Geckos As Pets

While some look upon reptiles with disdain, some are thoroughly thrilled by the idea of owning one. The concept of keeping reptiles as pets has not emerged recently and is quite common these days. The docility and amenability of a gecko makes them wonderful choices when it comes to reptile pets. In fact, in some regions of the world, geckos are commonly seen on walls of houses. So, they get their pet for free! Geckos as pets are perfect for kids, as these small lizards, coming in a variety of mesmerizing shades do not demand professionals to care for them and live comfortably in tanks provided. Children learn what responsibility means and enjoy taking care of their harmless, bright and colorful reptile friend.

Keeping Geckos As Pets

However, since there are several species of geckos to choose from, choosing one from the list can prove a daunting task. Let's have a look at some types of geckos best, suitable as pet geckos.

Leopard Geckos

The most popular ones are the leopard geckos. These geckos get their name from their pale yellow to white color bodies with lovely black spots. Leopard geckos require less care and can be tamed easily. They rarely bite (only if provoked), can be domesticated with the slightest ease and carry no feather or fur allergens. The gentle disposition of leopard geckos elevates their ranks on the popularity charts and makes them one of the favorite geckos for kids, even as little at five and six! Moreover, your tiny tots will simply love watching these lizards stalk and snap up crickets for their meal.

A 15-20 gallon tank is perfect to keep 2 pet geckos, however, keeping more than one male gecko in a tank is a terrible idea. Keeping a male and female gecko together is only advisable if you are prepared to take care of the babies that follow! Moreover, leopard geckos have a life span of approximately 20 years, so before you plan to get one, think about the responsibility you are undertaking.

Day Geckos

Day geckos are perfect viewable pets than interactive ones, as their delicate skin ruptures while handling or touching them. People who desire to hold and cuddle their lizards should not go in for this one, however, people who wish to keep a pet lizard in the tank and watch its antics, day geckos are wonderful! Even in this day gecko category, there is a variety to choose from. The popular ones are the golden dust day gecko, giant day gecko and lined gecko. Irrespective of the type of day gecko you choose, the kind of care will remain the same.

Crested Geckos

These days crested geckos are gaining points on the 'gecko as pets', popularity chart and are known to be suitable for beginners. The advantage of getting a crested gecko over a day gecko is the fact that these small lizards can tolerate frequent handling. In fact some of these crested geckos are known to love sitting on their owners shoulders. However, some of the crested geckos prefer jumping from one surface to another. So, while choosing a crested gecko check with the pet store owner regarding the personality of the gecko.

Tokay Geckos

Though kept by some as pets due to their attractiveness, these Tokay geckos are not suitable to be kept as pets. Their aggressive temperament makes them difficult to handle, even by experienced owners. There are quite a few Tokay gecko owners who claim to have been able to tame their geckos, however, if you don't want to pull your hair out, stick to any of the above geckos.

Keeping geckos as pets can be quite an intriguing and exciting experience for you and your kids. Taking care of these reptiles enables us to appreciate the creatures with whom we share our planet. However, before heading to the pet store and getting your own pet gecko, you need to carry out thorough research on the type of gecko you want, its daily diet, health and environmental requirements. Ignorance conducing to irrevocable circumstances is not something anybody hopes to encounter!