How to Pick Crested Geckos

Series Summary

Geckos are small lizards found in warm climates throughout the world. They come in a variety of colors and patterns, as there are over a thousand different species of gecko lizards. Geckos have several unique characteristics, including the chirping vocalizations they use as social interactions. They also lack eyelids and have a transparent membrane covering the eye which they lick to clean. Because of their commonness in warm climates, there are several species of geckos that live in human houses. These house geckos are rarely killed or exterminated because of their ability to kill and feed on insect pests.

In this free video series, our expert will show you how to care for crested geckos, which are just one of many types of gecko lizards. You will learn how to pick out a health gecko from the pet store and how to set up a habitat for your crested gecko. You will also learn about crested gecko substrate and diet, as well as tips on handling crested geckos. Get tips on how to read behavior cues from a crested gecko and how to keep your gecko healthy and happy. If you are interested in a small reptile pet and want to check out the crested gecko, let our expert show you everything you need to know about about this fun little lizard.

Video Transcript

"First thing we're going to talk about is how to pick the right crested gecko for you. Now, crested gecko's usually when you buy them, you're going to be buying them as babies, like this guy, he's a little baby; probably a couple of months old. Though, they do get relatively larger, six to eight inches, so, they are relatively big gecko. Their sticky footed gecko as well, so you have to be aware that they do climb glass and things like that extremely easily. When you're looking at a crested gecko, you want to make sure that their eyes are clear and open, there's no gunkiness or cloudiness. You want to check the mouth for any discoloration, you want to make sure that it's not gaping open a little bit or hanging limply, o.k, he should be holding it nice and tight to against the upper lip. He should lick himself every so often, like to taste things a lot. He should be active and he should be jumpy, like just like that. You also want to get a good look and make sure that his vent is clear and doesn't have any discoloration or blockage. You want to make sure that his toes are all o.k. They have a tendency, lots of shed skin stuck on their toes and things like that. So, you know, you want to check that over too and make sure that everything is right and in order as it should be. It wouldn't hurt to also take a good look at the enclosure that he is in at the pet store or breeder, if that's where you're going and make sure that the cage is clean and well cared for. There's not too many crickets running around inside the enclosure, it's being nice and moist and not covered in poo. General cleanliness is always a good indicator. If you're not seeing the general cleanliness of the overall store, if the pet stores, other cages as well as the gecko's cages are dirty, I definitely suggest trying some place different. And, now rewarding that behavior. "