Lyla Lindsey
Geckos are a popular choice for reptile enthusiasts in Australia, as they are one of the easier reptiles to care for. There are about 140 native geckos in Australia, including the barking gecko, native to Western Australia, and the knob-tailed and house marbled geckos. Geckos can make good pets, but they typically do not like to be handled unnecessarily or cuddled, so they may not be the best choice for young children. They require a licence to own in Australia, and it is important to do your research before bringing one home.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 3-5 years (smaller geckos), 10+ years (larger geckos) |
| Average length | 10-13cm (most geckos), 4-5 inches (barking gecko) |
| Weight | 20-25 grams (barking gecko) |
| Minimum terrarium size | 30cm x 30cm (for one adult gecko), 60cm x 50cm x 50cm (for multiple geckos) |
| Temperature | Basking spot: 28-32˚C, Cool end: 18-24˚C |
| Handling | Moderate handling is tolerated, avoid grabbing by the tail |
| Diet | Insects (crickets, mealworms), calcium supplements |
| Water | Permanent water source, regular water changes required |
| Substrate | Absorbent, fine-grade reptile-safe desert sand or coconut fibre |
| Lighting | Night-specific bulb for observing at night |
| Housing | Natural look with live plants, rocks, and sand/gravel, hiding spots, climbing opportunities |
| Social behaviour | Groups are fine with only one male, multiple females can share an enclosure |
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What You'll Learn
- Housing: Provide a spacious and secure terrarium with plenty of hiding spots and climbing opportunities
- Temperature and Lighting: Maintain a basking spot between 28-32˚C and a cool end of 18-24˚C
- Feeding: Geckos love insects like crickets and mealworms. Dust live insects with calcium powder to boost nutritional value
- Handling: Geckos tolerate moderate handling but do not like to be handled unnecessarily. Always handle with care
- Healthcare: Geckos require a calcium and vitamin supplement in their diet. Incomplete shedding due to low humidity can lead to health issues
Housing: Provide a spacious and secure terrarium with plenty of hiding spots and climbing opportunities
Geckos are fascinating creatures and can make great pets, but they do have very specific housing requirements. The first thing to consider is the size of the enclosure. A spacious terrarium is essential, with a minimum surface area of 30 x 30 centimetres provided for each adult gecko. If you plan on keeping more than one gecko, you will need a larger enclosure—the minimum size for housing multiple geckos is 60 x 50 x 50 centimetres.
The terrarium should be well-ventilated with a secure, lockable door or lid to keep your gecko safe and prevent escape. It's also important to provide a variety of hiding spots and climbing opportunities within the enclosure. Geckos thrive when they have places to explore and hide, so include plenty of artificial plants, rocks, and ornaments. Geckos are social lizards, so several can coexist in a tank-style habitat, but it's important to note that only one male should be kept per enclosure, as housing multiple males together may lead to fighting.
The enclosure should have a natural look and feel, with a layer of substrate such as fine sand, and live plants, rocks, and sand or gravel. A water dish or running water feature is also essential, as geckos need a permanent water source for drinking and bathing. The terrarium should have a warm and cool side, with temperatures regulated using a thermostat and monitored daily with thermometers. The warm side should be maintained between 28-32°C, while the cool side should be kept between 18-24°C.
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Temperature and Lighting: Maintain a basking spot between 28-32˚C and a cool end of 18-24˚C
Geckos require a temperature gradient, with a basking spot and a cooler area. This can be achieved through the use of lighting and heating equipment, such as bulbs and lamps.
For most gecko species, the basking spot should be maintained at a temperature between 28-32˚C. This can be achieved with a thermal lamp, such as a 25w Zoo Med Repti Basking Spot Lamp, placed towards the top of the enclosure. The lamp should be hooked to a thermostat to ensure safety and prevent overheating. The basking spot can also be created with an incandescent bulb, which provides a low-intensity heat source. It is important to avoid the use of black/blue/red light bulbs, as these can interfere with the gecko's day/night rhythm.
The cool end of the enclosure should maintain a temperature of approximately 18-24˚C. This can be achieved by placing the enclosure in a cooler area of the room, or by using a temperature-controlled surface such as a heat mat. The cool area should be located at the bottom of the enclosure, allowing the gecko to retreat from the heat if needed.
It is essential to provide a regulated environment for geckos, as they are sensitive to temperature changes and cannot produce their own body heat. The temperature within the enclosure must be monitored daily with a quality digital thermometer to ensure the gecko's health and wellbeing.
In addition to temperature regulation, lighting is an important aspect of gecko care. Geckos do not require strong ultraviolet light (UV) like other reptiles, but a low-output (2.0) UV light can be used during the day. UVB lighting is recommended for all reptiles, including geckos, and can improve their health and quality of life. A UVB lamp should be placed above the terrarium mesh, with a UVI of 1.0-2.0 at the basking branch.
