Orange is an amazing color gifted to us by nature: it is visible in sunsets, flowers, fruits, fish, and many other beautiful things in and around this planet. Tangerine Leopard geckos are no exception—with their orange-shaded skin, they look even more fascinating than other Leopard gecko morphs. Not just this, they make a great pet as well—they are friendly, easygoing, and good for beginners.
Let us know more about them!
Tangerine Leopard Gecko Overview
Tangerine Leopard Gecko is one of the most popular Leopard gecko morphs. Other popular Leopard gecko morphs include Lavender Leopard, Albino Leopard, Blizzard Leopard, Mack Snow Leopard, and Giant Leopard. For the sake of this article, we will only be focusing on the Tangerine Leopard gecko.
So, let’s take a quick look at its overview.
Tangerine Leopard Gecko Overview
Common Name:Orange Leopard Gecko
Scientific Name: Eublepharis macularius
Size: 7 to 10 inches
Life-Expectancy: 15 to 20 Years
Color: Tangerine
Diet: Insectivores
Habitat: Dry and Rocky Area
Temperature: 70 to 82 Fahrenheit
Humidity: 30 to 40 Percent
Lighting: Small UV (2 to 7%) and Incandescent light
Substrate: Cloth, newspaper, reptile carpet
Cost: U.S. $ 30 to 400
Tangerine Leopard Gecko Appearance
Tangerine Leopard geckos have a size equal to the average in Leopard geckos. Their head is large and tail long.
They have several shades of orange color. They can have black spots or stripes on their tail. Some Tangerine Leopard geckos may have a bright, shiny orange color. Tangerine Leopard geckos with more vivid colors may be a bit costlier than geckos with less intense colors.
Tangerine Leopard Geckos Temperament
Tangerine Leopard geckos make a great choice for beginner gecko keepers because they are docile, friendly, and non-aggressive. They are also quite watchful when they move; hence, there is absolutely no trouble in holding them. Another plus point in this regard is that they move slowly. But this does not mean that you can keep their tank open—it should be closed with a screen lid.
Moreover, they are easy to tame. However, they do not like to be handled too much and may become stressed.
Tangerine Leopard Gecko Shedding
Like other Leopard gecko morphs, Tangerine Leopard geckos shed throughout their life. However, younger geckos shed more often as compared to adult ones. Unlike snakes, they shed in small patches. The whole leopard gecko shedding process may take around 2 days. As they shed, they turn white before the orange skin grows back, which turns completely tangerine as it settles in.
Tangerine Leopard Gecko Brumation
Brumation is optional for captive Leopard geckos as you Leopard gecko will be happy and healthy living at the same temperature gradient throughout its life. But if you choose to induce it, keep in mind that geckos often go dormant for long periods. Brumation may last for 30 to 90 days. During this period, your gecko will be hiding in dens, and there will be little to no eating. However, you may leave a freshwater shallowdish in the tank at all times.
Tangerine Leopard Gecko Dietary Requirements
Tangerine Leopard geckos have an insectivorous diet and thus eat insects only. You can feed your geckos commercially available insects such as crickets, wax worms, mealworms, butter worms, silkworms, and locusts. Make sure that the insects you feed are not too large in size to cause impaction. Similarly, you should also ensure that the food is clean.
Unlike Crested geckos that can safely consume soft fruits as treats, Leopard geckos cannot eat fruits.
Sprinkling the calcium supplements on their food occasionally is a good idea to meet their nutrition need.
Feed your Tangerine Leopard gecko according to the following chart:
| Age Group | Meals Frequency | Insects Size |
| Baby | Every Day | About 0.4 Inch |
| Juvenile | Every Day | About Quarter an Inch |
| Adult | Every Other Day | Small to Adult Size |
Tangerine Leopard Gecko Breeding
Like other Leopard geckos, Tangerines are also quite easy to breed.
They breed by mating, after which the females lay eggs ready to be hatched. The temperature is the determinant factor for the gender of the baby geckos.
