Looking for a pet outside conventional choices? This article lists eight reasons why the leopard gecko would make an excellent addition to your family.
You are in the perfect place if you are looking for a pet that is not feline, canine, or piscine. Since you are here, lizards could be piquing your interest.
While lizards come in various shapes and sizes, many of them are gaining popularity in the pet market in recent times, leopard geckos are a top choice among new reptile owners. Read on to find out what exactly makes this particular creature so wonderful as a pet.
1. They are Not Picky Eaters
Leopard geckos are not too fussy when it comes to eating. However, they cannot eat human foods and only drink water. They prefer their insects enriched in vitamin and mineral powder. Their top choices among insects would be hoppers, dubia roaches, crickets, and mealworms. If you are in the mood to treat them, you may feed them wax worms and super worms because of their high-fat content.
You may even start your own dubia roach colony to feed your little buddy. They have a pretty high percentage of protein and will help you create a balanced diet for your leopard gecko. Due to the relatively low content of chitin, they are also easily digestible.
2. Their Hygiene is Vital
While pet hygiene, in general, is required, you might be aware that it is highly essential to keep pet reptiles clean. This applies to other lizards such as bearded dragons and iguanas also. Leopard geckos are known to be carriers of disease, so never forget to disinfect your hands properly after touching them. This will keep infection levels at a minimum.
Cleanliness is essential for your lizard’s health as well. Their cage has to be thoroughly cleaned at least once a month. You can use a lizard-friendly disinfectant for the cleaning process. To find out whether it is cleaned well, check for spots and odors. In between such rigorous sanitization, you will also need to remove waste, bits of uneaten food, split mineral powder, skin shed by your gecko, and so on!
3. Their Personalities are Quite Mild
Pets, a precious part of life, have a range of personalities too! One of the main reasons why leopard geckos are a sought-after pet is due to their relatively soft nature. They are easy to tame, and in absence of sticky toe pads, they can’t climb walls!
Since it is your first time tending a lizard, the conditions might not be pitch-perfect. However, leopard geckos are resilient and won’t mind too much. They move slowly and are not likely to bite you. However, they can be pretty noisy, too, especially when hungry.
Leopard geckos are nocturnal animals. To determine your pet’s mood, you will have to observe its behavior during nighttime. When your pet is happy or excited, it will wave its tail and actively move around the enclosures.
4. They are Aesthetically Pleasing
Your top priority while choosing a pet probably not be its look, but even if it is, it should not be a problem at all.
Leopard geckos are not only incredibly cute, but they also come in a variety of colors. They may be white, yellow, brown, or even leucistic. Just after hatching, they have dark brown or black stripes, which later develop into spots. The feature that sets them apart is eyelids! They have pretty soft skin as well. Their vision scope is fantastic due to the location of their eyes.
5. They are Remarkably Low Maintenance
Leopard geckos don’t have many demands, and this could be more or less convenient for you to make a comfortable home for them. It’s self-explanatory why this feature makes them appealing to the masses.
A big enough box can accommodate your pet perfectly. You can put in half logs, cardboard boxes, or reptile caves sold in stores for climbing and hiding.
However, another popular choice, the bearded dragon, requires ample space due to its length of almost twenty inches. Bearded dragons must also have exposure to UVB lighting, which is not mandatory for leopard geckos. Leopard geckos are somewhat less sensitive to temperature.
6. They Survive Through a Decent Amount of Revolutions Round the Sun
One of the most painful events in life is losing a pet, especially your first one. Thus, opting for a short-lived pet would probably not be the wisest choice. If you take care of your leopard gecko properly and maintain good health, it will be a part of your life for one or even two decades!
Among other lizards popular in the pet parent crowd, anoles have life spans of only six years, and bearded dragons only live for twelve years at max.
7. They Will Probably Fit on Your Hands and Fingers
The size of your pet matters because it determines how big or small its cage will be. It may become a matter of significant concern. But, you don’t have to worry about it if you choose a leopard gecko as a pet.
Lizards such as iguanas, however, may grow up to seven feet and weigh up to nine kilograms. Due to its size, creating housing for iguanas often becomes a hassle.
8. They Will Reproduce if Provided With the Right Conditions
Yes, you read that right. If you have a pair of male and female leopard geckos, you will likely discover a bunch of eggs without even realizing one of your pets was expecting. It can be a fascinating experience to witness the hatching and growing up of baby geckos.
Conclusion
By now, if you have gone through the article somewhat carefully, you should be on your way to getting your leopard gecko. The reason furnished here should be more than enough to convince you to invest in this particular reptile. More than anything, always remember that even if leopard geckos are relatively more convenient for beginners to care for, they are still living beings and come with a lot of responsibility. Be prepared to allocate time, effort, resources, and care for your little buddy before you bring them home.