Albino Leopard Gecko 101 – Care, Size, Lifespan, Diet & More
The albino leopard gecko is known for their unique characteristics and captivating beauty. These lizards make lovely companions and are very popular in the reptile community. Albino leopard geckos are white or pale yellow and are known for their striking red or pink colored eyes. This article will provide an in-depth pet guide for albino leopard geckos and their specific care requirements.
Albino leopard geckos are calm, independent, and lovable, making them more popular with reptile owners. They have very few care requirements and only need minimum handling, as they can get overstressed if handled too much. There are three types of albino leopard geckos the bell albino, the rainwater albino, and the temper albino. Albino leopard geckos are pale due to a lack of melanin in their body.
Overview
The albino leopard gecko is a unique species to host as pets, they originate from the arid regions of Afghanistan, Pakistan, and parts of northwest India. They are known for their stunning appearance and minimum care requirements, making them quite popular in the reptile community.
One of the most remarkable things about these lizards is their striking appearance, which sets them apart from other reptiles. Albino leopard geckos are stark white or off-white due to a lack of melanin in their body. The lack of melanin also extends to not just their body but their eyes as well. Due to a lack of pigmentation, albino leopard geckos have bright red eyes. These distinct characteristics make albino leopard geckos a sought-after species among reptile enthusiasts and collectors.
In terms of size, albino leopard geckos are average-sized and can grow up to 8-10 inches in length. They have an elongated and cylindrical body structure. They also come equipped with adhesive pads, which help them climb and crawl in nearby surroundings.
Talking about their diet, albino leopard geckos are primarily insectivorous, feeding on small insects such as crickets, mealworms, etc. It is important to provide them with a well-balanced and nutritious diet to promote their rapid growth. Albino leopard geckos are nocturnal, meaning they are most active during the daytime.
| Key Aspects | Information |
|---|---|
| Common Name | Albino Leopard Gecko |
| Scientific Name | Eublepharis macularius |
| Habitat | Arid regions and rocky areas |
| Size | 8 to 10 inches in length |
| Lifespan | Up to 20 years with proper care |
| Diet | Insectivorous; primarily feeds on small insects |
| Reproduction | Typically 2 eggs per clutch |
| Behavior | Generally docile and easy to handle |
| Vision | Excellent night vision |
| Housing | Average-sized enclosure with ample space to move around |
| Temperature | The basking area ranges from 85-90°F, and a cooler area ranges from 75-80°F |
| Diet in Captivity | Crickets, mealworms, waxworms, and other small insects |
| Handling | Avoid handling, as they can get stressed easily |
| Health Concerns | Respiratory infections, parasitic infections, and obesity |
| Care Level | Intermediate |
What Does an Albino Leopard Gecko Look Like?
The albino leopard gecko has a unique and stark appearance and distinct physical characteristics. Unlike the leopard geckos, these creatures lack melanin and thus have a pale appearance. The albino leopard gecko is generally white, with striking bright red eyes. Thus, making them an all-time favorite in the reptile community.
The absence of pigment also extends to their scales, and thus have a light or pale complexion. Like the leopard gecko, these sub-species have dark spots scattered all over their body. The color of these dark bands is not the same as they are pale yellow or orange. The lack of melanin allows the blood vessels to seep through the transparent skin, giving them an ethereal quality.
Albino leopard geckos have slender bodies with short yet sturdy feet. They also come equipped with sharp claws and robust heads, that they use to hunt down their prey. Albino leopard geckos also have a tapered tail that they use to maintain balance and for communication. They also have adhesive pads that help them climb and explore their surroundings.
Size and Growth Rate of Albino Leopard Geckos
The albino leopard gecko is an average-sized lizard that can grow up to 8-10 inches in length. The male albinos are typically larger than females. Their body is covered with smooth scales and is known for their unique coloration due to a lack of melanin.
Talking about their growth rate, albino leopard geckos have a relatively slower growth rate as compared to other reptiles. They take 12-18 months to fully grow into adults, although the growth rate depends on several factors such as genetics, diet, and overall health. Young albinos might have a frequent shedding cycle compared to adults due to their rapidly growing bodies. Albino leopard geckos can live 10-15 years in captivity.
Editor’s Note
You should provide proper care and nourishment to your pet albino to promote rapid growth. Ensure to meet their enclosure requirements and provide a healthy atmosphere for them to flourish.
Enclosure Setup for Albino Leopard Geckos
It is important to provide your albino leopard gecko with a proper enclosure that meets all of its care needs to keep them healthy and happy. Here are some of the enclosure requirements for albino leopard geckos.
Enclosure Size
Albino leopard geckos require a medium or average-sized enclosure to thrive in. A 20-gallon tank would be suitable for housing a single albino. You can also opt for a bigger tank, such as a 40-gallon terrarium, to provide a more spacious living space for your reptile friend. Ensure the enclosure comes equipped with a secure lid, as albino leopard geckos are known to explore and eventually escape their tanks easily. These creatures are skilled climbers and can easily squeeze through cramped spaces.
