the essentials in brief
Some geckos are very cheap, only costing a few dollars, while others are very expensive and rare, and can cost several hundred or even thousands of dollars.
The costs can vary depending on the species, size and number of geckos, but you should expect at least 100 to 200 euros per year. Read more here...
Low-maintenance, trusting, healthy and long-lived geckos are ideal for beginners. Some of the most popular beginner geckos include the leopard gecko, crested gecko, African fat-tailed gecko, gargoyle gecko, and day gecko. Read more here...
In this blog post you will learn everything you need to know if you want to buy geckos. Are you looking for an exotic and fascinating pet? Then geckos might be just the thing for you. Geckos are small to medium-sized lizards that come in many different shapes, colors, and lifestyles. They are mostly nocturnal and often have special adaptations such as sticky fins on their feet or tails that they can shed. Geckos are popular terrarium animals that can be kept well with a little experience and expertise.
What types of geckos are there?
Geckos are one of the most species-rich groups of reptiles. There are more than 1.500 species of gecko found in almost every part of the world. Most geckos live in tropical and subtropical areas, but some species have adapted to temperate or even cold climates. Geckos vary greatly in shape, size, color, and behavior. Some examples of well-known and popular gecko species are
- leopard gecko: The leopard gecko is one of the most popular gecko species in terraristics. It is native to Central Asia and lives in arid and rocky areas. It is about 20 to 25 cm long and has a yellowish to brown basic color with black spots or stripes. It is very adaptable and easy to care for. This requires a warm and dry terrarium with hiding places and a substrate made of sand or clay.
- crested gecko: Native to New Caledonia, it lives in humid and wooded areas. It is about 15 to 20 cm long and has a brown to reddish base color with dark spots or stripes. It has prominent flaps of skin on the sides of its head that look like a crown. He is very trusting and tame. It needs a moist, planted terrarium with climbing and hiding places. It feeds on insects as well as fruits or special mashed food.
- day gecko: Day geckos include several species of gecko found primarily in Madagascar and other islands in the Indian Ocean. They are diurnal and live in tropical forests or savannas. Depending on the species, they are between 10 and 30 cm long and have a green to yellow basic color with blue or red accents. They are very lively and curious, but also shy and sensitive. They feed mainly on insects, but also on nectar or fruit.
- Toke: The tokeh is one of the largest and most showy geckos in the world. It is native to Southeast Asia and lives in tropical forests or plantations. It grows up to 40 cm long and has a gray to brown base color with orange or yellow spots. He is very territorial and aggressive and can hiss or bark loudly. It needs a large, stable and well-ventilated terrarium with plenty of hiding places. It feeds on large insects, but also on small vertebrates such as mice or birds.
Tip: If you want to buy geckos, you should find out beforehand which species suit you and your conditions. Not all geckos are suitable for beginners, and some species have special needs when it comes to keeping and caring for them.
What should you consider when buying geckos?
If you have decided on one or more gecko species, you should make sure that you buy healthy and vital animals. Unfortunately, geckos are often victims of illegal capture or poor husbandry, which can lead to illness, injury or behavioral problems. To avoid this, you should consider the following points:
How to make friends with geckos
Geckos are intelligent and social animals with their own personalities and behaviors. In order to build a good relationship with them, you should keep the following points in mind:
- Observe your geckos regularly and learn about their habits and preferences.
- Deal with your geckos in a playful and respectful manner. Offer them variety and challenges, but don't overwhelm or scare them.
- Trust your intuition and your feelings. Be honest, kind, and patient with them, and show them your affection and appreciation.
- Only buy geckos from reputable sellerswho can give you proof of origin and a health guarantee. It is best to buy geckos from a professional breeder or in a specialist shop where you can also get expert advice. Avoid dubious dealers in markets or on the Internet who cannot give you any information about the origin and health of the animals.
- Pay attention to the gecko's appearance and behavior. Healthy geckos have clear eyes, smooth skin, a rounded belly, a firm tail, and a rich coloration. They are active, curious and responsive to stimuli. Sick or stressed geckos have cloudy eyes, scaly or injured skin, a sunken abdomen, a limp tail, and pale coloration. They are apathetic, anxious or aggressive and hardly react to stimuli.
- Check the sexual maturity and sex of the geckos. Sexual maturity depends on the species, size, and age of the gecko. It can range from a few months to several years. The sex can usually be recognized by external characteristics such as the shape of the head, body size or the presence of genitals. Knowing the gender of geckos is important if you want to keep them together. Some species are very territorial and may fight each other or breed unintentionally.
Note: If you want to buy geckos, you shouldn't just be guided by looks or price. A cheap or beautiful gecko can be sick or aggressive. Rather pay attention to the quality and seriousness of the provider as well as to the health and well-being of the animals.
How do I set up a suitable terrarium for geckos?
If you want to get geckos, you also need a suitable terrarium for them. A terrarium is a container made of glass, plastic or wood in which you create an artificial ecosystem for your geckos. The terrarium should be large enough for your geckos to have room to move, climb, and hide. The size depends on the number and type of geckos. As a rule of thumb, the terrarium should be at least twice as long as the longest gecko.
In addition, the terrarium should contain the following elements:
- A substrate: The substrate is the bottom layer in the terrarium and can be made of different materials. The substrate should be absorbent, breathable and non-toxic. In addition, it should correspond to the natural habitat of the gecko. The substrate should be cleaned and replaced regularly to prevent mold and parasite infestation.
- Lighting: The lighting is important to regulate the day-night rhythm and the temperature in the terrarium. Lighting should consist of a combination of heat and UV lamps connected to a timer. Heat lamps ensure a pleasant temperature in the terrarium, between 20 and 35 degrees Celsius, depending on the species. The lights should be on about 12 hours a day.
- planting: The planting is not only a visual upgrade of the terrarium, but also an enrichment for the geckos. The planting should consist of live or artificial plants that correspond to the natural habitat of the gecko. The plants should be non-toxic, resilient and easy to care for. They should provide opportunities for the geckos to climb, hide, and eat. Bromeliads, orchids or ferns are suitable for crested geckos, and succulents, cacti or grasses for leopard geckos.
- Furniture: Furnishings should be made of natural or artificial materials appropriate to the gecko's natural habitat. It should be stable, safe and varied. It should offer the geckos different levels, caves, branches, stones or bark. For tokehs, for example, cork tubes, lianas or bamboo sticks are suitable, for day geckos moss balls, coconut shells or reeds.
Note: If you set up a terrarium for geckos, you should make sure that it is regularly cleaned and cared for. You should check the substrate weekly and replace it if necessary, water and cut back the plants, dust and disinfect the facility and clean the panes. You should also air the terrarium daily and check the temperature and humidity.
Buying geckos: everything you need to know
We hope you enjoyed this blog post and helped you learn more about geckos. Geckos are wonderful animals that can bring you a lot of joy and fun if you keep and care for them properly. If you want to buy geckos, you should find out which species suits you, what you should pay attention to when buying, how to set up and care for a suitable terrarium, and how to feed your geckos species-appropriately and keep them healthy. On top of that, you should engage with your geckos and pay attention to them in order to develop a good relationship with them.