High Yellow leopard geckos are a morph of the leopard gecko, Eublepharis macularius, known for their bright yellow coloration. Considered to be among the first leopard gecko mutation to be created in breeding programs, High Yellow are lovely gentle animals that make great pets for beginners and experienced pet owners.

While people think leopard geckos are easy to take care of, you’ll need to learn everything about these creatures and how to take care of them. This guideline will discuss everything you need to know about High Yellow leopard gecko morphs.

Appearance & Morphs

High Yellow Leopard Geckos have deep yellow bodies with black markings. These creatures have a deeper yellow body than the conventional leopard gecko.

Additionally, they tend to have less black spotting on their bodies. However, they tend to have more black spots on their tails.

Although high yellow leopard geckos are not the rarest gecko morph around, their yellow hue and black spots that are less conspicuous than in the typical leopard geckos make them a favorite for most reptile lovers.

Luckily, this leopard gecko morph is not as expensive as the other morphs and is ideal for those on a budget who want to own the typical leopard gecko.

High Yellow Leopard Gecko Care

Care and husbandry are the first things you need to consider when you contemplate owning a High Yellow leopard gecko.

One of the essential items that you should give your undivided attention to is its habitat. You must provide a terrarium with the right temperature, substrate, light, and humidity.

Additionally, you need to ensure that your reptile friend gets a constant supply of food. Since they are insectivorous, you need to offer them a diversified amount of feeder insects.

Atop the food, your gecko needs to hydrate and drink water. Adding a water dish to the tank will ensure it drinks water when thirsty.

Another crucial part of caring for your gecko is to maintain hygiene and cleanliness. Conversely, you must keep up with all vet appointments and watch for any illness signs.

Lastly, you must handle and interact with your leopard gecko to create a formidable bond. However, since leos are solitary creatures, you should try to minimize handling.

Keep reading to learn more about High Yellow gecko care and housing requirements.

Lifespan

Like the typical leopard geckos, High Yellow geckos have a decent life expectancy for their size. Essentially, these creatures can live for 10-20 years.

However, they must be provided with a proper diet, care, and husbandry to rack up years and reach such an age. 

Size

High Yellow leopard geckos are not too big or too small. They average around 7-11 inches, with female geckos being smaller than male geckos.

Females can measure approximately 7-8 inches, while male geckos around 8-11 inches. The difference in size is one element used to distinguish between male and female geckos.

Shedding

High Yellow geckos do shed their outer skin periodically like other reptiles. However, they get rid of the skin in one piece, starting at the head and working their way down the body.

While this is a normal process meant to be seamless and uncomfortable, it can become problematic if the conditions are not right.

You’ll need to provide the correct humidity for your gecko to shed its skin successfully. Leopard geckos need around 60 to 70% humidity to remove their old outer skin properly.

Since keeping the humidity levels within this range will create other problems in the terrarium, you should add a humid hide and fill it with a moist substrate, such as sphagnum moss.

Additionally, misting the cage at least once or twice every week will help increase the humidity. If your leopard gecko is about to shed, you’ll notice signs such as:

•     Dulling of the colors or a whitish or cloudy appearance to the skin
•     Loss of appetite
•     Increased lethargy
•     Lack of activity
•     Tugging or rubbing against objects in the enclosure.

After the shedding process, you will notice that the gecko’s colors will be brighter, and the skin will look smoother and more even.

You must not hold or disturb the gecko during shedding as the process makes them uneasy and uncomfortable.

The frequency of shedding in High Yellow leopard geckos will depend on their age. Young geckos shed at least once after two to four weeks, while adult lizards shed once after four to eight weeks.

Brumation

Leopard geckos in the wild usually enter a period of semi-dormancy characterized by decreased activity and metabolism. Geckos slow their metabolism and activity levels in response to changes in temperature and daylight patterns.

While brumation is not a requirement for leopard geckos, it’s a natural process that can occur in some geckos, depending on the environment. Brumation is rare in captive-bred High Yellow geckos, but since it’s a natural process, it may or may not occur.

There are a few signs that manifest when your gecko is brumating. These include:

• Generally appearing lethargic
• Decreased appetite and weight loss
• Reduced activity levels and less movement
• Spending more time in hiding spots
• Being less responsive to handling or stimuli
• Not drinking as much water

However, since these signs can also point to other health complications, you must consult a reptile vet if your gecko displays such signs. Brumation may take around 6-8 weeks.

While the metabolism slows down during brumation, you can still provide fresh water and food once a week for the animals to eat f they want to. Additionally, you need to provide ambient temperature to ensure your gecko doesn’t freeze.

Lastly, it’s essential to avoid disturbing the gecko during the brumation period as much as possible. Brumation is a natural process, and allowing the gecko to go through without interruption is essential.

Diet and Nutrition

Feeding your leopard gecko a balanced diet is perhaps the most essential thing you can do for a healthy and happy life. High Yellow leopard geckos are inherently insectivorous.

