Leopard geckos are great pets for anyone who wants to start keeping reptiles. They have calm personalities, are simple to care for and are very hardy.
Many beginners assume that these geckos have a short lifespan to match their small size. But did you know the average pet leopard gecko can live well over 20 years? Of course, this depends on factors such as genetics, gender and husbandry.
In this article we will share how long do leopard geckos live and factors that affect their lifespan.
How Long Do Leopard Geckos Live?
A leopard gecko with good care will most likely reach 20 years old, but it is not unheard of for them to live a few years longer. Most pet leopard geckos live for 15 to 25 years; males especially have been known to live long and happy lives of up to 25 years.
There are several factors that play a role in determining the lifespan of a leopard gecko:
- Genetics
- Environment
- Tank Setup
- Illnesses
- Care
- Gender
Females typically do not live as long as males due to the production of eggs.
A significant amount of energy is needed to produce eggs, even for females that have never mated. This continual loss of nutrients and energy takes a serious toll on their health and bodies, even when fed a healthy diet with lots of nutrients.
Avoiding breeding leopard geckos can help to increase their lifespan, but due to the fact that females will still produce infertile eggs, they will typically have shorter lifespans.
It is common for females to live to be 10-20 years old, while males can be 15-25 years old.
Another factor that can impact the life expectancy of a leopard gecko is their environment.
The lifespan of a leopard gecko in captivity will be drastically different than one born in the wild:
- Pets have been known to live up to 15-25 years.
- Wild leopard geckos will only reach 8-10 years of age.
Wild individuals have an increased risk of injuries, exposure to the elements, parasites and dying from predation.
Unfortunately, their small size makes them the perfect prey for snakes, birds and mammals.
Their natural range in the harsh grasslands and deserts of the Middle East also makes it hard to survive at times. Temperatures can exceed 100°F during the day, and drop below 60°F at night. Nightly temperature drops, especially during the winter, are particularly dangerous.
Leopard geckos are ectotherms and are most comfortable around 80-90°F. Prolonged exposure to temperatures over 100°F can kill them.
When temperatures in their native habitat are outside their ideal range, they must find ways to take cover, or else they face a premature death.
Parasites, injuries and genetic defects can also reduce a wild leopard gecko lifespan.
These issues can leave them weak, malnourished and vulnerable to predators. Since they do not have access to vet care in the wild, these issues will often cause them to perish as well.
In captivity, the aim is to avoid or reduce these risks as much as possible. Doing so allows a pet leopard gecko to live a long, healthy life.
Oldest Leopard Geckos
The claim for the oldest leopard gecko in the world, as of 2021, was a 29 year old male.
29 years is a long time for any leopard gecko to live. Yet there is another pet leopard gecko out there that makes him seem young.
Esther Laue, a reptile keeper in Germany, has a female leopard gecko that is over 40 years old!
Since it is commonly thought that females do not live as long as males, it is amazing that one could reach that age. In fact, it is hard to find any other cases of a leopard gecko living even close to 40 years.
Esther keeps her lizards in a naturalistic enclosure and believes this is the reason her pet has lived so long.
Why Do Some Live Longer Than Others?
Most pet leopard geckos will live for 15 to 25 years, but that doesn’t mean that every gecko fits exactly into this range. Oftentimes their lifespan can be down to genetics.
Some leopard gecko morphs are prone to slow growth or neurological issues, which can impact their quality of life and how long they live. Here is a list of morphs that have documented health issues:
- Enigma
- Lemon Frost
- White and Yellow
- Noir Desir Black Eyes
These morphs may not always have shorter lifespans, but it is something to consider.
Even a genetically healthy leopard gecko may not reach 20 years if given improper care.
Leopard geckos that are fed a healthy diet of live feeder insects will develop into much healthier adults with longer lifespans than those primarily fed dried foods or even insects such as waxworms.
The best diet includes a variety of gut-loaded dubia roaches, mealworms and crickets. Supplements are also needed to prevent illnesses and early death.
Regular husbandry and a good tank setup will also increase how long leopard geckos live.
Setting up their enclosure with plenty of enrichment and a safe heat gradient using heat mats or deep heat projectors will also help them live longer than those in poor conditions.
Heat rocks, sand substrate and colored lights can all cause disease or injury.
Keeping a leopard gecko on sand is problematic as they can eat the sand grains, which may not safely pass through their digestive system. The resulting blockage is known as impaction. Without being able to digest or pass any food, the leopard gecko will face an early death.
Vet care is also important as it can save a leopard gecko’s life.
Sometimes health issues cannot be fixed without antibiotics or surgery, which can only be administered by a professional exotic veterinarian.
It may seem like there’s a lot that goes into caring for a gecko, but there are many factors that we can control that will mean the difference between one living a long life and one that dies early.
How To Increase Their Lifespan
There are several issues that can impact a leopard gecko’s lifespan. However, they are remarkably hardy compared to many other pet lizards.
This is one reason they are great for beginners.
There have been many cases of leopard geckos being kept in poor conditions and still surviving for many years.
The key to helping your gecko live a long and healthy life is to do your research and keep up-to-date with the best forms of husbandry. There are many day-to-day things you can do to increase your leopard gecko’s lifespan:
- Monitor and maintain the correct humidity and temperature gradient in their enclosure.
- Take your gecko to the vet whenever health issues arise.
- Use a safe substrate such as tile, not pure sand.
- Feeding a variety of live feeder insects from a reputable source.
- Keep them safe from your other predatory pets (e.g., cats).
- Not using colored lights or heat rocks.
- Keeping the tank clean.
- Remove stress factors (e.g. tank mates, dirty tank, cold temperatures).
Tank Setup
A leopard gecko’s tank needs to be as safe and comfortable as possible.
