I never planned on having a lizard.
I'm not one of those people who thought snakes were the coolest or thought that bearded dragons made great companions. I am a mammal kind-of-girl, and I'm not even sure how many children I'd want to have. But I am certain that I want at least three dogs and two cats. This being said, reptiles are underrated. No, they aren't snuggly and no, they aren't trying to be your friend. But if you are even considering getting one of these little guys of your own, here are five reasons why geckos are actually the best.
1. Reptiles can be scary. Geckos are not.
No, seriously. Look at that face. Can you really be freaked out by that? It's adorable.
2. It's unreal how low-maintenance they are.
I can't speak for all geckos but leopard geckos are originally from the deserts of the Middle East. While you do have to water them daily because all animals need water, they do not need to be fed every day and once you have the terrarium set up, most of the hard work is done. Clean the tank when needed, water daily, keep their tails chubby, and don't let the lights burn out. It's not super hard.
3. Check out that life expectancy.
Many leopard geckos live for over ten years and according to veterinarians Dr. Foster and Smith, the average lifespan of a gecko in captivity is 15-20 years. Some have lived to be over 30 years old. Geckos do not easily get sick but, I will say, it does happen. We found out that my gecko, Ember's original cage-mate had parasites when we purchased them as babies. Unfortunately, Leo did not make it because he was already so sick, but Ember is now fully grown with fast legs and a chubby tail.
4. They're the most chill pets you'll ever have.
Think about if you've ever had a fish. Easy to take care of and nice to look at, right? However, you couldn't put a fish on your shoulder or let it run around in an enclosed area. Geckos that are regularly handled (with care) are generally very relaxed with humans and you can even "play" with them. For the first half of this listicle, Ember was chilling on my shoulder like I was some sort of crazy gecko pirate. She did get antsy so I put her back in her little home but they don't bite and they don't cause trouble. And, they're more fun than a fish.
5. I was never a reptile person, but I love my gecko.
Like I said, it's not like I went into college thinking, "Oh, I need to get me a lizard." However, it's simply how things worked out and it was decided that a gecko would be the best fit for my roommates and me at the time. They're fun to look at, easy to care for and are just overall good pets. While I have a fancy leopard gecko (hence her "albino" appearance), there are a ton of different breeds of geckos to choose from and you're sure to find the best fit for you.
