If you’ve ever gone herping, you’ve likely spotted geckos clinging to tree trunks or darting across rocks. These small, fascinating lizards have become popular pets thanks to their unique colors, quirky personalities, and relatively simple care requirements. However, not all geckos are the same, some are great for beginners, while others need more specialized care. Whether you’re looking for a low-maintenance companion or a more hands-on reptile-keeping experience, this guide will help you choose the right gecko for you.

Leopard Gecko 

This little gecko is yellow and has black spots, typically growing between 7-10 inches and weighing about 2 ounces. They need a warm and humid environment around 92 degrees fahrenheit and eat crickets, waxworms, mealworms, and more. With good care they can live 10-20 years.

African fat-tailed Gecko

African fat-tailed geckos are yellowish pale with stripes/spots of brown and like the name have a large tail. Unlike other geckos, African fat-tailed geckos prefer low humidity. It’s important to provide a warm environment with places to climb and explore. They have a calm temperament and are unlikely to bite or scratch. They can live up to 20 years or more.

Crested Gecko

Crested geckos come in a mix of colors and patterns, ranging from browns and grays to bright reds, oranges, and yellows, with patterns like spots, stripes, and pinstripes making each one unique. They are 8-10 inches so they don’t require a very large enclosure, maintained between 72 to 78 degrees fahrenheit. Their life span is between 15-20 years.

Common house Gecko

Common house geckos are more work than a typical low-maintenance gecko due to them needing climbing surfaces, a couple hiding places, and high humidity. Preferring crickets, mealworms, or small roaches for food. Since they have excellent climbing skills, it’s important to make sure the enclosure is always secured.

Tokay Gecko 

Tokay geckos are typically grayish blue with orange spots and can get up to 16 inches. They are known to be more aggressive and could potentially bite so it’s important not to handle them if you choose them as a pet. They eat a variety of insects and arthropods from moths, grasshoppers, beetles, cockroaches, termites, crickets, mosquitoes, and spiders.

Giant Day Gecko 

These geckos are a bright green with orange markings on their face and yellow and blue on their feet and underside. However, they’re not the best for beginners, they require a lot of care and are better suited for experienced gecko owners. They thrive in lower temperatures around 75 degrees fahrenheit and have a diet that includes vegetation, insects, and fruit.

Geckos are amazing pets, each with their own needs and personalities. Some, like leopard geckos, are easy to care for, while others, like Tokay geckos, need more experience. If you’re new to keeping geckos, it’s best to start with a low-maintenance one. But if you’re up for a challenge, a high-maintenance gecko could be a great choice. And if you ever want to see geckos in the wild, consider going on a herping tour, it’s a fun way to learn more about them. No matter which gecko you pick, giving them the right care will help them live a long, happy life.