Finding the right Gecko for me.

[Asomodai]

Hey guys. New to this site and to Geckos!

After much thought (About a good years worth) I have decided to finally take the plunge and get a Gecko. But instead of going headlong willy nilly into buying a Gecko i want to sit back and take stock.

I remember from a very early age having a fascination with Geckos, the way they move, The way they climb, and interact with the enviroment.

For example. What Gecko?

I understand that geckos and many lizards usually dont like being handled, however i wasent much of a look and dont touch kinda guy. I LOVE the look of Day geckos however i understand they are VERY fragile so they are out the window.

I understand that leoperd Geckos are great beginners Geckos, However i much preffered smooth skinned geckos rather then their Knobbly bodied cousins. Also due to possible children invading I think i would rather have the Gecko not to have claws (Could scare the children, Thus Frightening off the Gecko)

One of the first Things that made me choose to go Gecko is the Climbing glass ability. Although i realise this is not the most important and fun aspect of having a Gecko, I would love the Gecko to be able to do this and be happy whilst doing it . Also, Bright Colours (Especially Blue) Are a bonus.

So guys. I need.

A nice non Fragile gecko that doesant mind being handled much.
Smooth Skinned.
Climbs glass.
Blizzard/blue variety preferable but not essential. A good bog standard Bright green would be good also.
Not that fussed on size.
Gender, Unsure.

Also i dont like to skimp on Tanks equipment and accesories, I have put toegther a little stash of money for this day. I have about £250 (+Maybe a bit more= about $480) To spend on the gecko and all the equipment needed. (Heating mat, Lights, tank, Food.)

Also would it be worth investing in a pal for the Gecko? Do Same sex geckos get on well in general or are they more of a solitary animal?

I have Kept a Corn snake before and have had a decent amount of experience with handling Iguanas and various snakes. (Also the usual array of dogs, Hamsters, Rats, Rabbits/guinea pigs.)

Also you might need to keep in consideration that i am in the UK and it can be hard to get more of the rarer types of Geckos. I also dont have a clue about reputable breeders in the UK (I live in the south west Bristol to be exact.)

So What Gecko is Right for me?

Cheers! Rob

p.s Apologies for maybe not getting some information right about Geckos.

 

[Sarah H]

You should look into crested geckos. I think they fit all your requirements, and are also good beginer geckos. I don't keep any but alot of others here do. Check out the rhacodactylus subforum on here, I bet there are alot of pics. I don't know about them being available in the uk, maybe someone will.

 

[Asomodai]

You should look into crested geckos. I think they fit all your requirements, and are also good beginer geckos. I don't keep any but alot of others here do. Check out the rhacodactylus subforum on here, I bet there are alot of pics. I don't know about them being available in the uk, maybe someone will.

Just looked in the subforum, Although they dont look like the Bright green or blue gecks i was after they do have a certain character to them! I should work less on aesthetics and more on practicality. They remind me of one of my fave pictures of a gecko.

Would this be classified as a leoperd or a crested? I cant quite make out the scale type.

 

[crestedgeckogirly]

Well, I'm not sure what that's a pic of...my first guess would be a S. williamsi, but I'm pretty sure I'm wrong.

A crested would probably be perfect for you considering your requirements. You'll only need to explain to the kids that the tail won't grow back if it falls off... so please don't grab it! LOL.

Anyway, just read up on them. I have a care sheet on my site that might be helpful to you, and there are plenty of breeders in the UK.

Let us know if you have more questions.

-Andrea

 

[Asomodai]

Well, I'm not sure what that's a pic of...my first guess would be a S. williamsi, but I'm pretty sure I'm wrong.

A crested would probably be perfect for you considering your requirements. You'll only need to explain to the kids that the tail won't grow back if it falls off... so please don't grab it! LOL.

Anyway, just read up on them. I have a care sheet on my site that might be helpful to you, and there are plenty of breeders in the UK.

Let us know if you have more questions.

-Andrea

Oh so the tail on a crested do's not grow back? (I dont have kids but you never know)

Also just out of interest on your site, You have this gecko.

Is that a crested gecko? If so it seems the crest is less prominent, Is it a juvenile?

Also i love Bitey He looks nice and friendly, though his name suggests otherwise?

Would you crested geckos are good climbers? (Can it climb smooth surfaces?) Would they require a vertical tank?

 

[Marc118]

Good climber AND jumpers.....LOL

They need a taller rather than longer tank. Im usingan 18x18x30 for mine.

 

[Asomodai]

Well, I'm not sure what that's a pic of...my first guess would be a S. williamsi, but I'm pretty sure I'm wrong.

Just did my own detective work. Its close but not quite.

It's a Strophurus intermedius pretty rare apparantly.

http://www.geckosbybrad.com/intermedius

Would a Strophurus type be considered to my requirements also? I havent heard ot the type before.

However it seems crested's are winning the battle over Blizzard Leo's

However if you can get a Blue Blizzard Crested that would be great

 

[Marc118]

I think that a moonglow crested is about as white as they get.

 

[Jeanne]

As far as I know, there are no Blue Geckos at all (Unfortunately, because that would be cool :main_thumbsup: )

A Crested gecko would probably be great for you. They come in some very nice colors and patterns. A Moonglow is a solid White Crested, but, they are very hard to come by, and they will cost more than what you are willing to pay.

