Leopard Geckos - Pet Geckos

When it comes to having a pet in your home there are so many choices. I feel like we could break them down pretty simply between the obvious and most popular – dogs and cats and then the exotic or the small not-so-cuddly variety. Amongst these, there are dozens of options that you can explore. And this brings me to geckos! While they might not be the first pet choice that comes to mind, there are plenty of cool reasons to keep a gecko for a small exotic pet. So, why do geckos make excellent pets? There are many many reasons why people like geckos as pets. Read on to see if it makes sense for you! As you can see, there are plenty of reasons why you might want to consider keeping a gecko as a pet. Let’s examine these in more depth so you can think about whether they are right for you. Geckos Are Easy To Take Care Of There are several things you need to consider when beginning your journey of having your pet Gecko. As you read on you'll some things you do need to do to be successful. But know this! Once you have everything going, your daily or weekly maintenance of your pet gecko is fairly simple and easy to do. But first, you do need to create your new pet gecko's house, to begin with. Continue reading to see how this can be done fairly painlessly. back to top Gecko Houses Are Easy to Set Up and Get Going All pets will require some care. But are geckos easy to care for? Thankfully, the answer is a firm yes! The first thing your pet gecko needs is obviously a house! You'll need a terrarium for your new pet. When you choose which kind of gecko you want you will then need to research what that particular gecko's environment needs to be like. Geckos are from all around the world and each species is adapted to its environment. For example, the Leopard Gecko, being from Asia and the Mideast is used to a dry and more desert-like habitat. While the Crested Gecko is from the island of New Caledonia, near Australia, and enjoys a much more moist and tropical habitat there. This already may sound a little intimidating and daunting, but fear not! Once you know which species you want, just research information on setting up the terrarium correctly for that specific species. YouTube is a great resource for doing this. See the videos below for some examples of YouTubers that enjoy walking you through the setup process step by step. (these videos cover suggestions for a Leopard Gecko). https://youtu.be/NUbJEvnMBks https://youtu.be/7mXK13p16ew Some purchases you'll need to make along the way are: 1) A Light. This will help keep them at the right temperature. 2) You might also need to put in some other devices to control the temperature. For example, you might want to use an under-the-tank heater. The right temperature range will depend on the species that you choose. Next, you will need to make sure that the gecko feels comfortable. To do this, you will need to add a substrate. As well as what is commonly refered to as a "hide" – a place for them to hide and feel safe. Lastly room for your gecko to exercise and bask. But these are generalities. Really focus on researching what your specific gecko species needs and set up his or her new home appropriately. And while I mentioned using YouTube (and dedicated sites online), you can also talk to the store that sold you the gecko. They can often be a great resource. back to top Geckos are Inexpensive Before you purchase a pet, it’s important to make sure that you understand how much it will cost. Thankfully, the costs of owning a gecko are minimal. It shouldn’t cost much to purchase one. Leopard Geckos are some of the most popular species. You should be able to pick one up for between $30 to $50. Once you have the tank set up, it won’t take a lot of money to maintain. The food costs are minimal. Often, you will only need to feed them three or four times a week. Because of this, you should be able to keep your gecko happy and healthy on a relatively low budget. back to top Friendly Temperament When considering why geckos are good pets, it’s important to think about their temperament. When you first purchase them, it can take a while for them to get used to their new tank. Because of this, you might notice that they start to bump into the glass. This should stop after a few days. Once they are used to their surroundings geckos tend to be very docile. Though they don’t like to be handled too often. This can often be a stressful experience for them. However, they won’t act aggressively. It’s very rare for a gecko to bite a human. Because of this, they can be a safe pet for kids. There are many gecko configurations that you can explore. Some people prefer only one gecko. If you want two you can put a male and a female together. They will produce offspring! Alternatively, you can put two females together. If you want a larger group, you can put multiple females with one male. This replicates the groups that form naturally. However, you shouldn’t put more than one male into the tank. They can often fight to establish dominance and territory. back to top Geckos Live For a Long Time No parent wants to explain to their children that a beloved family pet has passed away. Thankfully, geckos will have a very long life. The lifespan will often depend on the type of species that you have purchased. It can also depend on the type of care it is receiving. Generally, though, a gecko will live for between 15 to 20 years when kept as a pet. Geckos Don’t Take up Much Space Geckos are the ideal pet for people who have a limited amount of space. Most geckos will grow to be between six to ten inches from their heads to their tail. Because of this, you will be able to store them in a moderately sized enclosure. Cleaning the Tank is Easy When purchasing a pet, you should think about how long you will need to spend cleaning up after them. The gecko shouldn’t give you any problems. The substrate should help absorb any excrement and reduce the odor. Because of this, you will only need to clean their enclosure once or twice a month. Also, you will only need to wash the gecko when it is very dirty. In some cases, you might need to wash them when they are shedding their skin. This will help you remove the old skin. Sometimes you might need to visit the vet to get them to assist with the shedding process. back to top There are Many Different Colored Geckos It’s important to pick a Gecko species that you will love. Thankfully, there are plenty of colors for you to choose from. You will be able to find something that is grey or brown. You can also find geckos that have bright yellow colors or have blue, orange, or red spots and markings. The choice is up to you. The multi-colored varieties are found amongst the leopard geckos and are referred to as morphs. If you aren’t sure that there is a morph in your favorite color, the pet store owner will be able to help you out. Some of the most common types of morphs and their color patterns are listed in the below table. This can make it easier for you to find the right one for you. Morph SpeciesMost Common ColorsNormal (Wild Type)This is a yellow gecko that will have black dots.High YellowThese will have more yellow coloring with fewer black dots than the wild type.BlizzardThis type is white or light purple. It will have dark eyes.Carrot TailThis is similar to the wild type. However, at least 15 percent of its tail will be orangeLavenderThis type has lavender or purple coloring. Often, they will lose this color as they get older. But even outside of the Leopard Gecko morphs there are some beautifully colored gecko species, such as the Day Gecko (pictured below). Geckos are Cute! Finally, one of the simplest reasons why geckos are good pets is because they are so cute! They always seem to be in a good mood. Just looking into their friendly faces is enough to boost anyone’s mood. For this reason, having a pet has been shown to boost mental health. For example, geckos can help you reduce your stress levels. They can also provide companionship and a sense of purpose. Final Thoughts There are plenty of reasons why geckos are good pets. We’ve looked at the wide array of colors you can choose from. We’ve also looked at how practical they are. They are inexpensive, the tank is easy to set-up, and you won’t need to spend a lot of time cleaning up after them. It is really very understandable why pet geckos are so popular and why so many people cherish their pet geckos. back to top