If you’re looking to add reptiles to your family, geckos are the best and popular choice. They’re ideal pet lizards for beginners. Not only are geckos exciting pets that are so unique looking—you might even state they’re adorable, but they’re also relatively low-maintenance. While there are many types of geckos worldwide, only a few are bred to be pets, and each has different levels of care to consider when choosing the right one for you.
To help, here is a guide on some most popular types of geckos that make great pets and what you’ll need to care for them properly.
Leopard Geckos
Leopard geckos are easy to care for, making them one of the best pet lizards for beginners and children over 8. With an average length of 9 inches, leopard geckos are easy to manage and have a gentle disposition. They come in many patterns, colors, and eye colors—even red.
Their habitat should be made of a well-ventilated terrarium—10 gallons or more significant—with enough room for a cool and heated side and at least one hiding area with a substrate where they can sleep and relax. A Leopard gecko needs a basking site at one end of the habitat heated to about 88 degrees Fahrenheit.
Leopard geckos are insectivores and should be provided with a diet of live insects, such as mealworms and gut-loaded crickets fed nutrients reptiles need to stay healthy, or a commercial diet. You can get an extensive line of products from Fluker for your reptile and amphibian habitats.
Crested Geckos
Named for the fringed crests that run across their eyes, neck, and back, crested geckos look like little dragons, making them cool lizards pet for kids ten and older. They are a bit smaller than leopard geckos and develop about 8 inches in length. While they can be held, a crested gecko tends to be skittish, so having them can be tricky. Crested geckos are mainly tree climbers and need 20 gallons or larger terrarium, preferably vertical. They’ll need enough space for a heated area, a cool place to keep their temperature-controlled, and foliage to climb on.
The easiest way to warm your crested gecko’s habitat is with a low-wattage incandescent bulb or ceramic heat emitter. Keep the temperature between 78 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit. Because crested geckos are nocturnal, UV lights are not required if their diet provides them with vitamin D3. Line the habitat with a substrate to keep it clean and looking like its natural environment. These geckos need a humid climate, so you’ll want to mist dry places with water or use a humidifier to maintain 70 percent humidity.
The primary diet for crested geckos is fruits and insects like gut-loaded crickets with the necessary nutrients to keep your pet lizard healthy. You can go through Pangea reptiles to get high-quality, unique, super healthy crested geckos and several other species. Besides geckos, you can also buy products for your reptiles and amphibians.
Chameleons
Chameleons are fascinating creatures that can change color, move their eyes independently of each other, and catch prey with their long, sticky tongues. It is no wonder that so many are willing to keep these exotic reptiles as pets. If you consider offering a home to a chameleon, remember that these reptiles have unique habitat and feeding requirements that make them more challenging to care for than some other small or exotic pets. Chameleons are not the hardest or easiest reptiles to keep. Once you've got a captive bred chameleon, observe them. They should be active and bright, able to change colors and have a well-fleshed body.