Housing your gecko

You will need to buy a vivarium for your gecko to use as his house. It is best to get the vivarium and furnishings from a specialist reptile shop. Vivariums made of glass or plastic are a good idea as these materials are easy to clean.

Within the vivarium you should try to create a world which mimics the environment your species of gecko would live in if they were living in the wild. Desert species, such as the Leopard Gecko, need a dry environment. Tropical species, such as the Golden Gecko, thrive in more humid surroundings. Therefore, it is very important that you fully research your chosen species so that you can create the correct living environment for him.

It is also important to think about where within your home you will place the gecko’s house. The best place to put it is in a room that is used, like your bedroom or the main living room. Do not use an empty room  which will be cooler. Your gecko needs to be somewhere with a constant temperature. Do not put his house beside a window or over a radiator as the temperature will rise and fall too much in these areas.

Substrate is the material used to cover the floor of your gecko’s house. If you have a desert species you should provide him with sand. A tropical species needs a combination of soil and moss. Ensure to be cautious of your gecko trying to eat the substrate as this may lead to impaction.

You will also need to put some furniture in his house. He needs to have somewhere to hide, especially if his house is in a busy room. You can buy him a plastic cave or you can use pieces of wood or a log to make an artificial hide. Plants such as vines or artificial plants can also be used as hiding areas. Real plants provide more of natural environment and can be easily cleaned.

Life on Earth is supported by the sun. The sun provides heat and also light. Animals’ need both heat and light to survive. Mammals can control their own body temperature. The food they eat provides the body with energy and heat. If they are too cold they shiver and if they are too hot they sweat. These processes use a lot of energy.

Your gecko is a reptile and reptiles regulate their body temperature very differently from mammals. This is a major and vitally important difference. Reptiles are cold blooded (ectothermic); this means that their bodies cannot produce heat from the food that they eat. Because of this they need much less energy from food to survive. A 100g reptile needs only 5% of the energy that a 100g mammal needs. To keep warm they need to bathe in the sun or sit on a warm rock. They have no hair, no sweat glands and do not shiver. This means that your gecko will show no obvious signs that they are too hot or too cold. You may see your gecko become less mobile at colder temperatures. It is important to observe your gecko to familiarize yourself with his normal activity levels  at the correct vivarium temperature.

You need to provide sources of heat for your gecko within his house. This could be a heat bulb, a hot rock or an under-floor heating mat. It is important that you know the temperature in your gecko’s house, both the hottest and the coolest areas. To do this you will need to use thermometers around their house. Your gecko’s vivarium temperature should be  warmer during the day and cooler at night. The vivarium should have a warmer and a cooler end to allow your gecko to control his temperature.

If you are not aware of the temperature in your gecko’s house there is a danger that he could become too hot. As he cannot sweat to cool off, he will need a hide in a cooler part of his vivarium. Providing a water bath is a good way for your gecko to cool off if needed.

It is more common however, for a gecko to find himself in an environment which is too cold. Cooler temperatures are unlikely to kill him but will put a strain on his body and organs. His muscles, lungs, intestines and heart will struggle to work if they are too cold, and if this goes on for a long time it can lead to illness and even death. Therefore, it is important to know your gecko’s normal activity level as this will decrease if any of the above problems are occurring.

As well as producing heat and light, the sun also produces ultraviolet (UV) light. This is a type of light which we cannot see but geckos can. It affects the skin of humans and can cause sunburn. Reptiles use UV light to make vitamin D3. This helps to keep their bones strong and healthy and enables their guts to absorb calcium from their food. To obtain vitamin D3 he will need exposure to UV light for 12 hours a day. If your gecko does not receive enough vitamin D3 his bones will become soft and they might even fracture. This is called  metabolic bone disease. Unfortunately, this is common in pet geckos. He may develop twitchy toes caused by faulty muscle contractions.

Ultra violet light can be provided as a combination bulb or a UV tube. The tube needs to be no more than 30- 45cm away from your gecko. Remember that a UV tube will not provide him with any heat. The bulb should be changed once a year, and although it may appear to be working the UV rays become weaker and over time it will eventually stop producing UV light.