Do leopard geckos only live for a few days in the wild?

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New@Geckos

New member
To start I am being a bit facetious when I say this, but given al I have learned about caring for Leo’s and things you need to do “or they will DIE.” I have to assume they must be incredible fragile animals who can’t survive on their own.

- A few examples:
1. Don’t let them near sand, dirt or any other non-edible item, because they will eat it, suffer impaction and may die. Really there is no loose items in the wild? Didn’t natural selection weed out the Leo that die if they get sand in their mouth?
2. Keep your Leo’s environment 92.5*-94.5* on the hot side and 77.2* - 78.1* on the cool side or they will die. Really? So If I have a hot spot that gets up to 105* won’t my Leo just not hang out there and spend some time in a cooler location? I mean what happens in the wild when it is unseasonally hot or cold?
3. Don’t let your Leo climb in their terrarium as they may fall and hurt themselves….
4. Don’t let them eat wax worms as they are too fatty…
5. Don’t let them eat meal worms with tougher shells – see point 1.
6. Etc etc etc

Now I do baby my little guys and follow all these rules, but I do have to wonder how these guys make it in the wild.
 
kholtme

kholtme

New member
I dont know how long they live in the wild, but i know in captivity they live much longer than wild. Up to 20 years!

1. Some are fine on sand, some arent. So if your choice is sand, its your fault if your gecko dies. Why chance it?
2. I live in the US, so the temps here are nothing compared to where leopard geckos are originally from. If you have your warm side to 85 degrees that doesnt mean that your gecko is just going to flop over dead. But when ever you go to bed and you are cold, you can pull a blanket over yourself to keep warm, your gecko cant. So it will get stressed out from being to cold or to hot all the time, which will cause it to die quicker.
3. I havent seen anyone say this, but they are ground animals, not arboreal. So they have no need to climb. If they wish too, I personally dont see a problem, but dont have a small ledge thats really high up that could fall over and smash your gecko, just use common sense. I see many people that say their leopard geckos enjoy climbing, and have never seen anyone tell them not to let them do it. Ive been told myself i need more things in my cage for my gecko to climb on.
4. Well its true, they are fatty. Your gecko will not get good nutrition and will become fat. And that will lead to stress and health problems. In the wild they eat a whole collection of bugs, this is why many people recommend feed them different insects instead of just one. How would you like it if all you got to eat was the fat off of steak, but never got the good meat?
5.They see food, so they eat it. They dont sit down and cut into their food and think, man this is kinda tough, i dont know if i can swallow this properly. (I dont think humans do that either but you get the point) They eat the bug in one bite. When someone suggest not to feed meal worms with tougher shells, they dont mean the gecko will die from eating just one, but if we can regulate what we are giving our animals to help them live longer, then why wouldnt we? Would you rather throw away that one tough meal worm, or watch your little friend struggle because he is choking on it?
6. We are here to help make suggestions that will help geckos be happier, healthier, and live longer. Doing one of these things wrong doesnt mean instant death, but it will help keep your gecko, and yourself stress free.
 
N

New@Geckos

New member
Kholtme,

Thanks for the reply. My post is with smile on my face above. I do follow all the 'rules' of gecko care, because as you put it - why risk it.

The sand one is the I get the biggest kick about, as I imagine Leo in the wild come in contact with lots of dirt, sand and loose particles.
 
A

acpart

Well-known member
Some survive in the wild for a reasonable amount of time and some don't. The biggest difference is that in the wild they can always go somewhere else and change their environment to a certain extent but in captivity they are stuck in a small space so we have to provide the most ideal conditions since they can't independently seek out other conditions. They are remarkably hardy creatures. My 11 year old male, for example, got out a few years ago and was missing for 3 weeks. He ended up being found in my downstairs neighbors' linen drawer (built into the wall: he fell through my pocket doors and got into the drawer). He was there for all that time with no food or water and he was fine, though a bit skinny. Since we're caring for usually a single leopard gecko in a small environment, rather than a large number in a huge environment, we're obviously more invested in our pet and want to maximize the chances of survival.

Aliza
 
Tongue Flicker

Tongue Flicker

New member
Middle-eastern deserts are not all sand (Take it from me I live in the middle-east). Their native habitat are made of rocks, silt and whatever organic plant matter comes tumbling along. Leos only trip on eating/licking fine sand. They will spit out anything the size of a pea if it gets in their mouth (yeah I've housed one of my leos on gravel before without getting impacted).

As for their lifespan in the wild, remember that they have acres of land at their disposal. If it gets hot, move out. If it's cold, they seek somewhere warm. 90% of a reptile's life in the wild is all about thermoregulation, the remainder being spent for eating and mating. Don't forget they have predators too; desert foxes, snakes, owls and even tarantulas that could significantly affect their age/survival.

As for waxworms and mealworms well neither one is on their native diet list. Leos are however, bred gen. to gen. so they could adapt to eating worms making our human lives more convenient.

As for climbing, the rocky terrains they live in the wild are sloping. If they fall (if they ever), they just a roll a little and walk again unlike in enclosures where most stuff inside are either steep, smooth or a straight drop. Even leos (majority from my experience lol) have good depth perception and I doubt they fall that easily in the wild and neither will they choose to live beside a cliff.

As for their captive care, we humans spoil them too much thus they live long fat lives :D
 
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Tongue Flicker

Tongue Flicker

New member
Elizabeth Freer said:
Neil ~

Have you ever found a leo in its natural habitat?
Click to expand...

Ha! That is a challenge. No.. :(

I once visited northwestern India with a friend who lives there and even he has yet to see/find a wild leopard gecko. His dad said that leos are also considered messengers of death there by the goddess Kali so seeing one by locals is not a fun thing to experience hahaha..
 
Elizabeth Freer

Elizabeth Freer

Well-known member
Tongue Flicker said:
Ha! That is a challenge. No.. :(

I once visited northwestern India with a friend who lives there and even he has yet to see/find a wild leopard gecko. His dad said that leos are also considered messengers of death there by the goddess Kali so seeing one by locals is not a fun thing to experience hahaha..
Click to expand...

Well, there are others like you who would LOVE to find a wild leo! :D
 
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