If you are looking for a unique and beautiful pet reptile, you might want to consider getting a pink leopard gecko. These are rare and stunning morphs of the popular leopard gecko species, and they have some special characteristics that make them stand out. In this blog post, I will tell you everything you need to know about pink leopard geckos, including their origin, appearance, care, breeding, and more. Let’s get started!
What are Pink Leopard Geckos?
Pink leopard geckos are a type of leopard gecko that have a pinkish hue to their skin and markings. They are not a natural color variation, but rather a result of selective breeding by hobbyists and breeders. Pink leopard geckos are also known as albino tangerine leopard geckos, because they lack the black pigment that gives most leopard geckos their spots and stripes.
Pink leopard geckos are one of the most sought-after morphs of leopard geckos, because they are very rare and expensive. They are also very attractive and eye-catching, with their bright pink coloration and contrasting white spots. Some pink leopard geckos may have a yellow or orange tint to their skin, depending on their genetics and diet.
How to Care for Pink Leopard Geckos?
Pink leopard geckos have the same basic care requirements as any other leopard gecko. They are easy to keep and handle, and they make great pets for beginners and experienced reptile enthusiasts alike. Here are some of the main aspects of caring for pink leopard geckos:
- Housing: Pink leopard geckos need a spacious and secure enclosure that can provide them with a temperature gradient, hiding places, substrate, and decorations. A 10-gallon tank is suitable for one adult pink leopard gecko, but you can use a larger tank if you want to house more than one. You should never house two males together, as they will fight and injure each other. You should also avoid housing different morphs together, as they may interbreed and produce undesirable offspring.
- Heating: Pink leopard geckos are ectothermic animals, which means they rely on external sources of heat to regulate their body temperature. You should provide them with a heat lamp or a heat mat that can create a warm spot of around 90°F on one side of the tank. The other side of the tank should be cooler, around 75°F, to allow them to thermoregulate. You should also monitor the temperature with a thermometer and adjust it as needed.
- Lighting: Pink leopard geckos do not need any special lighting, as they are nocturnal animals that are active at night. However, you can use a low-wattage light bulb or an LED light to create a day-night cycle for them. You should keep the light on for 12 hours and off for 12 hours every day. You should also avoid using UVB lights or direct sunlight for pink leopard geckos, as they are very sensitive to UV rays and can get eye damage or skin burns.
- Humidity: Pink leopard geckos prefer a low to moderate humidity level in their enclosure, around 30% to 40%. You can achieve this by misting the tank lightly once or twice a week, or by providing a moist hide box filled with damp sphagnum moss or paper towels. A moist hide box is essential for pink leopard geckos, as it helps them shed their skin properly and prevents dehydration.
- Substrate: Pink leopard geckos need a safe and comfortable substrate that can absorb moisture and odors, and prevent impaction. Impaction is a serious condition that occurs when a reptile ingests too much substrate and cannot pass it through its digestive system. Some of the best substrates for pink leopard geckos are paper towels, newspaper, reptile carpet, or tile. You should avoid using sand, gravel, wood chips, or any other loose or sharp substrate that can cause impaction or injury.
- Diet: Pink leopard geckos are insectivores, which means they eat live insects as their main food source. You should feed them a variety of insects such as crickets, mealworms, waxworms, roaches, or superworms. You should dust the insects with calcium and vitamin supplements before feeding them to your pink leopard gecko, to prevent nutritional deficiencies and metabolic bone disease. You should also provide your pink leopard gecko with a shallow dish of fresh water at all times.
How to Breed Pink Leopard Geckos?
Pink leopard geckos are sexually mature when they reach 8 to 10 months of age. If you want to breed them, you should first make sure that you have a healthy pair of male and female pink leopard geckos that are not related to each other. You should also prepare an incubator and some egg containers for the eggs.
To breed pink leopard geckos, you should follow these steps:
- Introduce the pair: You should introduce the male and female pink leopard gecko in the same tank during the breeding season, which is usually from January to September. You should observe their behavior and make sure they are compatible and not aggressive towards each other. If they show signs of interest and courtship, such as licking, tail wagging, or biting each other’s necks, you can leave them together until they mate.
- Separate the pair: After mating, you should separate the male and female pink leopard gecko into different tanks. The female will lay her eggs about 20 to 30 days after mating. She will usually lay two eggs at a time in a moist hide box or under the substrate. She may lay up to 10 clutches of eggs in one breeding season.
- Collect the eggs: You should carefully collect the eggs from the female’s tank as soon as you find them. You should handle them gently and avoid rotating or shaking them. You should place them in an egg container filled with moist vermiculite or perlite. You should label the container with the date and the parents’ names.
- Incubate the eggs: You should incubate the eggs in an incubator that can maintain a constant temperature and humidity level. The temperature will determine the sex of the hatchlings: higher temperatures (around 88°F) will produce more males, while lower temperatures (around 80°F) will produce more females. The humidity level should be around 80% to prevent the eggs from drying out or molding.
- Hatch the eggs: The eggs will hatch after about 45 to 60 days of incubation. The hatchlings will emerge from their shells with their yolk sacs attached to their bellies. They will absorb their yolk sacs within a few days and start looking for food.
Conclusion
Pink leopard geckos are amazing pets that can bring joy and beauty to your home. They are easy to care for and breed if you follow some simple guidelines. They have a long lifespan of up to 20 years if kept healthy and happy.