What is the most essential part of a leopard gecko’s cage decor?
Adult leopard gecko tanks should be a minimum of 10 gallons.
However, to provide a more comfortable and spacious home for your pet, it is recommended the tank be 20 gallons or more.
This leaves plenty of room for essential accessories and stylish decor for your gecko.
One of the most crucial parts of a leopard gecko’s indoor home is the hiding space you provide for it.
A leopard gecko’s tank should have two or more caves, also referred to as hides.
One cave should be cool and dry, making it ideal for regular use and hiding.
The other cave should be warm and moist, which your gecko will use when shedding its skin.
Today, I will highlight the best options for both types of essential gecko caves.
Our #1 choice for a cool, dry cave is the Reptology Shale Step Ledge. This hide is the best option for your leopard gecko to destress because it is cool, spacious, and resembles the slate rocks it would climb on in its natural environment.
Our #1 choice for a warm, moist cave is the Zilla Decor Rock Lair. This cave is the best option for your gecko’s wet cave because it provides a hidden moist interior to begin shedding and a rock-like exterior to aid in skin removal.
Table of Contents
Leopard Gecko Cage Decor In This Review
How To Pick Good Decor For Leopard Geckos
What Makes A Good Dry Cave?
When shopping for a dry cave for your leopard gecko, there are a few key factors to keep in mind.
The first and most important aspect of this cave is in the name — it has to be dry!
A leopard gecko’s natural habitat is in a warm and dry climate.
Imitating this environment is essential to acclimate your gecko to living in its tank.
The second factor to keep in mind is the size of the cave.
You want to ensure your reptilian friend has somewhere they like to hide and can fit comfortably inside of.
If you purchase hides too small for your gecko will outgrow quickly is counterproductive for two reasons:
First off, you are spending more time and money purchasing new hides for your gecko as it grows.
Why waste your resources when you’re able to get the best choice your first time?
Secondly, changing a leopard gecko’s environment too often can be disorienting and stressful.
An easy way to avoid this is by purchasing a large dry hide when you first assemble your gecko’s tank.
What Makes A Good Wet Cave?
You’ll want to have a warm moist cave your leopard gecko can spend time in during the bright hours of the day.
These caves are also great to aid your gecko in its skin shedding process or for nesting if your gecko has laid eggs.
An important feature to look for when purchasing a wet cave is its ability to hold moisture.
There is no point in buying a cave to act as a wet hide if it fails to hold moisture and humidity.
The best way to ensure your choice of the wet cave will serve its intended purpose is finding one simulating a gecko’s natural burrow.
You want your gecko to feel safe and as if it is hiding on its own in the wild.
Since a wet cave will likely have a small entrance leading to a larger enclosed area, you also want to be sure you have access to the inside if necessary.
It is best not to opt for a cave without the ability to open up.
Review Of The Best Leopard Gecko Cage Decor
Reptology Shale Step Ledge (Large)
- REALISTIC ROCK FORMATION: Highlighting a rough, picturesque display, the Reptology Shale Scape Step Ledge & Cave Hideout is a must have for pet owners looking to add a beautiful and functional piece to their aquarium or terrarium. This piece is perfect for small reptiles, newts, salamanders, crayfish, axolotls, snakes, territorial fish, and more!
- GREAT FOR CLIMBING AND BASKING: This Shale Scape is not only decorative, but is also purposeful! If your pet reptile or amphibian loves to climb, this piece will be their next mountain to conquer, as they rest peacefully on the top basking platform, regulating their body temperature as they see fit.
- NATURAL HIDING SPOTS: With 4 entrance and exit holes, the Reptology Shale Scape Step Ledge & Cave Hideout offers several ways to climb, slither, and swim around! In addition to reptiles and amphibians, this piece provides a great swim through or hiding spot for axolotls, fish, and crustaceans, such as crayfish and shrimp.
The number one choice of the dry hide for your leopard gecko is the Large Reptology Shale Step Ledge by Penn-Plax.
This spacious hide has several access points for your gecko to enter and exit through.
It also has a step-like formation, making it easy for your geckos to climb on if they’re feeling adventurous.
The hide is designed to resemble shale, which, along with slate, is a type of rock leopard geckos naturally experience in the wild.
This hide makes for a great dry cave thanks to its multiple entrances, allowing for constant airflow.
This accessory is easily removable and allows for easy access to your gecko if necessary.
Simply lift the fixture off the bottom of the tank, and your gecko will be revealed.
This product is also budget-friendly.
The company also offers a smaller size for approximately half the price.
Features:
- Multiple access points (3-4 depending on its positioning in the tank)
- Shale-like exterior to simulate a leopard gecko’s natural habitat
- Spacious
- Steps and ledges to encourage exploration
- Budget-friendly
Reptology Shale Step Ledge (Medium)
The second best choice for a dry cave is the Medium Reptology Shale Step Ledge by Penn-Plax.
This hide is very similar to the #1 choice and made by the same brand.
The biggest difference here is its size.
While it is still spacious, this cave measures several inches smaller than the large option.
This cave has a lighter coloring than the first option.
However, it still resembles the natural habitat of a leopard gecko.
The medium-sized cave has all of the same beneficial features as the large size.
Its dimensions are smaller, and so is its impact on your wallet.
