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Picking the best leopard gecko substrate can be an overwhelming task; learn about some great options to help your leopard gecko live a happy & healthy life!
Updated on June 19th, 2026
When it comes to reptile habitats, one of the most essential elements to creating a happy home for your pet is including the appropriate type of lighting. Zoo Med helps outline which lights are right for your pet.
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Learn how to care for Red-Eyed Crocodile Skink, recommended diet & aquarium setup. Find the right food, supplies & equipment at your neighborhood Petco.
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Do you have questions about why your gecko isn’t eating? Petco has the answers. Visit us to learn about leopard gecko dietary needs and more.
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Learn how to care for a Python, recommended diet & habitat setup. Find the right food, supplies & equipment at your neighborhood Petco.
Updated on April 9th, 2026
Thanks for your question about Smaug, and thanks for the photo as well! I think that you have a good start to your set up, and that we can tweak a few items. First, your lighting situation appears adequate - I see a UVB light (please change this bulb every 4-6 months), a basking light, and a ceramic heat bulb. I would ensure that your temperatures are appropriate for this species, and that you are monitoring them using digital thermometers (I think that you see both a digital and analog thermometers currently) at the level of Smaug. Analog thermometers are inaccurate, so I don't recommend using them (also, they are high up on the sides of the enclosure, so they wouldn't be giving an accurate temperature read for Smaug). For the cage furniture that you have, I like that you have places for Smaug to climb and hide. However, I would recommend having a hide on both the warm side of the enclosure and the cool side so that Smaug has choices. Same for the climbing structures. I may have missed a food and water dish in the enclosure - I would recommend that both of these be shallow, and be large enough for Smaug's entire body to fit within them. I cannot tell what type of shavings that you have on the bottom of the enclosure, but the only wood shavings that I recommend are aspen shavings. If they are pine, these can be irritating to the respiratory system. I hope that gives you a place to start, and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Have him examined by your veterinarian or an experienced herp vet. Submit a stool sample to diagnose intestinal parasites. This will all give you a better idea of his health status. Barring any major illness or injury, he could be rehabbed and live a "normal" life. Set him up in an appropriate enclosure with correct parameters. Offer appropriately sized and gut loaded prey as well as some Fluker's Repti-Boost. Soak in a warm 50/50 solution of water and unflavored PediaLyte daily for 20-30 minutes to maintain hydration. It may take time, but with a healthy diet, proper environment and some care, he could recover.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. This is definitely OK! It is possible he was handled frequently before you got him, so he is already used to being handled. He may also just have a personality where he isn't afraid of being picked up. As a reminder, geckos can carry infections that can make humans sick, so always wash your hands well after handling him! I hope this is helpful.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Hi, For heat you could do a number of things e.g. place any incandenscent bulb above him, place other types of heaters near the tank etc. Please make sure that the temperature is not too high. As for food, this is more of a problem. If he's used to eating crickets it would be difficult to switch him at once to something else. I assume meal worms or otjer insects are also unavailable? You could very temporarily try some soft cat food but it may not work.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
As long as the bark pieces are large enough, the chosen substrate should be fine. Small bark pieces could be accidentally ingested though, so care must be taken when feeding. Other options include reptile carpet or a moss/soil mix.
Updated on September 24th, 2025