Eclipse Leopard Gecko: Facts, Info & Care Guide (With Pictures)

The fascinating and unique Eclipse Leopard Gecko is a morph, which means it’s an alteration of the standard Leopard Gecko. It has all of the same features of the standard variety but will have particular colors and patterns individual to this breed. The Eclipse Leopard Gecko is especially known for its striking solid eyes. If you are thinking about purchasing one of these pets, keep reading while we discuss habitat, diet, handling, and much more to help you make an educated decision.

Quick Facts About the Eclipse Leopard Gecko

Do Eclipse Leopard Geckos Make Good Pets?

The Eclipse Leopard Gecko makes a great pet. It’s easy to raise and has a unique appearance with solid black eyes. It has a long lifespan that can often reach 20 years of age and grow to 11 inches long. It doesn’t mind being handled and, after it gets to know you, it will even look forward to spending some time out of its habitat with you.

Appearance

The Eclipse Leopard Gecko is an attractive gecko with all-black eyes. It has a light-colored underbelly with a yellow back and dark-colored spots. Breeders can use the solid black eyes of this breed to mix with other geckos to create different solid colors. For instance, mixing the Eclipse Leopard Gecko with the Tremper Albino will create a gecko with solid red eyes.

How to Take Care of an Eclipse Leopard Gecko

These little reptiles are fairly easy to take care of, but to ensure the health of your Eclipse Leopard Gecko, you’ll need to be sure you provide it with the right living environment.

Habitat, Tank Conditions & Setup

Tank

You will need a 10-gallon aquarium to create a suitable habitat for your Eclipse Leopard Gecko. You should increase the size by 5 gallons for each additional gecko you want to add. You will also need lots of rocks and wood to create places to hide and climb on and at least two hides for your pet to take shelter. A screen top will help make sure your pet gets adequate ventilation.

Lighting

Your Eclipse Leopard Gecko will not require any special lighting. Any standard lighting will work fine with no need to purchase special UVB lights. However, you will need at least one heat lamp to create a basking area that will provide plenty of light.

Heating (Temperature & Humidity)

Temperature

Your Eclipse Leopard Gecko prefers a warmer temperature in its tank, so you will need to use heat lamps and other methods to increase the temperature to around 90º F with a basking area that reaches 100º F to keep your pet happy and healthy.

Humidity

Your Eclipse Leopard Gecko requires fairly low humidity levels between 30% and 40%. You will need to use a hygrometer to monitor it and make adjustments accordingly. The heat lamps will do a good job of drying out the air, but the fresh water supply might increase the humidity beyond acceptable levels. If you notice levels getting too high, you can increase the ventilation or temporarily remove the water supply until levels are acceptable.

Substrate

Large river pebbles are the best kind of substrate you can use, but reptile carpet, newspaper, and even ceramic tiles are an option. Coconut fiber can also work, but it may retain too much moisture for your Eclipse Leopard Gecko. We recommend avoiding sand because your pet can eat it, which can cause digestive issues.

Feeding Your Eclipse Leopard Gecko

Your Eclipse Leopard Gecko will primarily eat a simple diet of crickets, with some waxworms, mealworms, and even roaches for variety. You will need to dust the food with a calcium and vitamin D3 supplement to help make sure your pet is getting the correct nutrition. Avoid feeding your pet wild caught insects as those insects may carry parasites.

Keeping Your Eclipse Leopard Gecko Healthy

The best way to keep your Eclipse Leopard Gecko healthy is to keep temperature and humidity levels within acceptable limits. Doing so will help keep your pet healthy and active.

Common Health Issues

The biggest problem your Eclipse Leopard Gecko faces is Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD), a softening of the bones caused by not getting enough calcium and vitamin D3 in the diet. Without proper supplementation, your reptile will get brittle bones and may even have difficulty moving around. If not treated, MBD can result in the death of your pet.

Lifespan

With proper care and supplementation, you can expect your Eclipse Leopard Gecko to live to about 15 years, with some living as long as 20 years or more. However, allowing temperatures to get too low or humidity too high too often can shorten the lifespan of your pet.

Breeding

Eclipse Leopard Geckos are easy to breed because they have a long breeding season that stretches from January to October, and there are no special requirements to initiate breeding. However, you will need plenty of food to feed the hatchlings, and it may not be easy to find buyers for the babies, so you may need to keep them.

You will need to make sure your geckos are in top physical condition, especially females because carrying the eggs can be extremely strenuous. You will need to place a male and a female in the habitat, along with an egg-laying box lined with sphagnum moss that will hold the eggs. The pair will also require more food and a large supply of calcium powder that they can feed on as needed. After mating, you can expect your pet to lay her eggs in 16 to 22 days, and they will hatch in 35 to 89 days depending on the incubation temperature.

Are Eclipse Leopard Geckos Friendly? Our Handling Advice

The Eclipse Leopard Gecko is friendly and likes when you pick it up and carry it. When you first get your pet, it may take a short while for them to get used to being handled, so we recommend picking them up for only a minute or two at first and gradually extending the time as your pet gets used to it. Keep your maximum handling time at about 20 minutes per day.

Shedding & Brumation: What to Expect

Your Eclipse Leopard Geckos will shed their skin every few weeks, and it’s perfectly natural for them to do so. You can help make it easier for them by increasing the humidity or even giving it a warm bath to help release the dead skin. As long as you keep temperatures high, your Eclipse Leopard Geckos will stay active all year and will not enter brumation.

How Much Do Eclipse Leopard Geckos Cost?

You should expect to pay between $50 and $400 for your Eclipse Leopard Geckos, depending on which breeder you choose. Most will cost closer to $100, but prices will increase if there is a high demand and a long waiting list.

Care Guide Summary

Final Thoughts

The Eclipse Leopard Gecko makes a great pet that’s easy to maintain once you have the habitat set up correctly. It’s fairly active and doesn’t mind if you handle it, so it’s a great choice for children and beginners.

We hope you have enjoyed our look into this semi-rare reptile and have learned something new about it. If we have convinced you to get one for your home, please share this guide to the Eclipse Leopard Gecko on Facebook and Twitter.

• See also: Do Leopard Geckos Pee? Tips, Signs & FAQs

Featured Image Credit: Destinys Agent, Shutterstock