Geckos and other Lizards

Small lizards or geckos can make excellent and attractive reptile pets. They are generally easy to keep requiring a vivarium kept between 25-30°C. Their diet is generally crickets and small locusts but should include a mineral/vitamin additive. A full-spectrum ultra-violet light should be used for 12 hours a day. Many species are easy to breed and thus provide a really interesting pet. Some species, as discussed below, are readily handlable while others are quite aggressive. This can result not only in problems with owner-pet interactions but also inter animal aggression between males. Thus it is important to know what one is purchasing when aiming to obtain such a pet.

Leopard Gecko

The Leopard Gecko, Eublepharus maculatus is an attractive yellow and black spotted reptile up to 25 cm (10 ins) long. The animal is readily handlable but males kept together may show inter-animal rivalry and aggression - they should be housed separately or with several females. Sexes can be differentiated since the males are larger and have preanal pores. These animals should be kept at between 25-30°C (day) and 20-25°C (night). Animals become sexually mature in their second year of life. Eggs are laid by being buried in substrate, thus a deep layer of vermiculite or sand should be provided. Eggs hatch at around 9 to 14 weeks depending on environmental temperature. Young Leopard Geckos are more brightly coloured than the adults and are banded rather than spotted. The geckos are crepuscular, being active particularly at dawn and dusk although through the day they can be active and provide a stimulating and interesting pet.

Tokay Gecko

The attractive blue and orange spotted Tokay Gecko, Gecko gecko originates, like the Leopard Gecko, from Asia and hence has similar environmental requirements. Unlike the Leopard Gecko however, the Tokay Gecko is generally an aggressive animal with a powerful bite. Unlike the leopard gecko the Tokay is a climbing species. They will eat adult crickets or small locusts and even take pinky mice if they are offered. After mating the eggs are often laid on the glass sides of the vivarium from which they can be difficult to remove without damaging them. If this is a problem the eggs can be covered with a ventilated thin plastic container. A better solution is to provide a length of hollow plastic tubing in which the female will lay the eggs, allowing them to be removed for incubation. The eggs may take from 3 months up to 6 months to hatch. They are also quite noisy and make a loud barking sound in the evenings.

Day Gecko

The Day Gecko, Phelsuma cepediana originates from islands in the Indian ocean. Individuals range in size from 10 cm (4 ins) to the Madagascan subspecies of 25 cm (10 in) long. Their green colour with bright red or orange spots can vary between individuals and may darken in a stressed or sick animal. The gecko feeds on nectar in the wild and this can be mimicked by honey in captivity. As their name suggests they are active predominantly during the day - their round pupils as compared to the slit pupils of other geckos show this to be the case. The males of this species are highly territorial and should not be housed together. Males and females can happily be housed as a pair they are highly fertile and have been reported to lay as many as 24 clutches of eggs in a year. Because of this they should be provided with a calcium/Vitamin D3 source to prevent problems with egg production and laying. They are extremely nervous and are very likely to shed their tail (autotomy) unless handled very gently and not startled.

 Wall Lizard

Coming from Western Europe these animals, Lacerta muralis or Podarcis muralis can be kept at a lower temperature than the geckos noted above. Nevertheless a range from 22-26°C (72-79°F) is ideal. They live happily in groups in a vivarium as in the wild. They are insectivorous and voracious (enthusiastic) feeders. Occasionally black individuals are found - these melanistic mutants are healthy and normal.

Green or Emerald Lizard

These colourful animals, Lacerta viridis are distributed in the Mediterranean region and can survive in a range of temperatures. Keeping one end of the vivarium at 27°C (81°F) and the other at 21°C (70°F) will allow the lizards to choose their own optimal temperature zone. The lizards can be housed outside during a warm summer or in a conservatory. The lizards live in a social group with a dominant male - watch that this individual does not persecute animals lower down the social hierarchy. These lizards will grow up to 40 cm (1.4 ft) long but most are around half this length. The diet is mainly insects. This particular species is a good reptile to keep in captivity although has a propensity to shed its tail by autotomy if roughly handled. While this does not cause undue harm to the animal it can be distressing for the handler and should be avoided by gentle handling.

Five Lined Skink

This lizard, Eumeces fasciatus from North America again needs a temperature range from 20-30°C (68-86°F). Young skinks have bright blue tails which again can readily be shed in the presence of a predator or an over-exuberant handler! These animals are quite secretive and require a good number of hiding places provided in their vivarium. Females lay up to 12 eggs in the substrate and have been known to incubate them in some subspecies.