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Anonymous
I'm thinking of getting a gecko/geckos, although I'm completely new to keeping reptiles as a pet. I've only had fish and dogs in the past, nothing too fancy.
Does /an/ have any advice, tips, comments on how fun it is, etc? Is it worth it? Reptiles being my favourite species.
>> Anonymous
Look into crested geckos they dont need special lighting and can live at room temperature.
>> Anonymous
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>> Anonymous
Leopard geckos are another popular choice, easy to care for and generally quite hardy and longer lived.
>> Anonymous
>>248714
I've been to some stores and done some research, and those do seem appealing.
>> Anonymous
I'm moving in 2 years to live with different people and I'm leaving alot of my old stuff behind, should I wait until I've moved to get the geckos?
>> Anonymous
>>248714
they can run kinda pricey though.
>> Anonymous
>>248721
>they can run kinda pricey though.
incorrect, you CAN spend hundreds on Leopard geckos however they can cost as little as $20 for normal colors, albinos are slightly more, the are many color variations

Also check out African flat tailed gecko, its similar to leopard geckos but looks cooler in my opinion
>> Anonymous
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>> Anonymous
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adding to my other post>>248731
This if a african flat tailed gecko, they are slightly smaller then leopard geckos and a shyer, however the one i owned was very easy to tame and would walk onto my hand if i placed it in his tank, They like higher humidity then leopard geckos, This can be achieved by spraying the inside of his tank with a water bottle once or twice a day, very docile and friendly
>> Anonymous
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another AFT
>> Anonymous
Im bored so here is some advice about afts/leos

All sand runs a risk of harming your gecko, They accidental eat it when grabbing food id recommend using paper towels/reptile carpet or something similar. Some company offer digestible sand and may have less of a chance of harming your gecko but to be safe i suggest staying away from it, Another cool think about afts/leos is they shit in the same place every time, if you use paper towels you can just remove the one sheet in the area they crap for easy cleaning.

ive only ever used heat mats they are cheap, never had one fail in five years, get a thermostat if you can afford one to regulate the heat better

When you first get your gecko leave it the fuck alone, dont pick it up, leave it for as long as possible to settle in, i didnt even try to pick mine up for the first week, less stress means they are more likely to start eating strait away, stressed leos/afts are known not to eat until they starve to death.

Buy your leo young as you can as it will be easier to tame, try putting your hand slowly next to it laying it flat, let it walk onto your hand instead of picking it up, they dont like fast movement

when leos/afts shed there skin the it can sometimes get stuck on there toes and they will drop off! keep an eye on them when they shed to make sure all the skin is gone, its worth checking when buying a gecko that it has all its toes and fingers


thats all i can think of now, everyone will tell you conflicting information about keeping lizards but this is what works for me
>> Anonymous
>>248744
toes, my bad
>> Anonymous
>>248744

>>when leos/afts shed there skin the it can sometimes get stuck on there toes and they will drop off! keep an eye on them when they shed to make sure all the skin is gone, its worth checking when buying a gecko that it has all its toes and fingers

what do you do if this happens though?
>> Anonymous
>>248753

If that does happen, you can give them a bath in very shallow, warm water. That usually helps the skin come off.
To prevent it from happening, spray the cage with a squirt bottle around shedding time. This helps the skin come off better.

Happened to my girl Leo. She's lost some fingers from it, sadly...
>> Anonymous
Most eublepharine geckos make good pets; for beginners leopard geckos (I've got one that's over 20 years old I got when I was 8) and african fat-tails are great if you want something you can handle, and some of the hardier north american banded species are less willing to be handled but can be kept in a small colony without having to invest too heavily in a larger tank.

New Caledonian Crested Geckos also make great beginner reptiles.

None of the aforementioned species necessarily require full-spectrum lighting, as they're nocturnal, though a day/night cycle with a full spectrum lamp or access to a glassless open window during daylight hours is beneficial provided they're able to retreat from the light. Occasionally they'll bask, despite being nocturnal.

With eublepharines problems moulting often occurs with older/ill animals but shouldn't occur with healthy animals under the correct conditions. The desert species should always be provided with a humid spot, typically a decorative log or cave with peat moss and a wad of sphagnum misted once or twice daily with warm water. A lot of people neglect to provide this.
>> Anonymous
Reptiles is not a species.