how long do leopard geckos live?

K

killuminati

New member
hi, i am thinking about getting a leopard gecko, but ive heard they can live from 20-30 years. thats a long time. i dont know if i wanna have one that long. is there any alternitive lizards that live less like maybe 10 years? how long do cresties get?
 
Last edited:
P

puggy69

New member
20 -30 years?? the longest ive had one is 16 years and i thot that was unusual, id say 10 years is about the average for a leo ;-)
 
Allee Toler

Allee Toler

Member
puggy69 said:
20 -30 years?? the longest ive had one is 16 years and i thot that was unusual, id say 10 years is about the average for a leo ;-)
Click to expand...
Actually, she had the ages correctly. I have a 12 year old currently who's nice and healthy and should easily live another 10 years. The "average" you're giving is probably based on people who give improper care for them. I remember back about a year ago this woman's leo died and it was 9 or so. She thought she lived unusually long for a small reptile, when told they can live 20+ years she flipped. I wouldn't say 20-30 years, but 20+, there's a 25 year old leo on You Tube named Dink, and the record for the oldest is 30+.

With all these new morphs weakening their genes I wouldn't doubt seeing 20+ year old leos will decrease causing the average age to decrease with them.
 
Allee Toler

Allee Toler

Member
killuminati said:
hi, i am thinking about getting a leopard gecko, but ive heard they can live from 20-30 years. thats a long time. i dont know if i wanna have one that long. is there any alternitive lizards that live less like maybe 10 years? how long do cresties get?
Click to expand...

Honestly, if you don't want to commit to an animal then I would suggest not getting one. These are live animals, and even older leos need a vet every now and then. There's too many people out there not caring for their animals, or keeping them for 3 or so years then "getting bored" with them and put them up for adoption. It's unfair to the animal to be neglected.

Get a fish. Betta's live 5-7 years, or is that too long? Even then Betta's need a heater, bubble rock/filter, plants, minimum of 5gal's, and food every other day. They too can get sick and need to go to the vet.
 
K

killuminati

New member
Allee Toler said:
Honestly, if you don't want to commit to an animal then I would suggest not getting one. These are live animals, and even older leos need a vet every now and then. There's too many people out there not caring for their animals, or keeping them for 3 or so years then "getting bored" with them and put them up for adoption. It's unfair to the animal to be neglected.

Get a fish. Betta's live 5-7 years, or is that too long? Even then Betta's need a heater, bubble rock/filter, plants, minimum of 5gal's, and food every other day. They too can get sick and need to go to the vet.
Click to expand...

k im not a she, im a guy. its not that i dont want to commit to it, its just that im 15 and when i end up doing something with my life i might not be able to care for it somehow like say if i move or get a job that dosnt alow me to care for it or somthing like that. i think fish are stupid pets, and theres a big difference between 5-7 years and 20-30 years.
 
Last edited:
Allee Toler

Allee Toler

Member
killuminati said:
k im not a she, im a guy. its not that i dont want to commit to it, its just that im 15 and when i end up doing something with my life i might not be able to care for it somehow like say if i move or get a job that dosnt alow me to care for it or somthing like that. i think fish are stupid pets, and theres a big difference between 5-7 years and 20-30 years.
Click to expand...

I wasn't being rude, I was being blunt. If you don't want to care for an animal for it's full life then simply not get that animal.

Anoles don't live nearly as long as leos, and just aren't "holding" pets. Some people would disagree with me on that, though. I enjoy watching my anoles, but you can't handle them like a leo. Reptiles are hearty animals that can live a long time.

You obviously shouldn't have a leo (age issue), so ask some questions in other parts of this board. There's many species to consider- Leos just aren't the one. Google comes in handy, too.
 
K

killuminati

New member
Allee Toler said:
I wasn't being rude, I was being blunt. If you don't want to care for an animal for it's full life then simply not get that animal.

Anoles don't live nearly as long as leos, and just aren't "holding" pets. Some people would disagree with me on that, though. I enjoy watching my anoles, but you can't handle them like a leo. Reptiles are hearty animals that can live a long time.

You obviously shouldn't have a leo (age issue), so ask some questions in other parts of this board. There's many species to consider- Leos just aren't the one. Google comes in handy, too.
Click to expand...

I do want to care for an animals full lije i just think 20+ years is a long time. Ive already looked at anoles and my dad used to have anoles and there way to skiddish. I googled a couple care sheets and some said 6-10 years and maybe 10-20 for males (i wouldnt be getting a male anyways) and on another forum thay says 6-10 years. Ive googled already and all that i keep coming back to is the bearded dragon
 
lindsaydo

lindsaydo

Newbie
People advertise leopard gecko's as a very good starter pet.
Leopard gecko's can have many problems, and can be very costly. I would suggest not getting one, as if it does get ill the chances are the vet bill will be quite high, and for a 15 year old that would be tough.
They aren't as high maintenance as dogs or cats, but if you don't get some things right with them it can go belly up so to speak.
Don't believe everything you see on Google. I just say a video of someone dumping their newly hatches leopard gecko's in a bath of deep water to see if they would swim. Not very good.
You have come to the right place for advice.
They can live a while, and it can be a commitment, but thats what I love about these animals, they aren't like hamsters or gerbil's and will live quite a while depending on the right care. If you do decide to get one, let us know and we will show you how to care for it properly, because most care sheets can get it wrong.
Also, are you wanting a pet that you can hold? Or are you not bothered?
Are you definatley wanting something exotic?
If you are not wanting a hands on pet, which is low maintenance, get a tarantula. I have one and she is lovely. Male Chilean rose's will live about 10 years, I have a female who will live significantly longer. But you feed them a locust or a pinky/cricket every 1-2 weeks, and they are brilliant to watch. Also Chilean rose hair are very placid tarantulas, and they are great to show off. Also if I have a large amount of money in my house and burglaries have been happening around my neighbourhood I just stick the money in the tarantula tank :D
 
