As a fellow leopard gecko owner, I know how important it is to provide enrichment for these curious pets. Leopard geckos are naturally inquisitive and love to explore, so giving them opportunities for stimulation is key to their health and happiness.
After doing extensive research and testing out various products, I’ve compiled this list of the 17 best toys and accessories for leopard geckos. I’ll go over options for both inside and outside of the enclosure, covering everything from hammocks to ping pong balls. Let’s get started!
Toys for Inside the Enclosure
Here are some great toys and accessories you can add to your leopard gecko’s habitat to give them more opportunities for enrichment.
1. Hammocks
Hammocks are a must-have for leopard geckos Made of fabric or mesh, they stick to the side of the tank and allow your gecko to climb up and lounge or bask under the heat lamp. Just make sure not to choose a mesh hammock, as their nails can get caught
The Exo Terra Gecko Cave is a good option that gives them a cozy place to relax and feel secure.
2. Bridges
Bridges make the enclosure more dynamic by allowing your leopard gecko to climb up and over to access different areas. They’ll sit on top of the bridge to survey their territory or use the space underneath to hide.
The Zoo Med Reptile Shelter is a naturalistic-looking bridge that provides extra places to explore and feel protected.
3. Tunnels
Tunnels are super stimulating for leopard geckos, giving them an extra space to burrow and crawl through. Watch them pop in and out of each end or curl up inside for a nap.
The Niteangel Fun Tunnel has a cool zigzag design that makes playtime more interesting
4. Plants
Plants, both fake silk plants and live plants if you have a bioactive setup, provide spaces for your gecko to hide among the leaves and explore. They’ll climb through the branches or nestle down in the foliage.
The Fluker’s Repta Vine is a sturdy vine with robust leaves that can handle regular gecko traffic
5. Hides
While hides aren’t typically thought of as “toys,” they are essential for making your leopard gecko feel safe and secure. Provide multiple hides of different sizes and materials for enrichment.
The Exo Terra Gecko Cave has two entrances and exits for added stimulation.
6. Climbing Decor
Logs, ramps, branches, and other climbing surfaces engage your leopard gecko’s natural climbing instincts. Watch them explore every nook and cranny!
The Exo Terra Forest Branch is a natural-looking centerpiece for climbing.
7. Substrate Boxes
Substrate boxes filled with coconut fiber give your leopard gecko a chance to dig and burrow, which is enriching natural behavior. Females may also use boxes to lay their eggs.
Zoo Med’s Eco Earth is a sustainable coconut fiber substrate safe for geckos.
Toys for Outside Playtime
When you take your leopard gecko out for supervised playtime, here are some great toy options to keep them engaged and entertained.
8. Reptile Playpen
A reptile playpen allows your leopard gecko to roam safely outside the enclosure. Fill it with toys and hides to make playtime more interesting.
The Tespo Playpen has mesh walls to keep your petite gecko securely inside.
9. Exercise Ball
Let your leopard gecko get their zoomies out by rolling around in an exercise ball! Supervise closely and get those adorable reactions on video.
The Kaytee Run-About Exercise Ball is sized for smaller reptiles like leos.
10. Treat Ball
A treat ball is a fun way to engage your leopard gecko’s foraging instincts. As they roll the ball around, treats fall out through holes.
The PawHut Treat Ball has adjustable hole sizes to control how easily treats dispense.
11. Seesaw
A small wooden seesaw introduces some exciting motion into playtime. Watch your leopard gecko practice balancing as the seesaw tilts back and forth.
This Kaytee Teeter Totter is sized for leopard geckos and other small reptiles.
12. Swimming Ring
Though leopard geckos can’t actually swim, a reptile swimming ring keeps them safe and secure during bath time. It prevents drowning while letting them splash around.
The Saim Reptile Bath Ring is made of soft, flexible plastic for comfort.
13. Ping Pong Balls
Ping pong balls are a classic leopard gecko toy – they love batting the balls around with their noses and chasing after them. The balls are too big to swallow.
Pick up a pack of standard 40mm 3-star ping pong balls.
14. Shreddable Toys
Shreddable toys made of materials like pressed wood satisfy your leopard gecko’s natural instinct to tear things apart. Supervise play to prevent ingestion.
The Niteangel Shreddable Loofah gives them a natural toy to sink their teeth into.
15. Treat Maze
A snuffle mat or other treat-hiding toy makes finding food an engaging game. Your leopard gecko will focus all their attention and problem-solving skills on collecting every last bit.
The Pupwe Dog Treat Mat has crevices for stashing worms or feeder insects.
16. Cat Teaser Toys
Wands with feathers, fuzzy strands, or fake insects are irresistible to your bug-hunting leopard gecko. They may try pouncing and biting at them like prey!
The PET CRAFTER Teaser Toy has brightly colored tinsel to grab their attention.
17. Hamster Ball
For leopard geckos who won’t stop exploring, a hamster ball lets them roll freely without getting into trouble. Provide ample supervised time inside.
This Kaytee Run-About Exercise Ball is sized for geckos and other small reptiles.
