Geckos: The Animal Answer Guide

8. Geckos and Humans

96 Chapter 8 Geckos and Humans Do geckos make good pets? This depends on what one wants out of a pet. Geckos do not show affection to humans. Most gecko species do not like to be handled and may autotomize (or break off) the tail, bite, or defecate if they feel threatened or are treated roughly. Most are too small and delicate to be handled by small children, and those that are more robust are sometimes big enough to give a painful, though not dangerous, bite. In addition, most geckos do not like to be in the open, exposed to danger, and so prefer to hide in or under things and thus are not ideal pets to watch either. However, some geckos, most notably Leopard Geckos and Crested Geckos, are inexpensive and easy to care for and are reasonably tolerant of handling. For the right owner, someone who is committed to learning about and caring for the animal, geckos can be very rewarding to keep as pets. In addition to being beautiful, they have interesting behaviors.Their often slow and deliberate actions allow one to really appreciate their biology. Not all geckos are easy to keep, however, and gecko owners should be sure not to get in over their heads. Choosing a healthy, captive-bred gecko will maximize the owner’s enjoyment and the gecko’s quality of life and will not put a strain on wild populations. How do you take care of a pet gecko? There are many sources of information about keeping and breeding geckos in captivity, some treating the more commonly kept species in great detail. These should be consulted before anyone gets a gecko for a pet. To begin with, any new gecko should be inspected carefully to make sure that 97 Geckos and Humans it is healthy. If a new gecko is added to an enclosure already housing one or more geckos, it should be quarantined first. Keeping the gecko on its own in a very basic cage for at least a month will allow one to most easily spot the symptoms of some of the diseases to which geckos are prone. The right type of enclosure for the gecko must be provided. This does not mean that the terrarium must re-create the natural environment of the gecko, but it must meet certain requirements. First, it must be large enough to allow the animal to move around and to meet its needs. For terrestrial geckos, a large area of floor space is needed, whereas for climbers, a taller enclosure with three-dimensional space may be more appropriate. The enclosure should minimally allow space for one or more shelters or hiding places and a water dish (unless you will be misting (spraying water ) for the gecko to lick up, in addition to some open space to allow the gecko to move and explore (and be observed). In some species, particularly terrestrial ones, geckos will use a defacatorium, a set place where it will always go to deposit its waste. This is usually a spot along a wall of the enclosure.The terrarium should be large enough to accommodate this at some distance from shelters and water sources. The choice of substrate for the gecko is also important. It should be something nontoxic, easy to clean, and comfortable for the gecko to walk on. Either artificial surfaces or those that are similar to the animal’s natural substrate are appropriate. For climbing species, it is important that perches or surfaces of the correct Geckos can make excellent pets. Although they are neither affectionate nor obedient, some geckos, like Leopard Geckos (Eublepharis macularius) and a few others, are inexpensive, easy to care for, fascinating to watch, and can even tolerate gentle handling. Courtesy of Tony Gamble. 98 Geckos: The Animal Answer Guide size and shape are provided. Rock dwellers should have rocks to climb on and arboreal species should have bark or some sort of vegetation (artificial or natural). Geckos are easily stressed if they do not have places to hide and rest that are protected, so these are especially important. Either artificial plastic hiding places or ones made of bark, hollow branches, or rocks can be used. These should be left undisturbed as much as possible. If a water dish is used, it should be shallow to prevent accidental drowning. Another critical concern for keeping geckos is temperature. Ideally, geckos...