7 Gorgeous Geckos That Make Great Pets | Reptile Centre (2023)

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7 Gorgeous Geckos That Make Great Pets | Reptile Centre? ›

The leopard gecko is a popular choice for most beginner lizard owners due to their slow, docile attitude and simple, low-maintenance care needs. Leopard geckos come with a coat of dark spots, like a leopard cat.

The leopard gecko is a popular choice for most beginner lizard owners due to their slow, docile attitude and simple, low-maintenance care needs. Leopard geckos come with a coat of dark spots, like a leopard cat.

Leaf-Tailed Geckos are among the cutest lizards due to their giant eyes and interesting patterns. They have tiny, circular toes and tiny bodies.

Leopard geckos are easy to care for, making making them one of the best pet lizards for beginners and children over the age of 8. With an average length of 9 inches, leopard geckos are easy to handle and have a gentle disposition. They come in a multitude of colors, patterns and eye colors—even red.

Leopard geckos are known for their calm nature, which makes them easy to handle. Their small size, ranging from 7 to 10 inches long, adds to their manageability, and many will happily climb all over their owners.

Tokay geckos are generally aggressive and territorial, and can inflict a strong bite. Though common in the pet trade, the strong bite of the tokay gecko makes it ill-suited for inexperienced keepers.

Crested geckos have gentle dispositions that allow them to be handled, and they are hardy, making then a good choice for a first gecko. The crested gecko is an arboreal, nocturnal gecko with a wide body and large head.

Gargoyle Gecko

Gargoyle Geckos are a great pet for beginners. They are easy to care for, easy to feed and enjoy handling. Compared to most species on this list they quite enjoy frequent human interaction and occasional handling.

Crested Gecko

These geckos have become one of the most popular gecko pets currently in captivity. Their playful demeanor, and simple care requirements make them very accessible captive pet geckos.

What is the biggest gecko alive? ›

Leopard geckos are always a good choice for reptile beginners. They are easy to find at your local pet store or reptile show and come in an array of patterns and colors, referred to as different morphs.

An all-female species, the mourning gecko is parthenogenetic, meaning it can reproduce without males.

Do geckos like to be touched once they get used to you? Yes, they do. They are the few types of reptiles who like to be handled, but make sure to give it time before you can handle it, as it may be stressed out.

Study reveals way to overcome lizard's stickiness

But like any superhero, the reptiles have their kryptonite. A new study shows that soaked surfaces and wet feet cause them to lose their grip. The key to the gecko's sticking success lies in tiny hairlike structures, called setae, found on the base of its toes.

THE MONITOR LIZARD

And coming in at the most intelligent reptile on the earth is the Monitor Lizard. Monitor Lizards can grow to be over a metre long and weigh more than 10kg. Monitors belong to a family of carnivorous lizards called the Varanidae.

Tegus are one of the lizards that are most known for behaving like dogs. If you want a reptile that is doglike, tegus are one of the best bets, as long as you know what you are getting into with their particular quirks.

The two main essential oils to repel geckos are eucalyptus and peppermint. Geckos hate these scents so all you will need is an 8oz or 16oz spray bottle filled with water and 15 drops of your chosen essential oil.

The loud call of the Tokay Gecko is a sound that has startled many a sleeping backpacker in South-east Asia! Their explosive series of 'to-kay' croaks are especially loud at 3am perched on a bedroom wall a couple of metres from your head!

Leopard geckos sometimes scream to scare off predators. Screaming or shrieking is a vocalization leopard geckos use when they feel threatened or afraid. It is a high-pitched screeching sound that usually lasts for a few seconds.

What kind of gecko can swim? ›

The Asian house gecko can move across water at great speed by using a half-running, half-swimming motion.

Geckos tend to stay near porch lights or other light sources around your home while they wait for insects they eat, like moths and cockroaches. They can also be found around your home's exterior or in cracks and crevices in your home's structure – all the more reason to keep your foundation maintained.

Ideal temperatures Leopard Geckos range from 75-80°F on the cool side and 80-85°F on the warm side. Provide a 90-95°F basking area on the warm side.

The ideal daytime temperatures for leopard geckos are 75° to 85°F (24-29 °C), with up to up to 90°F (32 °C) under the heat lamp. The nighttime temperatures should never drop below 65°F (18°C). The ideal humidity is between 30-40%.

Geckos sleep under the cover of leaves, tree bark, and rocks. Geckos are not naturally predatory but are most likely to become the targets of larger creatures.

1. The Leopard Gecko. The leopard gecko, Eublepharis macularius, is the most common gecko kept as a pet. Native to the deserts of Pakistan and Northwest India, it is very hardy and easy to care for.

