Leopard Gecko Teeth: How Many and Do They Regrow?
| Approximate tooth count | ~100 |
| Tooth replacement | Continuous (polyphyodont) |
Tooth count and shape
Leopard geckos have roughly 100 small, uniformly shaped, blunt teeth arranged along the jaw, suited for gripping and holding struggling insect prey rather than tearing or chewing — this is also why bites rarely cause serious injury.
Continuous tooth replacement
Unlike mammals, which typically get one adult set for life, leopard geckos are polyphyodont, meaning they continuously shed and regrow teeth throughout their lives — a trait shared with many reptiles and most fish.
This isn't the same as mouth rot
Normal tooth turnover is a lifelong background process and not something a keeper typically notices day to day. Infectious stomatitis ('mouth rot') is a distinct bacterial infection of the gums and mouth tissue, showing as redness, swelling, discharge, or visible plaque-like buildup, and needs veterinary treatment.
Signs of a real dental problem
Reluctance to eat, visible swelling or redness along the jawline, or a foul odor from the mouth point to infection rather than normal tooth cycling, and warrant a vet visit.
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A single adult leopard gecko needs a 20-gallon long tank as an absolute minimum, with a 36x18 in (40-gallon breeder) footprint now considered the recommended standard — plus a secure lid, an under-tank heater on a thermostat, a thermal gradient, at least three hides, and a shallow water dish.
Set up in this order: substrate, then heat source wired through a thermostat, then hides and water dish, then decor — and run the whole enclosure for at least 24–48 hours to confirm stable temperatures before your gecko moves in.
Hatchlings can start in a 10-gallon tank or tub, juveniles do well in 20 gallons, and adults need a 20-gallon long as an absolute minimum — with 36x18 in (40-gallon breeder) now the widely recommended standard, not just an upgrade.
Heat a leopard gecko enclosure with an under-tank heater and/or overhead heat source (halogen or deep heat projector) wired through a thermostat — a thermostat is mandatory, not optional, and heat rocks should never be used.
Leopard geckos can survive without UVB using dietary D3 supplementation, but current husbandry guidance now recommends low-level UVB (roughly 2–6% T5) as best practice — it improves D3 synthesis, bone density, and natural behavior, and views on it have shifted significantly from older nocturnal-species advice.
Keep ambient humidity around 30–40% across most of the enclosure, with a dedicated humid hide raised to roughly 70–80% to support smooth, complete sheds.