Giant leopard geckos, often known as “giant leos,” are large-sized morphs of the leopard gecko. The Giant, so named because of its enormous size, was discovered in 1999 after random breeding.

One of the newborns was larger than the others, measuring 4.5 inches long, and was 11 inches long by the time it was ten months. After a series of breeds, it was later confirmed to be a co-dominant characteristic.

Like the typical leopard geckos, Giant geckos are friendly, less temperamental, and easy to cater to. However, if you’re planning to keep a giant leopard gecko, keep reading to understand all details about these reptile friends.

Appearance and Morphs

Giant Leopard geckos look similar to normal-sized Leopard geckos in appearance. They have rough skin on the outside and a smooth underside. They come in a wide range of spectacular patterns and hues. However, they are distinguished mainly by leopard-like speckles and spots on their skin, giant heads, and fat tails.

The most significant distinction between this morph and the rest of the geckos is the size. These leopard geckos are humongous from the moment they hatch out of the eggs to adulthood.

When Ron Tremper bred two standard-sized Leopard geckos in 1999, one of the newborns was larger than the others, measuring 4.5 inches long and 11 inches long by the time it was ten.

Regarding hues, Giant leopard geckos come in various colors ranging from yellow to grey, just like the typical geckos. Supergiant, Giant, and normal leopard geckos are the three variations of Giant morphs.

The normal giant morph doesn’t show any signs of having the mutation. Instead, the Giant gecko expresses the heterozygous form and characteristics. The homozygous version of the morph is known as the Super Giants, and it’s extraordinarily enormous.

How Big Do Giant Leopard Geckos Get?

Giant leopard geckos average 9-12 inches and 85-110 grams, whereas the average leopard gecko is 6.5-10 inches and 45-80 grams. One surprising fact about Giant leopard geckos is that they get their enormous size from the moment they are hatched.

Lifespan

With the proper care and diet, a gigantic leopard gecko can live in captivity for up to 10-20 years. Their lifespan is usually shorter in the wild because of illness, predators, and the environment.

However, genetics may also affect lifespan; some geckos may be genetically predisposed to live shorter lives.

Taking your gecko in for regular checkups at the vet can help keep it healthy and add years to its life expectancy. A Giant leopard gecko kept as a pet has a good chance of living a long, healthy life.

Caring for Giant Leopard Gecko

Caring for giant leopard geckos involves providing the right environment, diet, and healthcare. Since geckos spend most of their time inside their enclosure, you need to offer them a terrarium that mimics their natural habitat.

You’ll need to ensure that the terrarium has the right temperature, humidity, and light. You’ll also need to pick a suitable substrate. Because geckos are insectivorous, they require live insects for nourishment.

Therefore, feeding your gecko insects like mealworms and crickets is ideal. Waxworms can be given occasionally, if necessary, but should not be overfed.

Regular vet checkups are essential to ensure that the gecko is healthy. It is also crucial to keep the enclosure clean and to monitor the gecko’s overall health and behavior.

You also need to handle your giant leopard gecko gently and avoid picking them up by its tail, as it can break off. Let them get used to your presence and come to you, so they feel safe and secure.

Regular vet checkups are essential to ensure that the gecko is healthy. Keep reading as we’ll discuss the care requirements in depth.

Shedding

Like all the other geckos, giant leopard geckos shed their old skin to permit growth and maintain healthy skin. However, geckos lose their skin at different rates based on age and how quickly they develop.

Geckos shed more often when they are young than when they are adults. For example, young giant leopard geckos shed after every 1-4 weeks, while mature adults shed once after 4 to eight weeks. So, when your gecko is about to shed its exoskeleton, it will display these signs:

• Irritability. These lizards tend to become less active and more irritable as it approaches the time for shedding their skin.
• Dull coloration. The gecko skin may appear drab and faded when the geckos are about t shed. However, the color will return to normal once the shedding process is complete.
• Loss of appetite. Geckos are likely to refuse to eat when they are about to shed.
• Lethargy. When geckos are about to shed, they become less active and might spend time hiding in dark places.

Providing a humid hide box or a moist area in the enclosure during shedding is crucial to help the gecko shed its skin quickly.

The humid hide should have a water-holding substrate to ensure that the humidity remains between 70 to 80%. With such humidity levels, your Giant leopard gecko will shed its skin without any problems.

Misting the enclosure regularly can also help to increase moisture levels in the cage and prevent dehydration. Giving geckos healthy food will also help keep their skin in good shape.

However, since the gecko will typically be less active while shedding, it’s vital to avoid handling them at this time because it could stress them out.

Making sure the gecko is well-nourished and well-hydrated is also crucial since a healthy gecko will shed with greater ease. If you see any abnormal behavior from your reptile while it is shedding, you should take it to a vet or an expert in reptiles for diagnosis and treatment.

Hibernation

Like many reptiles, giant leopard geckos spend the winter months in a state of brumation, commonly known as hibernation. As a result, their metabolism slows, and they slow down their activity levels.