The enclosure itself should be a 40-gallon long glass aquarium; tanks with more floor space are better.
A good set-up will have a thermostat connected to a heat source, which can be a heat mat or a deep heat projector. The basking temperature should be close to 90°F, while the other side of the tank needs to be around 75°F.
Humidity should stay around 40% year-round.
High humidity causes respiratory infections and low humidity causes stuck shed, which leads to constriction of limbs and infections.
While their temperatures and humidity do need to be as close to their ideal range as possible, it won’t hurt if those conditions vary a little from time to time. Don’t let yourself stress over it too much, as long as you work to correct any issues that arise.
Keeping your leopard gecko safe in their tank also means using tile or paper towel as substrate, including at least three hides (one of which should be a humid hide), an abundance of plants, and keeping fresh dechlorinated water in a clean bowl at all times.
Finally, a leopard gecko that escapes from their tank can face a number of dangers and will be without food or water. This is why you must have a lid for the tank and always supervise them when handling.
Healthy Diet
Using a variety of live feeder insects is the best way to help your leopard gecko grow strong and healthy enough to live for a long time. For example, you can use a mix of dubia roaches, mealworms, crickets, and occasionally hornworms or black soldier fly larvae.
These insects also need to be gut-loaded and dusted regularly with calcium and vitamin D3 powder.
Even geckos fed the best live feeder insects will suffer from disease if the insects are not dusted with supplements.
If not given calcium powder with D3 (or plain calcium and a UVB light) their bones and joints will become weak or deformed. This is called metabolic bone disease and it is severely debilitating, to the point where a pet leopard gecko will not reach 20 years old.
Occasionally dust the insects with multivitamins as well to prevent death caused by vitamin deficiencies.
Feeder insects that are dried or have been contaminated with parasites can lead to poor health.
Avoid wild insects too as they can have pesticides or parasites, and can even be poisonous as in the case of wild hornworms. Exposure to any of these threats can reduce your leopard gecko’s lifespan.
Remove Stress
If a leopard gecko is too stressed then it may refuse food and quickly deteriorate in health.
Cohabitation, a dirty tank, lack of hides, poor husbandry and a bad diet can all cause stress.
One major stress is caused by them feeling too exposed or vulnerable. Clutter (more plants and other forms of enrichment) is strongly encouraged to create “micro-shelters” where they can feel hidden and protected.
Another thing is to minimize handling if your leopard gecko seems to be stressed.
A certain amount of handling is needed to help tame them, but hours of handling every day can be too much for them to tolerate and may even end with a bite.
Sometimes a leopard gecko might drop their tail if they feel threatened or if you pull on it. Dropped tails are usually not a huge concern, but if the gecko’s enclosure is not kept clean it can develop an infection in the wound.
Keeping them in a clean, secure tank (separate from other geckos or any pets) will also reduce stress and therefore increase a leopard gecko lifespan.
Most Common Causes of Death
When keeping leopard geckos, you should do your best to prevent any major illnesses, impaction, infections and metabolic bone disease. You should also use safe, clean substrate that they cannot ingest and make sure that the décor does not have any sharp edges and is secure.
Various diseases can occur if their tank is not clean, if they are lacking nutrients in their diet, and if their temperatures and humidity are not controlled.
As a result of poor care, many leopard geckos live a very short life.
Parasites from contaminated food can reduce your leopard gecko’s lifespan considerably. The deadliest parasite is known as cryptosporidium. It is highly contagious between reptiles and usually cannot be cured.
If any parasitic infection gets out of hand, it will cause watery stools, lack of appetite, and severe malnourishment identifiable by an extremely thin tail.
Take them to an exotic vet as soon as possible if they show any signs of lethargy or drastic weight loss.
Leopard Gecko Life Stages
Leopard geckos grow and develop in a series of stages throughout their 15 to 25 year lifespan. Their ideal care and husbandry will differ slightly depending on their age.
| Life Stage | Age | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Hatchling | 0-2 months | 3 – 5g |
| Juvenile | 3-12 months | 5 – 40g |
| Adult/Senior | 1-20+ years | 40 – 80g |
1. Hatchling
From the moment they hatch out of the egg to roughly 2 months of age, they are considered a hatchling. Hatchlings can be as small as 3 inches in total length and 3 grams in weight. They grow quickly at this stage and will need to be fed every day. Despite their huge appetite, their tail will be naturally skinnier compared to adults.
2. Juvenile
By the third month, a leopard gecko will reach its juvenile stage. This stage will last until they are one year old. You might notice your juvenile slow down in activity and growth; their color pattern will also noticeably change. They will need to be fed only once every 2-3 days since they do less activity.
3. Adult
Once your leopard gecko is 12 months old, they are officially an adult. They may continue to gain a few grams, although they should level out around 60-80 grams and 8-10 inches in length, depending on whether they are male or female.
4. Senior
A leopard gecko is considered senior when they are over 10 years old, despite the fact they can live significantly longer. An older gecko might slow down or have limited mobility. Likewise, they may lose some weight, but you may not notice any of these signs until much closer to the end of their life.
Summary
There is a lot to love about leopard geckos. They are cute, friendly, and are packed with surprises. Many new keepers are even surprised to learn about their long lifespans.
Most pet leopard geckos will live for 15 to 25 years.
On average, females live close to 15 years and males can reach 25 years, but there are some exceptions. Not every leopard gecko fits exactly into this range.
The key to ensuring a long life is to make sure to provide enrichment, a healthy diet and an ideal tank setup. You should also try to reduce the risk for accidents, serious illnesses, stress and parasites.
From the egg to the end of their life, leopard geckos will reward you with generous amount of fun and joy.
Let us know how long your leopard gecko lived in the comments.
