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Leopard Gecko - Exotic home pet

The leopard gecko (Eublepharis macularius) is an excellent lizard for both beginners and experienced breeders alike. The leopard gecko is easy to care for, undemanding and only needs feeding and simple maintenance after you create the necessary habitat for him.

Leopard or spotted gecko is a desert dweller and leads night image life, therefore he loves warmth and is more inclined to an active life at night. This is an amazing lizard, it is always very interesting to watch it while feeding, it is very funny during the hunt.

Leopard geckos (geckos) get along well with children, but you need to control their communication. These lizards rarely bite and train very well. The gecko can hang from your clothing and learn to climb onto your shoulder without any training. Improper handling, however, can be stressful for the animal: never lift a leopard gecko by its tail (like most lizards) as it can detach it from its body.

Leopard geckos are very hardy and breed easily in captivity. There are many interesting designs available for home keeping. Regular sample with light base color, spotted, and many color varieties (morphs). The leopard gecko is spotted and non-spotted, in many colors including albinos, blizzard, mandarin, carrot tail and other tail colors including spotted, and other varieties.

Origin and description

Albino

The leopard gecko (Eublepharis macularius) was described by the English zoologist Edward Blyth in 1854. The insectivorous lizard is native to Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan. Lives in the desert, is nocturnal. As an endangered species leopard gecko not listed.

Eublefar is a lizard with many spots or no spots at all, depending on the variant of this species. If there are several color variations of the leopard gecko with a typical pattern, as well as albinos, blizzard, mandarin and other popular varieties. Young geckos do not yet have spots, but they appear as they mature.

Leopard geckos grow up to 20 cm in length and weigh 150-220 grams. Lizards of any variety of this species require the same care. Leopard geckos live 5-7 years, and when good care up to 20 years old.

You can distinguish a male from a female by the ledge at the base of the tail. In the female, this is one long bulge; in the male, it is divided into two parts.

Feed and feeding

Leopard geckos are fed crickets and mealworms. Other worms can be offered, but their number in the diet should be limited. Grasshoppers or crickets should preferably be taken from commercially available feeds. This is a completely prepared food, rich in vitamins and minerals necessary for a lizard. It is recommended that calcium and vitamins be added to any food offered to these pets.

Mandarin

Since leopard geckos are nocturnal animals, they will be deficient in vitamin D3. To compensate for its lack, you can add fluorescent lamp with UV, or again include vitamin supplements with calcium in the diet. Lizards need vitamin D3 in their diet or they will not be able to absorb calcium.

Geckos should be provided with a bowl of water, preferably dechlorinated (distilled) water. If you want to use a dechlorinator to get rid of chlorine, use Repti Safe - it will not only remove all harmful impurities from the water, but also make it as close to natural water as possible and reduce the risk of stress and disease by saturating it with electrolytes.

Terrarium

One leopard gecko can be kept in a 37 liter terrarium or aquarium. For two and more lizards a long container with a volume of 70 liters is needed. Do not use acrylic tanks to contain any lizards - heat lamps can melt acrylic. Leopard geckos should have a hiding place to sleep during the day. They also like to climb up, for example, on vines and other snags that can be purchased at the pet store.

Be careful when using calcined sand as bedding. If sand is the only source of calcium, reptiles may start consuming it in large quantities, and this will affect gastrointestinal tract lizards. This can eventually create a blockage and kill the gecko. It is better to use regular sand, sawdust, nut shell bedding and others natural materials not prone to fluid accumulation.

These lizards should not be kept outside the terrarium (aquarium). Outdoors, temperatures can fluctuate unpredictably and there is a risk of tick infestation.

Temperature

Temperatures for leopard geckos should be 29-31C during the day and 22-25C at night. Because these lizards are nocturnal animals, they do not need UV light to absorb calcium, like many other lizards, but it can be a useful supplement for these purposes.

For lighting and heat, 40-60 W incandescent bulbs are needed, located in the upper part on one side of the terrarium. The light can be white or red (infrared). You can also use blue bulbs. Red and blue lamps, in addition to providing warmth, will help you monitor your pet at night. Leopard geckos regulate their own body temperature, moving from colder areas to warm ones when they need it. Therefore, leaving the lamp on one side of the terrarium creates both warm and cool areas for the lizards.

For additional heating, you can use a heating pad or heater next to the terrarium. This is especially important if you only use white light for heating and turn it off at night. Hot rocks are not recommended as geckos can burn themselves. Use a thermometer to monitor the temperature in the terrarium to avoid overheating.

Care

Anything you put in your cage should be disinfected and washed weekly. This includes food and water containers and decorations. The litter should be changed every three to four months. Do not use products containing phenol as a cleaning agent. Cleaners containing chlorine and alcohol are acceptable, but must be rinsed thoroughly.

Leopard geckos are generally easy to care for and defecate in one place in their home. Any approved product can be used for cleaning, such as Jurassi Clean. You can use a perforated scoop to clean up the stool, immediately sifting through the clean sand.

