Thinking about gettting a Gecko

[IrishFox350]

Age for Optimal Tame-ability?

Hi, my name is Sarah

I was originally worried about Geckos not being easy to tame but just from reading several posts for 30 min. I can see that's not going to be an issue!

How old should my leopard gecko be to insure optimal tame-ability?? I want to make sure I can tame it and chill with it like I did my ball python years ago. The Petco down the road sells them for 30 bucks as juveniles. How old are they when they are considered to be juveniles?

I have never had a leopard Gecko however, and don't really know how to take care of one. I'm trying to educate myself.

Where do I start with the beginning steps of taking care of one:

IE.- sand vs. carpet
rock vs. plants

any animal I get I want to take care of as best as humanly possible. I want the terrarium to be as close to its natural environment as possible.

Please, Any advice is appreciated.

Thank you.

 

[IrishFox350]

PS. yes, I know "tame" isn't the correct word to use. You can never really "tame" an animal. I just meant that I wanted the same relationship with my Leo as I had with my Ball Python.

 

[satyr666]

For the most part this forum will help you learn the best there are a lot of reputable breeders that post on here to learn from. I would stay away from sand substrate due to impaction issues, and repti carpet has also been known to cause issues with claws being tangled in it, your safest bet is natural slate tile. As for purchasing your gecko I would stay away from the chain pet stores and buy from a reputable breeder who you know will provide you with a healthy reptile with good genetics. I would start reading a few care sheets such as:

http://www.theurbangecko.com/caring-leopard-gecko

http://www.geckoboa.com/leopard-gecko-care.html

http://www.goldengategeckos.com/careleopard.pdf

 

[IrishFox350]

Thank you so much Satyr! Do you know of any good breeders near Charleston, SC? I cannot afford to spend hundreds of dollars on the Leo alone. If that is the case then I will have to wait for a while. I do have a local exotic vet tho, that I plan on taking him or her to within a week of obtaining the little one. I will look up those care sheets right now.
Thanks again!

 

[Desdemona]

If you want a real "friendly" lizard pet.. a Bearded Dragon would be a better choice than a Leopard Gecko. Some get pretty friendly ones but others not so much. I have one that will scream at me if I pick her up. None of mine want to chill with me, but I have not really tried to train them to do so either. My B. Dragon on the other hand is more than happy to get out, hang out on my shoulder, etc. Its not so much being my friend as she just doesn't seem to care either way, ha. But you'll find more Dragon owners who play with their pets in general (or at least the other board I'm on seems to be that way).

If you do decide to stick with Leos.. younger is better and a local vet would probably give you a less stressed pet than a petstore. Yuo can check craigs list as well. If you have a reptile specialty store you "might" have better luck than say petco. Not all reptile stores are created equal though. Check Craigs list and Yelp.com (yelp for stores).

Paper towels make a pretty good substrate or ceramic tile. Hides are more important than decoration, a warm hide, cool hide, and moist hide. Get a heat mat and NOT lights (the petstore who sold me my first pushed lights *sigh*). The bigger the cage.. the more decorations.. if you want to go that way. Tile looks better than paper towels visually.

 

[gecko4245]

:main_yes:

If you want a real "friendly" lizard pet.. a Bearded Dragon would be a better choice than a Leopard Gecko. Some get pretty friendly ones but others not so much. I have one that will scream at me if I pick her up. None of mine want to chill with me, but I have not really tried to train them to do so either. My B. Dragon on the other hand is more than happy to get out, hang out on my shoulder, etc. Its not so much being my friend as she just doesn't seem to care either way, ha. But you'll find more Dragon owners who play with their pets in general (or at least the other board I'm on seems to be that way).

If you do decide to stick with Leos.. younger is better and a local vet would probably give you a less stressed pet than a petstore. Yuo can check craigs list as well. If you have a reptile specialty store you "might" have better luck than say petco. Not all reptile stores are created equal though. Check Craigs list and Yelp.com (yelp for stores).

