Cute and colorful leopard geckos are one of the easiest lizards to keep! These ground-dwelling reptiles don’t need much to stay happy and thrive, aside from a properly furnished enclosure and a nutritious diet. The best tank for a leopard gecko should serve as a cozy home for them that mimics their native habitat and gives them plenty of space to explore.
Unlike some pet reptiles, leopard geckos remain fairly small and grow to be up to 10 inches long from the tip of their nose to the end of their tail. Nevertheless, these small lizards are used to covering a lot of space in the wild, and they can’t live in just any old
Regardless of what you may have heard, an adult leopard gecko can’t live in a 10 or 15-gallon tank! This is just too small for an adult leo to move around freely, especially once you decorate the tank with caves, plants, rocks, and tree logs. Your gecko will need at least 20 gallons of space once it reaches adulthood.
Setting up a leopard gecko tank is a huge investment, so you don’t want to spend a lot of money on a
TOP PICK
If you are looking for a durable and spacious tank for your leopard gecko, look no further than the REPTI ZOO 34 Gallon Reptile Glass
Terrarium Tank!Perfectly sized for a baby, juvenile, or adult leopard gecko, this tank features a painted foam background that simulates the natural desert environment of leopard geckos. A durable screen top provides ample ventilation and allows you to mount a light bulb and a
heat lamp .
The Best Leopard Gecko Tank Reviews
Whether you are shopping for a permanent home for an adult leopard gecko or are looking for a smaller, temporary tank for a hatchling, I’ve got you covered! Keep reading to see my top picks for a leopard gecko tank!
1. REPTI ZOO 34 Gallon Reptile Glass Terrarium Tank – Best Overall
The REPTI ZOO 34 Gallon Reptile Glass
Key Features
- Measures 24 x 18 x 18 inches
- Made from glass
- Waterproof bottom
Made almost entirely from glass, this
Besides the top mesh screen, this tank also has two side mesh windows that keep the inside of the tank airy and ventilated. The thing I really like about this tank is the foam background that looks like an actual rock wall. This decorative wall simulates the natural environment of leopard geckos and will go hand-in-hand with any type of decorations you choose.
Pros
- Spacious and large enough for an adult leopard gecko
- Designed with a raised bottom frame to fit a substrate heater
- Two front doors can open separately for easy feeding
- Made of durable glass which is easy to clean and maintain
Cons
- Instead of handles, the front doors are opened with a suction key. A few customers reported that this takes time to get used to
All things considered, the REPTI ZOO 34 Gallon Reptile Glass
2. REPTI ZOO Reptile Glass Terrarium with Double Hinge Door
Made by REPTI ZOO, this Double Hinge Door Glass
Key Features
- Measures 36 x 18 x 18 inches
- Front and top opening
- Waterproof base
This leopard gecko tank setup can be used as a
Another great thing is the doors can be opened separately, and there is a security lock to prevent escape. Like the previous REPTI ZOO tank, this model also has a raised bottom frame which allows you to fit an under tank heating mat if necessary. The removable top mesh keeps the inside of the tank well-ventilated and isn’t too dense to prevent heat and light from penetrating inside the tank.
Pros
- Spacious enough to accommodate an adult leopard gecko
- Two openings make cleaning the enclosure and scooping poop more convenient
- Feeding times are also easier thanks to a removable mesh top
- The raised bottom frame is ideal for fitting a substrate heater
Cons
- A few customers reported that the front door is a bit hard to open since it has no real handles
Overall, the REPTI ZOO Reptile Glass
3. REPTI ZOO 10 Gallon Reptile Tank – Best Budget
If you are looking for a temporary habitat for a baby or juvenile leopard gecko, the REPTI ZOO 10 Gallon Reptile Tank is a fantastic choice! Since this is only a 10-gallon
Key Features
- Measures 20 x 12 x 10 inches
- Full-screen top
- PVC tray for substrate
Featuring a rectangular shape, this enclosure has plenty of room for a baby or juvenile leopard gecko to live in and move comfortably once you add decorations and substrate to the tank. The entire design is fairly simple and includes glass sides, a screen mesh top, and a transparent PVC tray.
The top mesh screen slides into place and keeps the tank ventilated. It features a small hole designed for feeding – just open it and drop in feeder insects for your baby leopard gecko to eat. Since the mesh screen isn’t too dense, it allows optimal light and UVB penetration.
Pros
- Perfectly sized for baby leopard geckos
- The rectangular design for a 360-degree view of the
terrarium and your baby gecko - Feeding hole on the mesh screen top makes meal-times easy and convenient
- The removable screen top provides easy access for cleaning the tank and adding decorations
Cons
- A few owners reported that the tank’s plastic tray was damaged during shipping. If that happens, you can return the entire tank and get a replacement.
