The house gecko or Mediterranean gecko is the perfect pet for both beginners and experienced reptile enthusiasts because they are affordable and easy to care for. This tough little lizard is known for its tendency to hide and live at home. These conditions make house geckos an ideal pet. The average house gecko can live about 5-10 years. By taking proper care steps, your pet gecko will have a higher life expectancy.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Preparing the Cage
Step 1. Buy a 20-40 liter tank for your pet gecko
One gecko needs very little space to live a healthy and happy life. A deep, high-walled aquarium is ideal for geckos. Choose a glass tank with a plastic mesh cover so your gecko has adequate ventilation.
- If you want to keep more than one gecko, you will need to add 20 liters of space per gecko. So, for 2 geckos you need an aquarium with a capacity of 40 liters, for 3 geckos you need an aquarium with a capacity of 60 liters, for 4 geckos you need an aquarium with a capacity of 80 liters, and so on.
- Never place more than one male gecko in the same tank as they will fight. If you place a male and female gecko in a cage, be prepared to see your gecko breed and produce baby geckos. You may have to move the gecko population to a larger tank to ensure there is enough room for the adults and their chicks.
Step 2. Make sure the aquarium has a heat gradient
Heat is very important in reptile life. If the gecko doesn't get enough heat, it will become lethargic and fall ill. If the conditions are too hot, the gecko can overheat and get sick or die. The gecko's aquarium should have a heat gradient, with a heating lamp mounted at one end. That way, the gecko will get hot during the day and a little hot at night when you turn off the lights.
- The overall temperature of the aquarium should be between 29-32 C at the warm end and around 25-27 C at the cold end. The temperature at night should be between 25-27 C. Make sure you set one end of the tank warm, while the other cool to help the gecko regulate its body temperature.
- The right temperature can be achieved by installing a low wattage heating lamp at one end of the aquarium. You can also install lights on the sides or bottom of the aquarium. Keep the lights on for 12 hours a day and turn them off at night. You can also use a blue heating lamp to regulate the temperature of the aquarium at night.
- Do not use hot stones as they are outdated and can cause severe burns and even kill pets. There is no need to use an ultraviolet lamp for an aquarium because geckos are nocturnal.
Step 3. Place the substrate on the bottom of the aquarium
The placement of the substrate will help keep the environment moist and hot, just the way the gecko likes it. You can choose a simple substrate that requires minimal maintenance, such as paper towels or newspaper. You can also use a more natural substrate, such as planting medium, cypress mulch, bark, or leaf litter.
- The substrate must be at least 7.5 cm thick as geckos usually make small holes or burrows for laying eggs.
- Do not use sand or gravel for the aquarium as the gecko may try to eat it and get sick
- Change the paper substrate 2-3 times a week. If you are using a specific substrate, such as mulch or bark, clean it at least once a day and replace it with a new one once a month.
Step 4. Add plants and hiding places
Live or artificial plants provide a means of climbing for the gecko. In addition, live plants also help increase the humidity in the tank, making it an ideal environment for your gecko to thrive.
Because the gecko is a nocturnal animal, it needs a place to sleep and hide at night. You can buy ready-made hides (usually made of cork) at your local pet store. Buy two hiding places and place each on the warm and cool sides of the tank. That way, the gecko will have a choice of a place to cool off or warm up. Try to provide at least 2 hiding places per gecko
Step 5. Spray water mist on the aquarium once a day to maintain humidity
The house gecko is a tropical species that responds well to a humid environment (about 70-90% humidity). Keep the tank moist by spraying a light mist of water 1-2 times a day. Use a clean spray bottle and fresh, chlorine-free water. Spray water on the walls of the aquarium to moisten it.
You can also install an automatic spraying machine in the aquarium that will spray water every day. Look for such machines at pet stores
Part 2 of 3: Feeding the Gecko
Step 1. Give clean water to the gecko every day
Place a small shallow bowl in the aquarium and fill it with fresh, chlorine-free water once a day. The water bowl should be placed on the cool side of the aquarium. Geckos can use them for drinking and/or bathing. Most geckos prefer to drink the water droplets that form from daily spraying rather than from a bowl.
Always provide chlorinated water to your gecko. Distilled water can cause health problems in geckos due to the lack of nutrients and minerals. Avoid giving untreated tap water as it is unhealthy for geckos
Step 2. Feed your gecko a protein-rich diet
Baby geckos, or young geckos, should be fed 5-6 times a week. Pet geckos should get a diet rich in protein, consisting of crickets, Hong Kong caterpillars, waxworms, silkworms, and cockroaches. The given insect should not be longer than the width of the gecko's head so he can swallow it. If there are any living insects that are hanging around in the tank, get rid of them immediately as they can eat away at the skin and eyes of the gecko.
You should feed the insects a nutritious diet about 24 hours before feeding them to the gecko. Give the insects that are full to the gecko. Do not feed wild insects that you catch yourself as they can carry disease
Step 3. Add supplements to your gecko's diet
You should sprinkle calcium supplements on your gecko's food before giving it to him. Geckos that are still developing should receive additional supplements more often than adult geckos. You can consult your veterinarian for more details on the amount of supplement to give so as not to overfeed him.
Choose a calcium supplement fortified with vitamin D3 and sprinkle it 2-3 times a week. Do not add calcium supplements with added phosphorus unless advised by your veterinarian
Part 3 of 3: Holding a Gecko
Step 1. Hold the gecko once it reaches adulthood
Most immature house geckos do not like to be picked up and held. In addition, holding a gecko makes it unfamiliar to its new environment. The house gecko is fragile. If pulled, the gecko's tail could break off or it could be injured.
You may have to wait until your gecko reaches adulthood before handling it outside of the cage. Even so, you should still be careful and make sure it doesn't get out of hand because house geckos can move very quickly and tend to hide in hard-to-reach places once out of the cage
Step 2. Never lift your gecko from the bottom of its belly
Lifting your gecko from under its belly will frighten it and jump out of your hand. Lift the gecko by grabbing its upper body and holding it firmly before removing it from the tank. You can then hold him in your hand so he can't escape.
In general, you only need to hold your gecko when you need to move it to clean the tank. Wash your hands before and after handling your gecko as your hands may carry bacteria that can cause illness
Step 3. Let the gecko molt on its own
The house gecko will shed some of its skin every 4-6 weeks. It is possible that the skin becomes dull and the skin covering the eyelids will protrude during this period. Even if the molting process looks uncomfortable, don't try to peel the skin off as it can be painful and dangerous for your gecko. If the tank conditions are humid enough, the gecko should be able to shed its own skin and may even eat the old skin.
- During the molting process, the gecko will produce a new layer of skin and will separate from the old skin due to the fluid that forms between the two layers of skin. If the gecko's environment is too dry, the fluid will not build up properly, making it difficult for the gecko to shed its old skin. If your gecko has trouble shedding its old skin, you may need to adjust the humidity of the tank by spraying water twice a day. You can also place a damp box in the tank, such as a plastic container filled with wet terrarium moss for reptiles. Make an opening in the side of the container and close the lid. The openings allow the gecko to enter if it wishes.
- If your gecko has trouble removing the skin on your fingers, tail, or head, you can help by spraying water on those areas and gently massaging them until the skin comes off on its own.
