Leopard geckos are like little leopards that have become geckos.They are super cute and small, but there are many interesting facts about these geckos that may interest you.It is a common myth that the leopard gecko is nocturnal. The truth is that no they are not nocturnal. leopard geckos are crepuscular. This is very different from nocturnal. It means geckos do not stay awake at night. Another truth is that leopard geckos do sleep during daylight.So when are they active? Geckos are active at twilight (the time of dawn, and dusk). Geckos like to curl up and sleep when there is bright sunlight outside. You will see a gecko is most active when the light is not shining but it hasn’t become completely dark.These geckos are not like other typical lizards, avoiding sleeping in the open in the sun and basking in the sun’s heat for high temperatures. Gecko likes to sleep in a hidden place where they cannot become easy prey. They are neither active at night nor are they active during the day. So, the fact that the leopard geckos are nocturnal is not true.If you enjoy this article, why not also read about African fat-tailed gecko facts or are hamsters nocturnal here at Kidadl?Do leopard geckos sleep at night?You may be amazed to know that leopard geckos are not nocturnal.They also sleep at night. Leopard geckos are not active during the day as well. They are a little different than others. They are active for a short time. When it twilight, neither the sun has fully risen, nor has it fully set. So, they like to catch prey and feed at this time only.Since a pet leopard gecko is found sleeping during the day, it is a common perception that they must be nocturnal. Finding out that they are a crepuscular species is interesting. There are many such facts about this species that are unique to the leopard geckos only.At dawn, the chill of the night has not faded, and at dusk, the heat of the day is still there. So, it is a perfect time for these geckos to hunt. They are less prone to getting caught themselves. This time of lights and shadows helps them camouflage. They are easily able to move around without being detected. They are able to catch warm animals or insects at dusk and cold-blooded ones at dawn. So, this is their time to find food.Why are leopard geckos nocturnal?You may be still wondering are leopard geckos nocturnal? The answer is no.They are a unique species of geckos. They are a crepuscular species. It means that they are active at the time of twilight only.When we see a gecko sleeping during the daytime, we feel that they may be nocturnal. But, they are active at the time between day and night. It is the best time for them as the others are either sleeping or still half-awake so they have lesser competition. They can get loads of prey.If you plan to keep a pet leopard gecko, you should note that they will be active only in the early morning or in the evening. They will not be active at night. So, make a routine in such a manner that you can provide food, water, calcium, and vitamin supplements to a gecko when it is awake.When in the wild, leopard geckos are found in the desert (their natural habitat) in high temperatures. So, it means they have to bear with the heat and humidity around 30-40%. This time that they have selected is to minimize the fear of getting caught and maximize their chances of getting prey.Do leopard geckos like to be handled?Leopard geckos are not nocturnal. They like to stay awake at twilight.If you want to keep a leopard gecko as a pet, you will not have to worry much. They can be kept in a small space. They are not like iguanas that will grow to be multiple times their size from hatchlings. They are very small lizards. Gecko are a crepuscular species. Their diet consists of crickets and insects. They can shed their tail and stay alive, so no fear. There are very few albino leopard geckos as well.For keeping the leopard lizard, you will need a tank about 20 gal (75 l) in size. Do not keep more than one male at a time in one tank. You will need to remove the gecko’s feces daily. Also, clean the whole substrate out and clean the whole tank once a month with proper care, else there can be the growth of moss inside the enclosure. Remember to disinfect the whole place well before you put the gecko back.For maintaining the temperature, you can install an incandescent light. A ceramic heat emitter will also be needed for providing heat at night. You can also use an under-tank heater. Geckos are cold-blooded lizards so they need external heat. Geckos like it around 88 F (31 C). The gecko is crepuscular species.Since geckos are not very active in the day they do not need a UVB light installed separately. A small amount of UVB light will help you keep the gecko healthy. This will also prevent metabolic bone disease when they are not in the wild. Else, you will have to feed them vitamin supplements at regular intervals.In summer, geckos need 14 hours of light from the sun and in winter they need 12 hours of light from the sun. Leopard lizards like humidity levels between 30-40%. If this reduces below 20% then they may have trouble shedding.What time of day should I hold my leopard gecko?Leopard geckos are not nocturnal.This is not enough to say that they are active in the daytime. The best time to hold your leopard gecko is in the very early morning time or in the evening. They are active in the twilight time only. When you fill in the substrate in the enclosure, make sure it is not calcium or wood. If they ingest any such thing this will severely affect their health.Leopard geckos are insectivores. So, you have to feed them insects like crickets. When they are young, they need to be fed several crickets a day for proper growth. Adult geckos can skip 1-2 days of feeding. Never feed them fruits or vegetables. They cannot digest such food.If a leopard gecko remains healthy it can be your pet for more than 20 years. They will be 8-10 in in size only (20-25 cm). You can keep paper as a substrate in their tank. This will be easy to maintain and also keep your gecko healthy. You can hold it and play with it. Do not trouble it in the day. Having a gecko pet is a great responsibility, being crepuscular. You have to understand the leopard gecko’s lifestyle and then adopt one. Set aside time to feed this lizard accordingly.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for ‘Are leopard geckos nocturnal? Know their dawn and dusk sleep habits’, then why not take a look at ‘What cheese does chipotle use? Appetizing yummy cheese facts for kids’ or ‘Purrrfect facts about the ragamuffin cat kids will love’?
Leopard geckos are like little leopards that have become geckos.