All things considered, the REPTI ZOO 10 Gallon Reptile Tank is an excellent choice if you are looking for a starter tank for a baby leopard gecko.
4. Carolina Custom Cages Terrarium
This extra-large Carolina Custom Cages
Key Features
- Measures 36 x 18 x 36 inches
- Hinged front doors
- Key-lock security
If you plan on keeping a pair of leopard geckos and on breeding them, this extra-large
This tank features a steel screen mesh top that keeps the inside airy and well-ventilated. The top is sturdy and you can mount any type of light fixture and a
Pros
- Made from sturdy and durable materials
- Spacious enough to house two adult leopard geckos
- Comes with an instruction manual and is easy to assemble
- The steel mesh top keeps the inside of the cage properly ventilated
Cons
- Instead of handles on its front doors, this cage has a suction cup, which can be a bit tricky to use at first
Overall, the 60-gallon tank by Carolina Custom Cages is a great choice, especially if you are planning to keep more than one leopard gecko.
5. REPTI ZOO Reptile Glass Terrarium with Front Opening
The REPTI ZOO Reptile Glass
Key Features
- Measures 18 x 18 x 24 inches
- Raised bottom frame
- Separately opening front doors
Like most other glass leopard gecko tanks, this model features a sturdy mesh top that supplies adequate ventilation to the inside of the tank. Although it is sturdy, the screen top is designed to allow light and heat to penetrate inside the tank and create the perfect environment for your pet.
Thanks to the raised bottom frame, you have a chance to install an under-tank heating mat to keep your gecko’s tummy warm and create a thermal gradient. The two front doors open separately, which reduces the chance of escape while you are cleaning the cage or feeding your reptile pet.
Pros
- Perfectly sized to house an adult leopard gecko
- The mesh top is removable and provides easy access for feeding and cleaning
- Comes with instructions and is easy to assemble
- Anti-escape safety lock provides extra security and prevents your reptile from escaping
Cons
- A few owners reported that the key is too small and they had trouble opening the door
Overall, the REPTI ZOO Reptile Glass
How to Choose the Best Leopard Gecko Tank
Leopard geckos can live for up to 15 years in captivity, so you’ll need to find a perfect tank that will be there for the long haul! These desert dwelling-lizards spend most of their time on the ground and need plenty of horizontal space to move around, but they benefit from a bit of vertical space, too.
Besides the layout, there are several other things you need to consider to find the perfect tank. They are:
Size
Tank size is probably the most important factor to consider when looking for an enclosure for your scaly friend. A 20-gallon tank is the minimum recommended size for an adult leopard gecko, and if you plan to keep more than one gecko, you’ll need at least a 40-gallon tank.
Baby leopard geckos, on the other hand, can live comfortably in a 10-gallon tank, but that is only until they reach their full size. When they reach adulthood, you’ll have to move your leo to a bigger tank.
Screen Top
Most tanks these days feature mesh screen tops that keep the inside of the cage properly ventilated and also prevent reptiles from climbing out of the
Look for tanks with sturdy and durable mesh tops so you can install lighting and heating elements directly on top.
Retains Heat
Since leopard geckos are desert-dwelling lizards, they need their cages to be warm and mimic their natural environment. Glass tanks retain more heat than plastic and wooden enclosures, and all-mesh cages should be avoided. Look for tanks that have raised bottoms so you can fit a heating pad and use it in conjunction with a
Finally, remember that a tank alone does not a habitat make. Read our post about the things that go in the tank that make it an actual habitat where your leopard gecko be healthy and happy.
FAQs About Leopard Gecko Tanks
Can a leopard gecko be kept in a 40-gallon tank?
Yes, a leopard gecko can live in a 40-gallon tank. While a 40-gallon
Do you need a top on a leopard gecko tank?
Leopard geckos should be housed in glass tanks that have mesh screens on top. While leopard geckos can’t climb walls like other types of geckos, they still need a screen mesh top for proper ventilation. The top also serves as a protection, keeping other pets like cats from getting inside the tank and traumatizing or harming your scaly pet.
Are vertical tanks good for leopard geckos?
Since leopard geckos don’t climb like other gecko species, you don’t have to worry about getting them a vertical
Happily Ever After for Your Leopard Gecko
There are a lot of great (and not-so-great) reptile tanks you can choose from. While some can be ideal habitats for leopard geckos, others leave much to be desired in terms of size, durability, and ventilation.
Keeping that in mind, I’ve found that the REPTI ZOO 34 Gallon Reptile Glass
Whether you are looking for a habitat for a baby, juvenile, or adult leopard gecko, you can’t go wrong by choosing this tank!
