How to Look After Geckos
The best way to properly care for your gecko depends on the species. Diurnal geckos require special lighting, whereas nocturnal ones are need only a regular bulb for heat and ease of viewing. Diurnal geckos include bibron geckos, giant day geckos, gold dust day geckos and lined day geckos. Nocturnal geckos include leopard geckos, helmet geckos, Tokay geckos and crested geckos.
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Instructions
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Provide the gecko with proper housing. Leopard geckos do well in long and wide containers. The cage does need not be very deep, but should have sturdy lids with ample ventilation. Clear glass or plastic makes it easy to watch your pets without disturbing them. Depending on the type of gecko, bedding should be made of sand, leaf litter or some other material resembling their natural habitat. Shredded, nontoxic paper can also be used. Keep the gecko cage out of direct sunlight, and anywhere it could be exposed to extreme weather changes. Day geckos require taller set ups with plenty of areas for climbing. Provide live plants to help keep humidity up.
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Provide geckos with proper lighting. Nocturnal geckos do not require special UV or UVB lighting. Diurnal geckos (day geckos) will benefit from a full-spectrum UVB light. Whatever lighting you supply, also make sure it is sufficient for the plants you are growing in the gecko's habitat.
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Provide proper temperature and humidity. Part of the gecko cage should be 90 degrees F, with the other areas around 80 degrees F. Nighttime temperatures can dip to 70 degrees F. Day geckos require higher humidity than leopard geckos. Provide humidity levels in the 50 to 85 percent range for day geckos.
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Feed you geckos properly. Depending on the species, provide your geckos with fruit, crickets, waxworms, black soldier fly larvae, and fruit flies. Day geckos will enjoy phosphorus-free vitamins and calcium in addition to their fruits and insects. Give your geckos variety in their diet. This will help to avoid malnourishment.
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Tips & Warnings
Some gecko species can bite hard, so always be careful when handling a gecko.
Never grab a gecko by its tail as it may break off. The tail grows, back but doesn't look as nice as the original.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
