When selecting a pet, it’s important to consider its lifespan. You’ll want to make sure you can provide care all throughout your pet’s life. So, if you’re wondering “How long does a leopard gecko live?” read on to learn about leopard gecko life expectancy.
Compared to other reptiles of relative size commonly kept as pets, leopard geckos are long lived. For example, a swift or anole may live to about 3 years. Leopard gecko lifespan is commonly listed as 6 to 10 years, and that is fairly accurate for a female leopard gecko. Male leopard geckos typically live 10-20 years.
Female Leopard Gecko Lifespan
Though 6 to 10 years is a long time, females have a shorter life expectancy than males due to the strain that mating and repeatedly producing eggs has on the body.
It takes considerable energy to reproduce and give birth (just ask any mother.) Females may lay 1 or 2 eggs in a clutch up to 8 times per mating season. A single female may produce 100 eggs or more during her lifetime.
Not everyone breeds their geckos, and you may have (or want) a solitary female. Due to the reduced level of stress of not producing eggs, a well-kept non-breeding female may live longer than 10 years.
Male Leopard Gecko Lifespan
Male leopard geckos can commonly live 10 to 20 years with good care. There are numerous records of leopard geckos living as long as 28 to 30 years!
Life Expectancy Considerations
Since leopard geckos may live for several decades, take their long life expectancy into consideration when deciding to bring one home. These are pets that will be with you for many years. Buying a leopard gecko as a pet for a child often means they could be heading off to college and taking the gecko with them (or leaving it behind for you to take care of!)
Like a cat or a dog, a leopard gecko is a long term commitment.
Our Experience
Our leopard gecko, Dude, has been our companion since 2008. He’s been with us through quite a lot, and is still going strong. He’s older than our kids, and the kids love watching him, helping care for him, and learning about him. Leopard geckos are easy to care for, which helps them live longer in captivity. Bonding with a leopard gecko is rewarding, as that bond will last many years. We’re hoping to enjoy our leopard gecko’s company for another decade or longer.
Make sure your leopard gecko has what it needs to live a long and happy life with our leopard gecko gear guide.
