Leopard Gecko Behavior

[happy gecko]

Hello. If you currently have a leopard gecko, could you post about when it is active? Basically what I'm curious about is the activity of a leopard gecko. Will leos sometimes take mid-day excursions if you do not have a light over the tank? Would a lamp in the room prevent them from coming out of there burrows? Do they roam around the cage at night, or do they stay in there burrows? How often do you see your gecko? Are there any ways to get a gecko active? Do they stay active after you feed them in the evening, or do they back to there burrows to digest?

Sorry for the weird question, I found it hard to word properly. Just basically, when and how often do you see your geckos during a day?

 

[sitting_duck]

During the day, my gecko never comes out. At night, after he eats, he'll either get a drink, or lay down where is heat pad is. So he's not very active(at least what I see), but he is out alot.

 

[RepBex]

My females comes out when ever i enter my room be in 10 in the morning or ten at night

my male sits out side his hide from about half 5 on wards eats then will go back in but if i sit and watch them after all the lights off but my mobile flash then i often see them both climbing and walking around

 

[SLB1989]

My gecko usually hides during the day, but I can still see her and most of the time she has her eyes
open watching me so is never in a deep sleep. She will sometimes wander around during the day.

Towards the evening she will come out and wander round more and then go back and hide, she comes
out over periods of time, never stays out all the time, but will come out a few times during the evening.
Don't know about night time.

 

[italipinos8]

My male gecko is active durning the day. You just have to get them custom to your schedule.

 

[LeapinLizards]

Leopard geckos are nocturnal by nature, meaning they are MOST active at night time, also when they hunt (hence why most everyone will tell you to feed them in the evening time).

Lights are unnecessary period. They only benefit YOU, as leopard geckos require only belly heat in order to digest food properly, not air temps, or basking lights. As long as the UTH is a steady 88-92*F that's all that is needed.

I currently have 13 leos, and all of them come out in the evening time...they know that's feeding time Usually they will eat, then go nap for a bit, then they are out for a good period of the night.

If you want a more day-active gecko, the only species I know of that is diurnal are Day Geckos, but their care differs much from the care of a leopard gecko.

 

[Libby15]

Mine gets active during the week when I get home from work, around 5:00. He knows it's dinner time.

 

[Bennayboi]

If youre looking for an active viewing reptile then leopard geckos arent for you. Most hide nearly all of the time. If at all, they come out in the middle of the night for 10 second patrols. Keep in mind they live for 10-20 years... and it would not be responsible to get tired of it and give back.

 

[acpart]

It really depends on the gecko. I have some geckos that prefer to sleep outside their hides and some that never come out. I have one little super snow that I can't bear to part with (and won't) because whenever I come to the cages and she's awake, she comes out to the front of the cage.

Aliza

 

[Bodon]

Mine can be seen at any time of the day or night or not at all. She really does what she feels like. She will change hides, go to the cool side or warm side, eat or even go up on her hammock in the day time but mostly she sleeps. But i really think it just depends on the gecko.

 

[kyahbean]

Puzzle is an AFT not a Leo but he sleeps ALL DAY. He spends the day turning periodically in his humid hide, and then when I turn the room lights off around 7:30ish, he usually wanders out within the hour. If I want him to wake up and come out I'll toss a couple crickets in there and that'll wake him up so I can hang out with him. :main_laugh:

 

[gothra]

I keep my geckos in glass tanks, so even if they don't come out during daytime, I can still take a peek at them inside their humide hide or hiding under their wood. Sometimes its just a tail tip or a foot sticking out, but its still fun to look at, lol.

I have red lights in the gecko room for night viewing, they'll usually come out from their hides when I'm in the room. My boys are more social than my females; whenever I put my hand inside, they'll climb up right away. They also have fun climbing on the cage furnishing, e.g. cork bark flats, fake rock hides, and I also built a second level platform to make more space.

As everyone said, the behaviour depends on the individual gecko. Some are more shy than others; but I believe the more you interact with them, the more they relax and will come out more often.

 

[Haligren]

Tiamat usually just comes out to switch hides and to poop during the day. She's much more active at night or after dinner time when I handle her and she takes a quick foray around her tank.