Therefore, it’s crucial to give your giant leopard gecko an appropriate hibernation setting, which includes a cold, dark space with a burrowing-friendly substrate. Before going into hibernation, ensuring the gecko is healthy and has the right weight is crucial.

You can help your leopard gecko brumate by reducing the light cycle and temperature over many weeks. Additionally, you can gradually reduce the size of their meals or cease giving the gecko food one week before hibernation begins.

It’s also critical to keep an eye on the gecko while it’s hibernating to ensure it’s healthy and to act if necessary.

It’s crucial; to note that although hibernation in Giant leos is a natural process, some geckos can go their entire lives without it.

Some of the brumation symptoms in gigantic leopard geckos include:

• Loss of appetite: In the weeks before hibernation, the gecko may cease feeding or eat less often.
• Reduce activity level: The lizard will stop being active and might spend more time hiding
• Weight loss: The gecko might become thinner because of using its fat reserves.
• Lethargy: The gecko will seem uninterested in everything and will stay motionless most of the time.

You mustn’t disturb your giant gecko during this period. But you should always seek a reptile vet’s opinion if you observe these signs, as they sometimes point to another issue.

Giant Leopard Gecko Housing and Terrarium Requirements

When considering where to keep your giant leo, you must create a living space that mimics the leopard gecko’s original habitat in the wild.

You’ll need to factor in various aspects, including size, tank conditions, and location. Usually, the habitat should be placed away from noise pollution. Let’s dig deep into the matter:

Enclosure Size

Although giant leopard geckos are more prominent than other leopard geckos, they will live happily in an enclosure of at least 20 gallons. This gives the gecko room to move about, conceal, and adjust its body temperature.

However, since bigger is always better, we recommend getting a 30-gallon tank for your gecko. In addition, the tank should have at least two to three square feet of floor space dedicated to each gecko.

There should be at least two to three square feet of floor space dedicated to each gecko. Since these creatures are semi-arboreal, you should provide items they can climb on, such as artificial plants or low-hanging branches.

Heating Requirement

Being cold-blooded, giant leopard geckos need a heat source in their enclosure to help them thermoregulate. Essentially, gecko owners should designate two temperature zones to allow the gecko to adjust its temperature accordingly.

The hot zones where the basking spot should be should have a temperature of between 90-94 degrees Fahrenheit.

It’s also essential to provide a cooler area of the terrarium with a temperature of 75-80 degrees Fahrenheit, so the gecko can thermoregulate and move between warmer and cooler regions as needed.

Although the lizards can survive nighttime temperatures as low as 60 degrees Fahrenheit (16 degrees Celsius), the ideal nighttime temperature range is 67 to 74 degrees Fahrenheit (23 to 23 degrees Celsius).

There are various heating options for leopard gecko terrariums, including ceramic heat emitters, heat mats, and light bulbs.

Lighting

Some argue that lighting is unnecessary for leopard geckos because these lizards are active at night. However, this is further from the truth since leos are crepuscular creatures that get active at dusk and dawn.

Light is essential for leopard geckos because it helps them keep track of the day and night. Leopard geckos require 12 hours of darkness and 12 hours of light daily.

Using a light timer can help set the on and off hours. This is especially handy if you want to keep the lights on a regular schedule and eliminate the risk of forgetting to turn them on and off.

While most people argue that leos don’t need UVB lighting, the truth is that it’s essential for optimal growth and calcium absorption.

However, unlike other reptiles, leopard geckos require UVB with lower wattage percentages, as too much light can burn the skin and irritate the eyes. Most experts recommend 5% UVB bulbs for geckos.

Humidity

Like all reptiles, giant leopard geckos need the right amount of humidity to stay healthy. If the humidity is too low, the gecko may have trouble shedding its skin and may not be able to get enough water from its food.

However, elevated moisture can cause various health issues, including respiratory infections.

Giant leopard geckos prefer humidity levels between 30 and 40%. You can ensure that your gecko’s terrarium has adequate humidity by putting a dish of water in the cage, misting the enclosure, or using a humidifier.

Additionally, it would be prudent to invest in a hygrometer to help measure and keep an eye on the humidity levels.

It’s also worth noting that leopard geckos are native to arid and semi-arid locations, so it’s better to avoid keeping humidity levels high for an extended period.

However, if you notice your gecko having difficulties breathing, mucus in his mouth or nose, or acting sluggish, the humidity level is likely too high and should be reduced.

In general, the health and well-being of your leopard gecko depend on your ability to provide it with an environment that has an appropriate humidity level.

Substrate and Décor

You need to provide soft and easy-to-clean flooring for your leopard gecko. Some ideal options for geckos include stone slates, Eco Earth, roc pebbles, retile carpets, and many more. However, you must avoid loose substrates such as calcium sand, sand, and wood chirpings.

Leos are not fancy creatures, so you don’t need much décor. A few low branches, rocks, artificial plants, and hides are enough to keep them active.

Giant Leopard Gecko Diet and Nutritional Requirements

Giant leopard geckos (Eublepharis macularius) are insectivores and typically eat crickets, mealworms, wax worms, and other small insects in captivity. Therefore, they must be fed a wide variety of insects in captivity.

