Thinking about a Gecko for a pet.

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M

MX2

Lifer
Apr 11, 2004
18,651
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I dont want to do fish for the kids because as I remember it when I was little it was kind of a pain. I also dont want hamsters or gerbils running around right now.

I figure for a first pet, this seems like a somewhat cleaner, and overall easier first adventure for them.

Anyone been there, done that?
 
N

nutxo

Diamond Member
May 20, 2001
6,825
504
126
Originally posted by: MX2times
I dont want to do fish for the kids because as I remember it when I was little it was kind of a pain. I also dont want hamsters or gerbils running around right now.

I figure for a first pet, this seems like a somewhat cleaner, and overall easier first adventure for them.

Anyone been there, done that?
Click to expand...


MY boy has a leapord gecko. Its kinda cool . They do get away pretty easy though. We turned off the heat and turned on a portable heater and the next morning he was on the heater.
 
M

MX2

Lifer
Apr 11, 2004
18,651
1
0
Originally posted by: nutxo
MY boy has a leapord gecko. Its kinda cool . They do get away pretty easy though. We turned off the heat and turned on a portable heater and the next morning he was on the heater.
Click to expand...
It was just hanging out down there?
 
A

amicold

Platinum Member
Feb 7, 2005
2,656
1
81
They're kinda hard a pain to take care of. Make sure you have proper heat and food and water and everything, or they won't grow to full potential. Get babies too, and treat them well. Live food works best, they like to hunt.
 
M

MX2

Lifer
Apr 11, 2004
18,651
1
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The only real issues I could imagine is keeping a small stash of fresh insects availble. Although a small container to house them would be suitable with trips to the pet store twice a week I guess.

They sell 15-20 gallon "ready to go" setups for fairly cheap. You get the aquarium a rock or three, a hollow log, heatlamp, water dish, etc. How hard could it be after that?
 
B

BooGiMaN

Diamond Member
Jul 5, 2001
7,955
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Originally posted by: MX2times
The only real issues I could imagine is keeping a small stash of fresh insects availble. Although a small container to house them would be suitable with trips to the pet store twice a week I guess.

They sell 15-20 gallon "ready to go" setups for fairly cheap. You get the aquarium a rock or three, a hollow log, heatlamp, water dish, etc. How hard could it be after that?
Click to expand...

famous last words ay....:p

actually i was thinkign of getting a chameleon for my son..until i saw how they can carry salmonella and that they can be finicky and get sick easily
 
L

lytalbayre

Senior member
Apr 28, 2005
842
2
81
Reptiles, as a general rule are relatively high-maintenance. (heat, humidity, temperment, vitamins...etc) How old are your kids??

Just like a fish tank, reptile terrariums need to be cleaned out every so often cause the lizard does have a normal digestive system...

I think the easiest pet around is a cat. They basically take care of themselves. Change the litter, give the food, and your all set.
 
L

leon94

Banned
May 11, 2006
462
0
0
Dog or cat would be better.

They can go with you anywhere you go and its always a lot of fun.
 
K

kogase

Diamond Member
Sep 8, 2004
5,213
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0
My cousin had a lizard of some sort. My dad was asked to go feed it one day and found it dead and dry. Dry like a breadstick, completely dried out.
 
D

dnuggett

Diamond Member
Sep 13, 2003
6,703
0
76
I have a ton of house geckos outside my house over the summer. Don't look like anything special to me.
 
ZombieRitual

ZombieRitual

Member
Apr 13, 2006
119
0
0
Bearded dragons are supposed to be incredibly easy to care for. I also understand that leopard geckos are pretty easy too. If you don't want to deal with bugs, you can go with a corn snake. They're hardy little bastards, you'd practically have to TRY to mess it up. With corn snakes you only have to feed them mice and just once a week at that. Plus you can go two, even three weeks or a month without feeding them, so vacations aren't a big deal. If you're squeamish, you can feed them frozen mice from Petsmart too, though you would have to thaw them out before feeding them to your snake.
 
I

imported_Ishamael

Member
Apr 28, 2006
56
0
0
Never had a gecko, though I have lots of reptile experience. I live in Australia, and currently have two bluetongues, a shingleback (or sleepy/stumpy lizaed), and an inland bearded dragon as pets. I've been keeping reptiles for over 17 years now. I have pics of them all if you'd like to see :p
 
Gooberlx2

Gooberlx2

Lifer
May 4, 2001
15,381
6
91
Originally posted by: BooGiMaN
Originally posted by: MX2times
The only real issues I could imagine is keeping a small stash of fresh insects availble. Although a small container to house them would be suitable with trips to the pet store twice a week I guess.

They sell 15-20 gallon "ready to go" setups for fairly cheap. You get the aquarium a rock or three, a hollow log, heatlamp, water dish, etc. How hard could it be after that?
Click to expand...

famous last words ay....:p

actually i was thinkign of getting a chameleon for my son..until i saw how they can carry salmonella and that they can be finicky and get sick easily
Click to expand...

I've seen quite a few chameleons with metabolic bone disease. It's sad 'cause they basically have an inability to properly utilize calcium and vitamin D3. Their bones kinda turn to mush over time and die.

Overall, though, reptiles are fairly easy to keep. I'd honestly recommend something beginner's constrictor (like a corn/milk snake, ball python, red-tail boa, etc..). They're about as easy as it gets....just be sure there's enough room for them and the lid's tight or they'll escape.
 
T

TheNinja

Lifer
Jan 22, 2003
12,207
1
0
Just make sure you give it some pie and chips....I mean there's pie and then chips..for free!
 
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