Geckos are small lizards that make interesting and relatively easy-to-care-for pets. Many people wonder if geckos are truly a low maintenance pet. While geckos do have modest care requirements compared to dogs, cats, or other more traditional pets, they do still require proper habitat setup and routine care. By understanding geckos’ needs for food, housing, temperature, and handling, you can determine if a gecko is the right low maintenance pet for you.
Gecko Care Overview
Here is a quick overview of the basic care needs for pet geckos:
- Enclosure – 10-20 gallon tank or plastic terrarium with proper lighting and substrate
- Temperature – Warm side of tank kept between 85-90°F and cool side kept between 70-75°F
- Food – Live insects like crickets, mealworms, etc. Calcium and vitamin supplements needed.
- Water – Provide shallow water dish, mist tank daily
- Handling – Gentle handling for 10-15 minutes a few times per week
- Tank Cleaning – Spot clean droppings daily, full clean 1-2 times per month
While geckos are relatively simple pets, they do require daily attention to thrive. Their small size can make them seem low maintenance, but their specific care needs are important to understand before deciding if a gecko is the right pet for you.
Gecko Housing Requirements
Creating the proper habitat is essential for any gecko. Here are some key factors to consider for gecko housing:
- Tank size – 10 gallon tank minimum for one gecko. 20 gallons for 2-3 geckos.
- Substrate – Paper towels, reptile carpet, slate, or coconut fiber substrates recommended.
- Hides – A minimum of 2 hides, one on the warm side and one on the cool side.
- Plants – Live or artificial plants help provide security and enrichment.
- Climbing decor – Branches, logs, and rocks allow for climbing and basking.
- Water dish – Provide a shallow water dish big enough for soaking.
- Lighting – Under tank heater for warm side, overhead UVB bulb optional.
The proper tank setup helps mimic the gecko’s natural environment and allow it to carry out natural behaviors. While a simple 10 gallon tank may seem low maintenance, improper housing can stress geckos and lead to health issues.
Gecko Heating and Lighting Needs
Geckos are cold-blooded reptiles so regulating their temperature properly is critical. Here are the heating and lighting requirements geckos need:
- Warm side temperature – 85-90°F maintained with under tank heater or ceramic heat emitter.
- Cool side temperature – 70-75°F ambient room temperature side.
- Day/night cycle – 10-12 hours of light per day provided by overhead lighting.
- UVB lighting – Optional for added health benefits but not critical.
- Thermometers – Temperature gauges needed on both cool and warm sides.
A proper temperature gradient allows geckos to self-regulate their body temperature throughout the day. Proper lighting also supports natural behaviors. Providing the right amount of heat and light for geckos requires some daily monitoring and maintenance.
Gecko Feeding and Water Requirements
Geckos are carnivores so feeding them the proper diet is important. Here are the dietary requirements for pet geckos:
- Insects – Crickets, mealworms, roaches. Gut loaded with healthy diet.
- vitamin supplements – Calcium and D3 needed 2-3 times weekly.
- Food amount – Juveniles: 2-3 feedings per day. Adults: Every other day to every 3 days.
- Varied diet – Rotate feeder insects for balanced nutrition.
- Water – Provide fresh water dish. Mist tank daily.
Feeder insects need to be gut loaded before being fed to geckos. This extra step ensures the feeders provide proper nutrition. Mealworms and crickets also need to be fed and cleaned regularly. Monitoring humidity and providing fresh water are ongoing requirements.
Gecko Handling and Socialization
Geckos tend to be quite docile and tolerate regular handling well. Here are some tips for proper gecko handling and interaction:
- Frequency – Handle gently for 10-15 minutes a few times weekly.
- Support – Support gecko’s entire body, do not suspend by the tail.
- Restraint – Minimal restraint, allow gecko to wander on your hands.
- Dropping – Above a bed or soft surface. Geckos can drop their tails if startled.
- Sanitation – Wash hands before and after. Avoid lotions, perfumes.
- Shedding – Avoid handling when gecko is shedding skin.
Regular handling helps socialize geckos to human contact. It is also critical for monitoring your gecko’s health and well-being. Handling does require care and gentleness, especially for young geckos.
Gecko Tank Cleaning and Maintenance
While geckos produce only small amounts of waste, their tanks still require regular cleaning. Here is what’s needed in terms of gecko tank maintenance:
- Spot clean daily – Remove urates, droppings, and uneaten food daily.
- Substrate change – Replace substrate paper towels every 2-4 weeks.
- Deep clean monthly – Disinfect and scrub decor/surfaces monthly.
- Wipe glass – Clean glass to remove nose/body prints weekly.
- Clean water dish – Replace water 2-3 times per week.
- Trim plants – Prune live plants when overgrown.