Key Takeaways on Toys for Leopard Geckos
The key things to remember when selecting toys for a leopard gecko are:
- Focus on providing opportunities for natural behaviors like climbing, hiding, digging, and hunting
- Incorporate both stationary enrichment in the habitat and interactive toys for playtime
- Prioritize safety – avoid anything with loose parts that could come off and be swallowed
- Supervise all playtime to prevent escape and make sure your leopard gecko stays uninjured
With this wide variety of fun, stimulating toys to choose from, you can create an enriched environment that keeps your leopard gecko healthy and happy! Let their natural curiosity run wild.
Playing with your Gecko
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1 Gecko-proof your playing area. Leopard geckos, especially young ones, are very fast and will run away if given the chance. When you first begin playing with your gecko, create a space that you are sure your gecko cannot escape from, such as a box or bin. You could also choose an area and then set up a barrier of pillows or other soft things to block your gecko from the rest of the house. Just make sure that your barriers are not made of anything that could tip over and hurt your gecko. A good thing to do as well when youre out and about in your house with your gecko is to make sure doors and windows are closed as drafts are not good for your gecko and other pets (if owned) may come and interfere
- Once your gecko has gotten used to being taken out of its cage, it should calm down a bit and you will be able to handle your gecko on your bed, couch, floor, etc.
- 2 Let your gecko explore. Geckos are generally curious, active creatures who like to explore, so let your gecko take the reins. Allow your gecko to crawl up your arms, ride on your shoulders, or even curl up in your hair. Be prepared for your gecko to settle in somewhere they find warmth on your body–geckos are cold blooded and our skin feels like a sunbaked stone to them. Don’t be surprised if your gecko decides to hang out around your neck or in the crook of your arm.
- Another way to let your gecko explore is to ball up a piece of fabric (like a shirt or towel) and place it on your bed. Let your gecko crawl around the towel and find its own favorite cave or hiding space. Make sure to keep an eye on your gecko so you know where he has hidden himself when it is time to put him back in his tank.
- Let your gecko explore an empty room or your bed. Geckos like climbing (though they arent very good at it) and finding places to crawl into so let it crawl behind and around your cushions and pillows. Just make sure that you keep an eye on your gecko and never leave it unattended, or you could risk losing your gecko.
- 3 Create an obstacle course for your gecko. Get a bin or large box and place ‘obstacles’ in it. These can be paper towel tubes that your gecko can crawl through, smaller boxes your gecko can crawl over, or any other items. Get creative! Place climbing trees in the box for your gecko to climb (these can be bought at pet stores) or old toys to give your obstacle course a unique look.
- Leopard geckos love climbing on things.[6]
- 4 Set up a gecko carnival. This is similar to creating an obstacle course for your gecko, the key difference being that the gecko is not trying to get from one side to the other. Instead, fill a box with gecko toys (climbing trees, patches of carpet, paper towel rolls, etc) and simply let your gecko play. You might be amazed at the funny things geckos do. Some love climbing up climbing trees and then jumping off again. Others love rolling around in a paper towel roll. Setting up a gecko carnival is a great way to learn what your gecko likes to do.[7]
- Just be careful that nothing can fall and squish your gecko while its playing.[8]
- 5 Watch a movie with your gecko. While this is not necessarily ‘playing’, it is a great way to spend quality time with your gecko. Let your gecko get comfortable by sitting in its favorite warm spot on your body, and then settle in to watch a movie. Some leopard gecko owners have noticed that their geckos stare at the screen. Others will just fall asleep in a warm spot. Make sure the sound is not too loud though as it can startle and stress your gecko.
- 6 Know when to put your gecko back in its tank. Geckos need warmth to keep their energy levels up. When they are climbing or running around in an area that is not as warm as their tank, they can become fatigued. A good rule of thumb is to check your leo’s belly after you have been playing with them for 10 minutes. If its belly is cold to the touch, place your gecko back in its tank so that it can warm back up.[9]
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Reader Success Stories
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Mable Buss “I needed some idea how long it takes eggs to hatch. I dont have these as pets inside, but on the outside of the house we have a lot of geckos. I love to watch them, and right now they are laying eggs, and appear on the windows at night. We can see the eggs in them. Its much fun to watch them catch bugs. Thanks for the info and pictures.”…” more
Black Night Leopard Gecko Tail Drop
FAQ
What kind of toys do leopard geckos like?
Ping pong-sized balls – These toys are large enough your gecko won’t be able to ingest them, while still offering something novel for them to engage with. You can also use balls with bells in them to add a noise element. Geckos may push these around their enclosure or bat them into walls.
What do leopard geckos like to play with?
Leopard geckos may be small, but they still enjoy playing with toys. Provide them with some gecko-friendly toys, such as small balls or tunnels. Just make sure the toys are safe and easy to clean. Your gecko will have a ball rolling around and exploring their new toys!
How to mentally stimulate a leopard gecko?
Leopard geckos love interaction and stimulation! To keep them healthy and happy, providing them with an interactive environment full of items to explore and manipulate is essential. Providing enrichment like sticks, rocks, and hides will help promote natural behaviors like climbing, burrowing, and hiding.
What do leopard geckos love the most?
Leopard geckos love bugs. In fact, many are so crazy for bugs that they will eat any insect you put in front of them.