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Feeding: Geckos love insects like crickets and mealworms. Dust live insects with calcium powder to boost nutritional value
Geckos are insectivores, so their diet should consist primarily of insects. Crickets and mealworms are two insects that geckos particularly enjoy. Geckos in the wild tend to feed on insects attracted to light sources at dusk and dawn.
When feeding your pet gecko, it is important to ensure that the insects are not too large, as this may cause blockages. Additionally, it is recommended to dust the live insects with calcium powder or supplements to boost their nutritional value. Geckos require calcium and vitamin supplements as part of their diet. Insufficient calcium can lead to calcium deficiency, resulting in health complications such as metabolic bone disease (MBD). Geckos with MBD exhibit symptoms such as poor appetite, tremors, and painful limb deformities.
Hatchling geckos should be fed daily, while adult geckos only need to be fed three to four times a week. As geckos are nocturnal, they prefer to hunt and eat in the evening, so food should be provided in the late afternoon or at night. While feeding, especially during the summer, you can lightly mist your gecko's face with water, which they can lick and drink.
If you are considering a gecko as a pet, it is important to do your research and learn about their specific requirements. Geckos are social lizards that can thrive in captivity when provided with proper care, including appropriate housing, substrate, temperature, lighting, water, enrichment, feeding, handling, and healthcare.
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Handling: Geckos tolerate moderate handling but do not like to be handled unnecessarily. Always handle with care
Geckos are fascinating creatures and can make great pets, but it's important to handle them with care. While they will tolerate moderate handling, they generally do not like to be handled unnecessarily or cuddled, so they may not be the ideal pet for young children.
If you do need to handle your gecko, always do so with care. Geckos can drop their tails when they feel threatened, which is a defence mechanism. Losing a tail can make a gecko vulnerable to disease and infection until a new one grows back. The new tail may be a different shape and colour, and not as nice as the original. To avoid causing your gecko stress, slowly offer your hand, kept low with your palm up, before picking them up. Avoid reaching down from over their head to grab them, as they may perceive you as a predator.
It's also important to avoid grabbing your gecko by the tail. Instead, gently scoop them up from underneath, supporting their body weight. When placing your gecko back in their enclosure, do so slowly and carefully, ensuring they are on a stable surface.
If you are keeping a Barking Gecko, a species native to Western Australia, it is important to note that they are social lizards and can live together in a tank-style habitat. However, it is not advisable to house adult males together in the same enclosure, as they may fight. A single male can be kept with multiple females, and several females can share an enclosure.
Geckos are primarily nocturnal, hunting for food at night and generally less active during the day. They feed on insects, such as crickets and mealworms, and have a voracious appetite. Geckos require a calcium and vitamin supplement as part of their diet to prevent calcium deficiency and associated health complications.
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Healthcare: Geckos require a calcium and vitamin supplement in their diet. Incomplete shedding due to low humidity can lead to health issues
Healthcare for Geckos
Geckos require a calcium and vitamin supplement in their diet. Calcium is essential for healthy growth and bone development. A deficiency in calcium can lead to health complications. For instance, female geckos that are not getting enough calcium may lay eggs with severely under-calcified areas. Geckos that are laying eggs require extra calcium in their diet.
Vitamin D3 is also important as it helps geckos absorb calcium properly. However, too much vitamin D3 can be harmful, and too little can cause metabolic bone disease due to calcium deficiency. Geckos can get vitamin D3 from UVB exposure, but this can be hard to control in captivity. Therefore, it is recommended to dust feeder insects with a calcium and vitamin D3 supplement.
Incomplete shedding due to low humidity can lead to health issues in geckos. Geckos can have an "incomplete shed", where skin remains stuck on the eyes and limbs. This can lead to digit loss from infection. To prevent this, it is recommended to use a humid hide box, which provides a specific location in the enclosure with very high humidity levels.
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Frequently asked questions
Geckos require a spacious and secure terrarium with plenty of hiding spots and climbing opportunities. The terrarium should have a natural look and feel, with live plants, rocks, and sand or gravel. It should also be well-ventilated with a secure lid that can be locked to keep the gecko safe. The enclosure can be furnished with a hide, artificial plants, timber or rock ornaments, and a small water bowl.
Geckos love insects! Your gecko will enjoy feasting on a variety of crickets, mealworms, and other bugs. Mealworms are best as an occasional treat. Live insects should be dusted with calcium powder or supplements to boost their nutritional value. Geckos also require a calcium and vitamin supplement as part of their diet to avoid calcium deficiency and metabolic bone disease.
When well cared for, smaller geckos can live 3-5 years, while larger geckos can live 10 years or more.
