How to Take Care of Leopard Gecko Hatchlings

Leopard geckos produce young that are 2 to 3 inches long when they hatch. The parents do not care for the hatchlings at all, and in some cases will eat them. To ensure the leopard geckos thrive and grow, take care to house and feed them correctly. This will help them become healthy adults.

Things You'll Need

  • 5-gallon aquarium with mesh lid
  • Paper towels
  • Small shallow saucers
  • Plastic containers
  • Utility knife
  • Sandpaper
  • Crickets
  • Fish food
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Instructions

    • 1

      Line the bottom of a 5-gallon aquarium with several layers of paper towels.

    • 2

      Place two small, shallow saucers into the plastic shoe box.

    • 3

      Fill one shallow saucer with water.

    • 4

      Place a pinch of calcium powder into the second bowl.

    • 5

      Cut a crescent into the side of two or three small plastic containers, using a utility knife.

    • 6

      Sand the edges of the crescent until it is smooth.

    • 7

      Wedge a damp paper towel into the top of one of the plastic containers. This gives the hatchling a moist hiding place.

    • 8

      Place the plastic containers with the open-end down in the plastic shoebox.

    • 9

      Place the hatchling in the aquarium, and place the lid on top. Two or three leopard gecko hatchlings can be housed in this enclosure.

    • 10

      Wait until after the hatchling has shed. This typically takes a few days. Before their first shed, hatchlings are still living off of the stored food from their yolk sack.

    • 11

      Feed your crickets fish food before giving them to your leopard geckos. This gives your hatchlings significantly more nutrition than simply feeding them a cricket.

    • 12

      Feed the hatchlings crickets that are no larger than their heads once a day. A single cricket is enough for a first feeding. Over the first two weeks, the leopard geckos grow significantly, so increase the number of crickets as they grow.