Behavior

Spotted lizards are nocturnal like many desert dwellers. They are friendly and get along well with children. They rarely bite and are quickly tamed, they can sit perched on their shoulders or hang from clothes.

Male leopard geckos are relatively friendly with females of their own species, but two males placed together will fight to the death. Therefore, only one male and any number of females can be kept in one terrarium, provided that there is enough space.

Spotted geckos, in case of danger, if grabbed by the tail, can separate it from the rest of the body. The tail will regenerate, although it will never be the same again.

Reproduction

If you can keep a male and female and you have space for them to breed, you can have as many offspring as there are females. The main thing is to be able to attach this offspring.

Determining the sex of leopard geckos younger than 3-4 months is very difficult visually. In adults of 6-9 months, sex is fairly easy to determine. Males are usually slightly bulkier and have a wider head and neck than females. Also, the male has a pair of bulges behind the anus at the base of the tail. The female has no bulges.

If you are not sure what gender your lizard is, add another lizard to the terrarium. If both geckos wag their tails from side to side, they most likely want to throw themselves at each other, which means they are two males.

The mating process of reptiles is tough and you might even think that the male is attacking the female. He bites her tail and then slowly moves up her body until it reaches her neck.

The female spotted gecko lays one or two eggs at a time. To obtain predominantly females in the offspring, the incubation temperature should be 25-28C; for mixed offspring 29-32C; to obtain males 31-32.3C. Please note that the higher the incubation temperature, the more colorful the offspring will be, and the eggs will hatch faster. Incubation period is 46-60 days.

Young lizards will not eat until their first molt. The gecko must eat the shed skin, as it contains the vitamins and nutrients that the lizard needs. After that, young monitor lizards begin to eat small, pinhead-sized crickets and small worms.

Today, on the pages of our site, there is a completely unusual pet. In narrow circles, breeders call him "leopard" for his unusual leopard color and for his habit of drinking water lapping it with his tongue, like a cat. This pet does not require daily care, and even a child can handle it. So, today the hero of our article, the spotted eublefar, is one of the representatives of the large family of geckos.

Experts distinguish two subspecies of the Afghan eublefar and the typical one.

Natural habitat

Spotted eublefar is most common in the vastness of Afghanistan, India and Pakistan. Most often it can be found on the slopes of the mountains and in the steppes of this area. Average duration life of a gecko in natural conditions is about 10 years old, in captivity, the animal can live up to 30 years.

Lifestyle

The spotted eublefar is a nocturnal animal, which means that the peak of the lizard's activity occurs at night or twilight. During the daytime, the gecko usually hides in the shade of rocks.

Our leopard hero is a predatory animal by nature, he eats in wildlife mainly various smaller lizards, insects, newborn mice, small arthropods and their larvae, as well as various insects. The gecko eublefar is a social animal, which means that in the wild, individuals live in groups. Usually the population consists of several females and one male. Males stand on the defense of their territory and often fight for it with other relatives.

Appearance

It is noteworthy that the color of the gecko, which is kept in captivity, can differ significantly from the individual living in its natural habitat. Experts often associate this with the selection of a lizard, as a result of which the color could change.

In its natural habitat, the color of the body of the lizard is yellowish-gray interspersed with dark spots. The tail of the animal has a pattern in the form of transverse rings. In captivity, however, the color can be different, which is confirmed by officially registered colors, of which there are more than 100.

Spotted eublefar differs from other lizards in its spotted color. The size of this animal is small. The body length of the lizard is about 20 cm.It is quite rare to find a representative of a gecko with a body length of more than 25 cm, and the record holder that was found in the wild had a body length of about 30 cm.The massive and thick tail of the lizard helps the gecko retain moisture and nutrients ... But in case of danger, the gecko can easily discard its tail, which will grow back over time. The spotted eublefar has a large triangular head with protruding elongated eyes, somewhat resembling those of a feline. The body is completely covered with small scales and ends with thin paws with five fingers.

As already mentioned at the beginning of the article, the eublefar at home does not need specialized care and is quite unpretentious in itself. Even a child can handle its content. To keep a lizard, you will need a terrarium measuring 50 × 40 × 30 cm.It is best to start two lizards at once so that the pet is not bored alone. It is preferable to use a large pebble or small pebble substrate as a soil.

It is highly discouraged to use fine soil (for example sand).

Eublefar spotted will feel comfortable at a daytime temperature of about +31 ° C, while at night the thermometer mark can be at +27 ° C. The relative humidity in the gecko aquarium should be around 40-45%. To maintain it, it is recommended to spray the walls of the aquarium with water once a day.

Lighting for a domestic gecko is also useless, since the eublefar lizard is a nocturnal animal. It is allowed to install a lamp with a power of no more than 30 W in one place in the aquarium to simulate solar heating. If you wish, you can purchase a specialized ultraviolet lamp at the pet store. The spotted eublefar needs ultraviolet light to synthesize vitamin D3.

