An Eclipse leopard gecko is a specific genetic morph or variation of the leopard gecko species (Eublepharis macularius). This morph features a distinct, solid black coloration in the eyes. Like the typical leopard gecko, this morph is aesthetically appealing, friendly, docile, and peaceful.

These are a few reasons why most people enjoy having them as pets. However, while these lizards are not overly demanding, they need specialized care to live longer, healthy and happy lives.

While Eclipse Leos are fun and fascinating creatures, you’ll need to understand everything about them to provide them with the best care. So, keep reading to learn more about this leopard gecko morph.

Eclipse Leopard Gecko Appearance & Morphs

The eclipse leopard gecko morph was first discovered in 2004 after the random breeding of leopard geckos. The morph is renowned for its distinctively solid black eye.

Additionally, it adorns some attractive colors and patterns that make it one of the best gecko morphs in the market. 

The eclipse morph boasts a unique inheritable genetic mutation that leads to some outstanding characteristics and features, such as:

• High white markings, especially around the paws, nose, and tail
• Black eye pigment or clear eyes depending on the animals that are mated
• Speckled and fading hues
• Pattern-less stripes

Since eclipse leopard geckos result from a recessive mutation, breeders working on designer morphs often benefit from this characteristic due to its ability to change eye color dramatically.

Regarding its variations, breeders have created several distinct morphs from the eclipse. For example, breeders can develop a red-eyed gecko by mixing Eclipse leopard geckos with Tremper albino. However, the most popular Eclipse leopard gecko variation includes the following:

• Tremper Eclipse
• Mack Super Snows
• Blizzards

Size

Eclipse leopard gecko morphs are approximately 7-11 inches, like typical leopard geckos. However, male geckos tend to be bigger than their female counterparts.

So, if your Eclipse gecko doesn’t average around this size as an adult, you might not be offering them a proper diet, and the conditions in their habitat may be poor.

Lifespan

The average lifespan for an Eclipse leopard gecko morph is around 10-20 years when kept in proper captive care. Factors such as diet, housing, and genetics can all affect the lifespan of these leopard gecko morphs.

Care

If you want your Eclipse leo to live a long and healthy life, it is crucial to research the specific needs of leopard geckos as a species before getting one.

Some essential care requirements include proper housing, heating, substrate, food, and water, monitoring their health and hygiene, and handling them gently.

The gecko’s terrarium should mimic its natural habitat and provide a temperature range for optimal thermoregulation. In addition, the type of substrate lining the terrarium floors should be safe, smooth, and easy to clean.

Conversely, Eclipse geckos should eat a diversified diet of insects. Conversely, you’ll need to offer calcium and vitamin D3 supplement to ensure that your lizard experience optimal growth of healthy bones.

Lizards also need to be handled so that they can bond with their owners.

Clean the enclosure regularly and keep an eye out for any symptoms of disease in the gecko. Keeping the humidity in their enclosure within the recommended range is also critical. This can be accomplished by misting or placing a massive water dish in the tank.

Shedding

Shedding is a natural process that allows all reptiles, including Eclipse leopard geckos, to grow and replace old, worn-out skin with new, healthy skin. However, owners must provide geckos with a suitable environment to help them shed properly.

How regularly a gecko sheds will depend on its age and size. Young Leos will shed their old skin after 1-2 weeks, while mature adults peel off their skin once every 4-8 weeks. In leopard geckos, shedding may cause discomfort or be problematic if the tank conditions are not right. 

Therefore, you can help your lizard shed by:

• Setting up a humid hide on the warmer side of the cage. Placing a wet hide lined up with coconut fiber or sphagnum moss can provide the humidity geckos require to shed off their old skin.
• Place a water dish in the cage. Evaporation of water from the bowl will make the conditions humid, making it easier for your gecko to shed its old skin.
• Avoid handling your eclipse leopard gecko when it’s shedding: Since Leos are uncomfortable and sensitive when they’re shedding, it’s better to wait until the process is over to touch or handle them.
• Monitor the gecko to verify that it is shedding correctly. Some geckos may have difficulties shedding, particularly in regions such as the tail, around the eyes, and between the toes. If you spot something amiss, it’s best to consult your reptile vet on the next course of action.

