[pandaexpress]

Hi, I have a second floor apartment next to a zoo and across from a national park: even with a window screen, bugs have filed in here, acting like they own the place. Tonight I had an encounter with a brown recluse and managed to avoid being bitten, yet it scurried away as I tried to smash it.

After a little research, people recommend releasing a gecko in the home, as it eats all sorts of bugs. I've always thought geckos were cute pets; I never realized they held that kind of ability for the household. Before I go through with this plan, I was hoping you could answer a few questions (I'm reposting this in the Crested Gecko thread in case I've got the wrong gecko):

1. Is the leopard gecko the right gecko for the job? While I'm sure they're all bug killing professionals, I wouldn't want to choose a type of gecko that requires extreme maintenance. Just something small and hardy that can survive well and unnoticed around the apartment.

2. I am definitely invested in keeping this gecko healthy and watched after. Buying it as a pet, I have a responsibility as an owner to do so. Of course my two biggest concerns are food and water. There are bugs, but not enough to keep the gecko well fed for a year. Eventually the bug supply will dry out: how do I feed said gecko without having to release a bunch of crickets in my living room? As for water, I've seen the Rubbermaid make-ups that people keep inside their tanks: should I just leave that in a dark corner? Or if an actual dish of water a better idea?

3. Are there any other tips for general quality of life issues? I keep my apartment warm all winter (about 75-80 degrees) and the windows are almost always closed (and when they're open, I'm sitting next to them). There are no pesticides anywhere, no toxins on the floor, hardwood floors -- anything else I should do or not do?

Thank you everyone for your help. I really appreciate you taking your time to help a newbie like me. Any advice would be appreciated!

D


P.S. You can't believe my girlfriend's reaction when I told her my plan.

[OffshoreMetal]

Forget a about releasing a Leopard gecko in your house , It will die fast.
Look your other post, I posted a gecko specie tat would be perfect for you.
And they are really cute also, So your Gf probably wont be scared of them.
Releasing a crested gecko in my apartment?