Disclaimer: We successfully captured a gecko and he has remained a pet. Yes. A pet. I know you must see dozens of these in your home. Here is my recollection of our “gecko capture” that quickly turned into a pet. I assure you, I had let many of these go. However, we kept ours this time. And I have turned into a house gecko pet fan. These guys are fairly “low-maintenance.” We found they are quiet, not stinky, and do not need a lot of attention or space, plus…they are kind of cute.
“What should I name him?” my 8-year old son Caleb asked.
Caleb caught a gecko in the house at approximately 3:52PM. And this was quite the catch.
Caleb continued, “Just so you know, they can live up to 29 years!”
Great.
I have experienced this parenting crossroads many times before. Conversation in my head begins with: Do we keep the critter for a little while and then when the excitement wears off, carefully let it “escape” OR immediately put down the foot and say a bold, “No, absolutely not. We are NOT keeping it!”
This time, Caleb’s excitement factor was way off the charts.
“He looks like a dinosaur!”
This moment in time, we have successfully caught the gecko. The gecko is looking at me in the mason jar covered with an innovative kitchen supply (Saran wrap) complete with air holes.
Impressed by our catch, I entertained the idea of keeping him. This was a much LARGER gecko, after all. We had caught many house geckos times before this one and I have to admit…this one was worth considering.
We piled into the cold car. My mothering senses kicked-in. It was late November and quite cold for anything to stay alive outside. Letting him go would not be an option. Decidedly at this point, there was no backing out of the gecko now taking up more of an established residence in our home.
“Mom, good job keeping the car warm. Our reptile is cozy in here. Remember, they don’t have any extra body heat,” Caleb encouraged.
“Yes. We will keep him.” I became a hero in my son’s eyes. I must have surprised him with this exciting news.
I am always a fan of going directly to the experts in any situation. Caring for lizards or geckos is not my strong suit. Here is what I learned from the local pet store about how to care for a house gecko.
Overall, the list is fairly simple.
You need a glass aquarium with a lid. Geckos are little escape artists.
UVB light is important since these little guys are cold-blooded creatures and they require outside warmth to function.
Flooring that is easy to clean is necessary. We purchased reptile carpet from the pet store, though paper towels or newspaper could work too and easy to change out.
Hiding places are key to a happy gecko! We made the environment as “real” as possible with a hiding log and branches. This was fun to imagine with Caleb; it was truly his favorite part!
Water and food. Don’t panic when you see the mealworms. They come in little containers. The pet store gave me careful instructions on how to feed the gecko.
Cleaning the tank. Removing all objects and transporting the gecko when the areas smell musty.
What we learned about pet Geckos:
House geckos live up to five years.
Geckos do best alone. Multiple geckos could fight.
Geckos usually sleep during the day.
Wash your hands well after handling.
Overall, I am happy we kept the gecko. He is decked out in his deluxe aquarium penthouse with multiple climbing objects and is fairly easy to care for. I let Caleb be in charge of the mealworm part. He loves digging for the worms to feed Draco, and Caleb likes checking this off his chore chart.