Paper towels make a pretty good substrate or ceramic tile. Hides are more important than decoration, a warm hide, cool hide, and moist hide. Get a heat mat and NOT lights (the petstore who sold me my first pushed lights *sigh*). The bigger the cage.. the more decorations.. if you want to go that way. Tile looks better than paper towels visually.

great advice:main_thumbsup:
yeah it's important they know not all will like being held.
you never know what you will end up with, some will like to be hidden most of the time.
If your looking for social a bearded dragon is the way to go.
They are also awesome:main_yes:

 

[Russellm0704]

The only down side to bearded dragons is the cost(it is well worth it, I love my beardie), you have to replace the UVB bulb every 6 months(which are very expensive), you have to provide basking spots, larger enclosure, they eat crickets like there is no tomorrow! And you have to give them greens and vegetables, a lot more work but definitely worth it!

 

[Desdemona]

Do you have a Beardie gecko4245? Mine cracks me up, she is such a loon. She seems to be really dumb, I don't know if it's normal Dragon behavior or if she's just stupider than others. She'll occasionally do the "star gazing" thing so she might have some brain problems. Otherwise though she's fine.

Russell is right, you will spend a lot more on one Dragon then you will on one Leo. Dragon's can reach 2 Feet while Leos are much smaller.

 

[LZRDGRL]

You can also get an African Fat Tail instead of a leopard gecko; they're more laid back and calm, and not as fast. Juvenile leopard geckos might run from you at first; younger ones hiss when they're scared. The older they are, the quieter and "tamer" they get.

Chrissy

 

[grboxa]

^ makes me want to get a bearded dragon. all great advice +1.

 

[gecko4245]

Do you have a Beardie gecko4245? Mine cracks me up, she is such a loon. She seems to be really dumb, I don't know if it's normal Dragon behavior or if she's just stupider than others. She'll occasionally do the "star gazing" thing so she might have some brain problems. Otherwise though she's fine.

Russell is right, you will spend a lot more on one Dragon then you will on one Leo. Dragon's can reach 2 Feet while Leos are much smaller.

I had one 5 years ago that my friends cousin could not take care of, but he was in really bad shape when I took him. I took him to the vet and he had some weird parasite that they could not find out what it was. he was not putting on much weight and I had him admitted in the ER, but he died the next day. It was so heartbreaking. That's why I try to tell people you never know what you will end up with. the responsibility that comes with any. I love that they are so active and curious.

 

[Desdemona]

It is nice that they are out all of the time since they are "perching" type vs hiding time for safety. It's sad when you get one that wasn't cared for! Mine was from a good reptile store. She has a tail kink, but is healthy otherwise. She is also small, one of these days I want a big 2 foot chunky dude. I saw one in a different petstore (their pet not for sale) and he was pretty neat.

 

[gecko4245]

^ makes me want to get a bearded dragon. all great advice +1.

believe me I want one too, but they are more expensive to keep. So if money is tight think twice.

 

[gecko4245]

It is nice that they are out all of the time since they are "perching" type vs hiding time for safety. It's sad when you get one that wasn't cared for! Mine was from a good reptile store. She has a tail kink, but is healthy otherwise. She is also small, one of these days I want a big 2 foot chunky dude. I saw one in a different petstore (their pet not for sale) and he was pretty neat.

yep, one of the down sides of leo's. I love them no matter what, but for people who want to see the reptile more a beardy would be better. because its sad that many people buy them expecting to see them alot and want to be handled and then when they see is not what they expected they stop caring for the gecko and because they can live long it is a long term affair.

 

[Desdemona]

Yes, that is a good consideration... a Leo has a possible lifespan of 20 years (though generally they live between 7 and 15). A B. Dragon has a possible life span of 10, but I don't know if that is their normal or not. I thought 20 was normal for Leo till I read otherwise on here.

A quick google had Dragon's usually living 6 years but with the possibilty of up to 12.

 

[Wild West Reptile]

You can also get an African Fat Tail instead of a leopard gecko; they're more laid back and calm, and not as fast.

I second that! Fatties are almost snuggly. Way better holding pets than leopard geckos.

 

[IrishFox350]

I went and held some beardies and did fall in love. Sadly I haven't been on in a while because my husband and I talked about getting another pet and decided against it right now for financial and time constraint reasons. I do actually want one of each, a bearded dragon and a leopard gecko. Thank you all for you advice and help. I greatly appreciate it!

 

[Russellm0704]

I'm glad you are actually sitting down and talking about your situation before you jump into something. This is extremely smart. If money is no issue, then I would go ahead and get a beardie. If it is then I would definitely start out with the gecko first. I have 5 geckos and my beardie died not too long ago(he was 8). Keeping 5 geckos is less expensive and less work than 1 beardie.