Caring For Your Gecko

Sep 14
08:00

2011

Blake Fields

Blake Fields

  • Share this article on Facebook
  • Share this article on Twitter
  • Share this article on Linkedin

Geckos are use to living in very warm climates. In order to keep a Gecko for a very long time you must make sure to feed it a healthy diet, keep its living quarters temperature regulated, and giving it the care that it needs.

mediaimage
Geckos are a common lizard that people choose for a house pet. Fascinating creatures,Caring For Your Gecko Articles most geckos have footpads that give grip to smooth surfaces. They are colorful and the different species have various coloration patterns and hues. Females do not need a male to reproduce, but their offspring lack strong genes. Still, a female may have babies when she has been alone in captivity or out in the wilds far from any male of her species. People keep geckos because they like reptiles and their care is simple, but they must protect them from other pets in the home and be sure to give the geckos what they need for optimum health so they will live a normal lifespan.

Amazing Creatures Geckos' native homes are in warm, tropical regions. Another interesting capability their suction footpads give them is that they can be completely at rest hanging upside down from their feet. Then, researchers at Lund University found that geckos seem to have the ability to distinguish colors at night when it is dark. Usually, humans are nearly colorblind when it is dark. Additionally, geckos do not have eyelids. They do have a clear membrane cover over their eyes that they can lick to keep clean. Gecko Care & Housing Geckos make great pets and do not take up much space, so they are perfect for apartments. Their tank should be at least 12 inches by 24 inches. Still, a much larger tank is not needed. They do need to keep warm. A heat lamp and thermometer can help you regulate to keep between the upper 70s to the upper 80 degrees F. Some owners prefer a specialized gecko tank with heat and other elements geckos need built into them. On a personal note, a friend of mine thought his Gecko was too hot. He purchased a NT Ice machine, and kept it open so the Gecko could crawl in when he was too hot. The Gecko wouldn’t go anywhere near it, and the machine dropped the temperature of the cage by 15 degrees. If it wasn’t for me realizing his mistake for him, the Gecko would have died. For food, most pet stores carry manufactured gecko feed, or they can order it for you. Geckos also eat crickets, roaches, mosquitoes and most of them like honey and sweet fruits. Other Animals in the Home Often gecko owners also have other pets. Care should be taken to keep geckos safe from other pets. Some birds and many cats and dogs will eat lizards. Tops of the gecko tank should be securely fastened against any cat intrusion. Part of puppy training should be to ignore the gecko. Most owners who understand dog obedience can so familiarize dogs to the presence of the gecko in the tank that the dog will not think of it as prey or even be interested in it. Puppy training takes patience, but most dogs can learn to pay no attention to the gecko. Fascinating Pets Very interesting pets, geckos do not need much space and only minimal care. Of course, any owner should understand the particular care and food to feed their gecko. Proper care will give them a long healthy life even in family homes with other pets present. Owners who understand their animals and effective methods of dog obedience can keep their geckos safe. Children and adults enjoy keeping geckos as pets.