Geckos are small lizards that are commonly found in warm climates throughout the world. They have a unique personality and can make chirping sounds to communicate with other geckos.
Although there are over 2000 types of geckos worldwide, only a few can be bred as a pet. Thus, what are the best beginner pet geckos that you can keep as pets? Read on to learn more!
Geckos are considered as suitable pet lizards that you can keep as a pet. Not only are they adorable pets, but they also require low maintenance to keep them happy and healthy. However, they have a varying level of care that you need to consider before choosing the suitable gecko for you.
In this article, we have helped highlight some of the best geckos suitable for beginner hobbyists.
Contents
Are Geckos Suitable As Pets?
Geckos are unique creatures that you can keep as a pet. Although geckos do not need much attention like dogs or cats, they need daily maintenance. Furthermore, geckos are going to be perfectly happy to be left alone while you go to work, unlike dogs.
However, the important diet of most geckos is live insects, and you should be ready to keep live insects in your house.
Things To Consider Before Choosing A Pet Gecko
Here are some of the things that you need to consider before you choose a pet gecko
Tank Mates
Some gecko species can be kept together in a tank, while others prefer to stay alone. If you plan to keep geckos with other geckos, you should consider if the geckos can stay together without any issue.
This is because some geckos can be aggressive to each other when kept together. Furthermore, you will also need to consider the size of your tank if you want to keep tank mates.
Budget
Although geckos are not as expensive as other conventional pets, some rare color morphs or species can be costly. However, if you add up the cost of a gecko tank, food, accessories, and lots more, the price of keeping a gecko can go up.
Furthermore, some geckos require little care to stay healthy, while others need optimal care to stay healthy. This is why you should consider your budget when it comes to choosing a pet gecko.
Availability Of The Pet In Pet Stores/Market
A beginner hobbyist should opt for a gecko that you can easily find. This is because the more available a pet is, the easier it is for beginners to learn about the gecko and even get help whenever they want.
The Gecko Should Be Hardy And Healthy
As a beginner hobbyist, it is best to opt for a gecko that is less prone to illnesses and injuries.
Size Of The Gecko
Most beginner hobbyists are usually more comfortable handling smaller gecko species. This is because you can keep them in a smaller habitat and need less expensive care to keep them happy.
However, you should also ensure that they are not too small as it can be very delicate to handle them.
Lifespan
Many geckos are unlike conventional pets, as they can live for a long time. However, the lifespan of each gecko can vary from one to another, and beginners should opt for a gecko with a long lifespan and also be ready for a long-time commitment.
Feeding
It is important to know your gecko diet before you choose a gecko. Most geckos are insectivorous, and they prefer live insects. You will first need to decide the insects that you plan to feed your gecko and how you want to get and store them.
However, you should avoid feeding your gecko with insects that you find outside because you don’t know if the insects have any chemicals in or on them.
Handling
Geckos respond differently to handling, and some love to be handled while others become stressed with handling. As a beginner hobbyist, it is best to opt for a gecko that you can handle without any stress.
Best Beginner Pet Geckos
Here are some of the best geckos that beginner hobbyists can keep as pets.
| Best Beginner Pet Gecko | Size | Cost |
| Leopard geckos | 7-10 inches | $30-$75 |
| Crested geckos | 6-10 inches | $50-$100 |
| African fat-tailed geckos | 7-10 inches | $75-$500 |
| Gargoyle gecko | 7-9 inches | $200-$500 |
| Gold-dust day gecko | 5-6 inches | $40-$250 |
| Chinese cave gecko | 8-9 inches | $90-$225 |
| Mediterranean house gecko | 4-5 inches | $5-$20 |
| Flying gecko | 6-8 inches | $25 |
| Common house gecko | 3-6 inches | $10 |
| Chahoua gecko | 10 inches | $450-$2000 |
| Madagascar ground gecko | 5 inches | $50-$125 |
| Frog eyed gecko | 5-8 inches | $60 |
Leopard Geckos
Leopard geckos are among the most popularly kept geckos in the reptile industry. They originate from the dry areas of Pakistan, and you can easily find them in burrows.
Leopard geckos are crepuscular species as they prefer to stay within their burrow and will come out briefly during the day to bask under the sun. They have a docile temperament and can be handled nearly every day.
It is also very easy to care for them, which makes them perfect for beginner hobbyists. Leopard geckos can grow to around 7-10 inches in length, and you can keep them in a 10-20 gallons enclosure. Furthermore, they have a long lifespan and can live for 10-20 years in captivity.
Crested Gecko
Crested geckos are popular gecko species, and they are named after their crests that run from their eyes down to their back. They are a unique gecko species, and you can identify them by their triangular-shaped heads and large round eyes.
They are suitable for beginner hobbyists because of their mind-blowing characteristics. They have a docile temperament, and it is very easy to maintain and care for them. Furthermore, you can easily handle them without any stress.
Crested geckos usually grow to about 6-10 inches in length and can live for around 15-20 years in captivity.
African Fat-Tailed Geckos
The African fat-tailed geckos originate from Africa and are a suitable pet for beginner hobbyists. They are quite similar to leopard geckos, but you can identify them by their large tail, which is about the same width as their head.
African fat-tailed geckos use their large tail for storing fat in the wild. Although they are docile geckos, it may take some time before they adjust to handling. Furthermore, they get more easily, unlike a leopard gecko.
They are easy to care for, and you can easily keep them in a 20-gallon tank, and you don’t need special UVB lighting to keep them happy. Just like leopard geckos, they can grow to around 7-10 inches in length and live for about 10-20 years in captivity.
