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Leopard Gecko Tank Setup: Tank Size, Heat Mat, Hides and Substrate

Leopard gecko tank size, warm and cool temperatures, heat mat and thermostat, three hides, substrate and UVB, from VCA, the RSPCA and the UV-Tool study.

By Reptile Supplies editorial teamUpdated 4 min read5 sources

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A leopard gecko looking out from a hide on a bed of loose bark
A leopard gecko looking out from a hide on a bed of loose bark

A leopard gecko needs a tank of at least 10 gallons (VCA) or 60 by 40 by 30 cm (RSPCA), a warm end near 82 to 86°F and a cooler end, heat on a thermostat, at least three hides including a humid one, and a solid or fine substrate. Sources differ on UVB: VCA calls it recommended, the RSPCA required.

How big should a leopard gecko tank be?

Adults are small. VCA puts them at 5 to 10 inches, and San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance gives 7.1 to 7.9 inches for females and 7.9 to 11 inches for males. VCA says they can live 10 to 15 years with good care, and the RSPCA says up to 20.

The two vet-led sources set different minimums for one gecko:

Source Minimum for one adult Notes
VCA Animal Hospitals 10-gallon tank or container At least 6 inches (15 cm) high
RSPCA 60 cm long, 40 cm high, 30 cm deep About 24 x 16 x 12 inches, roughly twice VCA’s volume

Both figures are minimums for a single gecko. Glass terrariums open from the top or the front; the listings below are front-opening models in the sizes keepers use most, so check the dimensions against both minimums before you buy.

Front-opening glass terrariums for leopard geckos

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What temperatures does a leopard gecko need?

VCA says leopard geckos do best with the cage in the mid-80s Fahrenheit (about 30°C) and can tolerate nights as low as 70°F (21°C). The RSPCA splits the tank into two ends, which is how most keepers set it up:

Zone RSPCA figure Fahrenheit (our conversion)
Warm end, over the heat 28 to 30°C 82 to 86°F
Cool end 24 to 26°C 75 to 79°F
Night heat, only if the room falls below 18°C Ceramic heater set to 18 to 20°C 64 to 68°F

The RSPCA says to check the warm zone with a digital thermometer, and to aim for humidity of about 30 to 40 percent, read with a hygrometer.

Heat mat or overhead heat?

The sources present both, so it is a real choice rather than a right answer:

  • Heat from below. The RSPCA uses a reptile heat mat on one side of a wooden vivarium, or under half the base of a glass one, connected to an on/off thermostat with the probe over the mat. VCA lists heat tapes and under-tank heaters among “great” heat sources.
  • Heat from above. VCA also lists low-level basking lights. The RSPCA adds a ceramic heater, which gives no light, for nights when the room gets cold.

Whichever you pick, it goes on a thermostat. The heat lamps and thermostats guide explains which thermostat type suits a mat and which suits a bulb.

No hot rocks

VCA says in-tank hot rocks are not recommended because they may create hot spots that can burn your gecko. Heat the tank from a mat or lamp that the gecko cannot sit directly on, and control it with a thermostat.

Thermostats and heat mats

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How many hides does a leopard gecko need?

At least three. The RSPCA says to put several hides at either end so the gecko can pick its temperature without giving up feeling secure, and to add another hide with a waterproof bottom and damp moss as a humid hide. VCA also recommends a hide box plus wet sphagnum moss, cypress mulch or vermiculite to help with moisture and shedding.

A simple layout: one hide on the warm end, one on the cool end, and the humid hide in between, with a shallow water dish.

What substrate is safe?

VCA says never to use coarse sand, corncob bedding or crushed walnut shells, because they can be swallowed and block the intestines. It lists reptile carpet, bark, paper towels and newspaper as acceptable. The RSPCA also rules out calcium sand and beech chips for the same impaction risk, keeps juveniles on non-loose substrate, and allows a mix of about half organic soil and half sand for healthy adults.

Does a leopard gecko need UVB?

UVB: sources differ

VCA says UVB is not required but is recommended, with the lamp 10 to 12 inches from the gecko. The RSPCA says leopard geckos need a gradient from UV Index 0.7 in the basking zone to zero in the shade. The UV-Tool study (Baines et al. 2016) puts the species in Ferguson zone 1, the low-UVB zone for crepuscular or shade-dwelling reptiles, and notes that leopard geckos made vitamin D3 under low-level UVB.

If you add UVB, use a low-output lamp and give the gecko shade to retreat into. The UVB lighting guide covers lamp types and distances.

Feeding and supplements

VCA says leopard geckos eat mainly live, moving insects: juveniles every one to two days, adults two to three times a week. The RSPCA feeds juveniles daily and adults every other day. Both say to dust insects with calcium and keep a small dish of plain calcium powder in the tank. This site does not link live feeder insects.

Hides, humid hides, thermometers and hygrometers

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The reptile supplies checklist lists every item in one place. For a larger lizard, compare the bearded dragon enclosure guide; for snakes that share the same heat and hide logic, see corn snake, hognose and king snake setups.

Frequently asked questions

What size tank does a leopard gecko need?

VCA says a single leopard gecko can live in a 10-gallon tank at least 6 inches high. The RSPCA sets a larger minimum for one adult: 60 cm long, 40 cm high and 30 cm deep, about 24 by 16 by 12 inches.

Do leopard geckos need a heat mat or a heat lamp?

Either can work. VCA lists heat tapes, under-tank heaters and low-level basking lights. The RSPCA uses a heat mat under part of the floor on an on/off thermostat, with a ceramic heater at night only if the room gets cold.

How cold is too cold for a leopard gecko at night?

VCA says leopard geckos can tolerate night temperatures as low as 70°F (21°C). The RSPCA adds extra heat only if the room drops below 18°C (64°F), using a ceramic heater set to 18 to 20°C on a thermostat.

Do leopard geckos need UVB?

Sources differ. VCA says UVB is not required but is recommended. The RSPCA says leopard geckos need a gentle gradient, from UV Index 0.7 in the basking zone to zero in the shade, which matches the low-UVB zone 1 in the UV-Tool study.

What is the best substrate for a leopard gecko?

VCA lists reptile carpet, paper towels and newspaper among suitable options and warns against coarse sand, corncob bedding and crushed walnut shells, which can be swallowed and block the intestines.

Filed under EnclosuresStart here: Reptile Supplies Checklist: What Every Enclosure Needs, by Species

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