What to feed your gecko: Make sure to eat live food. Discussion on LiveInternet

Geckos have taken pride of place among the exotic animals kept in captivity. Reptile lovers should know what to feed their geckos and be prepared to provide their pets with fresh, and preferably mobile, food.

Author: Anna Gerasimova

In the wild, geckos feed primarily on insects . In the tropics in the evenings you can often see several lizards around a burning light bulb. They wait for night bugs and butterflies that flock to the light. When kept in captivity, the owner must take care of live food for the gecko, because they most often refuse to eat dead insects. Having learned about what to feed geckos, many give up the idea of keeping lizards.

Leopard gecko as a pet

Geckos are tamed and easily make contact with their owner, distinguishing the person they are accustomed to from other people. Serious breeders claim that the animals do not experience pleasure from this, and they can easily get stressed from “squeezing,” but nevertheless, it is not noticeable from the behavior of the lizards that they do not like spending time in their arms. In visiting “touching” zoos, geckos are constantly touched by small visitors, and this does not cause any harm to the animals. Follow simple rules:

do not take the animal from above (lizards regard this as a threat of attack, because in nature their enemies (birds of prey, for example) attack from above;
do not grab the tail, because the leopard gecko can throw it off, and although a new one will grow over time, it will no longer be as beautiful;
The gecko must be taken from below, under the abdomen and “by the waist” - between the front and back pair of legs.

Leopard geckos can quietly bask on your neck for a long time when you are sitting at the computer. They can run briskly around the house if you let them out (but don’t let them run far, lizards easily dive into any cracks, and then try to get them out of there).

Leopard geckos can watch TV; changing pictures attract them as much as any moving objects.

If you feed the lizard at the same time every time, after a few weeks it will get used to the regime and will come out of the shelter into the open in anticipation of feeding. Geckos are clean. They easily learn to go to the toilet on a napkin lying in the corner of the terrarium, so their home is very easy to clean.

Appearance

The gecko is a lizard with many faces. It can be tiny and medium in size. The largest representative of the family is the South Asian toki, it grows up to 350 - 360 mm.

Interesting! The smallest reptile on Earth is the Virginian representative of the species; the length of this little one does not exceed 18 mm.

Geckos have:

large head;
dense, flattened body;
short limbs;
thick tail of moderate length.

A good designer worked on the coloring of these animals. Skin color can be very unusual. There are individuals whose bodies imitate tree bark, moss, leaves or sand

The skin of these lizards is delicate, covered with small granular scales, among which regular or chaotic rows of large scales are visible.

A good designer worked on the coloring of the geckos. Skin color, like that of salamanders , can be very unusual.

There are specimens whose bodies imitate tree bark, moss, leaves or sand. Some handsome guys are even capable, like chameleons , of changing their color from time to time.

But the most interesting part of the animal’s body is its limbs. Scientists divide geckos into groups based on their limbs:

bare-toed;
deciduous;
thin-toed;
fan-toed;
round-toed and others.

Each paw has millions of small claws, hairs or projections that are invisible to the human eye.

These devices help individuals run on glass without effort and even hang upside down.

Geckos' tails like to fall off when in danger. Instead of a worn tail, a new one grows, but it will not become more beautiful than the old one, quite the opposite. Geckos must be handled with care

How long does a gecko live?

The leopard gecko lives in captivity much longer than in nature, up to 15 - 20 years (while the gecko lives in freedom for only 5 years). Caring for a leopard gecko is not difficult, especially if you do not plan to breed these lizards. He needs a terrarium, heating in the cold season, water and food. Detailed information about the conditions of keeping leopard geckos can be found on specialized websites. Equipping housing and creating the necessary conditions for geckos is quite simple and inexpensive.

Features of life in nature

These cute lizards live in vast areas with tropical and subtropical climates: in Southern Europe, North America, Africa and Asia, Madagascar, Australia and New Zealand. A comfortable temperature for them is usually 25-30°C.