Vitamin D3 helps prevent rickets in lizards, therefore the presence of ultraviolet light in the Eublefar aquarium is very welcome. In the case of established rickets, homemade Eublefar should be irradiated with ultraviolet light for about 10-20 minutes a day.

Nutrition

The answer to the question of what to feed the eublefar at home is quite simple. The gecko can be offered:

• cockroaches,
• crickets,
• grasshoppers,
• newborn mice, etc.

In order for your pet to satisfy its predatory instinct, it is best to place food in the aquarium while it is still alive.

The lizard should be fed once a day, and after a few months, you can switch to feeding once every two or three days. If the homemade eublefar refuses to eat, do not panic. The reserves that are accumulated in the tail of the lizard are quite enough for the gecko to feel good for a decent time.

Hibernation

At home, the spotted eublefar does not need annual wintering and does not hibernate. In captivity, hibernation is necessary only for the reproduction of lizards, in any other case home gecko will feel good without hibernation.

Reproduction

If you want to start breeding geblephars at home, then hibernation for your pet will be necessary. To prepare for wintering, make sure your pet is healthy and well fed - this is the main condition for a successful wintering. Next, you should gradually reduce the daylight hours to 8 hours, while reducing the temperature in the aquarium. The minimum temperature during the wintering period of the gecko at home should be within + 18 ... + 22 ° С.

The hibernation period of the pet should not exceed two months. After the expiration of the allotted time for wintering, the eublefar should be gradually brought out of hibernation by increasing daylight hours and increasing the temperature.

In their natural habitat, the mating season for geckos begins in the middle of winter and lasts until about the beginning of summer. At home, you can also adhere to this regimen for breeding eublefars, but this condition is not required.

Spotted eublefares are ready to breed after 12 months from birth. Reproduction should begin immediately after the animals wake up from hibernation. After three weeks after mating, the female debugs about 1-2 eggs. One individual is able to lay up to 10 clutches per year.

After 40-65 days, lizard cubs are born. They weigh about 2-4 grams and have a length of no more than 8 cm. The color of a newborn eublefar is brown and light stripes. By about 8 months, babies will become similar in color to their parents.

Watch the video about eublefars below!

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The spotted leopard eublefar is a pretty large leopard gecko which is very popular among lovers of various exotic animals. This reptile is easy to care for, it is peaceful and can live quietly in small terrariums.

On top of that, the eublefar is quite easy to breed and has a variety of color variations, which makes it even more attractive to many terrarium hobbyists. From this article, you can learn about the natural habitat of the leopard gecko, the conditions for keeping it at home and how to properly care for it.

Spotted eublefar in nature

This animal lives on the slopes of rocky mountains, which are almost devoid of vegetation, in a semi-dry and dry steppe area. The homeland of the eublefar is countries such as:

The appearance and features of the spotted eublefar

This is one of unpretentious and friendly reptile, which easily and quickly gets used to people. The average eublefar weighs about 50 grams, but there are also large individuals.

In length, it reaches up to thirty centimeters, of which one third falls on the tail, and in the case acute pain or strong fright, the reptile can throw it off. For young lizards, it is not a problem to quickly restore the lost part of the body, but in an adult gecko it will grow back for a long time and at the same time lose their former beauty. Although these are rare cases, as this reptile is not shy.

In the tail, these animals store nutrients, which is why they are so fat and plush. Leopards can be kept in aquariums even with the lid open, because the suckers on their paws are undeveloped, unlike some other species of geckos, but the walls of its dwelling must be high enough so that the reptile does not get out. For greater comfort of your pet, additional bottom ventilation is made in the terrarium.

Spotted eublefar: content

Terrarium

One animal is quite a small terrarium is enough 30 or 40 cubic meters For three reptiles, a 50/30/30 cm horizontal terrarium is suitable, although a vertical one can also be used if the side or rear wall allows the geese to move freely along them, hide in built-in shelters and sit on the shelves. For babies, large volumes of housing are not immediately recommended, although they grow faster in them.

Heating

Eublefars are cold blooded lizards, and they need warmth to digest food. Bottom heating will be the best option for this. To do this, you can use a thermal cord, thermal mat or shoe dryers.

The temperature in the heating area should not exceed 32 degrees. It can be adjusted with a thermometer and the thickness of the soil when installing heating devices. Heating is placed in the corner of the terrarium, "heating" from 25 to 33 percent of the bottom area, while reaching a temperature gradient in the lizard's dwelling. At room temperature at least 22 degrees, heating at night can be turned off. Toddlers up to three months heating needs constant.

Shelters

In a home, a lizard should have several hiding places in warm and cold corners. And the eublefar itself will make the choice of a more comfortable place. And also do not forget about the necessary area of ​​the terrarium - a wet chamber, which should be located in a warm corner, where the animal will molt. We will talk about it a little later.

Inexpensive, practical and environmentally friendly shelters made from half a coconut, which have worked well and are loved by zelefar. And also it is not a problem to order a decor or shelter from a master or make it yourself.

