Leachie Gecko Easy Care Guide

The Leachie Gecko, at 8-17 inches in length, is the largest living gecko species (depending on the type).

New Caledonia is a group of islands in the South Pacific, and these pigs are native to those islands.

They are arboreal, meaning they prefer to spend most of their time in the trees, and can only be found on New Caledonia (an island known for its natural beauty and biodiversity), as their name suggests.

You may also want to read about the Day Gecko.

Housing the Leachie Gecko

Opaque or ABS plastic enclosures also provide the gecko with a sense of privacy. The size of the tank needed to keep your gecko depends on its age:

The ideal size for a tank housing hatchlings for the first few months is between 5 and 10 gallons.

A 10-20 gallon tank is suitable for juveniles.

You can safely move them to a 30 gallon tank once they reach 12 months of age (adults).
An overly large enclosure can be intimidating to geckos of any age. When placed in a tall, narrow terrarium, these animals feel more protected. The best housing for New Caledonian Giant Geckos is a tall, open-fronted terrarium or screen cage.

Leachie Geckos, which are notorious for their secretive nature, thrive in environments with plenty of high places to hide and climb. They can use things like cork bark, paper towel rolls, thick branches, small boxes, PVC pipe, bamboo, and strong plants to climb or hide.

leachie gecko

 

Lighting

Although Leachie Geckos are nocturnal and won’t be seen during the day, it’s important to provide them with a UVB light all the same.

For optimal lighting in terrariums, use canopies made from a compact top or T5 fluorescent bulbs. There’s no need for extra illumination, but keeping the lights off at night will prevent disruption of their circadian rhythms.

Temperature and Heating for the Leachie Gecko

The ideal temperature range for the tank is between the high 70s (Fahrenheit) during the day and the low 70s (Fahrenheit) during the night.

In order to achieve this temperature range, red bulbs with low wattage (or an under tank heater) are recommended heating devices. Heat pads attached to the tank’s side are also effective.

Habitat humidity for a Leachie Gecko should be maintained at a level between 60% and 75%. However, as this species is susceptible to bacterial infection, it is best to let the humidity decrease to less than 60% regularly to prevent build-up.

Misting the enclosure walls but not the foliage is another way to maintain a healthy habitat (without allowing buildup).

Substrate

A variety of substrate options can work: organic soil, coconut fiber, high-grade mulch, peat-based potting soil, or paper towels all work.

These substrates will ideally mimic a more natural atmosphere while not holding in too much moisture. The substrate should be changed often enough so that it does not start growing any infectious microorganisms.

Hatchlings should use paper towels so that it’s easier to change several times a week.

Diet

Leachianus geckos are omnivores by nature, and they subsist on a wide variety of foods while living on New Caledonia’s islands, including insects, flies, spiders, small mammals, lizards, fruit, and nectars.

Even if they only eat about four times a week and aren’t picky eaters, they still need a healthy diet to support their active lifestyles and the habits they’ve developed in the wild. The protein in live feed is essential for Leachie Geckos, but they also need the fruits.

They do best when given food that has sat out for only a short while before being consumed, and this is made possible by feeding them only four times a week.

They might even pick it up off the floor and eat it. However, because they prefer eating from a perch, it’s best to keep their food dish off the ground in the enclosure. It is common practice for Crested Gecko owners to feed their pets a pre-balanced diet made from human-grade ingredients.

Two ounces of Crested Gecko food may be eaten by a Leachie Gecko at each feeding (which should be 3-4 times weekly). Crested geckos require a varied diet that includes fruits and live prey like roaches, crickets, and mice. Supplements of calcium and vitamin D3 can be dusted onto live feed once or twice weekly.

Small crickets seasoned with vitamin D3, calcium, and meal replacement can be fed to chicks as soon as they hatch. They require feeding four times per week. Adults may prefer the mice over the insects and only require feeding twice or three times a week.

Feed fruit three times weekly, and let it sit for a few minutes between feedings if you can’t eat it right away. Then, once a week, if there is still food that hasn’t been eaten, throw it away.

Everyday, a bowl of chlorine-free water in a spill-proof container should be made available. While most Leachie Geckos can be satisfied by water provided in bowls, a small percentage will require daily spraying.