Therefore, their diet should include a diversified array of insects. They prefer live, moving insects to get the thrill of hunting them down.

Crickets and mealworms are the most popular insect feeders for geckos. However, they can also savor other insects such as roaches, silkworms, waxworms, or superworms. Ensure that your leopard gecko only eats commercially produced insects or ones that are reared at home.

Avoid wild insects since they may contain parasites or pesticides that can jeopardize your leopard gecko’s health. Conversely, bugs that light up, such as fireflies and lightning bugs, contain chemicals that can be toxic to your geckos.  

Other essential factors to remember are the insect size and feeding frequency. For example, a High Yellow leopard gecko shouldn’t consume an insect that is longer than the size of the space between its eyes regardless of its size.

Regarding how frequently the lizards should eat, young geckos should be fed daily, while adults can eat 2-3 days a week.

You should create an excellent dietary regimen by always providing food in a consistent rhythm. Because leopard geckos are crepuscular, feeding food at dawn or dusk is recommended, as this is the period that they’re most active

Baby geckos can eat 5-7 insects daily, while mature geckos can savor 6-7 insects 2-3 times weekly. However, experts recommend letting your High Yellow gecko eat as much as it can in 10-15 minutes since counting how much it consumes can be challenging.

However, you mustn’t overfeed your leo, as giving it too much food and lead to obesity and a wide range of other health complications. On the other hand, insufficient feeding can lead to malnutrition and health complications such as metabolic bone disease.

Water

Water plays a vital role in ensuring the proper functioning of body organs. In High Yellow leopard geckos, water is essential for hydration, digestion, and the functioning of the kidneys and other organs. It also helps maintain healthy skin and aids the shedding process.

Without an adequate water supply, leos can become dehydrated and eventually suffer from various health problems. In addition, dehydration may lead to problematic shedding. Therefore, you must ensure that these creatures have access to drinking water at all times.

Make sure to have a shallow dish of fresh, clean water available. The bowl should be big enough for the gecko to soak in but shallow enough to allow easy access. The dish should be spot cleaned and refilled with clean water daily.

Additionally, misting the terrarium regularly will increase the tank’s moisture content and encourage geckos to drink water. Lastly, feeding your High Yellow leo on insects with high water content, such as mealworms and wax worms, will help them hydrate. 

Housing and Enclosure Requirements

Since High Yellow geckos are a morph of the famous leopard gecko, they are native to Asia’s dry and hot deserts. Therefore, when setting up the ideal habitat for these creatures, ensure that it mimics the natural environment in every way possible.

Ideal Enclosure Size for High Yellow Leopard Geckos

The ideal enclosure size for a High Yellow Leopard Gecko is at least 20 gallons. This is the minimum size recommended for one adult gecko, but larger enclosures are always better as they provide more space for the gecko to move around and explore.

The enclosure should be extensive horizontally and not too high vertically since leopard geckos spend most geckos spend their time on the ground.

It’s crucial to remember that the enclosure size should also consider the number of geckos housed, as overcrowding can lead to stress, health issues, and territorial aggression. Conversely, the terrarium should be escape-proof, well-ventilated, and easy to clean.

Temperature

Setting the proper temperature for your gecko is one of the trickiest aspects of setting up the ideal habitat. Leos, like other reptiles, don’t self-regulate their internal temperature. Instead, they depend on the external environment.

Therefore, you need to designate different temperature zones to allow them to move to one side when they get too hot or cold.

There should be a temperature gradient between the warmer and cooler zones. The basking zone on the warmer side should have temperatures ranging from 88 -92 degrees Fahrenheit. The cooler side temperature should be maintained between 72 and 78 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s also vital to ensure that nighttime temperatures don’t drop below 70 or rise above 72 degrees Fahrenheit. 

You mine need at least one, but likely two or three different heat sources to heat and control temperature in a leo’s cage. These include:

• Ceramic heat emitters: These emitters provide heat without light, which is ideal for nocturnal geckos.
• Heat Lamps: A low-wattage heat lamp can heat one end of the enclosure. Ensure the light is not too close to the animal to avoid overheating.
• Heat mats: A heat mat is placed under a portion of the enclosure to heat the terrarium. Ensure the heat pad is not inside the cage and shouldn’t be placed on a non-flammable surface.

Placing a thermometer inside the enclosure can help you monitor the temperature and adjust the heat accordingly.

Lighting

There is a common misconception about leos need for or lack of light. Most people assume that they don’t need light since they are nocturnal and sleep during the day and become lively at night. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Leopard geckos require light to maintain their day-night cycle.

 Luckily, they don’t require specialized lighting. All they need is light to help them distinguish between day and night. Even when they’re sleeping, Leos are conscious of their environment. As a result, they can discern day and night and rely on it for survival.

Leopard geckos, like other animals sensitive to light and dark changes, need regular day and night cycles to keep their internal clocks functioning normally. Therefore, you should ensure that your High Yellow gecko receives at least 12-13 hours of light daily.

