Geckos 411

Many kids love the idea of having a pet and to make it more exciting, an exotic pet. There are few pets as cool as a Gecko. Both girls and boys, find them to be fun and delightful pets. Why not? Geckos don’t have fur to clean up and they don’t need to be walked like a dog, there’s no kitty litter to clean and they smell better then most Turtles.
Do keep in mind, some Geckos do bark or chirp when distressed and may even bite. Research everything about the species you like before picking out a lifelong friendship with one.
Before jumping into the world of reptiles, there are a few things you should know about these cute, eye-licking pets,
Geckos lick their eyes to keep them moist and clean.
At first, you should pick out the perfect home for a Gecko, this is essential. Geckos like to climb, and the higher the tank the better, over a longer tank. Depending on each Gecko, a mesh or glass tank will also need to be decided, because most Geckos like a moist environment, over a dryer one. Glass is a safe choice. Geckos are great climbers and can scale up any surface, so you need to make sure that the lid you have fits very tightly. Houdini is a great name for a Gecko, so make sure that there are no openings to escape from. Even a large Gecko can escape from a small hole or crack.
Bedding is also important for a pet Gecko, soil and live plants are pretty to look at, but not the easiest to clean. Drainage of extra water can cause bugs and mold to grow in the Geckos new habitat. A good choice of bedding is wood bark or sand, it is simple to clean and economical, pet shops should carry any supplies needed for a caged Gecko.
Decorating the environment should have special detail to it, Geckos need a place to hide and climb, and bamboo gives them a wonderful playground and a place to make a nest. Some Geckos like to burry themselves too.
Live plants again are nice, but fake ones can do the job just as well, try hanging some plants from the top of the environment, for leaps and bounds by the Geckos and plenty of enjoyment to watch.
Feeding these newly found friends can seem easy, but it’s essential to know what each Gecko gets in its diet. Some like live food, like mealworms or crickets, others like fruits and vegetables, then there are some who like both. In the wild, Geckos eats lots of different foods and get vitamins and minerals that way. Geckos in captivity need supplements to help them stay happy and healthy. Again most pet shops carry what you need from cricket powder to liquid drops packed with vitamins to keep them healthy.
Water should always be made available to caged Geckos in a small bowl, yet most of these little critters drink water droplets off of leaves or the side of the habitat. So it is a must have to get a spray bottle, one with a fine mist works best, be sure to mist two or three times a day.
Light is very important for Geckos, to help them metabolize the calcium in their food. A good ultraviolet wavelength light best fits this need. Be careful where you place the light, setting it off to the side is often a good idea, this way the Gecko can go to one side for heating and the other to cool.
A little filtered sunlight from the sun is good too; just don’t let them get too hot in the glass tank.
The last part of having the perfect Gecko is picking out the perfect one that fits each household. Look into the size that the Gecko will grow, research temperature and humidity for each species, check out the temperament, because some are better for younger children and some are not.
There are many colorful Geckos out there, but don’t just go for the prettiest because some will change as they grow. Some Geckos will always be fearful of humans, others tend to calm down and become the perfect pet for any kid who has fallen in love with the idea, of having a Gecko for a pet.
Make this new friend a family project, by going to the library for books on Geckos with your parents, have an adult go online with you to see photos of Geckos and information about them, always have a plan in place just in case the Gecko gets sick. Call local veterinarians who deal with reptiles, speak with pet shop workers for information, make sure that the ones you talk to have owned a Gecko and has good background knowledge about them. The more you know before getting a Gecko, the better the friendship will be.
Good luck and best wishes, in the new and fascinating world of Geckos.