Gargoyle Gecko
Gargoyle geckos are suitable pets for beginner hobbyists because they are easy to care for and maintain. They are unique geckos, and you can identify them by their leaf-like appearance. They are a semi-arboreal gecko species, and you can easily find them on the ground or up in the trees.
You will love them as they enjoy handling and frequent human interaction. Furthermore, they are nocturnal gecko species and do not need any special lighting to keep them happy. They usually grow to about 7-9 inches in length and can live for around 15-20 years under optimal care.
Gold-Dust Day Gecko
Gold-dust day gecko originates from Madagascar and in some Pacific Islands. They are usually green in color but usually have some gold specks on their dorsal side. Furthermore, they are small lizards and can only grow to around 5-6 inches in length.
Gold-dust day gecko is a shy reptile and needs around a 20-gallon tank with lots of logs and branches where they can hide. Furthermore, they enjoy climbing, and you will find them climbing the branches you provided for them.
Gold-dust day geckos are best kept as a display pet and are suitable for beginners who want to learn about caring for a lizard without interacting with them. This is because they easily get stressed, and their skin also tears easily.
However, they can live for around ten years under optimal care.
Chinese Cave Gecko
Chinese cave geckos are considered hardy gecko species suitable for beginner hobbyists. Although they belong to the same genus as leopard and African fat-tailed gecko, they are not as common.
Chinese caves are brown to purple in color, and you can identify them by their black and yellow spots and bands with their red eyes. They are docile geckos and are quite shy but can tolerate handling. They are nocturnal in nature and do not need any special lighting.
Chinese caves usually grow to around 8-9 inches in length and can live in a 10-gallon tank. They also have a long lifespan and can live for around 15 years under optimal care.
Mediterranean House Gecko
Mediterranean house geckos originate from southern Europe and Northern Africa. You can easily find them close or inside houses or offices. They have purple to tan coloration with dark spots, and you can identify them by their large round eyes.
Mediterranean house geckos are suitable for beginner hobbyists because they are hardy creatures and are quite comfortable living with humans. They usually grow to about 4-5 inches in length and can live happily in a tall 20-gallon enclosure.
They can also live for about 5-10 years under optimal care.
Flying Gecko
Flying geckos originate from Indonesia and are usually found high in the trees. You can easily identify them by their mossy appearance and have a brown, tan, and black coloration. They also have a flat tail and webbed toes, which they use to fly from one tree to another.
Flying geckos are suitable for beginners because they are very easy to care for in captivity. However, they are quite temperamental, and it is very hard to catch them.
Although they are 6-8 inches in length, they need a 50-gallon tank, and you will decorate it with dense branches and plants to keep them happy. They can live for around 5-8 years under optimal care.
Note: they are more suitable for adult beginners because they need a gentle and patient owner.
Common House Gecko
The common house gecko is also called the Asian house gecko. They have a similar appearance to the Mediterranean House Gecko but originate from southeast Asia. You can identify them by their tan bodies with large lidless eyes.
They are nocturnal gecko species, and you will find them close to artificial light sources at night. They are suitable for beginner hobbyists because they are low-maintenance geckos and can be found in homes. However, they are very quick and don’t like handling very much.
They can grow to about 3-6 inches in length and can live for around five years under optimal care.
Chahoua Gecko
Chahoua geckos originate from New Caledonia, and you can find them in the rainforest’s treetops. They are also called the New Caledonian Mossy prehensile-tailed gecko. They are suitable for beginner hobbyists because they are low maintenance.
Furthermore, they are nocturnal geckos and don’t need additional lighting to make them healthy. You will find them in green, red, and brown colors, which helps them to blend in with their surroundings. They are friendly geckos and enjoy occasional handling.
They can grow to about 10 inches in length and can live for 20 years under optimal care. However, they are quite expensive, and you can get a juvenile for about $2000.
Madagascar Ground Gecko
Madagascar ground geckos are also known as Madagascar Ocelot and Madagascar Panther geckos. You will love them because of their unique color patterns. They have a brick-red body with brown, white, and tan mottling that match their auburn eyes.
Although there are 22 different subspecies of Madagascar Ground Gecko, the best species that you can keep as a pet is the Paroedura pictus. They are terrestrial geckos, and you don’t need to provide a tall tank to make them happy.
The Madagascar ground geckos are usually small in size (5 inches) and can easily thrive in a 10-gallon tank. Furthermore, they have a docile temperament and will tolerate infrequent handling. They can live for about 6-10 years under optimal care.
Frog Eyed Geckos
Although frog-eyed geckos look similar to leopard geckos, they are stockier and don’t have vivid patterns on their body. You will find them in white and yellow-tan color with brown and tan mottled spots covering their backside and head.
Frog-eyed geckos are terrestrial geckos and can tolerate lower temperatures and high humidity. However, they are more suitable for a patient beginner or advanced keeper. This is because they require special attention and are not that outgoing like many other gecko species.
Furthermore, they are best kept as a display pet because handling usually stresses them, and they can easily lose their tail. They can grow to about 5-8 inches in length and live for around 20 years under optimal care.
Wrapping Up
Geckos are unique and interesting reptiles that you can keep as a pet. Although there is a wide range of gecko species suitable for beginner hobbyists, you will surely find them as a rewarding pet.
Furthermore, caring and interacting with geckos are mind-blowing, and you and your family will enjoy the whole experience.