The Leopard Gecko has become one of the most popular geckos to own as a pet. Lizard lovers all over the world instantly fall in love with this stunningly beautiful reptile.

One of the main reasons Leopard Geckos have become so popular is that they are quite easy to look after and in general have a great disposition. Their relatively small size and tough skin means they can be handled easily although it is not advised to over do it.

In the wild Leopard Geckos can be found dry countries like Afghanistan, Pakistan Iran and India. They thrive in areas of hot rocky desert with sparse vegetation. In winter they stay underground and rely on stored fat reserves held in their tales to keep nourished throughout their stay underground.

Leopard Geckos also consume their own skin when it sheds and this is thought to have two benefits. The first is it hides any trace of scent from predators and secondly it contains nutrients which aid in their survival. This process is known as "horn eating". The skin will normally darken before shedding and when shed a new brighter coloured one will take its place.

The Leopard Gecko is nocturnal meaning it normally sleeps during the day and becomes active at night. In the wild they will go out at night and hunt for food which consists of insects, spiders or worms. They have a keen sense of sight and hearing which combined with their swiftness enables them to escape from their enemies. They are masters of camouflage with their brown knobbly skin blending into the rocky surroundings. Their main enemies in the wild include snakes, birds and foxes.

Leopard Geckos are social creatures and will often be found in large colonies. They normally breed after coming out of hibernation. A female normally lays two eggs which are called "clutches". In a breeding season, which can last up to seven or eight months, a mature female can produce six to eight clutches. Baby Leopard Geckos hatch between 45 to 60 days. When They emerge from the shell they are 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 inches long (6.5cm – 8cm).

Leopard Geckos have multi-variegated eyes that are stationery and are positioned at the side of the head. They have moveable eyelids and they can close their eyes at night while sleeping.

The Leopard Gecko has a keen sense of hearing due to well developed ears which are openings at the side of the head. They have a fine film covering the openings in order to protect the ear. They can also vocalize with adults and hatchlings making a hissing noise if they feel threatened or are startled.

Leopard Geckos make fantastic pets and can live up to twenty years in captivity. Breeders are producing variants of colour and pattern morphs which means there are some very beautiful Leopard Geckos available now. They can grow up to 10 inches (26cm) in length in the wild and can achieve a similar size in captivity if they are looked after properly.