ideas for next gecko species?

[new_rory]

I'm starting to think ahead (way ahead) to the next gecko I'd like to get but I can't decide which type. There are so many that I'm not even sure where I want to start looking. There are a few things I do know I'm looking for though.

1. something that will be active in the day and not hiding all the time (my leos mainly come out in the evening or when they think they'll be fed, and my turner's only comes out when he's being fed and no one is near his cage - I'm sure they all come out and wander at night though)

2. something that won't require a massive setup (40 gallon breeder or something similar is about as big as I can go) or a very expensive setup

3. I'm ok with feeding mealworms (and crickets and other bugs I suppose) but something that doesn't eat insects would be a nice change

4. can't be too expensive

5. it would be nice if I could have a little group of them in one enclosure

6. Tokay's appeal to me because of their coloring, micro geckos appeal to me because they are little :biggrin: , I think ones that can climb are a nice change from my leos, I've always wanted a Chinese Water Dragon - but we don't have a good place for one right now. I'm open to lizards or geckos or even salamanders, maybe frogs - but no snakes.

7. doesn't have to be a beginner lizard, but I've only have leos and my turner's gecko, although I've kept some delicate species of fish in the past. Something not too difficult would be good.

Any ideas of what I should research more?

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

What about Lepidodactylus lugubris (mourning geckos)? They're right under 4 inches fully grown, 1.75 inches as hatchlings. They are parthenogenetic, prolific, and make little clicking sounds. Their eggs are easy to hatch at average room temps. However, the moms will eat the babies.

You could keep several in a 20 gallon regular and sell the offspring at reptile shows.

 

[new_rory]

Once my new tanks get here I'll have a 20 tall and a 29 that will be empty. How many could fit in either of those tanks? And could I keep just females so there aren't babies? There doesn't seem to be a ton of interest in geckos in my area so I don't really want to have a ton of babies. Would a front opening tank be better for them? I could always wait until I've saved up for another of the exo terra tanks like I've got coming for my other geckos.

I'll look into them more. I'm guessing they eat bugs and probably aren't ones you can really handle since they're so small?

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Once my new tanks get here I'll have a 20 tall and a 29 that will be empty. How many could fit in either of those tanks? And could I keep just females so there aren't babies? There doesn't seem to be a ton of interest in geckos in my area so I don't really want to have a ton of babies. Would a front opening tank be better for them? I could always wait until I've saved up for another of the exo terra tanks like I've got coming for my other geckos.

I'll look into them more. I'm guessing they eat bugs and probably aren't ones you can really handle since they're so small?

Maybe 4 or so in either vacant tank with lots of hiding places? Thing is there is no stopping the eggs. These "guys" have it all. They don't need males to reproduce! You could always squish the eggs, and "recycle" the yolks back to the moms kinda like eggnog.

Click: http://www.geckosunlimited.com/comm...date.html?highlight=Mourning+gecko+care+sheet

PS: I just wish you ordered at least a 24 x 18 for your leo.

 

[new_rory]

Maybe next time they go on sale I'll upgrade the leo and give his current tank to something else. He actually has multi-level hide that he utilizes quite a bit which gives him more space (and will still fit in his new tank).

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Mourning geckos don't need a front opening tank. They are escape artists! They will find any little passageway in your Exo Terra and "disappear".

They do eat bugs. They'll do fine on small crickets. You can raise the offspring on vestigial winged fruit flies or Pangea's Complete Diet with Insects.

 

[new_rory]

Those do look like cool little guys. And really easy to keep. I didn't see anything about them needing a UTH or overhead heat (the temperature range is roughly what my house temp is kept at anyway). Feeding them some baby food seems fun.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Those do look like cool little guys. And really easy to keep. I didn't see anything about them needing a UTH or overhead heat (the temperature range is roughly what my house temp is kept at anyway). Feeding them some baby food seems fun.

Actually Pangea's Complete with Insects is more balanced than baby food. It's a powdered diet you mix with water.

Another favorite of mine are Ptychozoon kuhli (gliding geckos). That's the gecko in my avatar. They are medium size about 6.5 inches long and maybe 20 grams. Somehow now I'm allergic to mine...just a little. I break out in an itchy rash where they've touched my arms. I still like and keep them.

Click: http://www.geckosunlimited.com/comm...s-personal-care-sheet-ptychozoon-species.html

 

[new_rory]

The baby food would just be a little treat, not what they'd normally eat. I'll have to look into gliding geckos too. I know the nails from my leos sometimes gives me a little rash on my arm, but it's nothing compared to the other allergies I have, so I don't mind.

Are the mourning or gliding geckos expensive? I got 2 of my leos from the humane society, one from a pet store (bad idea, but he's turned out ok) and my Turner from a breeder who had too many males. I think that once a year there's a reptile expo about an hour from me. But we do have a reptile person just outside of town that I got my Turner's gecko from. I'm not sure what all he breeds though (can't remember his facebook info right now). I'm not sure I would want to have one shipped here so I'd want something I can get locally (or at least someplace that could be a weekend trip to go get).

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

The baby food would just be a little treat, not what they'd normally eat. I'll have to look into gliding geckos too. I know the nails from my leos sometimes gives me a little rash on my arm, but it's nothing compared to the other allergies I have, so I don't mind.

Are the mourning or gliding geckos expensive? I got 2 of my leos from the humane society, one from a pet store (bad idea, but he's turned out ok) and my Turner from a breeder who had too many males. I think that once a year there's a reptile expo about an hour from me. But we do have a reptile person just outside of town that I got my Turner's gecko from. I'm not sure what all he breeds though (can't remember his facebook info right now). I'm not sure I would want to have one shipped here so I'd want something I can get locally (or at least someplace that could be a weekend trip to go get).

Yes, it's the nails on my P kuhli that give me that rash. I'm perfectly OK with my leo.

The going price for mourning geckos at my Oregon shows is $30 each. I've seen them advertised for $35.

You might be able to get a captive bred P kuhli for $65 plus shipping? Daniel Martindale (on FB) breeds them. Wild caught P kuhli are much cheaper, but usually come with bright reddish-orange mites that need to be removed. Wild caught specimens also potentially suffer from dehydration. A friend of mine bought 4 WCs several years ago. 3 of the 4 died too soon.

 

[BucktownExotics]

I LOVE my Mourning Geckos! So much fun to watch interact and I love their little noises! Mine eat Pangea and also fruit flies and pinhead crickets. They are ferocious little hunters.

Also, it is so funny that you said you are allergic to your Flying Geckos Elizabeth, I have the same reaction to my Crested Geckos! Thought I was the only one. I had a Fire Skink growing up and was the same with him, but all of my other lizards I have zero reaction to!

 

[acpart]

I have a reaction to just about all my gecko (and bearded dragon) nails, as well as an allergy to mealworm droppings. I cope as well as I can and have an inhaler for the times when it gets bad.
I have made my exo-terras escape proof for tiny geckos. It involves the following:
--closing up the space between the sides of the front doors and the sides of the enclosure with multiple layers of clear packing tape
--either removing the styrofoam background, or stuffing the spaces at the top and sides with wet paper towel that ultimately dries and stays in place
--making sure that the holes in the enclosure cover are closed (they slide back and forth, open and closed).

Since I've done all that, I've kept a variety of tiny geckos with no problem. I really like the Sphaerodactylus genus. I have one S. macrolepis and if I could find a place to put more tiny enclosures, I'd have a lot more!

Aliza

 

[new_rory]

I'd really love to have a miniature chameleon. But they are not easy keepers and definitely not cheap. That's why the tiny geckos seemed cool.