What makes a giant leopard gecko?

When deciding on a pet, size matters.  How big your pet may get and how much space it will need factor into the decision (especially for pet owners in apartments or smaller living spaces.)  Leopard geckos are great pets for a number of reasons, and their size makes them an option for almost anyone looking for a small pet or reptile.

Adult leopard geckos may grow on average to 7-10 inches from nose to tail and weigh 50-80 grams.  Female leopard geckos average 7 to 8 inches in length at 50-70 grams, while males will be slightly larger at 8 to 10 inches long weighing 60-80 grams.  Hatchling leopard geckos average 3 to 4 inches in length and weigh only a few grams.

Giant and Super Giant Leopard Geckos

Giant and Super Giant leopard geckos are morphs genetically bred specifically to maximize their size. These leopard geckos may reach nearly 12 inches in length and weigh around 130-150 Grams. (The largest on record weighed in around 170 grams.)

The super giant gene is recessive, and these leopard gecko morphs may command a high price.

How fast do leopard geckos grow?

Leopard geckos have their fastest period of growth when they are young, where they are feeding everyday and shedding often. Healthy leopard geckos typically reach their full adult size within their first year.

Does tanks size affect the growth of my leopard gecko?

Tank size does not have a big impact on the size of your leopard gecko, though it may greatly affect its quality of life.

Keeping a pet in an enclosure too small will limit its ability to move around, get exercise, find places to hide or sleep, hunt for food, or regulate its body temperature.

A juvenile leopard gecko will do fine in a 10 gallon tank. Once they’re full size, consider a 20 gallon or larger enclosure. For leopard geckos, floor space is better than height since they are not avid climbers.

Factors that affect the size of a leopard gecko

Leopard Gecko Genetics

The genes inherited from a leopard gecko’s parents play a major role in its size as well as other factors such its pattern and color. You can read more in our post about leopard gecko genetics.

Sex and Leopard Gecko Size

Males leopard geckos are typically larger than females, as outlined in the chart above.

Proper Feeding and Nutrition

Having access to a supply of quality food not only affects the general health of your leopard gecko, but allows it to grow to a natural size.

Malnourished geckos will tend to be smaller and underweight. Improper diet, not gut loading feeder insects, or being bullied by a more dominant gecko may all contribute to not getting enough food.

Check out our leopard gecko feeding guide for more information on what to feed your gecko.

Wrap Up: How big do leopard geckos get?

Leopard geckos are fairly small reptiles, which makes them a great option as a pet. They can range from 7-10 inches long and around 70 grams on average. Special super giant morphs may be a few inches longer and nearly twice the weight.

Have you been wondering what the different types of Leopard Gecko are whether they are Super Giant, Giant or normal we will explore how to tell the difference between them and how that can effect the care needed for them.

A super giant leopard gecko is larger than a normal leopard gecko down to it’s genetics (commonly referred to as morphs), the super giant gene in leopard geckos is recessive this means they are uncommon and often command higher prices.

How do we classify super giant leopard geckos?

To classify if your leopard gecko fits into the super giant category it is important to use a combination of length and weight, this is to avoid classifying geckos which are overweight as giant or super giant incorrectly. If you are looking to identify which category a gecko falls into the chart below gives a breakdown of how to classify them.

If you are trying to breed super giant leopard geckos it is important to realise that females will be smaller, for the best chances of producing super giant babies you should be looking to use a super giant of each sex.

The largest reported leopard gecko currently belong to Moose who weighs in at 156 grams this is around double the average weight of a male leopard gecko and over double that of the average female.

How can you tell if a leopard gecko is a super giant?

It’s not possible to identify super giant leopard geckos from birth, whilst they do differ in size this is not a good indicator of how large they will be when fully grown, it is important in any leopard geckos development that it is fed a healthy diet, kept in an environment where it can correctly regulate it’s temperature and also is provided with enough calcium and vitamin D3 to meet it’s needs. The main determining factor of it’s eventual size based on the above being provided will be related to it’s genetics. Once your leopard gecko has reached it’s full size at around 12 months you will be able to measure and weigh it and refer to the chart above.

How much do you need to feed a super giant leopard gecko?

It is important to adjust diet to match the size of your leopard gecko, this should be something you start from when they are a baby and the amount of food provided will need to be increased as they grow. the below table outline the amount of food you should be feeding to your gecko.

What modifications need to be made to their home?

Whilst you will notice your leopard gecko is larger than if you had an average sized one a regular set-up should be largely suitable for a super giant. I would advise that you check that the hides are still suitable for purpose and able to accommodate a super giant comfortably, you will also want to monitor that they are not getting through the water too quickly and perhaps by a slightly larger dish if necessary, leopard geckos drink minimal amounts so this shouldn’t be an issue.

How do I know if my leopard gecko is a super giant?

What is a giant leopard gecko?

What is the biggest breed of leopard gecko?

How long do giant leopard geckos live?