Best Leopard Gecko Breeders in the US, UK, Canada and Australia

Walking into a pet shop, and then simply looking around and buying your new pet, just like that – it all seems really convenient.

However, what if I told you that it is usually not the best option? Especially in the case of big, non-specialized pet stores.

Reptiles from pet shops – especially the large chain pet stores – often have poor health and a lot of issues. Pet stores will often buy their reptiles from reptile mills, unethical operations where animals are kept in poor conditions for pure commercial gain, often suffering from injuries and diseases.

Buying your new pet gecko from a reputable, caring breeder is a whole other story.

Why Buy Your Leopard Gecko From a Breeder Instead of a Pet-Shop?

There are several good reasons to invest your time in finding a good breeder to buy your leopard gecko from:

• You have a greater chance of buying a healthy individual, raised kept in good conditions.
• You will get to know the detailed genetics of your pet, which is really important if you plan to breed for specific morphs.
• You will probably be able to check back with the breeder and get some quality advice in case you have any dilemmas.
• You will be supporting an ethical business with your money.

However, finding the right breeder can be a time-consuming and even frustrating task. It is hard to know where to begin searching.

The good news is – we’re here to help you!

I carefully selected some of the best leopard gecko breeders out there, from four countries and three continents – the USA, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

Besides looking out for quality genetic stock, variety, quality keeping, and feeding, I was led by another simple rule. I set out to find the breeders with whom I would personally work with, based on the information available.

Let’s check out the results of my research together and find out who the best leopard gecko breeders might be!

Note: Probably due to the changing nature of the web, some breeder’s listed here might not have availabilities at the moment. Don’t hesitate to contact them before visiting/purchasing.

US Leopard Gecko Breeders

Historically, the USA has been the home of the most famous leopard gecko breeding operations.

All ethical, caring US breeders guarantee live arrivals. That is why they will avoid shipping against the weekend, which means they will ship geckos on Mondays, Tuesdays or Wednesdays.

In general, serious breeders can send their leos all over the country via reliable postal services. They will also ensure cozy, insulated and well-marked packaging. The cost of the shipment is usually around $45.

You will need to be at least 18 years old to purchase leos from reputable breeders.

Most breeders will also be able to put a leo you like on hold, but that often requires a deposit and/or additional fees.

If you live outside of the States but have set your eyes on a US gecko, don’t worry – most breeders will ship to Canada, and many of them to Europe and beyond – particularly to the famous Hamm, Germany reptile show Terraristika. That service usually costs around $75.

Ron Temper

There is not much to be added about the most famous breeder on our list that the world doesn’t know, but if you’ve managed to miss who Ron Temper is, here is a short answer.

Ron Temper has been breeding geckos for more than 45 years and is one of the pioneer morph creators. He brought the very first line of albinos, called Temper Albinos to the hobby – all descendants of Ron’s first albino, Bubba. Super Giant, Carrot-Head, Aptor, and Raptor mutation also stem from that line.

If you opt to buy your pet from Ron and Helene, know that you’ll be getting your leos straight from the source.

Luckily for the people across the pond, the Tempers also ship to Hamm Germany shows for European customers.

Info & inquiries:

• Name of the company: Ron & Helene Temper Leopard Geckos
• Name of the owner(s): Ron & Helene Temper
• Location: San Antonio, Texas, US
• Local Pickup: Ask
• Shipping area: US and Germany (Hamm)
• Phone Number: Not provided
• Website
• Email

Geckos ETC

Geckos ETC has been around 1996 and specializes in rare and unique leopard geckos and knobtail geckos. They aim to satisfy both rookie leo keepers and serious breeders and provide quality animals for both groups of herp enthusiasts.

Steve and Debra offer a huge number of morphs. A nice touch on their website is that tables of available geckos are filled with useful information on genetics and any possible faults (kinked tails, etc), keeping the trade transparent.

Info & inquiries:

• Name of the company: Geckos ETC
• Name of the owner(s): Steve and Debra Sykes
• Location: Sacramento, California, US
• Local Pickup: Yes
• Shipping area: Worldwide
• Phone Number: 916-624-3256, from 8 AM to 9 PM (Pacific Time)
• Website
• Facebook
• Email

Geckoboa

Geckoboa is based in Idaho and offers a wide variety of leo morphs, such as the cool striped varieties from various combinations, plus their own recessive morph – Cipher.

