

Newest Review: ... should be daily. If you spend quite a lot of time watching your gecko, or just being near it, it will probably get used to your face, there... more
leopard geckos.
Lizards

Member Name: mrlizard9797
Product:
Lizards
Date: 13/04/10, updated on 16/04/10 (230 review reads)
Rating:
Advantages: great pets, fairly easy to look after.
Disadvantages: food can be quite expensive.
Thanks to FourPaws tips this is an edited version of my review.
In my opinion, if you are devoted enough to want a lizard, I think the easiest one to look after is the leopard gecko. Because you only have to clean the tank properly (with lizard friendly disinfectant) every 2-3 weeks, they do their business in one corner so you can just scoop it out with a mini sieve like I do, or with some tissue.
If you feed your gecko the correct amount and type of food, it should be happy and lively. As soon as I got got my gecko, when it was about 6 months old (juvenile) I fed it on 5 medium sized locusts per day. After about another 6 months old (as is was getting fairly big) I fed it on 3 large size locusts per day but allowing a day off every couple of days. But water change should be daily. If you spend quite a lot of time watching your gecko, or just being near it, it will probably get used to your face, therefore more likely to want to come out of the tank when it gets a bit older.
Geckos are great pets, (if you look after them properly) but if you are going to get one, please make sure you are ready to care for it. If you look on the internet, it will probably tell you that leopard geckos don't need a very big tank. But I am all against the small tanks. I don't mean go ahead and buy a huge one, I mean get a medium sized one so your gecko has somewhere to crawl and climb.
The way I got my gecko to come out of the tank and walk about a bit was to every, or every other day just put my hand in the tank and leave it there for a few minutes (don't shake or twitch because it might think your food!) and then take it out again. This is so your gecko knows that your hand isn't a threat, so it will be more willing to come out. I have done this for a while now and now when I put my hand in, he crawls straight on.
Leopard geckos are fairly easy to monitor when it comes to heat, I just have a medium sized heat mat, it is important that if you get a heat mat, don't get it to cover the whole of you vivarium, only a side or a corner (both sides must have some sort of shelter/house.) This is because your gecko needs to regulate its temperature naturally so if it is to cool, it will go to the side/corner that has heat, and if it is to hot, it will go to the cooler side/corner. And it needs shelter on the hot and cold side because it needs to feel safe and secure, so it doesn't get cold because it is to scared to leave its other house.
Shedding, my gecko sheds roughly once every 3 or 4 weeks or so. If they don't eat while/ or slightly after shedding, not to worry, it might just be a bit worried because its skin will be very tender. But if it continues not to eat for a while after, consult your local pet shop or vets, for any additional advice.
I haven't got a particularly large tank, but it is big enough for my gecko to be happy and get some exercise. I have got a exo terra terrarium, it is a fairly large one, that I haven't had any problems with so far. For more info on this terrarium, I have reviewed it, so be sure to check it out!
Great pets if you are willing to care for one, try what I said, it worked for me!
If you have any questions, please ask, I will do my best to answer them!
Thanks for reading!
And remember, only get one if you are willing to take care of it.
Summary: great pets, if you are willing to take care of them.