Priming

As a soil in the dwelling of the eublefar, they make a mound of large pebbles and stones, but not sea and river ones, since they are slippery for the pet's paws. So that the animal does not accidentally swallow the stones, their size must be appropriate. It is advisable not to use ordinary sand, otherwise the eublefar will have digestive problems if it is swallowed.

Special carpets are very suitable for terrariums. It is safe, beautiful and convenient when cleaning an animal's home. Any soft doormat will work fine too. Babies should be kept exclusively on paper towels or napkins.

Water

Any low and small capacity is suitable for a drinker. Leopard lizards love to drink clean settled water lapping her tongue like kittens. And they also gladly lick off the droplets of fresh water and with daily spraying there is no special need in the drinking bowl, although it will never be superfluous.

The drinker can be designed to match the style of the terrarium or make the simplest of the available items. Alkaline water is considered the most beneficial in its composition.

Lighting

The eublefar gecko is a crepuscular animal and therefore does not need lighting. An ordinary 25–40 watt incandescent mirror lamp is quite suitable for it to simulate solar heating. Although the best option is bottom heating with a thermal mat, thermal stone or thermal cord.

Ultraviolet radiation is also an essential element that ensures the synthesis of vitamin D 3 in an animal. To do this, use special ultraviolet lamps... Although, if you add the necessary vitamins and minerals to the pet's food and provide it with bottom heating, then it will not need an ultraviolet emitting lamp. The fact is that the vitamin complex in combination with the correct thermal regime provides the animal with vitamin D 3 in full.

It is important to know that albino geese do not like bright light. Therefore, when using lamps, this circumstance must be taken into account and, if possible, consult an appropriate specialist.

Humidity

Humidity in the pet's dwelling should not exceed 50 percent. To increase the humidity to the desired value, if the apartment is too hot, it is necessary to periodically spray the soil in one corner of the terrarium, especially in the absence of a wet chamber.

The old skin of a domestic reptile must come off completely during molting and this process must be controlled, otherwise the pet, under a certain set of circumstances, may stop hearing, be left without fingers, etc. Therefore, you need to know that adults molt once for 1-2 months, adolescents - once every two weeks. And this may not even be immediately noticed, since the reptile eats the old skin after molting. Because of their rapid growth, babies shed much more often than their counterparts.

Moulting Features and Wet Chamber

If the skin of the eublefar begins to whiten, crack and peel off, it means that the usual molt has begun. In order for this process to take place without unpleasant consequences, you need to put a humid chamber in the terrarium.

For this, a container with a lid a little more reptile... A hole about 4 cm in diameter is cut in the lid, which serves as an imitation of a hole. A damp substrate (coconut or vermiculite) is placed on the bottom of this container.

If the eublefar is in good shape under the right conditions, molt is easy and the skin peels off with almost a whole stocking. And if the situation is different and the skin remains on the tail or other parts of the body, then you need to help your pet by holding the place with non-fading skin under warm water. And then gently remove it with a soft cloth or cotton swab.

Periodic spraying of one of the corners of the terrarium cannot guarantee perfect shedding due to unstable moisture supply. And in the case of laying eggs, the wet chamber is simply an irreplaceable element, as it protects the laid eggs from sticking to the bottom of the terrarium, which, if torn off, can lead to their death.

Snake shelters sold in specialized stores are used as wet chambers. Although this camera is not difficult to make with your own hands using improvised materials and minimal knowledge of its design, which can be found on the Internet.

Ventilation

Eublefaram in the terrarium good ventilation is necessary... In this case, air should circulate freely throughout the living space, passing through its entire area. Stagnant air can negatively affect the health of the eublefar in the form of:

• Inflammation.
• Dermatitis.
• Fungus.

Therefore, do not underestimate the correct air exchange in the terrarium. Improper air circulation can be very uncomfortable for your beloved pet.

Nutrition

Spotted geese mainly feed on insects, small rodents and lizards, spiders and even their young. But the best food at home is small cockroaches and crickets. But such a delicacy as zophobas and mealworms should not be abused. This can lead to obesity of the animal and negatively affect its reproductive function. V summer time from insects for food are good:

• Locust.
• Grasshoppers.
• Green caterpillars butterflies that are not covered with hairs.

It is strictly forbidden to give maggots, due to their external digestive system, which begins to digest the wolffish from the inside, as a result of which they may die. It is also not recommended to feed earthworms, as well as citrus products.

Approximate diet of eublefars:

• For the first few weeks, no more than two small crickets at a time.
• Older small generation up to three months - no more than three medium-sized crickets per day.
• From three to six months - no more than five large crickets at a time and every other day.
• Up to a year - no more than six large crickets at a time and several times a week.
• Over a year- no more than ten large crickets at a time and several times a week.

Remember to feed the reptile low-fat feed need based on individual characteristics organism, that is, how much to eat, the main thing is not to overfeed. And it is advisable to feed the eublefars in the morning and evening, while adding minerals and vitamins to its diet, otherwise it may simply die without them.

Physiology of Geblephars

Do not keep multiple male geblephars in the same terrarium to avoid territory fights that may end lethal outcome one of the "fighters".