Lighting Needs
Albino leopard geckos are nocturnal and do not require intense lighting, unlike many other reptiles. These creatures will benefit from a day and night lighting cycle. Provide a 12-hour day and night light cycle using a small lamp or low-wattage bulb. This helps to establish a natural sleeping cycle for your pet albino and keep them healthy and active.
Temperature and Humidity Requirements
It is crucial to maintain proper temperature and humidity levels inside the tank. Albino leopard geckos rely on their natural surroundings for temperature regulation. Ensure the tank has a warm and cool side to maintain the health and well-being of your pet albino. The warm side of the tank should be around 88 degrees Fahrenheit, while the cool side should range between 75-80 degrees Fahrenheit.
You can maintain a temperature gradient with the help of an underlying heat pad or a heat lamp. Equipping the tank with a thermostat will also help you keep a closer look at the temperature gradient inside the tank and make changes accordingly. This will help ensure a consistent temperature inside the tank and promote rapid growth.
Albino leopard geckos require less humidity levels as compared to other reptiles. These lizards require humidity levels as low as 30-40 percent. You can achieve this by misting the tank consecutively and providing a shallow dish bowl for your pet albino to dip in. Avoid providing excessive humidity as it can lead to respiratory infections and other health concerns.
Substrate
It is important to choose the right substrate for your albino leopard gecko. Avoid using sand or small pebbles as a substrate for your pet albino, as it can lead to impaction issues. You should pick an alternative that is safe for your reptile, such as carpets, paper towels, and ceramic tiles. These substrates can be cleaned easily and avoid any life-threatening health issues.
Cleaning Requirements
Providing a clean and hygienic enclosure is essential for the health and overall well-being of your albino leopard gecko. Remove any feces or soiled substrate after every feeding session. This will prevent bacteria from spreading and avoid the bad odor inside the enclosure. Also, depending on the substrate you opt for cleaning or replacing it consecutively to ensure a healthy environment.
Perform a deep clean after every few weeks, where you clean the entire enclosure with reptile-safe disinfectants. Remove all the items from the enclosure, thoroughly rinse the terrarium with disinfectant, and dry it using a paper towel. Let the enclosure dry off before placing your albino leopard gecko back into its tank.
Clean the water dish consecutively regularly to avoid bacteria build-up, and replace the water with fresh dechlorinated water. It is also crucial to provide enough hiding and burring spaces inside the enclosure. If you have any logs, branches, or other decorations inside the enclosure you should clean them regularly as well.
Diet Plan For an Albino Leopard Gecko
A well-balanced diet is required to ensure their overall health and vitality. You should present them with a diet that is rich in protein and nutrients. You can also opt for additional supplements to promote rapid growth and avoid any medical issues. Albino leopard geckos have a specific diet requirement to keep them fit and active.
Albino leopard geckos are insectivorous and feed on small insects such as crickets, mealworms, roaches, etc. The primary food source for these lizards is live insects which meet up with all their nutrient needs and satisfy their natural hunting tendencies. Some recommended feeder insects to include in your albino’s diet are crickets, waxworms, silkworms, and mealworms.
You should also provide a varied diet to your albino leopard gecko to provide a diverse range of nutrients. It is also crucial to dust these insects with a calcium and vitamin D3 supplement before feeding them to your pet. These supplements will help avoid health issues such as metabolic bone disease, which occur due to calcium deficiency. You can also gutt load these insects a day before feeding them to your gecko.
The frequency of feeding depends on several factors, such as age, size, and health. Young albinos require much more frequent feeding compared to adults. This is due to their fast metabolism and rapidly growing bodies. You should feed young hatchlings every day and eat as much as they can for 10-15 minutes. Adult geckos can eat after every 2-3 days. This will keep them active and avoid health problems such as obesity.
Water is also a crucial part of your gecko’s diet. Albino leopard geckos need access to clean drinking water at all times. These reptiles acquire most of their water from the insects they consume. However, it is important to provide a shallow bowl filled with water at all times inside the enclosure. You should replace the water after every feeding session and refill it regularly to prevent bacteria build-up.
Editor’s Note
You should also ensure that no insect is too big for your albino leopard geckos. The size of the insect should not be bigger than the space between the eyes of your leopard gecko. Feeding large insects can lead to digestion issues such as impaction.
| Day | Diet |
|---|---|
| Monday | 4-5 small crickets |
| Tuesday | 3-4 mealworms and 1 waxworm |
| Wednesday | 4-5 small crickets |
| Thursday | 3-4 silkworms and 1 waxworm |
| Friday | 4-5 small crickets |
| Saturday | 3-4 mealworms and 1 waxworm |
| Sunday | Rest day (no feeding) |
Shedding Process of Albino Leopard Geckos
Shedding allows your albino leopard geckos to make room for their rapidly growing body. The shedding process is a naturally occurring process and is necessary for your pet albino. As the albino leopard gecko grows their skin becomes tighter, and shedding allows them to get rid of the old and worn-out skin with a fresh one instead.
