Why are geckos so popular?
- Versatility. A Crested Gecko can be a beautiful conversation piece in a highly decorated vivarium or he can be the favorite family pet in a much simpler enclosure. They come in many colors and can live alone or in female groups.
- Few Allergens. Few people are allergic to geckos. They do not have fur or produce other common irritants that bother humans. They do shed but they have been referred to as 'ninja shedders' because they do it in the middle of the night and do not leave any evidence behind.
- Goofy, friendly, personalities. Geckos are fun to watch. They are nocturnal so will not be as active during the day but in the evening they come out to play!
- Low maintenance. Geckos live on a prepared powered diet call Repashy Crested Gecko Diet. It is mixed with water and fed to the gecko every other day. Provide a cup of water and mist them in the evening and you are done. They won't bite the mailman and you don't have to walk them or listen to them meow all night because they don't like their food. No stinky litter boxes either.
- They don't feel like reptiles. Something that you can't convey on a website is the texture of a gecko. They feel like cool velvet or suede to the touch. People just like to hold them for the unique tactile experience.
- Low ability to cause damage with a bite. Crested geckos are generally very patient and gentle and will not bite unless stressed. If they do get stressed they might let you know about it with a nip. That nip is usually startling to the person on the receiving end but very rarely painful. Crested geckos just don't have the teeth or jaw power to create a truly painful bite.
- Little noise. Geckos generally do not make a lot of noise. They are capable of a low chirping noise but rarely use it. The most noise they make is the 'plop!' from jumping around their enclosure.
- Little mess. They do not kick shavings out of their enclosure, get into your food, spray the walls, throw up on your carpet, or claw the drapes.
- Small size. Unlike many reptiles these little guys actually stay little. They max out at 65 grams and many never get larger than 35 grams. Their body averages about 4 inches as does their tail. One gecko lives just fine in a 12x12x8 Exo Terra enclosure, making them perfect for apartments or other tight spaces.
Wow! They sound perfect! What's the catch?
It is the same catch you would have for any pet. You need to read a little about their care and habits, follow the recommendations for feeding and caring for them, be willing to take them to a vet if there is an issue (rare if you are feeding them and misting them properly), and not handle them roughly or abusively. If you choose to handle your gecko and not just watch it then you will need to give it a period of time to warm up to you. 5 min a day to start with progressively longer handling times. They DO jump so hand-walking them to get rid of their startle reflex when they first come out of the cage is a must. You also need to spot clean their cages when you feed them and then more thoroughly weekly-monthly depending on the size of the enclosure and what you have chosen for a substrate.
Sound good to you? Ready to learn more? Go to the links for History or Care. Or go to the Available page and see what we have for sale.
Well, there is one more little catch. They are addictive. Once you have one you will want more!
Thank you for visiting and learning more about Crested Geckos.
~Red Sky Geckos
| rsgcaresheet.pdf |