Some insect species are better than others when tailoring a diet to your pet’s specific needs because of their unique nutritional profiles.

Unfortunately, we cannot provide all of the nutrients that our Leopard Geckos need from the insects we currently have access to.

Therefore, dusting their food with a calcium powder supplement is crucial to ensure they get enough of this essential nutrient.

You can feed your gecko insects like mealworms, hornworms, crickets, roaches, beetles, sow bugs, silkworms, and phoenix worms.

A diet consisting of gut-loaded crickets and mealworms that can be purchased commercially is the standard option for feeding geckos in captivity.

To guarantee that the gecko is obtaining all of the necessary vitamins and minerals, it is essential to occasionally sprinkle a multivitamin powder and a calcium supplement on the insects that are fed to the gecko.

Because these geckos can reach a length of up to 12 inches when fully grown, it is essential to remember that they demand a spacious cage that can support both their size and their high level of activity.

When it comes to feeding frequency, young geckos should eat at least two times every day since they are at a stage where they grow rapidly.

Adult giant leos should eat at least 2-3 days a week. Another crucial aspect is to ensure that giant geckos of any size should not consume any insect that is bigger than the space between its eyes.

Water

In addition to ensuring that your giant gecko is well-fed, you must ensure that it has access to clean and fresh drinking water. This is achieved by placing a shallow water basin inside the leopard gecko’s enclosure.

The water bowl should be cleaned and refilled with fresh water regularly. If a leopard gecko is not getting enough water, it can become dehydrated, which can lead to a variety of health problems

It’s also worth noting that leopard geckos in the wild obtain the majority of their water comes from the food they eat. This is why feeding them highly succulent and nutritious insects is imperative.

Health Issues

Like all reptiles, giant leopard geckos are at risk of contracting specific ailments if their needs aren’t addressed. They include:

• Respiratory illnesses. An overly chilly or humid environment might cause respiratory diseases in giant leopard geckos. Symptoms may include a runny nose, breathing through the mouth, and fatigue.
• Dehydration. Geckos need a regular supply of fresh, clean water and must be kept in a humidity-controlled environment. They can become dehydrated if they do not get enough water or if the moisture in their cage is too low, which can lead to various health concerns.
• Metabolic bone disease. This is a frequent ailment in reptiles and manifests itself when the animals do not receive enough calcium or vitamin D3 in their food.
• Impaction. This is when the gecko’s digestive system gets obstructed due to consuming or ingesting indigestible items. 

Behavior & Temperament

Like other geckos, the giant morphs are considered calm and friendly, making them popular as pets. They are typically non-aggressive and easy to handle.

They are most active at dawn or dusk and can be seen sunbathing or exploring their habitat during these periods. They are less active in the daytime and can be seen hiding or sleeping in dark places inside the terrarium.

Because of their solitary nature, giant leopard geckos require private enclosures. Therefore, it is not recommended to house multiple geckos in the same tank.

They have a peaceful and calm disposition, but if they aren’t handled often, they can become fearful and anxious.

Because of their susceptibility to stress caused by environmental and behavioral changes, gigantic leopard geckos require a consistent, low-stress habitat with minimal handling.

How to Handle Leopard Geckos

If done correctly, handling a giant leopard gecko can be rewarding to the owner and the gecko. Here are tips to help you get it right:

• Before you try to manage them, get them used to your presence
• Please handle them with care and patience, never squeezing or pinching, and never holding them by their limbs.
• While interacting with them, allow them to explore and keep an eye on their whereabouts.
• After handling, allow them to recuperate and go back to their enclosure.
• Never grab an animal by its tail.
• You must handle them calmly and gently as this will get them more accustomed to it as you.

How Much Does a Giant Leopard Gecko Cost?

Since these geckos are a relatively uncommon morph of Leopard geckos, you may have to pay a premium price to get one home.

It will cost you between $250 and $450 to purchase a Giant Leopard gecko. However, there are still some rare color morphs that are pricier than the Giant leopard gecko

Can You Breed A Giant Leopard Gecko With A Normal?

Theoretically, a giant or supergiant gecko can mate with a normal gecko without any problems. There shouldn’t be an issue because the eggs are all roughly the same size.

However, you’d want to keep a tight check on them if you introduced them to ensure he doesn’t mistake her for food. It’s always nerve-wracking to introduce a new pair, but if they start to fight, you can generally stop it before any serious harm is done if you keep an eye on them.

It is essential, however, to keep in mind that when breeding Normal geckos with Super Giant, one should expect to have only Giants as offspring. However, if you breed Normal with Giant, you will end up with an equal number of Giants and Normal as offspring (50/50)

Conclusion

If you’re looking for a calm, low-maintenance reptile, a Giant leopard gecko is a fantastic choice. Giant leos are multicolored and primarily feed on crickets and mealworms.

Housing and a heat source are essential for their health. They vary in price but are generally economical and have a lifespan of 10 to 20 years. With the appropriate care, they can be wonderful companions.