You can get your Tangerine Leopard gecko to breed by following these steps:
- Place a male and a female Tangerine Leopard gecko in a tank. They will soon mate, and females will produce eggs.
- Keep the temperature in 70s°(F).
- Tangerine Leopard geckos need a small area with a soft substrate in it to lay eggs.
- Keep looking for the eggs in the box regularly.
- When found, remove the eggs and incubate them manually.
- Eggs usually hatch between two to three months.
How to Keep Tangerine Leopard Gecko Happy?
You can keep your Leopard geckos happy by meeting their nutritional needs and maintaining the temperature and humidity in their tank. Here is how you can keep your Tangerine Leopard gecko happy:
- The tank volume should be at least 10 gallons. Add additional five gallons per new Tangerine Leopard gecko.
- The tank should always be neat and clean. If you house more than one geckos together, ensure shifting one to another tank as soon as you observe any symptoms of infectious diseases. Complete cleaning of the tank afterward is also advisable.
- Clean the tank every month. This can hinder the growth of any fungi, algae, or bacterium.
- Place UV and ceramic lights in the tank. Do not add UV more than seven percent of the overall lighting. A 360° easily adjustable UVA/UVB lamp would be a great fit for your Tangerine Leopard gecko lighting setup. Furthermore, it helps electricity saving by consuming only 50 watts per hour.
- Provide lighting for at least 12 hours every day. Never keep the light on for the entire night.
- Maintain a temperature gradient within the tank to allow your pet to regulate its body temperature. Aim for about 85°F at one side and 75°F for the rest of the tank.
- Keep the relative humidity levels between 30 and 40 percent. You can also use tank humidifiers to maintain this level of humidity.
- Never use sand as a Leopard gecko tank substrate, as it can cause impaction in your pet. Cloth, paper towel, reptile carpet, and newspapers are the best choice for substrates.
- Always use gecko-friendly disinfectants to clean the tank. This can keep harmful bacteria away.
Your Tangerine Leopard gecko will be happy if you observe the following signs of a happy Leopard gecko:
- Being playful, friendly, and energetic
- Easy handling
- Easy gait
- Proper sleeping cycle
Tangerine Leopard Gecko Health Issues
Tangerine Leopard geckos do not usually suffer from health complications if they are provided with the right environment and salubrious diet. Mishandling of these factors can result in the following issues:
- Impaction: It occurs due to eating oversized or indigestible substances, blocking the digestive system.
- Gastroenteritis: It is an infectious disease that occurs due to Cryptosporidiosis, a protozoan. It thickens the stomach and intestinal linings, rendering them unable to function properly.
- Dysecdysis: It is the abnormal pattern of shedding.
- Respiratory Infections: Tangerine Leopard geckos are prone to several respiratory infections if they are kept at high humidity levels.
- Metabolic Bones Disorder (MBD): It arises due to the deficiency of calcium and vitamin D3.
Sign of Unhealthy Tangerine Leopard Gecko
Regardless of the health problems discussed above, if you observe the following sign in your Tangerine Leopard gecko, it might not be healthy:
- Drooping skin
- Weight and muscles loss
- Thinning of tail
- Prolapses
- Regurgitation
Tangerine Leopard Gecko Pros and Cons
Tangerine Leopard geckos, like all other geckos, have pros and cons.
Benefits
Their dietary needs are not much.
They are great for beginners.
They are friendly and willing to be handled—but not much. They are not aggressive at all.
They do not require much space for their tank.
They are docile.
They have a fascinating color.
Drawbacks
May need UV light and multivitamin supplements.
They are nocturnal—they stay awake during the night and sleep during the day.
They do not like overhandling and may bite when they become over-stressed.
They take mental stress quite easily.
Conclusion
Tangerine Leopard geckos are akin to most leopard geckos in temperament and care. The main difference, however, exists in color and can be a little bright and shiny. They are great for beginners; they are docile, friendly, and do not need much care. Nevertheless, they have certain drawbacks, such as spreading diseases and being resistant to too much handling.