What’s special about them is the world’s most diverse collection of pure Eublepharis species (the leo genus). Currently, they have Eublepharis angramainyu lineages from 4 distinct provinces, Eublepharis fuscus, E. Hardwickii, and the E.M. montanus from pure Gabor Kosa lines.

Although Geckoboa does serious high-end breeding with pure morph lines, they are one of the rare prolific breeders to offer leos in their “pet” section for as little as $20. Also, they offer wholesale, which can enable traders and pet shops to get quality stock without having to deal with the notorious reptile mills.

The Geckoboa crew provides a guarantee on their leos for 30 days after arrival.

Info & inquiries:

• Name of the company: Geckoboa
• Name of the owner(s): John and Alyssa
• Location: Idaho, US
• Local Pickup: Ask
• Shipping area: US, Germany (Hamm), Canada; Japan, China, and other countries shipments may be possible.
• Phone Number: Not provided
• Website

JMG Reptile

JMG Reptile is a father and son business operated by Jeff Galewood Sr. and Jeff Galewood Jr, who have amazing 45 years of experience in raising and breeding reptiles.

As for leopard gecko morphs, their special offers include Bold Hyper Xanthic from their pure hyper xanthic line, as well as the really sunny JMG Sun Glow.

Info & inquiries:

• Name of the company: JMG Reptile
• Name of the owner(s): Jeff Galewood Sr. and Jeff Galewood Jr.
• Location: Hudson, Ohio
• Local Pickup: Yes/No
• Shipping area: US, Germany (Hamm), e-mail for more
• Phone Number: 330 463 5594
• Website
• Email

Ramsey reptiles

All Ramsey Reptile geckos come with a 7-day health guarantee. “Quality” is the word that is often used to describe what Ramsey facility has to offer.

Chad offers a wide selection of leo morphs, as well as pure species. He is currently working on a Dark Blizzard project.

Info & inquiries:

• Name of the company: Ramsey reptiles
• Name of the owner(s): Chad Ramsey
• Location: City Magna, Utah
• Local Pickup: Yes
• Shipping area: Worldwide
• Phone Number: +1 208-391-9373
• Website

Gecko Daddy

Gecko Daddy has been dedicated to developing their own, very cool lines. Tangerine Halloween Masks called Jack O’Lanterns, Tango Crush, Litebrights (TUG Snow x Halloween), and a display of pure Halloweens with really cool patterns.

Info & inquiries:

• Name of the company: Gecko Daddy
• Name of the owner(s): Brian Hansbrow
• Location: Spanish Fork, Utah
• Local Pickup: Yes
• Shipping area: Regional (US)
• Phone Number: 801-400-3298
• Website
• Facebook
• Contact

LM Geckos

LM Geckos are one of the fresh names on this list, and they are on the rise. Laurie Mitchell has captured the attention of many leopard gecko enthusiasts by the cool lines she is working on. The highlights of LM Geckos stock are beautiful Tangerines and hyper melanistic morphs, including Black Pearls.

Info & inquiries:

• Name of the company: LM Geckos
• Name of the owner(s): Laurie Mitchell
• Location: Westport, Massachusetts
• Local Pickup: Yes
• Shipping area: US, Canada, Germany (Hamm)
• Phone Number: 774-208-2399
• Website
• Contact

SaSobek Reptiles

SaSobek Reptiles have been around for a while, with a selection of attractive leos with some really interesting genetics. Matt Baronak, who is behind the operation, has a history as a leopard gecko YouTuber before that term even existed, and he had gained quite a lot of following on his channel back in the day.

Matt has had retired from the breeding business for a while, but this year he has made a comeback with a sneak peek of his new original project, the “G-project Clown morph”.

Besides leopard geckos, Matt has been involved with breeding and conservation of amphibians.

Info & inquiries:

• Name of the company: SaSobek Reptiles
• Name of the owner(s): Matt Baronak
• Location: US, state not provided (possibly New Hampshire)
• Local Pickup: Ask
• Shipping area: US, inquire for more
• Phone Number: Not provided
• Website
• Email

Suburban Geckos

Chris Charlton of Suburban Geckos has a two-decade experience in breeding and raising reptiles. Leopard geckos have remained his main focus throughout the years. The mid-sized operation is focused on premium quality. Chris states that he takes great care in producing quality animals for hobbyists as well as breeders.

In my humble opinion, the most attractive offer from Suburban Geckos is the Gecko Genetics x Blood combination.

