass home with two hiding places. A grown-up and a reptile vet set up the heat.
- Food. Insects. A grown-up gives live ones that were recently fed, in the evening.
- Water. Fresh, clean water every day.
- Every day. Check the water, check that she eats, and let her sleep in her hide by day.
- Every week. Ask a grown-up to look over the home. Most geckos shed their skin every four to eight weeks.
- Handling. A grown-up decides. Short and gentle. Never grab the tail. Children under 5 should not touch.
- Happy signs. She hides by day, comes out at night, eats, and sheds her skin and eats it.
- Tell a grown-up if. Her eyes look swollen, sunken or stuck shut, she will not eat, or she has no energy.
Jobs to tick, with a grown-up
- Fill the water dish with fresh water (a grown-up checks)
- Watch and write down when she eats
- Tell a grown-up about anything that looks different
- Wash hands with soap after touching her dish or things
Wash your hands with soap after touching a gecko, her food, or her things. Keep her out of the kitchen. Do not kiss her.
Poison emergency? Call now
ASPCA Animal Poison Control: (888) 426-4435, 24 hours a day, every day. A consultation fee may apply.
Pet Poison Helpline: (855) 764-7661, 24/7. $99 per incident, follow-up calls included.
Or call your vet or the nearest emergency vet.
Every pet is different, and this is general information from the sources below, not veterinary advice. For a sick or hurt pet, call a vet who knows this kind of animal.
Sources
- RSPCA: How to care for a leopard gecko (checked October 29, 2026)
- CDC: Healthy Pets - Reptiles and Amphibians (checked October 29, 2026)