It’s crucial to keep in mind that frequent shedding or lack thereof can indicate other issues, such as stress or lack of proper nutrition. So, always keep an eye on your gecko’s overall health and ensure they get the appropriate care they need.

Hibernation

While hibernation and brumation are used synonymously by most people, you’ll be surprised to learn that leopard geckos brumate and not hibernate. Brumation is a process through which leopard geckos slow down their metabolism and food and water intake to survive the colder winter months.

While most wild leopard geckos in areas with winter seasons have to go through brumation to escape the cold weather, this is not common for leos in captivity.

However, captive-bred lizards may enter into sub-dormancy even in captivity, voluntarily or by forcefully lowering the temperatures inside the cage.

However, brumating a lizard by creating unfavorable tank conditions is not recommended as it can be dangerous and may cause more harm than good. However, if your gecko gets into hibernation voluntarily, you’re likely to witness signs such as:

• Lethargy
• Refusal to eat
• Sleeping for an extended period
• Hiding in dark places
• Reduced movement around their terrarium

Suppose you suspect that your gecko is entering into brumation. In that case, you need to keep offering the right conditions and consult with a veterinarian who specializes in reptiles on what you should do.

Typically, you’ll likely never see your captive leo brumate, but it’s crucial to be ready since this is something that happens when they are in the wild.

Housing and Housing Requirements for Eclipse Leopard Gecko

Housing is one of the essential parts of keeping a leopard gecko. Since these reptile friends spend most of their time inside the cage, you must keep it clean and provide conditions similar to their original desert habitat. Let’s look at the ideal terrarium and in-tank requirements for eclipse leopard geckos.    

Tank Size

Leopard geckos require at least a 20-gallon tank for proper care and housing. This size is perfect for a gecko because it allows plenty of room for exploration and exercise and enough for placing climbing branches, a water dish, hide boxes, and a heat source.

However, this tank size is only ideal for a single leopard gecko. You’ll need a much bigger tank if you intend to keep numerous geckos together.

Substrate

Before you place anything inside your leopard gecko’s terrarium, you’ll need to find a suitable substance to use as flooring. However, the age of your leopard gecko will determine the type of substrate you should use. 

You can use newspapers and paper towels for young geckos, while adult leos can thrive on floors made of stone slates, large liver pebbles, excavator clay, and reptile carpet.

However, loose substrates such as calcium sand, normal sand, and wood shaving should be avoided.

In a nutshell, you can use these substrates for your Eclipse leopard gecko:

• Paper towels and newspapers: They are simple to clean and replace, and the gecko can walk on them safely. Additionally, they can’t be ingested and hence won’t cause impaction.
• Large river pebbles and stone slates: These substrates create a natural look and offer enough surface for leos to bask and relax.
• Reptile carpet and ceramic tiles: These substrate options are favored because they are easy to clean and provide a comfortable surface for the gecko to walk on.
• Excavator clay:  This substrate is ideal since it makes it possible to create hides and contours similar to those in the gecko’s natural habitat. 

However, it’s crucial to note that as long as the substrate isn’t dusty or too small to be ingested, there is a wide range of options.

Heating

Reptiles are ectothermic, sometimes known as cold-blooded, which means their body temperature fluctuates based on the heat in the external atmosphere. For this reason, you’ll need to provide a heat source to ensure they thermoregulate.

When heating the tank, creating a temperature gradient by having a warmer and cool zone inside the terrarium is essential. For example, eclipse leopard geckos need a basking area with temperatures between 88 and 92 degrees Fahrenheit, while the cool side should range between 75 and 80 degrees. Nighttime temperatures should be maintained between 70-72 degrees Fahrenheit.

