Leopard Geckos (Leo) are one of the most popular reptiles to own for beginners due to their easy to cater lifestyle.
When getting a new pet, you’ll want to know what size they’ll be so you can house and feed them accordingly.
Knowing the growth rate of your Leopard Gecko is important, this allows you to monitor its health as they get older.
In this article, I am going to talk you through a growth chart and the effects their diet and habitat can have.
Leopard Gecko Growth and Size Chart
A fully grown male Leopard Gecko reaches sizes up to 11”
A fully grown female Leopard Gecko reaches sizes up to 7.9”
| Age | Average Weight | Male Length | Female Length |
| Hatchling | 2-5 Grams | 3” | 2.9” |
| Month 1 | 15-20 Grams | 4” | 3.5” |
| Month 2 | 18-30 Grams | 5” | 4” |
| Month 6 | 25-60 Grams | 6” | 5.1” |
| Month 18 | 40-80 Grams | 8”-11” | 7”-7.9” |
Encouraging Healthy Growth
To optimize the growth of your Leopard Gecko, there are a few different things you can do;
Gut Loading Their Food
Gut loading is when you feed insects fruits and vegetables, filling them up with all the nutrients your Leopard Gecko will need for healthy growth.
It’s essential for Leopard Geckos to have a varied, nutritious diet for healthy growth. Leopard Geckos aren’t fussy eaters, but being fed the same food will get dull, resulting in them not wanting to eat it. There are lots of different insects you can provide your Leopard Gecko, a few options are;
- Mealworms
- Crickets
- Hornworms
For more food ideas, have a look at my What Do Leopard Geckos Eat? The Balanced Diet article.
Pro Tip: Coat the insects in calcium powder before each meal, this will benefit your Leopard Gecko greatly as it helps prevent muscle and bone issues.
Correct Environment
Your Leopard Gecko requires its habitat to replicate the wild as best you can. This helps ensure a natural and consistent growth period. The right temperatures for their environment are;
- Basking Area: 94°F-97°F (34°C-36°C)
- Warm Area: 90°F-92°F (32°C-33°C)
- Cool Area: 70°F-77°F (21°C-25°C)
- Nighttime: 64°F-68°F (18°C-20°C)
You can monitor these with Zoo Med Digital Combo Thermometer and Humidity Gauge
The incorrect temperatures won’t just stunt their growth, it could potentially lead to other health concerns such as respiratory infections, metabolic bone disease, and improper food digestion.
Appropriate Terrarium Size
You’ll want to ensure you’re using the right sized terrarium, to ensure maximum growth for your Leopard Gecko. The commonly used sizes are 20 gallons (30”x12”x12”) and 40 gallons (36”x18”x18”). I recommend using a 40 gallon tank from the beginning as this prevents the need to upgrade the tank as your Leopard Gecko grows in size.
What Can Stunt Growth
Poor Diet
One of the biggest causes of stunted growth is diet, if your Leopard Geckos’ meals don’t contain nutrient rich foods, they’ll be unable to maximize their growth.
Recovery
When your Leo is recovering from injury or illness, their growth will be stunted. They’ll utilize their nutrients to recover.
One of the biggest recovery periods is when they’re regenerating their tail. During this time, ensure you’re supplying plenty of vitamins to help them in the process.
Cohabitation
Leopard Geckos are territorial, and having two or more in an enclosure can potentially stunt growth due to competition. You see, they don’t share evenly.
When kept together, one will out-compete the other for food, water, and basking spots. Depriving it of vital nutrients it needs for maximum growth.
Summary
Caring for your Leopard Gecko is pretty straightforward, but there are many ways to negatively impact their health and growth. If the proper care is provided your Leopard Gecko can live up to 20 years and reach a size of up to 11”.
