Leopard Gecko Morphs as Pets
Among the many pets people choose to have these days, black leopard geckos have emerged as an emerging choice. According to the Northampton Reptile Center, the Leopard Gecko is the most commonly kept lizard in the United Kingdom. The primary reason for that is the fact that they possess a docile and friendly nature.
However, it would not be untrue to impress another fact here that contributes to their popularity. As household reptilian pets of choice: Their beautiful skin pigmentation which results in all sorts of different colors and patterns. This ability not only makes them stand out. But has also given birth to an increased interest in domestic leopard gecko breeding. The more prominent and popular pigmentation patterns and colors include the following:-
- High Yellow
- Blizzard
- Tangerine
- Carrot Tail
- Lavender
- Reverse Stripe
- Aberrant
- Hypo Melanistic
- Hyper Melanistic
As the name suggests, Black Leopard Gecko morphs are somewhat completely black or dark in appearance. They are from the Hyper Melanistic family of Leopard Gecko morphs. Another important feature which makes them distinct is the fact that they possess moveable eyelids. They are generally from six to nine inches long and can live up to a good 20 years under domestic care. Among the most famous Black Leopard Gecko morphs are the Black Night Leopard Gecko and the Black Pearl Leopard Gecko morphs. The difference between them is explained as under:-
Black Night Leopard Gecko
These melanistic morphs are among the rarest one can find in captivity. They wear a completely black hide with a strikingly opposing white under belly. Among the more expensive lizards, these can vary from $1,000 to a hefty $3,500. It is important to note here that they are not always spotless.
Black Pearl Leopard Gecko morphs
These highly melanistic black leopard geckos are stark black .But have a pattern infused with white pearl-like markings on their body. Owing to an increase in demand and rarity of these geckos, these are even more expensive than Black Leopard Gecko morphs and are sold from $2,500 to onwards of $3,000. These differ from Black Night Leopard Gecko morphs because they have a blue-black color whereas Black Night Leopard Gecko morphs have a warm, brown tint to their hide.
For those who are new to keeping Black Leopard Gecko morphs as pets, the following characteristics are explained in detail to facilitate the reader regarding the choice of keeping one.
Attitude
For some who are alien to the concept of having a reptile as an indoor pet, it may seem outlandish to suggest that they may get one rather slimy and slithery friend. This fact cannot be farther from the truth as we now understand the general behavior of geckos more and more. According to Philippe De Vosjoli’s The Leopard Gecko Manual¸ “the common leopard geckos are one of the most popular lizard pets and, quite possibly, are the first domesticated lizard species”.
In his work, he explains as to how the leopard geckos have assumed the role of parakeet or goldfish in the average pet household. He goes on to explain that the leopard gecko’s docility, easiness to breed and friendly nature are among the major factors which make them remarkable pets. One must understand that the average perception of the ‘creepy crawly’ and ‘slimy’ reptiles has resulted in an unfortunate stereotype among the masses who still consider reptiles as harmful.
Again, this could not be farther from the truth as the leopard gecko is completely harmless and neither is it toxic nor does it bite. In fact, being an insectivore, it is not equipped with the set of teeth to bite or maim a human hand or organs. The only occasion a gecko might bite is when it’s threatened. In summary, their quiet and compliant nature makes them ideal as pets for each and every age group given their interactive and inquisitive nature.
Dieting
Being insectivores, leopard geckos often feed on smaller insects, worms or other invertebrates in the wild. But when it comes to those who are domesticated, the owner needs to make appropriate measures to ensure they get their requisite nutritional intake.
Firstly, the diet must consist of recently fed insects such as small mealworms, waxworms or crickets that are around the same size as the space between the geckos’ eyes. Secondly, the food should preferably be sprinkled with calcium supplement daily and multi-vitamin supplement at least once a week.
Thirdly, do remember to feed your leopard gecko on a daily basis. And lastly, give your gecko clean, un-chlorinated water which should be available at all times. The water should be thoroughly clean, changed daily and served in a wide but shallow bowl so as to give the gecko the maximum ease of access. An interesting fact here is that leopard geckos often eat their own skin when it sheds, so you need not worry about that as it is completely normal!
Habitat
The housing or livability of the habitat in which your pet resides has a great bearing on its personality development and longevity. So, just as you make your own home comfortable for you, you must ensure that your pet has the requisite comforts that it might arrange in the wild as well. Therefore, domesticating is a solemn responsibility.
According to PetCoach, the ideal terrarium for housing a Leopard Gecko is long and shallow with a minimum size of 10 gallons. The size, of course, increases as you increase the number of geckos you would want in the same environment. Wire cages are not good substitutes for glass-walled terrariums as the glass walls help in not letting the leopard gecko’s escape. A few important facets of habitats are discussed below:-
Substrate
As far as the under-layer or substrate is concerned, it should be non-abrasive as well as non-irritating to your gecko’s skin. Also, the substrate should be easy to replace and clean. A fine example of good substrates can be artificial turf or paper towels. The common practice of using sand as a substrate can be detrimental to the gecko’s health since it may cause an issue due to digestion of sand or formulation of dust.
Activity Spaces or Gyms
All pets require some form of training or activity for a healthy lifestyle. Since in nature these animals get ample chance of such activity, similarly in the indoors too, activities must be developed for domesticated pets’ physical well-being. As a dog requires to be walked out for exercise, so do the geckos with their confined habitat. Often it is easier to achieve just that in the case of leopard geckos since a makeshift gym can be placed right inside the terrarium.
This might include small plastic pieces, rocks or even plants upon which the gecko can climb up or crawl over to give a more natural interaction with as many natural surfaces as possible. The closer these materials can resemble those in nature, the better.