In addition to daily spot cleaning, a full tank disinfection is needed at least once each month. Proper cleaning requires time set aside consistently each week.
Are Geckos Social Animals?
In the wild, most species of geckos are solitary animals and do not live in social groups. However, some social interactions do occur:
- Mating/reproducing – Males engage females during breeding season.
- Territorial – Some disputes may occur over territories and resources.
- Communal nesting – Some species nest in groups during breeding.
- Juveniles – Young may be temporarily social around hatching.
Pet geckos are usually housed alone as they do not need companionship from other geckos. Some keepers do house certain species like crested geckos together successfully. But mixing males and females together should be avoided in general.
Common Health Problems
When properly cared for, geckos tend to remain quite healthy. But they can develop some common health issues to look out for:
| Health Issue | Causes | Treatment |
|---|---|---|
| Metabolic Bone Disease | Calcium/vitamin deficiency, lack of UVB light | Increase calcium/vitamin supplements, provide UV light |
| Shedding issues | Low humidity, lack of rough surfaces | Provide humidity hide, mist more, add rough decor |
| Tail loss | Stress, improper handling, fighting injury | Separate geckos, improve handling technique |
| Parasites | Unsanitary conditions, contaminated feeders | Clean enclosure, treat with anti-parasitic medication |
With close monitoring and prompt veterinary care as needed, most health issues can be successfully managed. Preventative care through proper diet, housing, and handling is key.
Gecko Lifespan
With proper care, geckos generally live quite long lives compared to other reptiles. Here are the average lifespans for popular pet gecko species:
| Gecko Species | Average Lifespan |
|---|---|
| Leopard Gecko | 6-10 years |
| Crested Gecko | 15-20 years |
| African Fat-Tailed Gecko | 10-15 years |
| Gargoyle Gecko | 15-20 years |
| Green Anole | 5-6 years |
With proper care, most geckos may live over 10 years. Lifespans over 20 years are not uncommon for some species. Their long lives require an extended commitment as pets.
Costs of Gecko Care
Gecko care does have associated costs for housing, food, and medical care. Here are typical costs for a leopard gecko:
| Item | Initial Cost | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 20 gallon tank | $50 | – |
| Under tank heater | $25 | – |
| Temperature/lighting | $40 | $10 |
| Hides and decor | $20 | – |
| Food and supplements | – | $50 |
| Vet care/checkups | – | $100 |
| Total | $135 | $160 |
The initial habitat setup ranges from $100-$200 typically. Ongoing costs for food and veterinary care average $160-200 per year. Annual costs are relatively low but the initial investment is more significant.
Are Geckos Nocturnal? Activity Cycle
Most species of geckos are nocturnal, meaning they are most active at night. Here are some key points about their activity cycle:
- Nocturnal – Active at night, sleep during the day.
- Crepuscular – Some activity at dawn and dusk.
- Diurnal – A few species are active during the day.
- Temperature-dependent – More active at optimal temperatures.
- Hunting – Feed on insects and invertebrates at night.
- Routine – Tend to follow predictable daily rhythms.
Understanding geckos are nocturnal allows you to interact with them at the right times during their active periods. Adjusting the tank’s light/dark cycle can help match their natural rhythms.
Are Geckos Affectionate? Handling and Bonding
Geckos are quite docile reptiles but they do not show affection towards humans the way a dog or cat might. Here is how geckos interact with their owners:
- Docile nature – Tolerates human handling well.
- Interaction – Will explore surroundings and investigate hands.
- Food response – Associates humans with feeding.
- Handling – Allows regular gentle handling without protest.
- No cuddling – Does not seek physical affection or bonding.
- Captive bred – Babies human-imprinted more easily.
While geckos do not show affection, they become quite comfortable being handled regularly. Babies that are captive bred also adapt more easily to interaction with their human caretakers over time through routine handling.
Good Beginner Gecko Species
Some gecko species are better suited for beginners than others. Here are good options for first-time gecko owners:
| Gecko | Temperament | Care Level |
|---|---|---|
| Leopard Gecko | Docile, hardy | Beginner |
| Crested Gecko | Easygoing, long-lived | Beginner |
| African Fat-Tailed Gecko | Docile, manageable size | Beginner |
Leopard, crested, and fat-tailed geckos are all good choices for first-time owners. They are relatively hardy, have modest care needs, are long-lived, and have calm dispositions making them easy to handle.
Conclusion
While geckos have fairly simple care requirements compared to other exotic pets, they do still need proper housing, heating, food, handling, and tank maintenance. Their long lifespans also require an extended commitment. With their modest space requirements though, geckos can be a good “starter” reptile for responsible pet owners who are ready to provide daily care and learning about their needs and behaviors.
