Care Of Geckos

2 Pages 463 Words

Care Of Geckos

Leopard Geckos, Eublepharis macularis, are members of a family of lizards called Gekkonidae. They have become one of the most popular gecko pets in captivity, mainly due to their easy care, size (up to 10 inches long), color pattern, and form, in addition to their laid-back style and docile nature. They seldom bite, and even if they do, it doesn't amount to much. They tolerate a small to moderate amount of handling as adults. Their skin tears easily, though, so care should always be taken when handling your pets! Geckos (and most lizards in general) also have a built-in self defense mechanism - they have the ability to "drop" their tail (literally!) when threatened, and it will continue to move after snapping off. This is called autotomy. The tail will grow back, but never as pretty as it was in the beginning. They also grow back at an incredibly rapid rate. Care must be taken if this ever happens to your gecko, because the tail is where they store their fat reserves. Make sure your gecko eats well during the regeneration period.

Leopard Geckos range in the wild from eastern Iran, through southeastern Afghanistan, Pakistan, and into northwestern India. They inhabit deserts and arid grasslands, and often take shelter under rocks or in burrows to escape the heat of the day. While dry, these regions are not as parched as some deserts, and this climate will be discussed in the Housing section. They are nocturnal and at dusk they come out to hunt insects and other prey. Leopard Geckos remind me a LOT of cats! They actually "stalk" their prey like a cat, wag their tails just before they pounce, and their eyes look just like cat's eyes! When cared for properly, Leopard Geckos can live up to 20 years in captivity.

HOUSING
A 10 gallon aquarium will house juvenile or adult Leopard Geckos. If you are housing several together, make sure there is only one male per cage. Adult males can be very territorial, and will fight eac...