Info & inquiries:

• Name of the company: Suburban Geckos
• Name of the owner(s): Chris Charlton
• Location: US, state not provided
• Local Pickup: No
• Shipping area: US, Canada, Germany (Hamm)
• Phone Number: Not provided
• Website
• Facebook
• Email

Online Geckos

James and Nicole are two small-scale breeders who fell in love with leopard geckos in 2011. As per their own statement, they “believe in and advocate responsible breeding; breed for the love of the species, breed to enhance the genes, and breed to improve the health & well-being of these geckos.” They have many morphs available but seem to be especially fond of their Super Giants.

As small-scale breeders, Online Geckos offer docile animals. All Leos from their breeding program have their own names – usually from Greek mythology. Also, all the leos that have been retired from their program are still mentioned on the website. That shows a special level of dedication to each of their animals.

Their website is also a great resource to learn about leopard geckos, as they have been especially focused on making quality information available to the public.

Info & inquiries:

• Name of the company: Online Geckos
• Name of the owner(s): James and Nicole
• Location: Southern California, US
• Local Pickup: Ask
• Shipping area: US, Germany (Hamm show)
• Phone Number: +1.559.328.4306
• Website
• Facebook
• Contact

Darling Geckos

Darling geckos is a high-end breeding operation, and the largest one in Pennsylvania. Besides leos, Angela also produces high-end African Fat Tails and works with Cresteds geckos.

Darling Geckos ships in the US, to Hamm, Germany, Hong Kong, and possibly to more countries – inquire if you are interested.

Info & inquiries:

• Name of the company: Darling Geckos
• Name of the owner(s): Angela
• Location: Pennsylvania, US
• Local Pickup: Ask
• Shipping area: US, Germany (Hamm show), Hong Kong, and probably more.
• Phone Number: Not provided
• Website
• Facebook
• Email

Fire n’ Ice Geckos

Fire n’ Ice Geckos have been passionate and dedicated leo breeders since 2011. They work with various morphs but are notable for their variety of Snows and their Black Night crosses.

In 2015, the couple upscaled their business by opening a pet store in Bismarck, ND, where they aim “to offer their community more than just your common pet store variety reptiles and knowledge.”

Info & inquiries:

• Name of the company: Fire n’ Ice Geckos
• Name of the owner(s): Ben & Brenda Howard
• Location: Bismarck, North Dakota, US
• Local Pickup: Yes (Store)
• Shipping area: Ask
• Phone Number: +1 701-333-9366
• Website
• Facebook
• Email

Leopard Gecko Breeders in Canada

There are not a lot of leopard gecko breeders in Canada, possibly due to the proximity of the highly-developed US market. However, one name stands out, and I will introduce you to the operation shortly.

If you are from Canada and want to get a leo from the US, always check with the breeders if they ship to your country and region if it’s not stated on their websites – there’s a chance that they just forgot to mention it.

The Urban Gecko / The Urban Reptile

The Urban Gecko is a subdivision of The Urban Reptile, one of the largest reptile breeders in Canada.

Craig and Lori Stewart have a lifetime experience in keeping reptiles, and more than a decade of experience with large-scale breeding. They have over 40 leo morphs in their breeder collection and aim to satisfy both beginner pet owners and advanced leopard gecko enthusiasts and breeders. They ensure safe transport of the reptiles and provide detailed care sheets for novice owners.

The Canadian Flat Rate shipping charge is $85. As a special service, the Urban Gecko can also ship from Toronto, Canada to your nearest airport when needed. For US orders, it is $65 Flat Rate. They are shipped from Buffalo, New York via FedEx or UPS directly to your door, with Fish and Wildlife Services paperwork handled by the breeders.

Info & inquiries:

• Name of the company: The Urban Reptile
• Name of the owner(s): Craig and Lori Stewart
• Location: Markham, Ontario
• Local Pickup: Yes (store)
• Shipping area: Canada, US, possibly worldwide
• Phone Number: 905.264.5557
• Website

Leopard Gecko Breeders in the UK

Leopard gecko breeder community rests on small-scale, enthusiastic hobby breeders. After a peak about ten years ago, their numbers seem to have dwindled. However, you can still find high-quality leos in the UK, it just takes a bit more research. Here are several names to help you out.

Grinning Gecko

The Grinning Gecko is actually a reptile store with its own production of some reptiles, including the leopard geckos. They operate with an Animal Welfare Licence and stress that their main focus is responsible caring and keeping. “We would rather lose a sale than see an animal go to a home where it is not going to be looked after properly.“, they state.