The best way to increase the temperature within the enclosure is with an under-tank heating pad or strip. It will produce the necessary temperature gradient inside the tank if it’s positioned underneath one of its sides.

However, a ceramic heater may be helpful to provide a little extra warmth or support the maintenance of temperature gradient if the heat mat isn’t producing enough heat on its own.

It’s essential to keep a thermometer in the cage to keep tabs and monitor the temperature when necessary.

Conversely, you can connect the heat source to a thermostat to regulate and pre-set the required temperatures throughout the day.

Lighting

Due to the crepuscular nature of leopard geckos, they don’t need special UV lighting in their enclosures.

But since they need light to distinguish between day and night, you should have a low-wattage light source on top of the screen cage. The lights should be left on for 11 to 12 hours.

However, some argue that providing a UV light source will ensure that your gecko processes vitamin D3, which is vital for calcium absorption.

Humidity

One way of mimicking the eclipse leopard gecko’s natural habitat is to ensure that its enclosure has between 30-40% humidity levels.

Leo owners can create the ideal humidity inside a Leo’s enclosure by placing a bowl of water in the cage, choosing a water-retaining substrate, and increasing ventilation.

If the humidity in a leopard gecko’s enclosure is too low, it can cause shedding problems, as the dry air can make it difficult for the gecko to shed its skin properly. This can lead to retained shed around the eyes that is difficult to remove.

High humidity can lead to respiratory issues and an increased risk of bacterial or fungal infections. High humidity can also make it harder for the gecko to regulate its body temperature, leading to overheating and other health problems.

To facilitate shedding, you must provide a humid hide with humidity levels between 70-80%. Misting the terrarium regularly will also help increase moisture levels and prevent dehydration.

Additionally, you should invest in a hygrometer to monitor the humidity in your Eclipse gecko tank at all times.

Décor and Enrichments

Besides the heat and light sources, you should add other décor pieces and accessories to make the terrarium look more natural and kill boredom.

Each gecko needs several hide boxes where they can escape when frightened or when they want to relax. The humid hide should be stuffed with damp moss or vermiculite for easy skin shedding

Add ledges, low branches, and logs for the Eclipse gecko to climb, hide, and relax. Conversely, you can use artificial plants or any other essential accessories.

However, you need to ensure that the items you put in the terrarium are not made of toxic materials and don’t overcrowd the terrarium.

Diet

Eclipse leopard geckos are insectivorous animals that thrive on a diet made solely of live insects. Mealworms or crickets are great staple foods, and once a week, you may treat your pet to some waxworms, superworms, butterworms, or silkworms.

The frequency of feeding should be based on the gecko’s size. For example, baby geckos can eat two times each day, while juveniles should savor insects once daily. Adults should be fed once a day, usually in the evening, when they are most active.

Insects fed to geckos at different growth stages should not exceed the space between their eyes. Regarding how much a gecko should eat, experts recommend allowing them to eat as much as possible in 10-15 minutes. 

Insects should be fed nutrients 24 hours before they are served to geckos in what is known as gut-loading.

Additionally, they must be dipped in powdered calcium and vitamin D3 supplements. The two processes will ensure that your gecko consumes insects that supply all the vital nutrients, elements, and minerals.

Water

Like all leopard geckos, Eclipse leopard geckos need access to fresh water. Therefore, a shallow water dish should be available inside the tank. It should be cleaned and refilled regularly.

In addition to providing drinking water, the water bowl can be used for soaking the gecko, which can help with shedding and hydration.

However, it is vital to make sure that the water dish is not too deep, as leopard geckos are not strong swimmers and can easily drown.