Tails on Cresteds don't grow back, you will just get a little nub where it broke off. They are Arboreal geckos, so they will need a tall tank, I use 10 Gallon tanks, and am making them so they stand on their side, this is perfect for 1 Crested gecko. If you plan on getting 2, you will want to get a 20 Gallon High tank.

You can have 2 together in one tank, they will get along good, but make sure you don't put 2 males in together, they will fight, and sometimes to the death.

Let us know if yuo have anymore questions!

 

[Jeanne]

Just looked in the subforum, Although they dont look like the Bright green or blue gecks i was after they do have a certain character to them! I should work less on aesthetics and more on practicality. They remind me of one of my fave pictures of a gecko.

Would this be classified as a leoperd or a crested? I cant quite make out the scale type.

Man, I would love to get a pair of these!

 

[Asomodai]

Hmm, ok. Alot of people are convincing me to go for crested geckos at the moment.

However the colour variations on Leos also are very tempting.

If i do decide on a Gecko i will get it from a retupable breeder. The pet shops around here are specialised lizard shops who get their supply from good Breeders.

After looking at various crested's i have decided on a patternless. Something a little like this (Which i believe has some flame in him)

 

[Kristy]

Oh You can't go wrong with cresties, i don't keep any but i know a few people that do and they are so awesome. They look like they have a constant smile on their face. Maybe one of the keepers or breeders on here has a pic of one they could post when its all fired up. Their colors great so intense when they do that. Its awesome. I personally keep leos and they are equally awesome creatures but in different ways. They only thing I recommend is not getting a Tokay, i have seen some with a blue color with spots but they aren't the best geckos for handling, I have heard they can be quite mean and they have a nasty bite. But they are beautiful. Good luck on your quest for a gecko. No matter what you get I am sure you will thoroughly enjoy it and will end up addicted to them like most of us.
Kristy

 

[brandy101010]

Oh You can't go wrong with cresties, i don't keep any but i know a few people that do and they are so awesome. They look like they have a constant smile on their face. Maybe one of the keepers or breeders on here has a pic of one they could post when its all fired up. Their colors great so intense when they do that. Its awesome. I personally keep leos and they are equally awesome creatures but in different ways. They only thing I recommend is not getting a Tokay, i have seen some with a blue color with spots but they aren't the best geckos for handling, I have heard they can be quite mean and they have a nasty bite. But they are beautiful. Good luck on your quest for a gecko. No matter what you get I am sure you will thoroughly enjoy it and will end up addicted to them like most of us.
Kristy

Yes I have a tokay and he is beautiful, but they are more of a look but don't touch kinda gecko. Except when it's cage cleaning day...sometimes that can be a trip!

 

[gko reptiles]

I agree with the rest of my fellow posters. Cresteds are probably your best way to go. I've owned two (suprisingly they were both male and caged together, but they grew up together without a female so...) If you're not 100% set on a crestie, may I recommend NOT holding one!! The feel of a crested's feet is like nothing else and you will be instantly hooked! They feel like soft velvet, and you'll never want to put it down, so be careful! Oh yes, and they do climb on glass, quite happily might I add!

 

[RaiQuee]

The picture you have is a Strophus of some type. Now what is kinda neat about these geckos is that they have a bright blue mouth that they open when feeling threatened.

However, they can be flighty, are EXTREMELY hard to find, and when you do, carry a decent price tag, and are a bit more fragile than say a crested or leopard gecko.

I agree with crested, it would be your best bet.

 

[Milwaukee Reptiles]

Just as a side note, I work a lot with Gargoyle Geckos (Rhacodactylus auriculatus), which are almost exactly the same requirements as Cresteds, but their tails do grow back (slowly, but it happens). Something to consider if they are going to be handled a lot and you want to keep the tails (they really do nothing than offer some extra balance when climbing). They are not quite as sticky as some of the cresteds, but a few of mine have no problem sticking to glass. They also do a little color change throughout the day as well from light to dark. Gargoyles also tend to be a little more expensive for some of the color morphs.

My mom actually uses Gargoyles in her 6th grade science class to introduce the kids to them.

Lilo (Light phase):

Lilo (Dark Phase):

Crested Gecko:

 

[crestedgeckogirly]

Oh so the tail on a crested do's not grow back? (I dont have kids but you never know)

Also just out of interest on your site, You have this gecko.

Is that a crested gecko? If so it seems the crest is less prominent, Is it a juvenile?

Also i love Bitey He looks nice and friendly, though his name suggests otherwise?

Would you crested geckos are good climbers? (Can it climb smooth surfaces?) Would they require a vertical tank?

Nope, unfortunately their tails don't grow back.

Yes, that pic is of a juvie crested...their crests are usually more minimal when they are young, and that one is only about 2 months old in that picture.

Bitey got his name when he was a baby. Even though he was TINY he'd always try to bite me when I'd go to pick him up. Now he's a sweet as can be...he hasn't bitten me as an adult...but the name stuck

Yes, cresteds are EXCELLENT climbers, they can shoot right up a wall, curtain, arm or glass cage wall (or screen for that matter). And, as someone else pointed out, they are also excellent jumpers!

-Andrea