One male needs no more than ten females, and if there is one, he will simply “torture” her.

Heterosex bunslephars are kept together only up to four months of age. In the future, you need to take into account the fact that he will already be able to fertilize a female of any age.

If the female is not fully formed, but has already become pregnant, then usually this leads to a stop or delay in her physical development, and sometimes to death.

Diseases of eublefara: rickets

Quite dangerous, but non-contagious disease, the obvious signs of which is the curvature of the paws. It appears as a result of a lack of calcium at any age. Therefore, you need to constantly monitor its visual manifestation, which is expressed in the curvature of the pet's legs and its uncharacteristic movements (the abdomen should not touch the ground during active movement).

In its advanced stage, this disease leads to the curvature and destruction of the spine of the zuplefar, as a result of which it dies. To avoid this big trouble, you need to closely monitor the diet of your pet, including all the necessary fortified elements that will always keep him in good and healthy shape.

And in conclusion, I would like to say that the life expectancy of your pet directly depends on the maintenance and care of him. Therefore, before buying this exotic animal, initially take care of all the necessary and vital household items that will be needed to properly maintain the eublefar. And if all the conditions for home living are provided to him, then your pet will delight you with his presence for many years to come.

Spotted leopard eublefar (lat. Eublepharis macularius) - of the class Reptiles, of the Scaly order, of the Eublefar family, of the Eublefara genus. Previously, it belonged to the Gekkonidae family, which is why it is often called the spotted and leopard gecko.

International scientific name: Eublepharis macularius(Blyth, 1854)

Synonyms:

Cyrtodactylus macularius- BLYTH 1854: 738
Eublepharis fasciolatus- GÜNTHER 1864: 429 (fide SMITH 1935)
Eublepharis macularius- BOULENGER 1885: 232
Eublepharis macularius- BOULENGER 1890
Eublepharis macularius- SMITH 1935: 127
Eublepharis macularius- WERMUTH 1965: 29
Cyrtodactylus madarensis- SHARMA 1980
Eublepharis gracilis- BÖRNER 1974
Eublepharis macularius- KLUGE 1993
Eublepharis cf. macularius- ANDERSON 1999
Eublepharis macularius- RÖSLER 2000: 78
Eublepharis macularius- SEUFER et al. 2005

English titles: Common Leopard Gecko, Spotted fat-tailed gecko

German titles: Leopardgecko, Pakistanischer Fettschwanzgecko

Conservation status: according to the IUCN Red List (version 3.1.), the species is of least concern (LC).

origin of name

The Latin word "eublefar" literally translates as "having good eyelids", it is a combination of the Greek words Eu meaning "good" and blephar - "eyelid". The Latin word macula is translated as "spot" or "blemish", the animal received this name because of the natural spotting of the skin. A reptile is called a leopard because the spots on its body are similar to the pattern. wild cat() and a special "cat" expressiveness of the look. The species was described in 1854 by the British zoologist Edward Blyth.

What does the spotted leopard eublefar look like? Description and photo

Spotted leopard geese are medium-sized lizards. The maximum length of their body from the tip of the muzzle to the base of the tail is 15.8 cm, together with the tail it is 30 cm. Females are slightly smaller than males, but this is not always the case. Maximum weight the male reaches 80 g, the female - 70 g. The average size females - 18-20 cm, males - 20-28 cm. Average weight females - 50-70 g, males - 60-80 g.

Head the animal is large, pointed, connected to the body by a short thick neck. A pair of nostrils are located at the end of the muzzle. There are large guards on the chin. On the sides of the head, the openings of the auditory canals are visible, covered by the eardrum.

Eyes lizards are large, oval and convex, which is typical for nocturnal animals. Pupils in the form of a slit with a straight edge, located vertically. Unlike many geckos, the spotted leopard gecko has movable eyelids and a thin blinking membrane. There are eyelash-like outgrowths at the back of the upper eyelid.

Mouth voluminous, its corners are bent slightly upward. For this, the gecko is often called the "smiling gecko". This "kind mouth" is filled with 100 small teeth, which are designed to hold and chew on prey for a short time. Teeth are on both jaws and are attached to inside bones. This connection is fragile (pleurodont), so the teeth are alternately replaced with new ones every 3-4 months, while young growing teeth are located next to the old ones.

Body The spotted leopard geese is covered with soft-touch but very durable skin. In nature, it protects the lizard from injuries that can be caused by grains of sand, sharp stones and dry clay. From above, the skin is covered with small scales, among which large cone-shaped scales stand out. These "warts" have a thermoregulatory function. They promote heat build-up and prevent heat loss.

The body is thick and slightly flattened. Compared with viviparous and nimble lizard eublefar seem clumsy. He moves slowly, waddling from side to side.

Tail reptiles are thick in the middle, spiky, decorated with 2-3 lilac rings. It serves as a storage facility for adipose tissue. Because spotted leopard geese live in arid regions, they use this reserve during dry periods as a source of water and during periods of famine as nutrients. Lizards can discard all or part of their tail. This happens especially often with young individuals. From fear, pain, or to protect themselves from persecution, they contract special muscles, which contribute to autotomy.

