Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello Everybody!

In search of a new hobby, and a new friend, I came across the Leopard Gecko, and I've fallen in love with these creatures! In the process of doing research about them, I stumbled upon this forum. I hope you don't mind if I ask a few questions here!

I looked through as many of the past posts as I could, so I'm sorry if my questions are very similar to ones addressed in previous posts.

I've found a great deal of information about their care, living space, etc on the internet. I still have a few unanswered questions though, and if any of you can answer them from personal experience, I'd be so very thankful:

1. Is a pet store like Petco a good place to buy a Leopard Gecko? I know that it is said that you shouldn't buy dogs and cats from a place like Petco, but I don't know if the same applies to geckos.

2. All of the Leopard Geckos that I saw at Petco didn't seem very colorful or interesting looking like the ones that I've seen pictures of online. Do they develop more interesting colors and patterns over time? Or can I expect the coloring to remain the same throughout the life of my gecko?

3. I read on one site that a Leopard Gecko will actually recognize its caretaker, but I wasn't sure whether this could really be true. Have any of you found this to be true?

Thank you all so much in advance for any answers that you can provide. Any other advice that you might give a new gecko owner would be greatly appreciated as well! I look forward to checking back to the forum soon.

Cheers,

J

1. Is a pet store like Petco a good place to buy a Leopard Gecko? I know that it is said that you shouldn't buy dogs and cats from a place like Petco, but I don't know if the same applies to geckos.

Well, it depends which petstore it is and the supplier, they get from but for better health and better guarantees than pet store offers are from the breeders. PetCo normally don't have healthy leopard geckos and most of time it have hookworms, pinworms and sometime coddica... for better healthy and happy are from breeders... You can find them on KS links or go to my site and I have good number to offer.

2. All of the Leopard Geckos that I saw at Petco didn't seem very colorful or interesting looking like the ones that I've seen pictures of online. Do they develop more interesting colors and patterns over time? Or can I expect the coloring to remain the same throughout the life of my gecko?

Often, the petstore gets them in bulk sometime they have neat ones there and to get better chance of getting good looking ones as online you saw is to get from breeder.

3. I read on one site that a Leopard Gecko will actually recognize its caretaker, but I wasn't sure whether this could really be true. Have any of you found this to be true?

I kept over 50 Leopard Geckos and hatched many and I never notice that they recognize the caretaker... I had few people take care of them while I am out of town and they said never notice anything like that.
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Preston Berry
www.coolgeckos.com
restonberry@austin.rr.com" target="_blank">Prestonberry@austin.rr.com

Of course we don't mind if you ask questions! That's what this place is for .

I will echo the other post about Petco/Petsmart, etc...I had the misfortune of thinking it'd be ok to get geckos at Petsmart once. They had parasites that didn't really show up as a problem for about a month or two, and by the time I (as an at the time inexperienced keeper) noticed the problem and brought them to a vet, it was too late. I refuse to buy from them ever. I've since gotten 2 geckos from a little hole in the wall pet store that I found that seems to take much better care of their animals and must get them from better suppliers, because I've had no problems there. It definitely pays to find either a breeder you like or a store like that, rather than going to a big chain.

The coloration changes, but a normal won't turn into a super hypo carrottail or anything goofy like that. Typically they go from being striped as babies to being spotted as adults. As far as overall coloration type, no, they won't change.

Mine certainly seems to recognize us - presuming she's awake, she'll usually come toward us and interact through the glass. She definitely knows who brings the crickets, at the very least.
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0.1 Albino Leopard Gecko - Tigger
0.0.1 Crested Gecko - Pooh-Bear

I find that geckos always know their caretakers. In my experience, they will especially remember anyone willing to pick them up. My BFs gecko would watch just about anyone that entered the room from his hide, but if I visited, he'd run to the side of the glass and try to climb it until I gave in and put my hand in there for him to climb and held him for awhile. The leo that lives with me will actually be a pain if you try to say, clean her water bowl and not pick her up. She will climb on the back of your hand while you are working if you don't at least acknowledge her to her satisfaction.

Every gecko I meet has a different personality and I have found leos are very interactive. I know one who will bob his head to techno and only techno music, I know another that especially enjoyed watching people play shooter games, and I even know one that will be content to watch TV on the back of a hand for as long as you want to hold her. Our leos will climb on a hand of their own free will if it is placed flat anywhere in their "homes". I think you will find with careful handling, a leo can be a quite satisfying pet, certinly more than just a "display" animal.
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0.1 Albino Leo Gecko
0.0.1 Crested Gecko
1.0 Dear Boyfriend
Departed: Harvey and Spock