Indoor plants and wood pieces make for ideal materials for such activities. However, whichever material one uses for the living spaces and the gyms or movement areas, it must be kept in mind that cedar and other resinous woods are not used as they are toxic to Leopard Geckos.
Ambient Temperature
Being cold blooded-reptiles, Geckos do not produce their own body heat and are what is termed as “ectothermic”. This necessitates the use of ancillary and, quite often, artificial sources of heat. The preferred temperature is 80-85°F during the day and from 70-80°F at night. Commonly used sources of heat include heat lamps, heaters and heating elements.
Just as the natural biological cycle is important for humans to eat, sleep and function so is the case with all animals. However, being in captivity your Gecko will require a simulate cycle of light and dark to help its biological cycle acclimatize and adapt to a sense of day and night. The number of light hours requires for summers is 14, whereas for winters it is 12 hours.
Hides
Hides are another important aspect that your habitat should preferably feature. Being nocturnal creatures, Leopard Gecko’s require a space to hide themselves for camouflage and sleeping purposes. Good examples of ever-day used materials which can be improv as adept hides include: naturally occurring wood pieces such as tree-bark which is curved in shape and also, small clay plant pots turn upside down.
Multiple Geckos in a Shared Terrarium
Housing multiple leopard geckos in a single habitat can be tricky for newer pet-owners. That is because one needs to understand the dynamic relationship these critters have in the wild. The males are naturally territorial and, therefore, you should only keep one male inside a single terrarium with a number of females in case you wish to house multiple leopard geckos.
The females are not naturally territorial aggressive, but regardless, one must keep an eye out for signs of such behavior. Also, there is a good chance that the male and females will formulate a relationship of understanding over time and co-habit peacefully.
This often results in breeding by these geckos which is fascinating to witness and give a host of possibilities in the shape of their offspring. Lastly, as one might expect, the space for more than one gecko should be preferably larger. Sizes of upwards of 20 gallons are recommended in the case of three of more leopard geckos in the same terrarium.
Maintenance
Your pet leopard gecko’s habitat requires ample care and upkeep to increase the quality and health of your pets. This includes activities such as: cleaning and changing the substrate, disinfecting the water bowl daily and the terrarium weekly and of course thoroughly cleaning the housing for all pieces of dirt including shed skin, fecal matter, insects etc.
Consult a veterinarian before using any forms of cleaners or spirits since these might be toxic or irritating to your leopard gecko’s skin. The best time for maintenance is typical during the early morning hours or at dusk. Which prevents one from disturbing their natural sleep cycles as they are nocturnal animals in nature.
Monitoring Health
The very reason why many people interested in getting Leopard Gecko morphs. Is the fact that they have amusing reactions and interactions. They are docile and intriguing creatures by nature; however, few develop their own personalities as they grow. The entire process of grooming. A gecko is one which pet owners thoroughly enjoy as they get to know their pet.
Among the many signs which indicate good health of your leopard gecko include clear eyes, activity and alertness. A healthy skin, ease in breathing, regular eating habits and round body and tail.
A few signs that indicate a negative health experience include loss of appetite. Mucous accumulation in the nose, swelling, lack of activity, abnormal and irregular feces. Bumps, sores or abrasions on the skin and limb paralysis. If any symptoms pertaining to negative health indicators observe. You must quickly reach out to your veterinarian for further diagnosis or medication.
Breeding
The art of breeding your own Leopard Gecko morphs is a practice season pet-owners of geckos and other reptiles turn to. This means that hundreds of possible crosses exist due to fascinating genetic possibilities when these geckos interbreed. When two morphs of different skin texture and pattern breed.
The offspring results in a newer pattern, color or sometimes even texture. This is done at a technical level by morphologists who study the recessive and dominant traits of each gecko breed. However, it is not always the case that selective breeding yields newer morphs. Some newer morph types can simply occur due to random genetic mutations. Which is a common happening for all life forms.
Simply put, if you want a black leopard gecko. You would have two black leopard geckos, a male and a female, mate with each other. Theoretically, their offspring should have a greater tone of black in its skin than its parents.
Breeding a Black Pearl Leopard Gecko Morph
The Black Pearl Leopard Gecko morph is already distinctly define in detail above. One must understand how difficult it is to achieve such a pigmentation in geckos as. Black Pearl Leopard Gecko morphs are fundamentally albino leopard geckos. Which are completely cover with all-black pigmentation. Furthermore, breeding these can be very difficult because the genetic traits which cause this pigmentation are extremely recessive. As the gecko’s age, their blacks appear to slightly lighten though the color gets richer.
So generally speaking, the following rules apply when attempting to breed a Black Pearl Leopard Gecko morph:-
- Among the parent geckos that breed, at least one must be hyper melanistic.
- At least one parent gecko must be of black or deep brown or dark brown in color.
- The best case would be if both the parent geckos are black.
- The breeding process needs to repeat again and again until the black and hyper melanistic traits both come out.
- A great deal of trial and error needs to be carried out to get the ideal pattern and color right. So, do not lose hope so early.
Finishing Words
So, as you can very well understand by now, black leopard gecko morphs are stupendous pets. They make for astonishing companions that one can take care of with very little effort and resources. Their docility behavior and interaction with the environment and people make them very responsive pets. And then there’s the opportunity of breeding them to produce even more leopard geckos with different pigmentation. And patterns for those who love the endless possibilities of colors these miracles of nature can exist in! I hope this quick guide will help you decide when you are thinking of getting a Black Leopard Gecko morph.