The day may soon come when your child will come home with a “pet” of some sort shoved deep in his pockets. He will look up at you with his little eyes and say, “Can I keep it?” This may be the moment you will pray that it is not a rat or spider he has carried home with him in his pants. If your child is begging for a pet of the reptile form, why not suggest a lizard? As we all know, lizards come in many shapes and sizes, but today we will deal specifically with geckos. Here are some basic guidelines to help you in preparing and caring for your new gecko.
One of the first things you may want to take into consideration is a gecko’s lifespan. Geckos can live for up to twenty-five years, so acquiring a gecko is a pretty big decision. If this gecko will, indeed, be your child’s, it may be around from his elementary years up until he finally moves off to college, so you and your child must be committed for the duration. Fortunately, geckos do not grow to be very large, many only reaching up to eight inches long, so you will not need a particularly large habitat for it.
Before your gecko arrives, you will need to purchase a cage made specifically for a reptile or an aquarium that can hold ten gallons. However, if you plan on purchasing more than one gecko, you may need a larger aquarium. One important matter you will want to keep in mind is that two male geckos in the same habitat is not a particularly good idea, as males tend to become extremely territorial. Speak with a reputable pet store about any recommended aquarium lining, but most will say that lining your aquarium with old newspaper pages or sand is fine. Lining the aquarium with sand may sound odd at first, but consider that geckos are primarily desert animals. Being desert animals, geckos also need a warm habitat, so be sure to keep the habitat quite warm (anywhere from 85 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit). Inside your new gecko’s habitat, you may want to include a box or two for your gecko to sleep and hide in, as well as a few rocks or branches for your gecko to climb upon.
As for food, be sure to always have fresh water and food available for your new gecko. Again, be sure to speak with a reputable pet store, but most geckos can choose from a wide array of food including mealworms, fresh cricket and even baby mice. If you are unsure where to purchase these types of foods, you may want to speak to a representative from a local pet store that specializes in geckos, or you may want to research these food sources online.
When you finally bring your gecko home, you may not want to handle him too much. While geckos are not particularly afraid of being picked up, they do not always prefer it. Also, be gentle with a gecko’s tail, as it can break off if yanked on too hard. Before and after handling your gecko, you will want to be sure to sanitize your hands as geckos secrete salmonella.
