Should i buy a gecko? i have never had one before?

Question

I really like them and think they are pretty cool. I bought a tank and they items for it a while ago...i also read up on leopard geckos...i think that is the one i want. but i am nervous...i dont want to kill it? do you think i should get one and what are some tips for taking care of one?

Answer 1

Fat Tailed Geckos and Leopard Geckos are very similar.]

http://www.leopardgeckocare.net/

Answer 2

leopard geckos are fairly easy to care for and can live for a good while. this site tells you everything you need to bro you should do fine

http://www.thegeckospot.com/shortleocare...

Crested geckos are nice to dude, and they are just as easy to care for!

http://exoticpets.about.com/od/geckos/p/...

Answer 3

ok first i think it is very cool that u have already considered a leopard gecko. some tips that ive found helpful for caring for mine is:

1) clean the gage twice a moth about evry fifteen days or so

2) dont use sand (any kind) until they are full mature because they will eat the sand and become impacted which can lead up to death, use reptile carpet, paper towels, newspaper, tile, granite etc.

3) have three hides one just to have them sleep in, the next have artificial moss and keep i damp to max the humidity then lastly a basking hide.

4) have  three bowls one for calcium powder, the next for meal worms make sure its big enough to where the mealworms cant escape but ur leo can get them. then finally the third for water; make sure that it is about 1inch to 1 1/2 inches deep, replace daily.

buy a heat pad for under the tank so at night it is still warm. have a UVA light on from the entire day time (just twelve hours) um i cant think of anything else so if u have any questions feel free th email me at anytime.

Answer 4

Do some looking online for easy-to-care-for geckos, especially ones that will just eat crickets. Usually there are some that are listed as "good for beginners". Also, look on some gecko forums if you find any.  

Answer 5

How about you do some reaserch on how to take care of one. I want one as well, but I haven;t done any research on them. They aere cute lol

Answer 6

you have to realize what your getting into. one of my friends got one, wasted a ton of money on it and ended up HATING it... first off, i hope you like bugs and are comfortable with handling and housing crickets in your house....and i hope you like cricket sounds. theres no avoiding feeding your gecko crickets so if you dont like bugs (touching them, sounds, finding them when they escape, and they WILL escape) geckos probably arent the best choice for you. second, they dont like to be handled alot. so if you want a cuddly little pet look elsewhere. second are you ready to provide this animal with the level of care it needs through out its entire life? finding some one to take it off your hands if you get bored with it in the future is harder then you think...plus you will never get even CLOSE to the amount you paid for it. and do you have the money to keep it alive? do you know how much it will cost in crickets? energy to keep his lighting and heating going constantly? reptiles are a huge responsibilty that shouldnt be taken lightly..

Answer 7

They make excellent pets providing you give them proper care, heat, and nutrition.  MANY KUDDOS on doing research before you get the animal.  It shows responsibility, and bodes well for a happy owner, and a healthy pet.

You have a lot of research to do, so I'll post some links below to get you started, but please note my disclaimer.

When you select your new gecko; color isn't the most important thing.  Be sure the reptile has open eyes, is curious/active, and has a nice fat tail.

Basic Equipment:

-A reptile aquarium (minimum size for a baby is 10 gal., but it's VERY difficult to set up the warm and cool side in a small tank) - An adult Leo needs a minimum space of a 20 gal long reptile tank (these have more floor space than an aquarium);

-A good digital probe thermometer (strips thermometers can be inaccurate by up to 20 degrees);

-A UTH heat pad;

-A Rheostat to adjust the heat output of the pad and lights;

-A basking light;

-A basking perch;

-A hide;

-A moisture hide (you can easily made one);

-A shallow water bowl;

-Substrate if you decided on reptile carpet (make sure this has a very short nap so delicate toes aren't snagged, and you will need two pieces - one to use while the other is being washed and dried), or you can use plain brown wrapping paper; aged newspaper (at least a week), paper towels; or plain white paper (NEVER use sand or a loose substrate);

-Reptile vitamins (keep refrigerated)

-Calcium powder with D3 (Rep Cal is a good brand, & keep refrigerated);

-A small cricket keeper/mini-tank with a screen top to gut load his insects in 1-2 days before feeding them to him.

-Use of UVB light for nocturnal Leos is controversial, so you'll want to check into that before you make your decision (I use it for mine).  Be sure you're aware of MDB (Metabolic Bone Disease) and how to prevent it.  This article if for beardies, but it applies: http://www.dachiu.com/care/abeard.html

It can seem overwhelming, when you first start out, but it's really not.  You just have a few things to learn, to be sure you're providing the proper care and habitat, which isn't difficult at all, once you study up before you begin.

As with any pet, I always recommend that you take it to the vet to have it checked for general health, disease, and parasites.  This way, if there IS anything wrong, you can return the animal for a refund while the guarantee is in effect (I never recommend doing an exchange.  If that animal was sick; the rest are likely to be too).  If you don't know of a qualified exotics/reptile vet in your area, you can Google: “Herpetological Society” –OR- click http://www.herpvetconnection.com/  for the one closest to you.

If you'd like a basic gut loading recipe, or you have more questions, you can shoot me an email to [e-mail] and type GUT LOADING on the subject line.

An informed owner is a happy one who has a healthy and content pet.

Most of all enjoy your new pet!

I hope this has been helpful.

Answer 8

I live in Hawaii, and we have geckos all over. Mostly in our homes crawling in the house. For me it think they are pretty neat creatures. I know that they like bananas all mushed up...and out a small bowl of water. In my house I will have a small bottled soda and the gecko licks the water off it. Eventually if you get one as a pet, they arent expensive...so it wil be woth it if you get one