Geckos are a species of Lizards that live around the globe in different environments. They are mostly found in tropical and subtropical regions. Geckos being cold-blooded animals depend heavily on ob external heat sources to survive.
They have a calm demeanor, making excellent pets. They have noctournal solitary life styles.. These lizards have expanded toe pads that give them the unique ability to climb walls.
Most species have no eyelids,
How Many Species / Per Climate
There are over 700 species of Geckos, spread across the world. They are found on different islands and continents. They are found in sandy deserts, savannas, rocky steppes, tropical rainforest, and Mountaintop rain forest.
- Class – Reptilia
- Order – Squamata
- Family – Gekkonidae
- Genera – 52
- Species – Around 920 +
- Found on Every Continent except Antarctica
- Habitats – Grasslands, Mountain Ranges, Deserts,
- Diets – Insects, worms, Small Lizards, Mammals, Moss, Flowers, rotting Fruit, Small insects, and Fruit Flies
Gecko Family Units
Gecko is solitary creatures, usually spending their lives alone. Seeking out companionship during the mating process. Mating can take from 15 seconds to 15 minutes, then the Geckos’ in the wild carry on with their lives.
In the wild, they are not very social animals, reptiles. In captivity, they can stay in tanks together. But spacing and territorial battles happen in captivity. So When Keeping multiple Geckos. make sure you have adequate space, basking rock, hiding places so they can be as anti-social as they like.
Gecko’s Males and Females
Breeding Geckos can be challenging depending on the species. There are factors that are environmental that trigger Breeding in captivity. Since certain geckos live in different types of climate. Each species would have its own wet of variables. Difficult to duplicate in a single tank, Varium.
Gecko Reproductive Cycling
Is where certain Breeding characteristics of certain species of Gecko is triggered. They are
- Temperature – Regulated with Bulbs, Heaters, Pads, etc
- Rainfall – Misting – Spraying – Rain Chambers
- Humidity – Misting Techniques
- Photoperiod – This can be controlled by Lights and timers
- Brumation – Some species require a month or so of Brumation prior to breeding.
- One Male can service 12 Females
If you are considering breeding of certain Gecko Species, then duplication of the Gecko’s natural environment is critical to trigger the process. Species from similar climates would facilitate your breeding success.
Gecko’s Babies and Children
Gecko’s are not very loving parents. Some species carry their eggs within their bodies until birth. Other species will lay eggs in a carefully prepared Nest. Some species of Gecko are ASexual and able to produce children without the presence of the fertilizing male.
Once the babies are born, or hatched the parents go their way. Leaving the children to fend foer themselves.
Parthenogesis
These Gecko’s ( Mourning Gecko’s) produce children without males. All Babies, usually 2 are born are females.
Pseudocourtship
The majority of Gecko species are egg-laying. Eggs having a hard leathery shell appearance. If incubation Temperatiurs play a part in determining the sex of the hatchlings.
Ov0viviparity
Live Bearing Gecko’s are found in the southern hemisphere. New Zealand, and New Caledonia.
Oviparous Geckos
These are the Egg-laying species of Geckos. There are usually Two eggs per clutch, a few species only having one.
Desposition Sites
- Arboreal – Hide Their Eggs in trees, behind leaves, branches of both types Adhesive and Non-Adhesive
- Rock Faced – Rock Faces and Cracks, of both adhesive and nonadhesive type of Gecko Eggs
- Terrestrial – Build Den, Burrow in Sand, Dirt, or available substrate.
Three Types of Eggs are laid by Gecko’s
- Hard Shelled Adhesive
- Hard Shelled Non-adhesive
- Soft Shelled Non-Adhesive
For best success in breeding Geckos. Using a Reptile incubator will greatly increase your success rate. Caution does not use a chicken incubator for it will be too hot for you Gecko eggs.
Tips for Egg Incubation
- Keep Eggs in the same Position as you Found them – Do Not Turn Them.
- Striving for high Humidity – not soaking them
- Soft-shelled eggs are moisture permeable
- Place Eggs in Covered Containers in Incubator – Moisten vermiculite or sphagnum
- Free Layed Eggs can be moved by putting them on a plastic lid to the incubator
- Maintain Egg Orientation as you found them
- Soft Shelled Eggs Reqiure exact Humidity
- HardShelled Eggs of Rainforest Variety do best with High Humidity/ not touching substrate
- Hard Shelled eggs of Desert Species need Low Relative Humidity
- Temperatures of 84 – 87 Degrees wi produce hatchlings of both genders.
- Hard Shelled Eggs of Rainforest Geckos need 90 – 100 percent relative Humidity
- Arid, Desert Geckos Hard Shelled Eggs Require 45 – 60 Percent Relative Humidity
- It Takes 30-105 Days for Gecko Eggs to hatch
- Egg Incubation can be done in carefully monitored temp conditions, without an incubator.
