| Hide boxes are far and away the most important | | | | actually big enough. |
| feature of a good leopard geckos habitat. That’s | | | | Not to have to move from its hide box during the |
| primarily because leopard geckos are nocturnal, | | | | ‘day’. |
| meaning that they are only active at night and have | | | | In the wild, leopard geckos hide during the day and |
| an overwhelming urge to hide during daylight hours. | | | | only venture out to feed at dusk, when it’s |
| Without hide boxes, your leopard gecko will feel very | | | | safer for them to do so. That means you |
| exposed, unhappy and under threat as long as | | | | shouldn’t try to feed your leo while its tank light |
| it’s light in its terrarium. | | | | is still on. If for some reason you need to do this (for |
| Here’s exactly what your leo needs: | | | | example if you’re going out in the afternoon for |
| At least two hide boxes – one cool and dry, one | | | | the rest of the day), then put the food right near |
| warm and humid. | | | | the door of the hide so that it can just stick its head |
| If you give your leo only one hide box, then it’ll | | | | out to grab it. Otherwise feed your leo in the early |
| be forced to use it during the day no matter what. | | | | evening once its tank light is off (it’s ok if the |
| This prevents it from choosing the temperature and | | | | lights in your home remain on, your leo will still react |
| humidity level that it feels like it needs. Remember | | | | to the light going out in its tank). |
| that in the wild, cold-blooded creatures like the | | | | A dark environment inside its hide boxes. |
| leopard gecko seek out different temperature and | | | | There are a lot of possible options for hide boxes. |
| humidity conditions in order to self-regulate their | | | | There are a wide range of commercially available hide |
| temperature and to make it easier for them to shed | | | | boxes and if you want to make your own that’s |
| when they need to. | | | | not hard to do either. The important thing with any |
| Large enough hide boxes. | | | | kind of hide box is that it’s something your leo |
| If you can fit them in the tank, then large hide boxes | | | | feels safe inside, and that means that it needs to be |
| are much better than small. That’s because | | | | dark inside of it. For this reason, choose a material |
| larger hide boxes will have a temperature gradient | | | | that’s relatively dense (thin plastic won’t do |
| inside them while small ones won’t. A | | | | it), and make sure that doorways are no bigger than |
| temperature gradient means that your leo can move | | | | they have to be. |
| around inside the hide box to get exactly the | | | | Other articles will deal with other things required for |
| temperature it wants. If you can’t fit large hide | | | | your leopard geckos habitat, in the meantime, make |
| boxes in the tank then put in extra small ones in | | | | sure that the hide boxes are right. |
| different places, but also, make sure your tank is | | | | |