Pet Talk: How do you best care for a lizard?

DEAR PET TALK: I am fascinated with reptiles — how complicated is their care? What is the best habitat for a lizard? —Lonely for Lizards DEAR LONELY FOR LIZARDS: I have saved this question for a week when our “Pet of the Week” has a complex skin surface, vs. fur! Let’s focus on geckos right now — a very widespread little reptile found on every continent except Antarctica. You are correct by assuming their care is complicated, although, in their native environments (tropical or desert), they do just fine, of course.

The challenge is creating a small environment that will replicate what their bodies have been experiencing for a long time — some 200 million years! The fossil record indicates that Geckos emerged as a distinct group during the late Jurassic period. This is after the breakup of the super-continents, so we find a wide range of diversity in these charming little lizards. Leopard geckos are very popular and can be a fascinating pet.



But they can be tricky, so researching their needs must be your first step. A 15 to 20 gallon aquarium is the right size for one or two geckos (from hatchlings to adults). If you are housing two leopard geckos, make sure they are female, as the males (once sexually mature) can be territorial, which leads to fighting.

This container should be at least 12 inches tall, with a screen top, and must have good ventilation, and a light fixture. Their home should also include a “hide” which will have higher humidity, on the hot side of the enclosure. Look online on how to create one of these; including live moss which is sprayed regularly with clean water increases the humidity.

This helps a leopard gecko shed her skin safely. You’ll want a hygrometer, to measure the humidity. The temperature gradient should range from 80-90 degrees to 70-75 degrees, Fahrenheit.

This range gives your gecko warmth and cool in the same space. Speaking of space, your gecko would like lots of space for exploring. Branches are key, because geckos also want a place to hide out.

Real plants (non-toxic, of course), hollowed out logs and rocks can make a natural environment for these small creatures. In nature, leopard geckos live primarily on the ground, and adapted to environments with rocky and clay soils. Your gecko will want to feed on living food — such as crickets, calciworms, and locusts.

Most large pet stores will have such feeder insects. Geckos can live for 6 years, or much longer, depending on how well they thrive in your care. Please report back if you move forward with an interesting and unusual pet such as these! Sally Cragin is the director of Be PAWSitive: Therapy Pets and Community Education.

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