Keeping Pet Geckos
Geckos are low maintenance, tunnel-making pets that are fascinating (and cute)!
Quick Facts
- Female Size: 13-14cm
- Male Size: 11-12cm
- Life Span: up to 18 years in captivity
- Relatively low maintenance pets
Adopting a Pet Gecko
Species you can find at Pet City are:
- Smooth Knob-Tailed Gecko (Nephrurus levis levis),
- Thick-Tailed or Barking Gecko (Underwoodisaurus milli)
What you'll need:
Pet Care Tips
Smooth Knob-Tailed Geckos will tunnel. It is best if you can provide them with up to 4 inches (10cm) of sand. They will make elaborate burrows. Mist the cool end daily with water - this is where they will create their tunnels.
Both species require places to hide - branches - rocks and pieces of wood are all good ways to create areas that they can hide in.
They cannot climb glass but it is best to have a lid on your enclosure if only to stop something else from getting in.
Handling
We do not recommend that you handle your geckos. A lot of geckos never get used to being handled and it can really stress them.
Feeding
Smooth Knob-Tailed Geckos and Thick-Tailed (or Barking Geckos) eat crickets and woodies. It is best to feed them as many crickets as they will eat every second day.
You can supplement their diet with calcium powder - CalStron is recommended.
Geckos usually don't drink from a bowl so it is highly recommended to lightly spray the enclosure and furnishings once a day. It is also recommended to keep a small shallow water dish available at all times.