Autotomy is the throwing away of a limb or organ by an animal.

In young lizards, the tail grows quickly; in old lizards, the regeneration process takes a long time. The new tail will not be as long as it was before, but it will be thicker. It differs in color, the scales on it are smaller, and the tubercles are absent.

If in nature the tail is discarded before wintering, then the animal is left without "strategic" reserves, it can get sick and even die. Typically, geesefars return to the place where they have lost such a nutritious part of their body and eat it.

The tail of this leopard fell off and then grew back. Photo by: Unibrow1994, Public Domain

Legs reptiles of medium length, cylindrical, with five widened, rounded at the end toes, devoid of "suction" pads. There are tubercles on the subdigital plates. All fingers of each foot are rounded, equipped with thin sharp claws that help the animal climb vertical soft surfaces, such as branches and leaves.

There are no teeth (sand skis) along the edges of the fingers, characteristic of lizards living in deserts. The armpits of the forelegs of the spotted leopard geese are transformed into deep dermal pockets, their purpose has not yet been clarified.

Young reptiles painted in yellowish or flesh tones with dark stripes on the body and a dark brown "cap" on the head. There is a light pattern on the cap in the area of ​​the eyes and near the crown of the head, which looks like a bird's footprint. By 8 months of life, eublefars become adults, and then their color changes.

In mature animals, a pattern of brown spots is placed on a light gray or light yellow background, which is more saturated on the body. On the underside of the tail and head, the spots are less bright, and on the abdomen they are not at all. The combination of numerous dark brown spots and light thin gaps between them creates a mesh pattern on the head. A light stripe, more or less free from spots, stretches along the spine. The abdomen of the leopard geese is pale pink, the sides are white.

And here's how they work sense organs lizards:

• Hearing is well developed in leopard eublefars. It allows you to spot prey while hunting.
• Nocturnal animals only see black and white colors... But vision helps them remember the place of laying eggs and constantly return to it in order to leave new offspring.
• In eublephars, taste buds are developed: animals distinguish sweet things well, but are not very sensitive to bitter ones.
• The sense of smell is less developed than other senses, but at a short distance, geese can find objects by smell. Lizards can breathe freely even with food in their mouths, as reptiles have internal nostrils located next to the pharynx. In addition, lizards have a vomeronasal organ, or Jacobson's organ, which is located on the upper palate. This is the peripheral part of the additional olfactory system of some vertebrates. Thanks to him, reptiles smell food in their mouths, and also recognize the smells that surround them. To determine what is around, the lizard often sticks out its tongue, the signal from which goes to the olfactory cavity (to the organ of Jacobson).
• There are suggestions that geesefars are guided by the Earth's magnetic field in the same way as birds are able to do it.
• In case of danger, eublefares make hissing sounds.

Having noticed the object of hunting, the eublefar rises on its paws, creeps up and grabs the animal with its mouth with a sharp lunge. Just before throwing it, it slowly moves its tail from side to side.

He drinks water as, lapping it with his tongue, or licking dewdrops from different surfaces.

Where do spotted leopard eublefares live?

The habitat of spotted geese is exclusively Asia. It is found in northwestern India (Rajasthan, Ajmer, Punjab, Jammu), in eastern Iran, in Pakistan, and in eastern Afghanistan (CARRIÓN et al. 2003). It settles in dry, hot conditions: in stony foothills, in steppes on clay-gravelly soil and in places overgrown with green leafy bushes (lat. Zygophyllum). Occurs in the mountains up to 2500 m above sea level.

Leopard Leopard Gecko is active at night and at dusk. During the day, he rests in shelters: among stones, in caves, in natural or other animal burrows. In the early morning hours, he sunbaths. Ultraviolet rays are beneficial for his body's digestive functions.

Lives in "harems" of several females and one male. The male protects the occupied territory from the encroachments of other applicants for the role of the father of the family. During fights, eublefars can bite off pieces of meat from the sides, tear off each other's tails and eat them. Rarely, but the case may end in the death of one of the rivals.

The optimum temperature of the environment, the most favorable for the life of the lizard, is in the range of 26-42 ° C. At home, the spotted eublefar prefers a soil temperature of 20-24 ° C. In habitats of the species seasonal temperature can drop below 10 ° C, at this time the number of arthropods decreases significantly, and then the lizard falls into a state close to suspended animation. During this period, the animal consumes the substances stored in the tail. Spotted leopard geese sleep for about 2 months, from December to February.

Subspecies of the spotted leopard geesefar

Conventionally, there are 5 subspecies of the spotted leopard leopard, of which only one is recognized by all scientific communities. Animals different groups differ in the size and number of scales on certain parts of the body.

• Afghan spotted leopard eublefar (lat.Eublepharis macularius afghanicus Bö rner, 1976) previously viewed as separate species... It is currently the only recognized subspecies. Lives in East, South Afghanistan and North Pakistan.

