A leopard gecko's digestion slows dramatically or stalls if its body temperature is too low after eating
Because they are ectothermic, an undigested meal sitting in a gecko kept too cool can lead to regurgitation or bacterial overgrowth in the gut, which is one reason belly heat needs to be available after feeding, not just during the day.
See the full facts guide, or browse all 593 info pages.
Most active at dawn and dusk when temperatures in their native Pakistan and Afghanistan are ideal.
A widespread misconception is that the tail acts like a camel's hump storing water.
Autotomy — voluntary tail shedding — is a defence mechanism.
Unlike most gecko species which use van der Waals forces to climb smooth surfaces, leopard geckos have conventional claws.
The moveable eyelid is unusual among geckos.
Hold your gecko up to a light source and look through one ear opening — you can see light through the other side.