This is an unusual pet, which is the favorite of many terrumnistov.Spotted (leopard) eublepharis - one of the representatives of the large family of geckos.
Experts in the narrow circle called his "leopard" for spotty coloring.It's funny, but even this lizard drinking water, like a cat - lapping tongue.Eublepharis spotted popular not only because of its unusual appearance, but also unpretentious - take care of the gecko can even a child.
are two subspecies eublepharis - Afghan and typical.
Distribution
This cute gecko (spotted eublepharis) from India, Pakistan and Afghanistan.He lives on the slopes of high mountains, in the dry steppes.
Lifespan a lizard in the wild - not more than 10 years, but in captivity it can live up to 30 years.
Lifestyle
Spotted eublepharis photo, which you can see in this article, prefers to crepuscular or nocturnal.During the day, he finds refuge in the rocks.
his diet up arthropod, larvae, various insects, Newborn mice, smaller lizards.It often happens that the geckos eat and their own young.Spotted eublepharis is social, settles groups.They consist of several females and one male.Males guard their territory and chased her with their relatives.
Exterior Features
Interestingly, spotted eublepharis kept in captivity may appear different from his brother, who lives in vivo.Experts say that this is a consequence of selection gecko.
eublepharis main difference from other lizards - spotted color.The size of these animals are small.Their body length is less than 20 cm. Rarely, but there are larger specimens (up to 30 cm).
eublepharis spotted a thick massive tail, which he naturally keeps moisture and nutrients.The lizard is able to easily reject it, then it grows again, but more narrow and short.
Head at this large gecko, which has a triangular shape.The body is covered with small scales, some of whom are pupyrchatye.Feet thin, with five fingers.Eyes bulging, oblong, shaped a bit like a cat.
Color
Under natural conditions, the body of this lizard is colored yellowish-gray with dark spots.On the tail there is a drawing.Typically this transverse rings.
In captivity color is different.This is due to breeding.Today there are more than a hundred varieties of color.
eublepharis spotted: the content, the power
This gecko is quite unpretentious.Therefore, its content is not difficult.The power of these harmless and even cute-looking lizard can show a real predator instinct, because in the wild they hunt insects.They may be given crickets, cockroaches, grasshoppers, mice, eublepharis to satisfy his instinct of a hunter.
gecko Feeding takes place once a day.After three months, you can move to one every two days.Within days, the gecko can refuse to eat, but that should not bother the owner, because he kept the tail stock of nutrients.The food is sometimes necessary to add calcium powder.
spotted eublepharis need a small cage, for one or two animals suitable dwelling size of 50 × 40 × 30 cm. The soil sand should not be used as a lizard can swallow it with food.It is preferable to use small stones, pebbles.
eublepharis spotted requires heating.For him, the optimum temperature during the day - 31 ° C, at night - 27 ° C.Most importantly - do not allow the temperature to drop dramatically.In this case, your pet may lose your appetite.It is advisable to maintain a constant humidity of 40-45%.To do this from time to time should spray the terrarium.
Since eublepharis - crepuscular animals, they do not need backlighting.You can set the lamp power mirror no more than 25-40 watts, which will simulate the solar heating, but only at one point the cage.Solar radiation is necessary for animals synthesis of vitamin D3.You can buy a special lamp for reptiles, emitting ultraviolet light.
However, there is expert opinion that by providing lizard lower heating and adding to its diet necessary vitamins and minerals, you can do without UV.Today there are many vitamin complexes with vitamin D3, designed for eublepharis.
Using ultraviolet shown for medicinal purposes.For example, when developing rickets reptilian when vitamin D3 is poorly absorbed, and to stimulate breeding.In the case of rickets eublepharis sufficiently irradiate 10 minutes per day, and for the stimulation of reproduction must be adjusted daylight, changing it to a large side.The longer the day, the more the lizard mating, so in this case, the length of daylight can be adjusted up to 12 hours.
Hibernation
Today eublepharis spotted so domesticated that it has no urgent need for wintering, for the same reason he does not fall asleep.Wintering need to stimulate reproduction (the male activity).Therefore, if you are not engaged in breeding these lizards do not seek to ensure that they would certainly have fallen into hibernation.
must be remembered that only a healthy, well-fed animal transports winter without problems.At home, very smoothly enough to lower the temperature, reducing heating time.It should reduce the length of daylight hours to 8 hours.These changes in the life of a gecko should last at least two months.At the peak of the winter the average temperature should be +18 ... +22 ° C.
Accordingly, should gradually be reduced and the power of gecko.The rest period is about two months.Then, a gradual exit from this state in the reverse order.Do not forget about vitamins and minerals.
in vivo in eublepharis begins in mid-winter mating season, which falls in late May.At home, you can keep the same mode, but it is not mandatory.
Reproduction
Puberty eublepharis spotted up to 12 months.They start to multiply immediately after hibernation.A lay eggs in 3 weeks after mating.Typically, one clutch is 1-2 eggs.In the year can be up to 10 nests.
the air temperature in the terrarium depends on the incubation period.Cubs appear within 40-65 days, provided that the temperature is regulated.From it depends largely on the same floor and cubs.At a temperature less than 26 ° C hatch females, and at a temperature above 31,5 ° C, are born males.In nature, young appear not earlier than 100 days.They weigh 2-3 grams, length eublepharis newborn - 80-85 mm.They have a brownish color with bright stripes.For eight months, they are colored the same way as adults.