K

killuminati

New member
lindsaydo said:
People advertise leopard gecko's as a very good starter pet.
Leopard gecko's can have many problems, and can be very costly. I would suggest not getting one, as if it does get ill the chances are the vet bill will be quite high, and for a 15 year old that would be tough.
They aren't as high maintenance as dogs or cats, but if you don't get some things right with them it can go belly up so to speak.
Don't believe everything you see on Google. I just say a video of someone dumping their newly hatches leopard gecko's in a bath of deep water to see if they would swim. Not very good.
You have come to the right place for advice.
They can live a while, and it can be a commitment, but thats what I love about these animals, they aren't like hamsters or gerbil's and will live quite a while depending on the right care. If you do decide to get one, let us know and we will show you how to care for it properly, because most care sheets can get it wrong.
Also, are you wanting a pet that you can hold? Or are you not bothered?
Are you definatley wanting something exotic?
If you are not wanting a hands on pet, which is low maintenance, get a tarantula. I have one and she is lovely. Male Chilean rose's will live about 10 years, I have a female who will live significantly longer. But you feed them a locust or a pinky/cricket every 1-2 weeks, and they are brilliant to watch. Also Chilean rose hair are very placid tarantulas, and they are great to show off. Also if I have a large amount of money in my house and burglaries have been happening around my neighbourhood I just stick the money in the tarantula tank :D
Click to expand...

Money isnt an issue in case I have to take it to a vet. I am wanting a pet that I an hold. I love exotic pets but there is no way I would ever get a tarantula or even touch one. Even little spiders scare me lol
 
lindsaydo

lindsaydo

Newbie
Haha, tarantulas aren't spiders ;)
Don't let anyone convince you into getting a Day Gecko either, it's advisable not to handle them.
Have you thought about a House Gecko?
 
holocaustto

holocaustto

New member
killuminati said:
k im not a she, im a guy. its not that i dont want to commit to it, its just that im 15 and when i end up doing something with my life i might not be able to care for it somehow like say if i move or get a job that dosnt alow me to care for it or somthing like that. i think fish are stupid pets, and theres a big difference between 5-7 years and 20-30 years.
Click to expand...

Some fish are pretty smart you know...
 
IslaReina

IslaReina

New member
Honestly, the fact that Leos live so long was one of the reasons I wanted to get one. Short living pets can be fun but it's hard to get too attached if they die so quickly. I wanted to get an animal that would live long, so I got a Leo. I can't say anything about how it affects me to have one in the long run or anything because I got mine a few weeks ago, but I am excited to have her with me anywhere I might move and that she will have the same personality which I love, and if we get attached to each other and she ends up liking me, I know she will like me for all the years I have her as long as I take good care of her.

They also don't take up a lot of space, I have mine in a 10 gal tank that can easily be taken with me to wherever my life eventually will take me.

With Leos, though, you have to be willing to leave it alone and be patient for a while and take things slowly so it can get used to you and be nicer in the long run. As other people said, If you want a pet that will live only for a few years or so until you go to college or whatever, get a hamster or mouse or rat or fish or something, not an animal like a gecko.

Rats are kind of exotic, and stuff I have read says they do not usually live that long, usually only 3 or 4 years. I have known people to get very attached to their rats and say they are very loving.
 
Last edited:
lindsaydo

lindsaydo

Newbie
I used to hats rats, and they can live a while too, up to ten years.
I had a hamster that lived to be about 9 or ten too. I think with some animals it is how you treat them and look after them. My nannan had some fish once that were 15 when they died.
IslaReina - good answer :)
 
A

alison 1967

New member
hi my name is alison im new to day. i have a leopard gecko who i might say is now 17 half years old never had any problems with him he is called george but i think it is a she lol he is the best thing i was bought as a pet i leave him to his own devises in his viv he is getting on now i was told they live about 15/20 years they are the best thing as a starter lizard especaily for children as l;ong as you do not man handle them.
 
brooksylc

brooksylc

New member
Another option would be to get an older leopard gecko. You would want to make sure you have all the required supplies planned out ahead of time, but if you hear of someone else who has lost interest/life changed who is selling their 10+ year old leopard gecko, that could be the right opportunity for you. Again you would want to plan for it to live a long life and be responsible to give it a great home for the rest of it's life. Just a thought.
 
A

alison 1967

New member
Allee Toler said:
Actually, she had the ages correctly. I have a 12 year old currently who's nice and healthy and should easily live another 10 years. The "average" you're giving is probably based on people who give improper care for them. I remember back about a year ago this woman's leo died and it was 9 or so. She thought she lived unusually long for a small reptile, when told they can live 20+ years she flipped. I wouldn't say 20-30 years, but 20+, there's a 25 year old leo on You Tube named Dink, and the record for the oldest is 30+.

With all these new morphs weakening their genes I wouldn't doubt seeing 20+ year old leos will decrease causing the average age to decrease with them.
Click to expand...

hi iv looked in the guinnes book of records and there is no listing for longest living leopard gecko not his year or last so who going to put there leo in there as mine is now 17 half years old
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top