Leos in the wild?

[Andyrc]

Hey everyone. Recently I've sparked an interest in knowing more about these majestic creatures in their wild, natural habitats. I've done some online research and really didn't find much of what I wanted to know. So I thought I might start a little thread so we could discuss a few things? I understand the basics such as where they originate from, climates, etc. But there are a few things I would specifically like to know.

Here are a few things I'd like to discuss:

-Do Leopard Geckos in the wild typically grow as large as those that are in captivity?

-How does the life span of a Leopard gecko vary among captive bred and wild leopard geckos? Are diseases more prevalent in the wild or in captivity?

-How are hatchlings taken care of in the wild? Does the mother stick around for very long?

-Have Leopard geckos in the wild shown cannibalistic traits? (i.e. Adult Leopard gecko comes across a hatchling or what have you, and eats said hatchling.)

-Is their substrate loose sand (As some would suggest) or is it a hard rocky substrate?

-How do Leopard Geckos in the wild get the humidity they need? (Such as during a shed, or when they just feel they need a little more moisture)

-What is their diet like in their natural habitat? What makes up the majority of their diet?

-What are some of their natural predators?

-Do Leopard geckos in the wild migrate throughout their lives, or do they find a nice spot to call home and stay in the vicinity?

-Do wild Leopard Geckos maintain their tendency to defecate in the same place, or is that only a captive thing? (Does anyone know WHY they do that?)

-Does anyone know how effective the tail drop when being chased by a predator?



These are just a few things that I thought would make for some interesting conversation. Of course, if you have any other fun facts about these wild creatures that we don't normally get exposed to as captive pet owners, please share! Likewise, if you have a question related to the topic of wild Leopard Geckos, please ask

 

[Tongue Flicker]

substrate in the wild is mixture of dirt (dried up soil), clay, silt, medium-grained sand and rocky crevices. Everything is compact and is virtually hard to dig up. So it is not loose. They get moisture from their prey and because they are crepuscular lizards, they can get early morning moisture from dews/mists/fogs that collects in the plants. Their diets are mostly beetle grubs and moths as these bugs are drought resistant

 

[Mantislover]

I saw a small part of a show on Youtube narrated by David Attenborough. It showed some of a females home and a male caller looking to mate with her. The show might have come from Animal planet or PBS.