If you're planning on getting a new pet gecko, you're sure to enjoy spending time with these fascinating animals.
However, you're going to need to prepare a habitat for your new reptile friend which is conducive to their health and happiness before you bring them home.
There are several things which every gecko needs to know in order to properly prepare this habit at; we'll cover these points in this article to help you make sure that your leopard gecko's new home is a happy one.
You should start by finding the spot where you'll place your new pets vivarium (this is an aquarium or terrarium).
If you're adopting an adult gecko, then it will need a 10 gallon aquarium to have enough room to be happy in its new home.
Obviously, you'll need a much larger aquarium if you're thinking of housing several geckos in the same aquarium.
If you will keep more than one gecko in the same aquarium, make sure that you don't house two females or two males together, since they will fight over territory (and you may be left with no pets at all if this happens).
If you're keeping a male and female together, then they will mate and you'll have some baby geckos on your hands before too long.
Since geckos are naturally desert lizards, you'll have to set up their habitat to replicate this environment.
Sand is something they are thought to prefer, at least as adults.
However, you should make sure that there is a sand-free area in the aquarium for feeding your gecko.
Otherwise they can swallow sand along with their meals and this can cause them digestion and impaction problems.
If you're buying sand for your leopard gecko habitat, purchase sand which has been calcium-enriched.
This sand is made specifically for this purpose and is marketed as safer and healthier for your new pet gecko.
I suggest you don't use sand though, to avoid any health problems.
Shredded paper and soil also make good choices for your gecko habitat, especially if your new pet is still a baby.
Start them off with paper towels and switch to sand once they're matured if you desire.
A desert lizard needs plenty of warmth, meaning that you're going to need to provide some heat for your leopard gecko habitat.
The best ones to use are undertank heaters.
You should place one of these heaters underneath one side of the aquarium; this allows your gecko to go back and forth from the warm side of the tank to the cool side as they like.
Leopard geckos will also need some overhead light to simulate sunlight.
You can set your overhead light on a timer to simulate the natural rising and setting of the sun.
As far as other decorations go, you can use anything you like, though you should ask at a pet store which specializes in reptiles if a given decoration is safe before you add it to your leopard gecko habitat.
Many people prefer to give their pet an environment which makes it feel at home, using rocks and small branches to create a natural look and feel for their gecko's new home.