Features:
- Multiple access points (3-4 depending on its positioning in the tank)
- Shale-like exterior to simulate a leopard gecko’s natural habitat
- Spacious
- Steps and ledges to encourage exploration
- Budget-friendly
Large Exo Terra Gecko Cave
- Gecko Cave that provides a secure hiding for reptiles and amphibians
- Integrates easily in desert and tropical terrariums
- Having a resting place helps alleviate stress in reptiles and amphibians
The third option for a dry hide is the Large Gecko Cave by Exo Terra.
This cave is also a good size.
However, it is less spacious than the first two choices.
The gecko cave resembles a desert rock with one opening for the gecko to crawl into.
This hide is completely covered and provides a dark place for your gecko to relax and destress.
While it is recommended as a dry cave, it may also be utilized as a nesting cave by inserting moss for moisture.
Although this cave looks like a desert rock, the top can be removed for easy access to your gecko when deemed necessary.
This product’s price is on the higher end.
However, if you are looking for a dry cave which is transformable into a moist cave when your leopard gecko is nesting, this may be the right choice for you.
Features:
- Versatility (can be used as a dry or nesting cave)
- Cave-like (resembles a desert rock with one entrance for the gecko)
- Spacious
- Dark hide (acts as a peaceful hiding spot)
Zilla Decor Rock Lair
- Side entrance and solid top help hold humidity
- Realistic and Natural looking
- Heavy material keeps the hide from moving
The #1 choice of the wet cave for your leopard gecko is the Zilla Decor Rock Lair by Zilla.
This wet cave is large enough for an adult leopard gecko and is perfect for simulating a natural and moist environment.
The cave resembles a rock with moss covering parts of the outside and one opening for the gecko to enter.
These features make for a perfect dark den providing a humid environment.
This is key when finding a cave to help your gecko shed its skin or nest its eggs.
The rock lair has a spacious interior with enough room for added moss.
This hide has a rounded corner, perfect for your gecko to curl up in or to form its nest.
The outer part of the cave simulates a rock with moss growing on it and provides a rough surface to aid your gecko in shedding its sloughing skin.
The cave comes in two pieces, making it easy for you to remove the top of the rock if you need to check on your reptilian friend.
The Zilla Decor Rock Lair is priced in the midrange.
Features:
- Spacious
- Dark, moist interior to hold in humidity
- Rough, mossy exterior
- Easy access (the top of the rock is detachable)
- Budget-friendly
Zilla Spring Cave Reptile Decor
- Perfect water source for geckos and chameleons
- Naturalistic cave with running water
- Internal blue LED night light
The second best choice of a wet cave for your gecko is the Zilla Spring Cave Reptile Decor by Zilla.
This cave resembles a verticle rock with an opening in the middle and a branch protruding from the front for perching.
The cave is dark and moist, providing an internal humidity chamber.
The cave’s exterior has shallow steps and simulates the slate rocks leopard geckos can find in the wild.
This wet cave is also spacious, measuring at approximately the same size as the #1 choice.
It also comes with a small feeding dish at the top of the rock, perfect for a little snack or water.
The spring cave is visually appealing but is significantly more expensive than any other hide we have discussed thus far.
Features:
- Dark, moist cave
- Resembles slate rocks
- Branch for perching
- Small feeding dish included
Finding The Best Leopard Gecko Cage Decor
When adopting a leopard gecko for the first time, it is crucial to understand their natural habitat and recreate it to the best of your ability.
Leopard geckos are from warm, dry regions of the Middle East and Asia.
They like to hide during the day and venture out at night.
These geckos are nocturnal, meaning they sleep during the day and are most active at night.
Providing a hide imitating this environment is essential to keep your pet’s sleep cycle regular and its stress levels down.
It is vital to keep your leopard gecko’s tank warm from the ground up and to reduce humidity levels as much as possible.
Since these lizards like to hide, it is also essential to have caves and hides to escape when they are stressed, regulate their body temperature, or simply need a break.
Leopard geckos live in climates with very low humidity (between 10% and 30%).
Placing only wet caves in your gecko’s tank could lead to an environment much too humid.
When humidity levels are too high, leopard geckos have an increased risk of respiratory problems.
When searching for a suitable dry cave for your gecko, be sure to keep the critical factors of size and airflow in mind.
Understanding leopard geckos also need a dark, moist cave to retreat to is essential when becoming an owner.
Although they cannot tolerate high humidity levels, providing them with a moist cave is essential for their wellbeing.
The moist cave allows your gecko to cool off and also aids in the process of shedding its skin.
A leopard gecko will shed its skin every four to eight weeks.
As an owner, you want to be sure your gecko is as comfortable as possible, and the humidity provided by a wet cave will make this process easier for them.
If your leopard gecko is laying eggs or planning to breed your gecko in the future, it is also essential to have a wet cave.
This ensures the eggs stay moist and are not at risk of drying out.
Providing a layer of moss for bedding helps add comfort and locks in moisture.
FAQ
Do I need to have caves for my gecko?
Yes.
It is essential to provide hiding places for your leopard gecko to keep its stress levels down.
Adding more decor to your gecko’s tank also provides mental stimulation.
Is a wet cave necessary if my gecko isn’t laying eggs?
Yes.
Leopard geckos use a wet cave for more than just nesting.
This space will provide your gecko with a comfortable escape during the bright hours of the day and will help with skin shedding too.
If geckos can’t tolerate humidity, are wet caves safe?
Yes. A wet cave will only trap humidity within itself.
Changing the moss you wet and laying inside the cave and cleaning the tank can help prevent any excess moisture.
This will also help keep the air inside the rest of the tank clean for your gecko to breathe.
And since keeping a clean tank is very important check out our guide on how to clean leopard gecko tanks.
