Best Pet Gecko
The best pet gecko Geckos are the ones you choose ultimately. They make good pets are smart and docile and have pleasant personalities. They are also hardy and easy to maintain.
There are over 1,600 different species of geckos but the ones that are most often kept as pets are usually under a foot long and have lifespans between 10 and 20 years.
Because of their long lifespan, gecko’s ownership must not be taken lightly. Also, and as we usually remark, if you want a pet gecko, it’s best to acquire a captive-bred one from a reputable breeder.
If you take in a wild-caught gecko you won’t know what diseases or ailments it may be carrying. Also, and depending upon where you live in, it might be illegal to take reptiles from the wild.
Check out this reptile laws guide for more on that.
This is our top 5 list of best pet geckos:
1. Leopard geckos (Eublepharis macularius)
Lifespan: 10-20 years
Adult size: 7-10 inches
Personality: Docile and easily tamed
Care: Controlled heating
Price: Pure Leopard geckos are usually $20 to $40, while morphs can fetch prices well over $100, depending upon the pattern (or lack thereof).
They are a crepuscular species naturally found in burrows around the dry areas of Pakistan.
They are most active between dusk and dawn but in captivity, they are known to come out during the day.
Unlike other geckos, the leopard gecko doesn’t have sticky hands, so he can’t climb walls and other vertical surfaces like the many of his relatives.
How do Leopard geckos look?
Leopard geckos come in a variety of colors even if they are commonly yellow, white, and spotted with black dots.
Hatchlings start more striped and gradually change to the spotted appearance.
There are several morphs, which include almost every color of the rainbow.
Leopard geckos are one of only a few gecko species that have distinct outer ears and eyelids.
More about the Leopard Gecko
- Leopard gecko care guide
- Different Leopard Gecko Morphs
- What Makes A Great Leopard Gecko Setup
- The Best Food For Leopard Geckos
- Leopard Gecko Breeding Guide
2. African Fat-Tailed geckos (Hemitheconyx caudicinctus)
Lifespan: 10-20 years
Adult size: 7-10 inches
Personality: Docile and easily tamed
Care: Controlled heating
Price: very variable, depending on the morph$ 100-800 and over.
African fat-tailed geckos are nocturnal ground-dwelling lizards that originate from desert areas in West Africa.
They are popular pets because of their docile nature and their openness for being handled.
They are an interesting alternative for people considering a leopard gecko but looking for something a little less common.
They are are a little less active than leopard geckos but they make up for their lack of activity with intelligence and adorable features.
Fat-tailed Geckos are very similar in shape to leopard geckos but normally have slightly larger eyes, a slightly shorter snout, and a larger tail.
Their care is very similar to leopard geckos but with this species, it is better to provide a moss box or slightly humid all of the time.
How do African Fat-tailed geckos look?
Their normal coloring consists of pale tan or brown background that is accented by bold brown and tan stripes, with some also displaying a thin white stripe along their back.
Like Leopard geckos, they have eyelids, which help keep their eyes clean in their dusty natural environment.
More about African Fat-Tailed Geckos
3. Crested geckos (Correlophus ciliatus)
Lifespan: 10-20 years
Adult size: 5-8 inches
Personality: Will tolerate gentle handling; rough handling will stress them and may cause them to drop their tail, which will not grow back. In fact, in nature, crested geckos will usually lose their tails and end up with a tiny pointed tail nub. Baby crested geckos tend to be flighty and can be injured in the course of handling. For this reason, you should wait until they are at least 3 inches SVL before handling.
Care: No special lighting or heating, do like foliage to climb, very sensitive to high temperatures. Misting will become a part of the daily care routine because these geckos rely on humidity to smell their food and drink off of leaves and terrarium walls.
Price: $50-$300
Crested geckos were thought to be extinct until 1994 when several relatively large, thriving populations were found on the islands of New Caledonia (a group of islands between Fiji and Australia).
One cool thing about them is that rhey remain quite small.
Since crested geckos are primarily tree dwellers, they make outstanding displays in naturalistic vivariums.
How do Crested geckos look?
Crested geckos have many naturally-occurring color groups, including grey, brown, red, orange, and yellow of various shades. They have three color morphs in the wild, which include pattern-less, white-fringed, and tiger. Breeders of the species have achieved many other patterns such as the extreme harlequin pattern.
Crested geckos have two rows of spines that run from the sides of their wedge-shaped head to the base of their tail.
One difference here is that they do not have eyelids and so they use their long tongues to moisten their eyes and remove debris.
As Leopard and African Fat-tailed geckos, Crested geckos have eyelashes and are also known as “Eyelash geckos”. Their scientific name refers to eyelashes also: ciliatus, is Latin from cilia (“fringe” or “eyelashes”).
They possess a semi-prehensile tail which they use to assist in climbing.
More About Crested Geckos
4. Gargoyle Geckos (Rhacodactylus auriculatus)
Lifespan: 10-20 years
Adult size: 7 to 9 inches
Personality: Will tolerate gentle handling
Care: no special lighting or heating, do like foliage to climb
Price: $ 200 to 1000
As their name suggest, they have an intriguing look.
Also known as New Caledonian bumpy geckos, Gargoyle geckos are a species of gecko found only on the southern end of the island of New Caledonia. Its habitat is currently threatened by deforestation on the island.
Gargoyle geckos are a good alternative to Crested geckos; they are very similar in care and temperament with both species hailing from New Caledonia but the gargoyle gecko tends to be a little less skittish and generally more tolerating of attention.
Gargoyle geckos are crepuscular and arboreal and, as Crested geckos make outstanding displays in naturalistic vivariums.
How do Gargoyle geckos look?
They are commonly found in shades of grey and brown but individuals have been bred to include bright yellows, oranges, reds, and even pale pinks.
As Crested geckos, they possess a semi-prehensile tail which they use to assist in climbing, but unless Crested geckos, the tail on Gargoyle geckos will regenerate if it drops off.
More About Gargoyle Geckos
5. Giant Day Geckos (Phelsuma grandis)
Lifespan: 10-20 years
Adult size: 12 in (30 cm)
Personality: with patience and an experienced hand they can tame out very nicely
Care: controlled heating, like foliage to climb, as they are diurnal, UV light is recommended
Price: vary depending on age and color quality but range from $45 to $250. A new or rare color morph can cost considerably more
Giant day geckos are an iconic species for their bright colors and great personality.
They are native to areas of tropical and subtropical forests in northern Madagascar but have been introduced to several other subtropical locations outside their range.
Due to their large size, they are commonly referred to as the Madagascar giant day gecko,
They are diurnal and arboreal, and because of this, they look great in naturalistic vivariums.
They are quicker than the other arboreal geckos on our list and are known for being very good at escaping their enclosures.
How do Giant Day geckos look?
They are normally bright green with shades of blue and yellow throughout.
They have bright orange or red markings on the face and along the spine and normally have a beige or white belly.
Conclusion
Geckos are popular pets cause they are extremely smart, docile, have a gorgeous evocative dinosaur look, come in great colours, and easy to care for.
Now that you’ve seen the above 5 wonderful choices, are you thinking about becoming a gecko owner? Just bear in mind that geckos are a long term commitment because of their long lifespans!
Also, and even if geckos are not very care demanding, it’s always a good idea to get yourself ready before you bring home your new pet. So, do your homework, check your dream gecko requirements, arrange a nice set-up, and choose your gecko from a reputable breeder.
Do you already have pet gecko?
If you already have a pet gecko you’ll already know what fantastic pets they are. Please feel free to leave a comment below and share your experiences.
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