Did you know that leopard geckos are crepuscular?

It has long been thought that leopard geckos are a nocturnal species.  But leopard geckos have been observed to come out at fading light during dusk & dawn, the very definition of a crepuscular species.  Where as nocturnal animals only come out at night, and they shy away from light completely.  Nocturnal species also have distinct features such as very large eyes and ears so they can see & hear at night.  So the next time someone tells you leopard geckos are nocturnal, you can correct them by saying leopard geckos are crepuscular, they are most active around dusk & dawn during twilight.

What about diurnal species?

Leopard geckos are very much different from diurnal species such as iguanas, bearded dragons, and chameleons.  Diurnal species are awake during the day and sleep at night.  They bask under full spectrum sunlight, using UVB for Vitamin D3 synthesis.  They absorb light and heat through their backs.

Since leopard geckos are crepuscular, do they need basking light?

Do leopard geckos require basking light?  The answer is no. They get very limited exposure to sunlight in the wild, as they are only active during dusk/dawn and at night.  So the little UVB they get, they would get during fading light.  Leopard geckos burrow deep under ground to sleep during the day, and they wake up in the afternoon/evening to go hunt for food.  They are also able to navigate at night using natural moonlight. Continue reading “Did You Know? Leopard Geckos Are Crepuscular”