Sex of Gecko's Determined By Incubation Temperature
Incubation Temperature Fahrenheit | Sex Produced |
---|---|
Beloww 77 F | High Mortality Rate Hatchlings will be Females |
78 - 79 F | Females |
80 - 83 F | Mostly Females |
84 - 86 F | Both Sexes |
87 - 89 F | Mostly Males |
90 - 91 F | Males |
Over 92 F | High Mortality All Males |
Use Reptile Incubators
Gecko’s From The Americas
Out of all the 900 Species of Gecko’s worldwide. About 27 Occur in the United States, Only 5 of These are native to the United States, There3 are Two Families Eublepharidae and Gekkonidae.
Typical Geckos
- Eastern Gecko’s
- Madagascar Giant Day Gecko’s
- Flat Tailed Geckos
- Tokay Gecko
- House Gecko’s
- Moorish Gecko
- White Spotted Gecko’s
- Ashley Gecko
- Florida Reef Gecko
- Yellow-Headed Gecko
- Western Banded Gecko
- Texas banded Gecko
Community Tanks
Types and sizes of Terrariums are very important when keeping Gecko’s as pets. a 10 Gallon Aquariums is sufficient for several species together, this will be adequate for two or three of the smaller species of Geckos. House, Reef, Ashey, Yellow-headed or Banded Geckos
Housing
If you have arboreal species increase that to 15 Gallons, because of the extra hights. The Arboreal species love to live in the trees. Some of them never touching the ground.
Substrate
This can be made of Smooth sand 1 -2 ” deep
- Diagonal Limbs give the Geckos places to climb
- Allowing them to climb also allows them to move to cooler temperatures if needed. Also, they can move to the bottom of the tank to lap up water droplets.
- Potted Plants help them drink from when you mist the tank and gives them hiding places
Thermoregulate
Gecko’s Thermoregulate if you can maintain an inside Temperature ranging from 74 – 88 Degrees. This way they can move up and down through the temperatures in your tank so that they can properly regulate their temperatures. These can be managed with
- Digital Thermometers
- Cooling Climbs
- Under Tank Heating Pads
- If You are keeping eggs, remember to maintain your proper Humidity Levels
- Temperature can also be automatically regulated by using thermostats
- Humidity can be monitored and regulated by diligent Misting
- Remember eggs incubation is from 30 – 105 Days
- Also do not rotate Gecko Eggs, they are not like chicken eggs. If they are rotated it moves the air sac within the egg and it can stop all growth and kill the young Lizard.
Choosing a new Gecko
Choosing a Gecko |
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Typical Color |
Normal Body Weight for Species |
Eyes Not Sunken or Dull |
Moves Quickly |
Alert |
Joints look Normal / Not swollen |
Broken Limbs |
Gecko’s Diet
Gecko's Diet
Insects / Avoid Insecticide | Occasional Snacks | Toxic Foods | Supplements / Dusted Insects |
---|---|---|---|
Terminates | Wild Bugs / So Gecko will not Refuse Shop Purchased Foods | Bugs That Light Up | Calcium |
Earth Worms | Gecko's Body not Designed for Vegetables | Wild Bugs / Insecticides | Vitamin D3 |
Grasshoppers | Wax worms / Fat | Wild Bugs / Parasites' | Multi Vitamins |
Pinkie Mice / Frozen | Butter Worms / Fat | Amino Acid Complex | |
Crickets | Super Worms / Fat | ||
Locusts | |||
Tomato Worms | |||
Repti worms | |||
Silk Worms | |||
Horn Worms | |||
Baby Manti | |||
Cricket Crack | |||
Katydids | |||
Indian Stick Insects | |||
House Flies | |||
Blue Bottle Flies | |||
Phoenix Worms | |||
Meal Worms | |||
Gut Load Insects 12 Hours Before Feeding to Gecko's | |||
Lubbers | |||
Termites |
Young Gecko's Fed Every Day
Healthy Adults Every Other Day
Sickly / once per day until healthy
Fed Early in Evening - Time they woul Feed in the Wild
If He is a Problem Eater / Leave Worms in a dish
Safe Handling Gecko Do’s / Don’ts
- Considered Display Animals / Avoid Prolonged Handling
- Skin Tears Easily
- Can Loose Tail Easily / will not completely regrow
- Move Lizards Gently / Shuttle with cardboard
- Can Bite if Feel Threatened
- Can be Damaged / Broken if Dropped
Can Gecko’s Cross Breed
Breeding Leopard Gecko’s The In’s and Out’s
What Animals can Live with Geckos
Other Lizards have been successfully raised with Gecko’s. A lot also depends on each animal’s temperament and also size. Gecko’ s are meat eaters so smaller lizards can become meals for the larger Gecko’s. But these animals have been raised with Gecko’s in the same habitat if plenty of space is provided. keep a close Eye because Gecko’s are solitary and very territorial. Here are some pet owners who have been successful.
- Other Gecko’s
- Dragons,
- Iguanas
- Turtles
- Anoles
- Some Frogs