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Leopard geckos love to sleep. In fact, if you own a leopard gecko, you’ve probably noticed that they sleep most of the time.
As a result, many leopard gecko owners ask the question – how long do leopard geckos sleep?
Leopard geckos sleep for around 12 to 13 hours every day. These nocturnal reptiles remain awake from dusk till dawn as temperatures drop to support their activity. Leopard geckos prefer to sleep when it’s hot and be awake at night when it is cool.
It is worth noting that there is a limit to how much your leopard gecko should be sleeping. Throughout this article, we’re going to discuss everything you need to know regarding leopard geckos and their sleeping habits.
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Why Do Leopard Geckos Sleep During the Day?
Extreme Heat
Leopard geckos are native to arid regions in Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, and some parts of India. Temperatures in such areas could go north of 104°F in the summer months. Leopard geckos don’t do too well under scorching heat and need to hide from harsh weather.
These geckos plan their sleep to fall within the daylight hours to avoid harsh sunrays and scorching sands. Most leopard geckos will hide in burrows and crevices until the sun goes down. This is why it’s important to have several caves for your leopard gecko.
Body Composition
Leopard geckos rely on their fat reserves to survive, especially in periods of brumation. Excess heat during the day makes fat storage very difficult for leopard geckos. So, leopard geckos choose to rest during the day and feed at night when the weather is much cooler.
How Long Do Leopard Geckos Need to Take a Nap?
Leopard geckos need to sleep for at least ten to twelve hours every day. These geckos go to take their nap before the sun turns up and become active when the sun goes down.
What Influences Leopard Geckos’ Sleep Patterns?
Lighting
Leopard geckos don’t need too much light when it’s time to sleep. Consider reducing lighting around your leopard geckos’ resting area during the day.
Enclosure
If your leopard geckos have several hiding places to take naps, it becomes easier to maintain their sleep pattern.
Illness
A sick leopard gecko may not sleep as much as it should, or may sleep too much. But changes in sleep pattern isn’t the only indication that your leopard gecko may be ill. If you’re not sure when your leopard geckos sleep patterns change, visit a vet as soon as possible.
Diet
Feeding your geckos at the wrong time could disrupt their sleep pattern. It is important you feed your leopard geckos in the evening to prevent any massive changes in their sleep pattern.
Do You Need to Worry If Your Leopard Gecko Sleeps Too Much?
At first, you do not need to worry if your leopard geckos sleep too much as long as they’re healthy. Your leopard gecko could become lethargic or show signs of illness sometimes when it sleeps too much.
If you notice your leopard geckos find it tricky to move, it’s better to get them urgent medical help. Contact your vet as soon as you can to help you examine your geckos’ health.
Steps to Help Your Leopard Gecko Get a Better Nap
If you want your leopard gecko to keep getting its much-needed rest in the day, you can make it happen. Besides being super quiet around their tank, here’s what you can do to get these reptiles a sounder sleep:
- Add many hideouts to their vivarium
- Enclosure should be in a location that supports ample night-day cycle of darkness and light
- Remove any bright lights from around the tank during the day
- Feed your reptiles at dusk
- Vivarium should not be close to a window or location that may be too cold
- Keep your geckos in separate tanks if possible
- Provide the right amount of heating to your gecko’s tank
- Avoid loud music near your leopard gecko
With these steps, it could become much easier to get your leopard gecko more hours of rest during the day.
FAQs
What time do leopard geckos go to sleep?
Leopard geckos usually sleep from daybreak until sundown. Leopard geckos are active at night and take long naps likely to span 12 hours during the daytime.
Do leopard geckos sleep at night?
Leopard geckos do not sleep at night and remain active from dusk till early hours before dawn. Geckos tend to sleep throughout the day and prefer lukewarm areas to take naps. Wild leopard geckos usually favor rock crevices to take their day-long rest.
Do leopard geckos need complete darkness at night?
Leopard geckos can see in pitch darkness, thanks to their improved night vision. Geckos are nocturnal in nature and will move around mostly at night in their natural habitat. In some cases, blinding light could result in poor vision for leopard geckos.
Do leopard geckos sleep standing up?
Leopard geckos do not sleep standing up. A gecko will normally take a nap with its limbs flattened out and its toes facing downward. Some leopard geckos could fall asleep with its head coming out of any enclosure in the tank. Others will love to hide their head in a warm spot in the vivarium.
Final Thoughts: How Long Do Leopard Geckos Sleep?
How long do leopard geckos sleep? These reptiles have unique sleep patterns and take naps for several reasons. Gecko owners need to do all they can to encourage a healthy sleep pattern for their reptiles. Sufficient sleep helps leopard geckos develop as they should.
Refrain from distracting your leopard gecko as it takes a nap. Besides keeping the noise down, ensure you create an environment that supports better rest for your reptiles. With the recommendations in this post, it becomes easier to get your leopard gecko enough rest. You don’t want to have an unhealthy leopard gecko on your hands.