A tub sized to the gecko, not to the cupboard
A leopard gecko moved at short notice travels best in a tub barely larger than it needs, because this ground-dwelling gecko braces itself in tight spaces and slides around in big ones. Line a small ventilated tub with paper towel, add one low flat hide the gecko can crawl under and touch on all sides, and close a lid that clips rather than rests. Lift the gecko by scooping under its belly with a cupped hand, letting it walk onto your palm; never pick a leopard gecko up by the tail, which is designed to come away in a predator's grip. Keep handling brief and low, over the open tub, so a wriggle ends in a short drop onto paper towel.
Belly warmth and the dangers of a hot car
A leopard gecko digests and stays active with warmth from below, so its tub should sit somewhere mildly warm and steady for the journey. In most cars the cabin temperature passengers find comfortable is enough for a few hours. For a long or cold drive, rest one end of the tub on a towel over a hand warmer, so warmth seeps up through the floor at one end only and the gecko can choose its spot. The greater danger is heat: a small tub in a sunlit seat or a closed parked car climbs past safe temperatures quickly, and a leopard gecko shows it by lying splayed and gaping. Shade the tub, crack the routine of checking it at every stop, and never set it on a dashboard.
The short grab list from a glass tank
Empty a leopard gecko's tank in this order: the gecko, its water dish or a bottle cap substitute, a spare piece of paper towel, and a note of its routine. Photograph the tank layout, especially which hide sits over the warm end, because a leopard gecko recognises its moist hide and warm hide by position as much as by shape. If the gecko is mid-shed, write that on the tub; a temporary carer who knows may add a damp corner instead of panicking at pale skin. Take any live food only if it is already sealed and portable, since a gecko with a healthy fat tail misses several days of feeding without losing condition. Leave the loose substrate, heavy slate, and glass behind without regret.
Temporary quarters that respect the warm end
Rebuild a leopard gecko's world in miniature wherever you land: its tub gains a warm hide over a safe gentle heat source if one is available, a second hide at the cool end, and a shallow dish of clean water. Offer food only once the gecko is warm and has explored; a cold or stressed gecko that eats may bring the meal back up. Dusting and supplement routines can pause for a short displacement without consequence, so do not improvise substitutes. Watch the tail over the coming week: a plump tail holding its thickness means the gecko is weathering the disruption, while rapid thinning, stuck shed on the toes, or a gecko that stops moving between hides deserves an exotics veterinarian's eyes.
Small gecko, easy to lose track of on paper
In a shelter queue or a borrowed spare room, a leopard gecko in an unmarked tub is anonymous within the hour. Marker its name on the lid, and keep a photo of its spot pattern, which is as individual as a fingerprint, with your own contact details. That pairing is what lets a carer return the right gecko and lets staff reach you if the tub must be moved again. KinsLe's Pet Pass keeps those two halves together for your leopard gecko, its verified identity and your contact details on a single card you can show at every stop of the evacuation.