Health Issues

Eclipse leopard geckos are known to be healthy and hardy creatures that stay for a long without getting sick. However, like other animals, a few common health issues can affect them. Some of the most common ailments include:

• Chronic Malnutrition. Leopard geckos frequently suffer from malnutrition due to the consumption of insects that lack adequate nutrients. Additionally, these lizards may become malnourished due to a lack of supplementation. Therefore, you must feed your gecko a diverse range of insects and gut-load and dust insects before serving them to your gecko.
• Dysecdysis (Retained Shed). This is an abnormal condition that is caused by low humidity. When there isn’t enough moisture in the cage, skin in places like toes, around the eyes, or the tail may refuse to come off. As more and more sheds get stuck, they gradually cut off blood flow, which leads to avascular necrosis.
• Metabolic Bone Disease. Leopard geckos often get MBD because they aren’t given enough UVB light or vitamin and calcium supplements. As a result, Geckos with MBD have pathological fractures, long bones that are twisted or bent, can’t eat because their jaws are soft, neurological symptoms, or long-term weight loss. Offering calcium supplements and diversified insects will help prevent this condition.
• Intestinal Impaction. Geckos that live in terrariums with sand, crushed walnut shells, or sharp gravel are the ones that get this condition. Some clinical signs are being sleepy, having trouble going to the bathroom, and not eating much. Don’t use substrates with loose particles if you want to avoid the risk of impaction in Eclipse geckos.
• Respiratory infections. Eclipse leopard geckos may also suffer respiratory infections when there is high humidity inside the cage or the use of a dusty substrate. These infections may display labored breathing, sneezing, and discharge from the nose or eyes.

Breeding Eclipse Leopard Geckos

When it comes to breeding, female geckos should be at least two years old. Egg laying is a tedious and energy-consuming activity that might be challenging for younger geckos. In addition, you’ll need to choose only healthy geckos for mating.

Before you mate your geckos, set up a laying box with a substrate that is easy to dig. Eclipse geckos will dig a hole in the laying box and deposit their eggs.

Once eggs are laid, you should remove them and incubate them. The eggs should be incubated between 78 and 92 degrees Fahrenheit (25-33 degrees Celsius).

Behavior & Temperament

Eclipse leopard geckos, like other geckos, are docile and not temperamental like most reptiles. They are not known to be aggressive and can make great pets for both experienced and first-time reptile owners.

They are also known to be relatively low maintenance and are easy to care for in captivity

Like all leopard geckos, eclipse morphs are also crepuscular, so they are most active at night. They spend most of the day hiding and sleeping. They are also typically solitary animals and do not need to be housed with other geckos.

Although they don’t like to be handled, doing so will ensure they learn to interact and bond with their owners. Leopard geckos can outlive most domestic pets with adequate care, nutrition, and husbandry.

Handling Eclipse Leopard Geckos

The best way to interact and bond with your gecko is through handling. While leos are solitary creatures, they won’t mind being held by their owner. However, you’ll need to give them time to adjust to their new environment. These tips are invaluable when you’re handling your eclipse leopard gecko:

• Support the entire body. When holding a leopard gecko, position it so that your fingers support every section of its body. This not only makes them feel secure but also prevents them from falling.
• Handle them with care. Due to their small size and fragile nature, leopard geckos should not be handled roughly, as this could result in damage.
• Avoid holding them by the tail. One of the defense mechanisms for leopard geckos is to break off the tail when they are uncomfortable or distressed. For this reason, don’t hold them by the tail.
• Allow the gecko enough time to adapt to its new environment. Give your new gecko at least three weeks to get accustomed to you and the new environment.
• Start handling your gecko early enough. One of the finest ways to develop a close relationship with your Leopard gecko is to hold it frequently, especially while it’s young.

Eclipse Leopard Gecko Pricing

Although the Eclipse leopard gecko morph isn’t among the rarest geckos in the market, it’s a little bit more expensive than the normal leopard gecko. You’ll need between $50 and $100 to take the eclipse gecko morph home.

Conclusion

Eclipse leopard geckos are among the best lizards to keep as pets. Not only are they gorgeous, but they also have great personalities. The best part is that they become docile and kind once they acclimate to you. However, you need to be knowledgeable about Leopard geckos to provide the best care.

We hope this comprehensive guide about Eclipse leopard gecko will help you have a wonderful time with your new lizard!