It is slightly smaller than the other subspecies in size, its maximum length from the muzzle to the tip of the tail is 158-170 mm, the weight of the reptile ranges from 35-55 g. The color of the dorsal part of the body of adults is bright: straw-yellow or pale yellow, often with a shade of pink. On this background are scattered blue-black spots, sometimes merging into lines and forming a network. In some individuals, a white stripe extends from head to base of tail. On the head there is a mesh dot pattern. Young Afghans are animals with a brown or black back and 2-3 yellow transverse stripes on it. White stripe passes through their nape in front of the ear, dropping to the upper lip.

• Eublepharis macularius fasciolatus Gü nther, 1864 lives in Southeast Pakistan.

• Eublepharis macularius montanus Bö rner, 1976 found in South and Central Pakistan.

• Eublepharis macularius macularius (Blyth, 1854) - nominative subspecies. Lives mainly in Pakistan, found in North-West India.
• Eublepharis macularius smithi Bö rner, 1981 - endemic to North India.

Reproduction of the spotted leopard eublefar

They reach sexual maturity by 10-12 months, but it is recommended to allow them to breed in the terrarium only after they get stronger, that is, from about 2 years of age. Animals breed from January to April, immediately after hibernation... In conditions of artificial maintenance, the season is shifted and can take place from November to February. During this time, the female is able to leave up to 10 clutches, each of which contains from 1 to 2 eggs.

The species is characterized by a period of "courtship". Noticing the female, the male often begins to stick out his tongue, checking the composition of the air. It contains substances that signal the female's readiness for mating. The male bypasses the partner, bites her on the fold on the neck, grabs and scratches her sides with his paws.

Spotted leopard eublefares bury their clutch in wet sand or place in the shade under stones. Parents do not take care of the offspring, but periodically return to bury new clutches. The eggs of the spotted geese are oval, 24-30 mm long and 14-15 mm wide, covered with a soft leathery shell. The incubation period lasts approximately 2 months. The sex of the calf depends on the temperature of the environment during incubation. At 26 ° C or less, more females develop; at temperatures above 31.5 ° C, males predominate in the offspring. And in the range from 29 to 30 ° C, approximately the same number of individuals of both sexes appears. Interestingly, females developing when high temperatures, are born with the habits and character of males and are unable to produce offspring.

Taken from the channel: www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIydIZOfTQk

Newborn cubs of eublefar are 65 to 84 mm long and weigh 2-5 g. They are brownish in color with whitish stripes. At the age of 8 months, they acquire an adult color.

Spotted eublefar - the leopard gecko has won the hearts of terrumists. Under such an attractive and mysterious name is a lizard that can live not only in nature, but also at home. In narrow circles it is customary to call it "leopard", which is due to the presence of spotted coloration. However, in character you can find similarities between the spotted gecko and the cat: both can lap water with their tongues. The content turns out to be easy even for beginners.

general information

The spotted eublefar most often lives in Asian countries and prefers rocky areas. However, people who are lovers of reptiles prefer the gecko.

The lizard can only be nocturnal. Natural instincts induce to hide in other people's burrows.

Life expectancy in nature is from five to ten years, and males always live longer than females. At home, life expectancy increases to thirty years.

Advantages and disadvantages of keeping eublefar at home

Advantages:

1. The gecko has a friendly personality.
2. Care assumes lightness and unpretentiousness.
3. There is an opportunity to buy and use a small terrarium.
4. There is the possibility of easy breeding in captivity.

Flaws:

1. The terrarium should be kept at a certain level of humidity.
2. Eublefar will always be awake at night, therefore not every person will be able to see his pet active.

Description

Appearance can be different in nature and at home. This is largely due to the influence of selection.

Any gecko should be spotted.

The dimensions indicate that the eublefar is a small lizard: the body length is 20 centimeters, but in some cases the representatives can grow up to thirty centimeters.

The tail is most often massive and thick. Moreover, in nature, the tail is required to retain moisture. A lizard can throw off its tail due to injury, being confident that it will grow back. However, the subsequent tail will be shorter and narrower. The lizard has a large and triangular head. Elongated and convex eyes, reminiscent of a cat, can be noted. The body is covered with numerous small scales. Among them, pimpled scales stand out. The lizard possesses thin paws with five fingers.

The color can be different, because it depends on the conditions of the lizard:

1. Natural factors cause a yellowish-gray body color with dark spots. Cross rings can be seen on the tail.
2. Domestic individuals have a completely different color. In addition, the selection allowed us to increase the number of variations to 100.

Main features of the content

What should be the care of a gecko at home?

Individuals are unpretentious in nature, due to which any potential hassle is eliminated. The most important thing is feeding. Lizards have a sweet and harmless character, but when they eat, the instinct of a predator is manifested. In natural conditions, the gecko hunts various insects.

So what to feed a domestic lizard?