Some signs of shedding include a lack of appetite, lethargy, and a dull appearance. Young leopard geckos have a frequent shedding process compared to a fully grown albino. You should provide the right humidity levels to help your pet shed evenly. Misting the tank with water will help your pet albino to shed their skin easily.
How to Identify the Sex of an Albino Leopard Gecko?
It can be challenging to identify the sex of your pet albino especially if they are young. Although, you can use some physical traits to identify the sex of your albino leopard gecko. Male leopard geckos have two bumps underneath their vent, known as the hemipenis bulges. These bumps are missing in female albinos and have a rounded and smooth vent area.
Male albino leopard geckos are also bigger and have wider heads compared to females. To confirm the sex of your albino leopard gecko you should visit a trained vet. They will be able to perform a physical examination and tell you the gender of your pet albino.
How to Handle an Albino Leopard Gecko?
It is important to correctly handle your albino leopard gecko to minimize stress and to allow your pet to feel safe and comfortable. The first thing you should do while handling your pet albino is to wash your hands thoroughly. This will allow you to remove any strong scents and bacteria from your hand which can compromise the health and safety of your pet. If you have recently touched food items your albino leopard gecko might smell it and it can lead to an accidental bite.
The next thing that you should have in mind is to never make any sudden moves while handling your leopard gecko. Approach your pet lizard in a calm and composed manner. If your pet albino tries to run away or is hiding then you should avoid handling them. It is important to respect your pet’s boundaries to avoid stress and discomfort. You should avoid squeezing or grabbing your leopard gecko. Instead, offer your hand and let them crawl into it.
Avoid any sudden movements or jerks while holding your pet albino. You should also limit handling to a few minutes as excessive handling can lead to stress. If your albino leopard gecko is trying to run away from you, let it get used to its surrounding and earn its trust gradually.
Common Health Issues in Albino Leopard Geckos
Like many other pets like dogs and cats, even Albino leopard geckos are susceptible to various health issues. Some of the common health issues in albino leopard geckos include MBD, respiratory infections, and parasitic infestation. Metabolic bone disease is a commonly occurring problem in many pet albinos. You should provide your leopard gecko with calcium supplements to avoid this problem.
Poor husbandry and unclean environment can cause respiratory infection in albino leopard geckos. Ensure your pet albino gets a safe and hygienic environment to live in. Deep clean the entire tank after every few weeks and clean the water bowls regularly. Symptoms of respiratory infections include wheezing, nasal discharge, and open mouth. If you notice any of these signs occuring you should visit a vet immediately.
Parasites such as worms and mites can infest your albino leopard gecko’s body. Ensure to clean the enclosure on an occasional basis and that there is no bacterial build-up in the water. Some symptoms of parasitic infestation include lack of appetite, lethargy, and weight loss. Regular veterinarian visits and health measures will help avoid such medical issues.
How much does an Average Albino Leopard Gecko Cost?
The average cost of an albino leopard gecko depends on various factors such as the age, size, and health of your pet. An average albino leopard gecko will cost you between $20-$100 for a standard morph. However, a unique morph or pattern can cost you around $100 to several hundred dollars.
It is important to consider the quality and health of your albino leopard gecko before making the final purchase. Adopting an albino may also be a cheaper alternative if you are looking for a budget-friendly option. Reputable breeders can charge more for good genetics and health for the same albino leopard geckos. It is important to conduct thorough research before choosing a store or breeder to buy your pet albino from.
Additionally, you should also consider the one-time costs and the ongoing cost before deciding to purchase an albino leopard gecko. One-time costs include the cost of setting up a terrarium including the cost of enclosure, utensils, and temperature requirements. Ongoing costs include monthly diet, supplements, substrate, and veterinarian visits.
FAQs
Are albino leopard geckos dangerous?
Albino leopard geckos are docile creatures with a calm temperament. They love to explore their surroundings and do not mind being held from time to time. These lizards will only bite you if they feel threatened or when under stress.
Are albino leopard geckos blind?
No, Albino leopard geckos are not blind. These lizards have a lack of melanin pigment which makes their blood vessels visible through their eyes. This results in them having bright red eyes, although you should avoid turning on bright lights as it can result in a vision impairment issue.
Final Thoughts
Albino Leopard geckos are a wonderful choice as a pet reptile. They have a calm and docile temperament and are easy to care for. Making them a perfect fit for beginner reptile owners. Albino leopard geckos also have striking physical attributes and coloration, adding to their magnificent appearance. Ensure you take care of their specific care requirements and give them a safe and hygienic environment to live in.