Leopard Geckos are among the best household reptile pets because they have a decent lifespan (around 20 years in captivity). Moreover, they’re low-maintenance creatures and have a host of other lovesome traits. When you decide to get a Leopard Gecko from PetSmart, one of your greatest concerns will be the age of your pet.
So, how old are the leopard geckos at PetSmart?” It’s difficult to state the exact age of Leopard Geckos at PetSmart since it depends on several factors. However, most Leopard geckos at this pet store are generally around 5 months to a year old. Typically, leopard geckos reach sexual maturity at approximately eight months old, so PetSmart often sells off most of its Leos before they reach this age.
How Can You Tell the Age of a Leopard Gecko at PetSmart?
The age of most leopard geckos at PetSmart ranges from six to 10 months. Nevertheless, the pet store can only be sure of the age of leopard geckos whom they have housed and cared for since hatching.
In some cases, however, the pet store rescues” leopard geckos either from the wild or from pet owners who willingly give them away as unwanted pets.
Mostly, the lack of records makes it difficult to tell the precise age of leopard geckos that have been rescued from the wild, unsuitable artificial living conditions, and those that have been given away by their owners.
Fortunately, there are a few factors you can consider such as the weight, length, or color and markings of the pets to approximate the age of such pets.
· Length
Leopard geckos are the largest among the Gecko species. To be precise, Leo babies measure 3 to 4 inches at birth. After about a year, they grow to adulthood and can reach a length of between 7 to 8 inches in females and 8 to 11 inches in males.
· Weight
Healthy leopard gecko babies weigh 2 to 5 grams at birth. As they grow towards adulthood, they accumulate more fat and in turn gain more weight. Thus, adult Leos normally weigh more than their younger counterparts.
· Color
Apart from the length and weight of a leopard gecko, you can also leverage the color and body markings to determine the age of the pet.
For instance, baby geckos below 11 months have band markings. As they grow and hit a year old, the band markings turn into spots. In addition, adult geckos tend to become more yellow as they age.
Factors to Consider When Determining the Age of Leopard Geckos at PetSmart
Before purchasing a leopard gecko pet at PetSmart, keep it in mind that:
- Leopard geckos at PetSmart may be wild-caught while others are captive-bred. It’s extremely difficult to tell he exact age of wild-caught Leos
- Wild-caught Leopard geckos at PetSmart may have diseases and parasites, thus more difficult to tell their age
- Leopard geckos usually reach sexual maturity at 6 to 8 months
Conclusion
Leopard geckos are a great option for any pet enthusiast in the hunt for a small household reptile pet with a decent lifespan. Like most other geckos leopard geckos can live for a surprisingly long time, reaching up to 25 years in captivity.
Like most other pet stores, PetSmart sells leopard geckos of varying ages. However, most of their Leo pets range between 6 to 10 months of age.
Still, it’s difficult to place the specific age of wild-caught or rescued leopard geckos at PetSmart although you can use the reptile’s weight, length, and natural body markings to approximate the pet’s age.