No wonder that the Grinning Geckos earned some exceptional reviews which mention kindness, expertise, and patience. It is an ideal place for a first-time gecko owner.

Grinning geckos is not just a store. Mal offers Macks & Sunglows, plus a selection of normals from his own breeding program.

Info & inquiries:

• Name of the company: Grinning Gecko (Reptile Store)
• Name of the owner(s): Mal Moutrey
• Location: Blackpool, UK
• Local Pickup: Yes
• Shipping area: Ask
• Phone Number: 01253 283080
• Website
• Contact

Cambridge Gecko

Cambridge Gecko offers a really nice selection of attractive albino leo morphs, and also some pure species, such as E. fuscus. Phillip seems to have a particular love for rainwater albinos, with a lot of carrot tail and orange bred into them. Also, the Electric Afgan Tangerine project and the freshest the Tangerine Patternless really stand out.

What I consider a plus is that Philip is an owner of another business – Cambridge Nutrition UK, which offers specialist feeds and substrates for reptiles and invertebrates. Deep knowledge about nutrition is certainly a plus what he’s doing. No wonder his leos look so healthy and plump.

Info & inquiries:

• Name of the company: Cambridge Gecko
• Name of the owner(s): Philip Shrimpton
• Location: Cambridge, UK
• Local Pickup: Ask
• Shipping area: Ask
• Phone Number: Not provided
• Website 
• Email

Mandala Geckos

Kelly is a small-scale keeper and breeder. She’s currently working with Tremper, Bell, Bandit, Mack Snow, WY, Eclipse and Murphy Patternless morphs.

Kelly states that her geckos come from some of the UK’s top breeders and that she aims to keep high standards for all geckos she produces.

Photos of parents and genetic information for each gecko can be provided for each available leo upon request.

Info & inquiries:

• Name of the company: Mandala Geckos
• Name of the owner(s): Kelly Lockyear
• Location: UK
• Local Pickup: Ask
• Shipping area: UK
• Phone Number: Not provided
• Website

Adirondack Geckos

Kathy Henderson of Adirondack geckos is a “small scale quality breeder.” For more than 10 years she produces a limited number of high-quality animals, which she diligently observes, socializes and feeds with a wide variety of home-grown feeder insects. Her geckos even drink Adirondack spring water!

She keeps her leos in near-natural vivariums from the time they become juveniles – someting to consider if you are interested in animal welfare and dissatisfied with the way the large-scale breeders keep most of their lizards. Also, she states that she incorporated “5-star projects from the very best bloodlines” into her program.

Unfortunately, Kathy hasn’t provided any updates since the 2018 season, so try to contact her before making any plans.

Info & inquiries:

• Name of the company: Adirondack Geckos
• Name of the owner(s): Kathy Henderson
• Location: Chichester, UK
• Local Pickup: Ask
• Shipping area: Ask
• Phone Number: Not provided
• Website
• Email

Leopard Gecko Breeders in Australia

If you’ve ever searched for leopard gecko breeders in Australia, you might have noticed that the search doesn’t yield many results. Or any! That is because breeding or owning leopard geckos, or any other non-native reptile, is prohibited in Australia.

While this may seem cruel to many herpers out there, there are good reasons for the decision. Australia’s ecosystems are completely unique and easily disrupted by non-native species. There have been many such cases on the continent, so it makes sense to prevent them.

But if you live in Australia, don’t get desperate. Aussie herp breeders exist, but they are limited to working with native species exclusively. Still, the limitation has become a sort of an advantage, because Australian breeders have developed some amazing morphs of native lizards.

Blue tongued skinks are known to be great pet lizards – docile, attractive and relatively easy to care for. And like those blue tongues weren’t enough, BT skinks now come in a variety of morphs. Check out these amazing blue tongues from Joe Ball of Brisbane:

Conclusion

I hope you have enjoyed our overview of the leopard gecko breeder scene in the Anglosphere, and that it will help you find the right leopard gecko breeder for you.

This list was made by carefully analyzing the available information on the breeders, and not from the first-hand trading experience. I encourage you to do your own research and ask around about the chosen breeder’s reputation before striking a deal.

Do you have a reputable breeder to add to our list? Please do so in the comments.

If you have any experience with the breeders on our list, good or bad, please drop a note, ideally by providing a bit more detail on the account beyond the simple “good” or “bad.” Sharing is caring!