These giant-sized leopard geckos have two classes called Giant and Super Giant. Giant: Males reach 80-110 grams and females 60-90 grams by one year of age as typically seen in the heterozygous state.

Virgin Islands Dwarf Gecko

The Virgin Islands dwarf gecko is the smallest gecko species in the world, and they are also endangered species. The Virgin Islands dwarf geckos only grow to be around 18 mm, and they are small enough to comfortably sit on a dime.

1. Leopard Gecko. A leopard gecko is a hardy and peaceful pet that is ideal for beginners. These spotted geckos are quiet and easy to care for, making them ideal household pets.

Most iguanas, skinks, bearded dragons, salamanders, anoles, and geckos have this remarkable regenerative ability. There are some lizards however, that are not able to regenerate their tails such as monitors, chameleons, crested geckos, and marine iguanas.

Can you put two female geckos together? ›

Housing them together almost always results in them fighting or stressing each other to the point that one is injured, killed, or both are injured or killed. It is not a risk you want to take. Multiple Females Each gecko has its own personality. Some female geckos are okay with being housed with others, some are not.

Rainwater or Las Vegas Albinos were founded by Tim Rainwater in 1998. In comparison with the other two strains of albinos, Rainwater Albinos tend to have more pink coloration and be lighter overall. When they hatch, they tend to have yellow bodies with pink bands.

The geckos that would fall into the category of “rare geckos”, in my personal opinion, are: Strophurus ciliaris ciliaris, Strophurus taenicauda, Pachydactylus vanzylii, Pachydactylus rugosus, and Naultinus grayii. I'd say these are relatively uncommon in the hobby, some more so than others.

As a general rule, most geckos can survive without any intervention for one or two days. If you plan to be away for a weekend, it's probably safe to leave your gecko alone, though it's always a good idea to have someone available in case there's a household emergency such as a power outage that will impact the geckos.

Since geckos are naturally solitary and territorial creatures, they do not get lonely if placed alone in a cage or left for some time away from their keeper. They much prefer having their food and heat to themselves rather than sharing it with another gecko.

Remember that leopard geckos and other reptiles have a keen sense of hearing, as they are often desert creatures and are used to quiet environments.

Generally, reptiles do demonstrate basic emotions. According to Dr. Sharman Hoppes, clinical assistant professor at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, the main two are fear and aggression, but they may also demonstrate pleasure when stroked or when offered food.

Glass surfing or glass dancing is a sign that a gecko is distressed and wants to escape the uncomfortable situation. Cohabitation stress, mites in the tank, too much heat, a tank that is too small or even too dull can all trigger glass surfing.

In their homelands of Southeast Asia they usually bring good fortune. If a gecko falls onto your right shoulder, that's a good omen, but falling onto your left shoulder is bad.

Turtles, frogs, iguanas, snakes, geckos, horned toads, salamanders and chameleons are colorful, quiet and often kept as pets. These animals frequently carry bacteria called Salmonella that can cause serious illness in people.

What is the easiest gecko to keep as a pet? ›

1. Leopard Gecko. A leopard gecko is a hardy and peaceful pet that is ideal for beginners. These spotted geckos are quiet and easy to care for, making them ideal household pets.

Do geckos like to be touched once they get used to you? Yes, they do. They are the few types of reptiles who like to be handled, but make sure to give it time before you can handle it, as it may be stressed out.

Crested geckos live at room temperature and are nocturnal, so their set up is relatively easy and low-maintenance. They do not require any special heat lamp or light. Though they need moderate humidity, this can be accomplished by misting the tank once or twice a day.

Chinese Cave Geckos have become increasingly popular over the years and for good reason. These easy-to-handle geckos are not only very cool looking but also easy to care for. As nocturnal geckos, they do great without UVB and unlike most other reptiles Chinese cave geckos actually prefer cooler temperatures.

Tegus are one of the lizards that are most known for behaving like dogs. If you want a reptile that is doglike, tegus are one of the best bets, as long as you know what you are getting into with their particular quirks.

The arboreal and nocturnal New Caledonian gecko is the largest known gecko species, growing to lengths of about 14 inches and weighing 8 to 12 ounces. It is a vocal lizard that produces an array of sounds, including grumbles and growls.

Leopard geckos are excellent pets for kids. Leopard geckos are very popular with kids and adults for several reasons. They come in a variety of colors, are easy to handle, are not aggressive, have fairly simple habitat requirements, are clean, and can live up to 20 years as pets.

Most geese are friendly, and with personality galore, some individuals may bond with you much like a dog, follow you around, give you "gooseneck" hugs, and be very interested in what you're doing.