Many species are predominantly nocturnal, but some prefer twilight or daylight. They can live both in trees and on the ground - it all depends on the specific species.

Some species of geckos living in deserts and semi-deserts do not have the ability to run on smooth vertical surfaces, but they can run on loose sand without falling through.

The diet of almost all geckos is based on a variety of insects, but there are species that also eat fruits and berries. Another feature of this animal is the ability to make a variety of sounds.

This may be hissing, crackling and rustling of scales, whistling and squeaking. During the mating season, such sounds are especially strong.

Did you know? The name "gecko" comes from the characteristic sound made by one of the species of this animal, widespread in Africa.

What does a gecko eat?

Perhaps the food preferences of leopard geckos are the only thing that stops you from immediately purchasing these animals, and makes you think about your choice again. Leopard geckos feed primarily on crickets or cockroaches. Alive. If it were not for the need to keep a supply of live food at home, geckos would be the best pets in the world . You can give zofobas and mealworms, but not constantly, but to diversify the diet. The leopard gecko needs to be fed daily while it is small, up to six months, and then meals can be reduced to several times a week. But a box (box, cage) with cockroaches or crickets should be in your house; moreover, the insects need to be fed in a timely and nutritious manner: oatmeal, fruits, herbs, so that the lizard then receives enough nutrients from well-fed insects.

On the plus side, it is worth noting that the gecko can easily be left alone at home in the summer and go on vacation for 2-3 weeks. The pet will probably lose a little weight, but will not experience hunger pangs; the nutrients accumulated in the tail will be enough for him.

You can catch insects in the fields yourself . But before you feed them to your gecko, consider whether they have been treated with pesticides. You can buy safe food in specialized pet stores. The most popular are crickets . Many gecko breeders simultaneously breed a colony of cockroaches . They are very nutritious, multiply easily, but if you are not careful, they can scatter throughout the apartment.

Larger gecko species will also eat baby mice or snakes. Occasionally they need such animal food even in captivity.

Where to buy a gecko

Every store selling animals has a selection of reptiles. The gecko is a popular lizard, so their choice is always quite varied. In Moscow, we advise you to contact the Gekko terrarium workshop. This is a specialized pet store that deals exclusively with terrarium animals.

In addition, here you can pick up all the necessary equipment and accessories for keeping reptiles. These include terrariums of different sizes from different manufacturers, lamps, heating devices, and heating mats. Here you will be offered various types of soil, select plants, drinking bowls and waterfalls, and select dry and live food.

How to monitor your pet's health

Checking lizard skin. When it changes its skin it may look flaky, this is normal. However, if flakes accumulate on his tail and around his toes, he may need a bath. If his skin looks abnormal, take him to a veterinarian who treats lizards. Pay attention to his eating habits. He eats insects, what do you give him? If he misses lunch, try again the next day. If he misses more than one meal, contact your veterinarian.

Pay attention to his bathroom habits. If he is not defecating as often as usual, or if his feces are watery, also contact your veterinarian. Typically, leopard geckos are gentle and somewhat social, and are able to remember their owners. If your gecko avoids you when he is usually playful or becomes aggressive, he may be in pain. With proper care, female geckos live from 6 to 10 years; males live longer, up to 20 years.

The price in Russia for geckos starts from 3 thousand rubles; depending on the species, there are also expensive individuals (15,000 or more).
Exotic

Species and habitats

Scientists know several species of leopard geckos, which differ in appearance and live in different places. Here are the most popular ones:

The Iranian leopard gecko (Eublepharis angramainyu) is an inhabitant of Iran, Iraq, Turkey and Syria. Its dimensions are quite modest - no more than 14.7 cm from the nose to the base of the tail. The head reaches 3.9 cm in length and 3.2 cm in width, and the tail is approximately 10 cm long.

There are several varieties of geckos, differing in habitat and color.

