Leopard Gecko Care Parameters
The short answer
Hot spot 88–94°F (31–34°C), cool end 70–77°F (21–25°C), humidity 30–40%, in a 20-gallon long enclosure at minimum and a 40-gallon enclosure as the recommendation. Feed juveniles daily and adults every 2–3 days, with calcium at every feeding. That is the whole table in one paragraph — the table below is the same numbers, with the detail.
Use this page as the reference for every other leopard gecko page on this site. If a number on another page differs from this table, this table is the one to follow, and the other page should be corrected. Temperatures are given in Fahrenheit and Celsius together, and lifespan and size are given as ranges, not single points — a single number would imply a precision the sources do not support.
Swipe or scroll across the table to compare values. Use the full source notes with each range.
| Parameter | Value | Source basis |
|---|---|---|
| Hot spot temperature | 88–94°F (31–34°C) | ReptiFiles leopard gecko guide; mainstream breeder standards |
| Cool end temperature | 70–77°F (21–25°C) | ReptiFiles; mainstream breeder standards |
| Humidity | 30–40% | ReptiFiles |
| Adult length | 8–10 inches (20–25 cm) | ReptiFiles |
| Minimum enclosure (adult) | 20-gallon long (30×12×12 in) to start; 40-gallon (36×18×18 in) recommended | ReptiFiles; 40-gallon is the current recommended standard |
| Lifespan | 15–20 years in captivity, occasionally 20+ | ReptiFiles; breeder records |
| Feeding frequency | Juveniles once daily; adults every 2–3 days | ReptiFiles |
| Calcium and D3 | Calcium at every feeding; D3 once or twice a week when no UVB is provided | ReptiFiles |
| UVB | Low-intensity UVB (Ferguson Zone 1, UVI 0.5–1.5), recommended but not compulsory; without UVB, D3 supplementation is essential | Arcadia lighting guide; recent literature consensus. This UVB wording is pending review by a veterinary reviewer or breeder and is not final. |
Sources
ReptiFiles (leopard gecko guide) and mainstream breeder standards; Arcadia (lighting guide). No other source is used for the values in this table. Where a value is pending review, it is labelled as such in the table.
Photo slot — pending
Horizontal enclosure, warm and cool ends visible
Frequently asked questions
What is the correct temperature for a leopard gecko?
Hot spot 88–94°F (31–34°C) and cool end 70–77°F (21–25°C), measured on the floor inside the hides. Both ends matter — a correct hot spot with a cool end out of range is not a correct gradient.
How humid should a leopard gecko enclosure be?
30–40% for the enclosure as a whole, with a damp humid hide available for shedding. The humid hide is the exception to the dry enclosure, not a reason to raise the whole enclosure’s humidity.
Is a 20-gallon tank enough for a leopard gecko?
A 20-gallon long tank is the minimum for an adult. The current recommendation is a 40-gallon enclosure (36×18×18 inches), which holds the temperature gradient more reliably.
Keep reading
- Leopard gecko care guide — setup, feeding, handling, and health, built on this table
- Crested gecko care parameters — a different table: cooler, more humid, vertical
- Tortoise care parameters by species — five species, five sets of numbers