If you’re looking for more information on a leopard gecko’s lifespan, then you’re in the right place. In this article, we’re answering the question of how long leopard geckos live, along with providing general information on the topic.
Leopard geckos are extremely popular pet lizards. They are kept all over the world and are popular to breeders because they are relatively easy to breed. Because of this, we’re also going to cover leopard gecko sexual maturity in this post too!
In short: Leopard geckos can live to 15 years old in the wild, and up to 20 years old in captivity, sometimes even reaching ages of 30 years old!
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Leopard gecko lifespan
Leopard geckos boast a long lifespan. They can reach very old ages, and beat their popular rival, the bearded dragon, in most cases when it comes to how old they get!
They aren’t on par with reptiles like tortoises, and can’t quite rival the ball python, but leopard geckos do beat the fury friends that are even more common as pets.
Having a leopard gecko for a pet isn’t a choice that should be made without thinking it through. If you get one when you’re 15, then there’s a reasonable chance that you’ll be caring for them well into your twenties, and even into your thirties in some cases!
How long do leopard geckos live?
A leopard gecko’s lifespan can vary a lot, depending on various factors. Also,
Things like environmental conditions and diets also play a big role in determining how old a leopard gecko can get. We’ve split this part into two; how long they live in the wild and how long they live in captivity.
How long do leopard geckos live in the wild?
Although it’s unclear exactly how old leopard geckos live on average in the wild, it’s said that they can reach about 15 years old.
That being said, it’s unclear how many don’t even make it to adulthood, and it’s also extremely challenging to measure the average age in the wild.
There are a lot of different factors that can influence their lifespan in the wild, ranging from things like the climate and weather conditions, to predators and even humans (accidentally) killing them.
How long leopard geckos live in captivity?
Leopard geckos can reach the age of 30 or more in captivity, but this is extremely rare. In general, an age of about 10-20 is more common.
It’s obviously much easier to keep an eye on the age of a captive leopard gecko than that of a wild one. Also, the conditions leopard geckos in captivity live in are a lot more controlled and sterile.
This helps them to reach much older ages in captivity than in the wild.
With good care and a little bit of luck, your leopard gecko could easily reach an age into their twenties. This is made a lot easier by all the information there is out there about leopard geckos and their care.
To learn more about how to care for leopard geckos, check out our leopard gecko care guide!
Leopard geckos while they’re young
After a leopard gecko has reached maturity, their life expectancy is greatly increased. Up until the 2-year mark, leopard geckos are still quite vulnerable.
Leopard geckos are hardy lizards and don’t often have huge health problems. The chances of them reaching an old age in captivity is therefore quite high.
If they are cared for properly, leopard geckos will usually reach adulthood without too many issues.
Younger leopard geckos will also eat slightly smaller feeder insects than mature leo’s. Feeder insects should always fit into their mouth easily, and shouldn’t be too large. If they are too large, they’ll go for them anyway which can cause issues with both their digestive system, as well as crickets attacking your gecko (yes… This is a thing!).
How to tell how old a leopard gecko is
It’s extremely hard to determine the age of your leopard gecko. Depending on how they are cared for, leopard geckos grow to different sizes.
Some say that the color of the leopard geckos pattern can indicate the age, but this is extremely unreliable. Their patterns tend to get less pronounced as they age, but it also fades slightly before sheds, which makes this an inaccurate way of telling their age.
The best way to determine the age of your leopard gecko is to contact the breeder where you got them. In most cases, they should have a record of their past hatchlings.
If this isn’t possible, and you really don’t know what the age (roughly) was when you got them, you’re just going to have to make an educated guess!
The differences in lifespan between male and female leopard geckos
If you’re looking to set new records, then you’re best going with a male leopard gecko. Generally, male leopard geckos outlive females, and most of the documented cases of extremely old leopard geckos are of males.
If you’re not looking to break any records, and just want a good pet, then your leopard gecko’s sex doesn’t really matter.
Female leopard geckos can still reach an old age, and there’s no difference when you look at leopard geckos as pets.
Leopard gecko sexual maturity
When it comes to breeding, it’s often more down to size than age. Most leopard geckos will start laying eggs after about 2 years. (they obviously need a male to breed with them for this to happen!)
The egg production peaks at around 4 years of age, and really starts declining after they pass the 7 to 8-year mark.
What age is a leopard gecko full grown?
Leopard geckos usually reach their full-grown size by the age of about one year. The exact timeframe is hard to tell, as this varies a lot from one animal to the other.
It depends on how they are cared for, how they are fed and the kinds of conditions they live in during this time.
What is the oldest leopard gecko to have existed?
There are instances of leopard geckos reaching around the 30 years mark. However, this is an exception. There aren’t many officially documented cases of leopard gecko ages, but it is generally accepted that ages in the mid to high-twenties are not uncommon.
Conclusion
Leopard geckos are great pets, but their lifespan exceeds that of cats and dogs, and even most other lizards. The decision to share your home with a leopard gecko is a big one and should be taken with care.
That being said, they’re a very rewarding pet to share your time with, and are one of the best pet lizards you can get!