The Turkmen leopard gecko (Eublepharis turcmenicus) lives in northern Iran, the central and western mountains of Turkmenistan and the Turkmen-Khorasan mountains. It is even more miniature: its body length is up to 14.5 cm, and its tail is up to 9.4 cm. The male is usually much larger than the female. The maximum weight of a gecko is 65 g. Distinctive features of this species: a thickening of the tail in the middle and a large head, clearly separated from the body.
The East Indian leopard gecko or Hardwick's gecko (Eublepharis hardwickii) lives in Eastern India, Bangladesh, and West Bengal. This is a large species, growing up to 23 cm in length. It has short legs and small fingers, and its body is dense and strong. The holes in the ears are large and oval in shape.
West Indian leopard gecko (Eublepharis fuscus) - found mainly in Western India and south-eastern Pakistan. Its head and paws are covered with flat scales, and a characteristic spotted pattern can be seen on its back. This type of gecko is one of the most popular among reptile lovers.

The most popular among gecko breeders is the West Indian leopard gecko.

Eublepharis satpuraensis is a new, recently discovered species of gecko endemic to some states of India and the Satpura hill zone. It is medium in size - an adult does not exceed 13 cm in length. You can distinguish it from others by three stripes of light shades running from the back of the head to the tail.

However, the most famous among terrarium enthusiasts remains the species Eublepharis macularius - the largest and best adapted for life in captivity.

Does it need to be washed?

Don't bathe your gecko unless necessary. They do not require bathing unless they are very dirty, have skin problems, or suffer from an ailment for which a veterinarian has recommended bathing.

Pour warm water about 30 degrees Celsius approximately 2 centimeters deep. Add a drop of medicine or mineral oil if prescribed to you. Place your pet in the water. Gently pour water onto your back. Once he is completely wet, you can use a cotton pad to gently wipe his skin. Don't rub too hard and never try to remove flakes of skin. If his skin is very flaky, you can scrub lightly with a soft toothbrush. Use a dry cloth or paper towel to dry your gecko.

What is the difference between a gecko and a lizard?

It is very difficult to answer this question; all lizards are classified as the largest group of reptiles. Geckos are only representatives of one family from the order of prehensile-tailed lizards. The group does not include snakes and two-year-olds. Although according to its cladistic principles, the snake is a descendant of the lizard, although it is placed in a separate order.

The most noticeable feature of all representatives of this family is scales on the skin and all representatives are cold-blooded. As of 2021, The Reptile Databse lists 6,332 species.

Contents in a terrarium

Before you get a Gecko at home, you need to buy a terrarium or make one yourself. Horizontal or vertical - depends on the type of individual: the first is suitable for reptiles whose natural habitat is deserts and steppes (stones and some plants should be laid out along the bottom), and the second will appeal to those who like to climb trees (large branches and shelves will be needed inside) .

A lid, as well as a container of water, are required.

The following is suitable as bedding for covering the bottom with a slight degree of humidity:

cypress mulch;
coconut flakes;
gravel (large pieces).

The layer of filler should be 8-10 cm. The lizard often eats it along with food, this causes blockage of the digestive tract, respiratory tract and leads to the death of the pet. This must be taken into account when choosing soil; the size of its fractions should exclude this possibility.

During the daytime, you need to maintain the temperature at +30...+35 °C, reducing the value by 6-8 °C at night. To create an optimal microclimate inside the terrarium, houseplants will do. Only day geckos need regular exposure to ultraviolet light.

It is recommended to maintain air humidity within 65-80%. For this purpose, you can spray with warm water 1-2 times a day. It should be remembered that if the air in the terrarium is too dry, the pet will not be able to safely change its skin and will die. After all, geckos molt regularly, especially during the growth period (up to twice a month).

Slots covered with mesh will provide ventilation. It is also urgently needed; it helps prevent the processes of rotting and the formation of pathogenic bacteria in the tank.

Regular washing of the terrarium will be required in a specially designated room without the use of chemicals, since when contaminated, individuals can be carriers of life-threatening diseases.