Despite the notion that leos don’t need UVB, recent research indicates that leopard geckos can utilize UVB when available.

Therefore, some experts recommend the use of UVB bulbs. However, since their skins are susceptible, you should not expose them to lights with high wattage as they might get burned. In most cases, leopard geckos thrive best under lighting that emits between 5% and 6% UVB.

Humidity

Although geckos are desert creatures that can survive in dry conditions, they do best in an environment with a relative humidity of 30–40 percent.

Therefore, when setting up their captive habitat, you must ensure that it has humidity within this range. In addition, you can do a few things to ensure that the moisture levels stay within an optimal range.

First, it is essential to choose the proper substrate for your aquarium. If you need to increase the terrarium humidity, moisture-retaining substrates such as coco coir and eco earth are ideal. Substrates, such as stone slates, reptile carpets and paper towels, should be used for tanks that don’t have high humidity problems.

In addition, you will need to offer your leopard gecko a water dish where it can soak and drink. It is essential to use a shallow dish to prevent your gecko from drowning. In addition, you should clean the dish frequently, empty it out, and refill it with clean water.  

The next and most essential part of providing the proper humidity is to place a humid hide in the gecko’s tank. This can be a simple box with water-retaining substances like sphagnum moss, coconut coir, or eco earth.

This will aid in shedding and temperature regulation. The wet hide usually has humidity levels of between 70-80%, which geckos need to shed their skin without any problems.

Lastly, you will need to keep a close eye on how the humidity in the tank fluctuates. A hygrometer, a cheap instrument available at most pet stores, can be used for this purpose. Humidity levels should be checked often (at least once a week) and adjusted as needed

Décor and Accessories

Although High Yellow geckos aren’t that vibrant, they’ll need some enrichment to keep them active in their enclosures. You’ll need to place several hides in the tank.

Conversely, logs and low branches will provide ideal spots for leopard geckos to climb. Artificial plants may add to the aesthetic of the leo’s terrarium, act as hiding spots, and give the tank a more natural appeal.

However, be careful not to overstock the tank with unnecessary accessories. Additionally, ensure that all products in the tank don’t have toxic chemicals.

Common Health Issues in High Yellow Leopard Geckos

Like other leopard geckos, High Yellow leos are hardy creatures that don’t get sick quickly. However, they may get sick due to tank conditions, diet, or lack of hygiene and cleanliness. Some of the common ailments in geckos include:

• Respiratory infections. These ailments are caused by poor conditions, such as too much humidity. If your gecko is suffering from a respiratory infection, it might display symptoms such as fatigue, difficulties in breathing, and mucal discharge from the mouth or nose. Proper ventilation, cleanliness, and proper terrarium conditions are crucial for avoiding respiratory infections.
• Metabolic bone disease. This is a dietary ailment caused by calcium deficiency, lack of UVB, or nutritional imbalances. The condition manifests through brittle bones, inability to move, fatigue, and soft jaws. Offering your gecko calcium supplement and UVB light can help prevent the illness.
• Impaction. When your gecko ingests items such as loose substrates or large insects, they end up blocking its gut. It makes your geckos lethargic, makes the belly swell, and they might become immobile. Avoiding loose substrates and feeding the right size of insects to your gecko can help prevent impaction.

Proper care and nutrition are essential for maintaining the health of the High Yellow leopard gecko. Additionally, regular veterinary check-ups are crucial to detect and prevent any health complications

High Yellow Leopard Geckos Behavior and how to Handle Them

Like other leopard geckos, High Yellow geckos are docile and less aggressive. They are crepuscular, meaning their active hours are in the morning and evening. They enjoy solitude and don’t like to interact with other animals.

However, they need the training to learn how to bond with their owners. If you want to handle your leopard gecko, these tips will help you do it with success:

• When you’re holding them, you should always support their whole body.
• Be gentle and calm with them because sudden movements can scare them.
• Avoid picking them up by the tail. You run the risk of them dropping it off as a defensive mechanism.
• Because they are cold-blooded, you need to keep them in a warm atmosphere when handling them.
• For times when they feel unsafe, provide them a place to hide. It’s best not to pick them up when they’re in the midst of this process because it can be traumatic for them.
• Give them time to get acclimated to their new environment before handling them.

What is the Average Price of a High Yellow Leopard Gecko?

Since High Yellow morphs are easy to breed and readily available, they are not as costly as other morphs such as the Lemon frost or Black Pearl. However, they are more expensive than standard leopard geckos since they average around $80 to $150.

Conclusion

High Yellow leopard geckos are easy to care for and attractive but inexpensive. As a result, they are regarded as excellent pets for novice and seasoned pet owners.

When given the right kind of attention, care, and tank conditions, these animals can survive for as long as 10 to 20 years. So if you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind and loving reptilian companion, you won’t go wrong with a High Yellow leopard gecko.