1. The optimal choice is crickets, cockroaches, grasshoppers, newborn mice. If the terrarium has enough free space, the eublefar can enjoy the hunt.
2. It is advisable to exclude very large insects from the diet.
3. It is advisable to have meals every 1 - 2 days. However, up to 3 months, you need to feed the domestic lizard daily.
4. The gecko may refuse to eat for several days. However, this circumstance should not lead to panic. The lizard's tail contains a large number of nutrients.
5. Sometimes you need to add calcium powder to your meal.

Knowing what and how to feed your pet, you can help maintain its health and guaranteed long life at home.

option for a house for a gecko

Which terrarium is ideal for a domestic lizard?

1. It is advisable to use a small terrarium. At the same time, you need to provide enough space for an active lifestyle.
2. Optimal dimensions for 1 - 2 individuals are 50 by 40 by 30 cm.
3. Sand should not be used for soil, as it can be accidentally swallowed with food. The best option- small pebbles and stones.
4. It is advisable to warm up the terrarium. During the day, the temperature should be 29 - 31 degrees, at night - a couple - three degrees less.
5. Sudden temperature fluctuations are unacceptable, as otherwise the lizard will feel bad.
6. Optimum humidity should not exceed forty-five percent. For this you need to spray.

Basic selection rules

How can you choose a eublefar? What factors should you consider when trying to make sure your lizard is in good health?

1. The ponytail should be thicker. Moreover, if the thickness should be as large as possible. This primarily applies to adolescents and adults. Kids have thin ponytails, which should only "gain strength." Thick, a long tail indicates a good health condition of the eublefar. It is in this part of the torso that nutrients are contained that must be deposited for stressful and difficult situations... The functions of the tail can be compared to the hump of a camel, which contains fat reserves for heat, drought, and hunger. In order to understand how correctly the care of the eublefar is carried out, you need to monitor the tail, because a decrease in its thickness indicates constant stress, insufficient nutrition, and illness. Remember: when moving to new house in a lizard, appetite may deteriorate, and the tail will lose weight, but later the animal will get used to the conditions and everything will return to normal.
2. One terrarium cannot be suitable for several males. This must be remembered if you are planning to breed a pet. The ideal option is a close examination of the sex characteristics.
3. The sex of the eublefar can only be determined from five to six months. For this reason, the first gecko can be bought earlier, but then you need to buy an adult and know that 2 males will not be kept in the terrarium. If solitary confinement is expected, gender ceases to be important, since males and females have a beautiful appearance and cute character.
4. It should be noted that a large terrarium is required if several females are to be kept. Only with this approach can one not only guarantee comfortable conditions for lizards, but also the possibility of their peaceful life together.
5. Breeding eublefar requires the purchase of an additional terrarium. It is important to remember: the male should not be with the female on an ongoing basis, since otherwise the females will have to constantly mate and breed, undermining their health.
6. When choosing a leopard, you need to make sure that there are no small scratches, abrasions. Such damage to the skin indicates clashes between individuals that are included in the same group. Scratches and abrasions can heal quickly if treated with medicated ointment. In any case, you need to pay more attention to the lizard and try to understand the features of its character.
7. It is advisable to carefully examine the eyes and eyelids, after which you can go to the toes. Make sure there is no old skin left after shedding. Such skin is harmful to the pet, therefore it must be removed with water.
8. The lizard set is noteworthy. The belly should be plump, but not bloated, as otherwise pregnancy or illness may be suspected. Rickets, which the gecko often suffers from, is manifested by thinness, a thin neck, the absence of a thick tail, lethargy and lethargy, crooked legs, staggering when walking. The presence of drooping sides indicates obesity. With such deviations in health, it will be necessary to take into account more nuances in order for the content to be favorable for the pet.
9. In cubs and adolescents, as they grow up, their color often changes, so you need to be prepared for the fact that the initial color can change dramatically.

The gecko should be healthy, beautiful and friendly.

The most important questions

What should be the content of geckos?

1. The terrarium should be 40x60x40 centimeters in size. It is undesirable to choose a large and high house.
2. The temperature regime must be controlled. It is important to remember: it is advisable to turn off some lamps at night, not allowing the temperature to drop to 20 degrees. Moreover, sudden changes can lead to diseases of pets.
3. The gecko needs ultraviolet light. For this reason, UV lamps with a 10% mark must be used, ensuring that they burn for 12 hours a day.
4. How to feed insectivorous lizards if they live at home? The diet should consist of a variety of small insects. However, mealworms alone will not work, as if they are fed frequently, there is a risk of fatty liver.
5. How often should a gecko be fed? The optimal scheme is from five to ten insects per feeding. When the lizard is sleeping, you need to remove crickets and grasshoppers, which can damage the lizard's skin.
6. It is important not only to regularly and correctly feed the lizards, but also to give them vitamins, mineral supplements... In order to fully feed the cub, you need to use special mineral powders.
7. How to decorate your terrarium? Several shelters are required, a reservoir. The most important thing is to exclude sharp objects that can be injured.
8. The terrarium should be filled with soil, with the exception of fine sand and shavings.

Remembering what care should be and observing important rules, you can be sure: the gecko will delight good health, long life, friendliness and become a true friend.