Golden Gecko

Originating from the tropical forests of Vietnam, Golden Geckos are exciting lizards to own. They are good geckos for beginners and experienced reptile keepers alike.

Appearance
The golden gecko gets its name from the yellow and gold colored scales on its body. They can reach up to 8 inches long, and like most geckos, golden geckos have the ability to climb vertical surfaces.

Handling/Aggression
Golden geckos may need a little work to tame down. With regular, respectful handling a golden gecko will tolerate handling fine. They will bite if they ever feel threatened.

Diet
Golden geckos will mainly consume insects such as crickets, mealworms and super worms. Hatchlings will need to be fed daily, and adults only need food every 5-6 days. Feed as many crickets as your gecko will take within 15 minutes. Crickets should be as long as your gecko's head is wide to prevent choking.

It is important to dust feeder insects with calcium and vitamin D3 supplements to maintain bone health. Also, gut load all insects before feeding. This means to feed them healthy food such as lettuce and carrots. Remember, what goes into your crickets goes into your gecko.

Housing
Adult golden geckos need at least 20 gallons of vertical space. These geckos spend most of their time off of the ground, so floor space is not very important. Do not house two males together because they will fight and injure themselves, and even two females may fight. A sturdy mesh screen on the top of the cage is important to prevent escape.

If you are looking for the perfect setup for Golden Geckos, then you might want to check out the Reptile Glass Terrarium sold at ReptiZoo. Our company is not affiliated with ReptiZoo but will receive a small referral commission. Click the image below for more details on this beautiful enclosure.



Substrate
A substrate that holds water well such as potting soil or bed-a-beast will work. If you need a simple, easy to clean substrate, newspaper or paper towels can be used successfully. Avoid any substrate with pine in it, and sand is not good to use either.

Shelter
A hide or two should be placed on the floor of the enclosure to provide safety and security. Provide places to hide among foliage that golden geckos need to climb on. Plants, vines, rocks and branches can be used throughout the enclosure.

Temperature/Lighting
A basking spot of 75-80F will work well for this species of gecko. The rest of the cage can be room temperature. No heating is required at night. Heat should be provided through a bulb. Heat pads do not work well because golden geckos spend a lot of time off of the ground. No UVA/UVB lighting is necessary for this species.

Humidity/Water
Humidity needs to stay about 60% throughout the day. It is okay to let the cage dry out occasionally to prevent mold and fungus growth. Spray well the cage once or twice daily. A small water bowl is not required, but may be provided.

Cleaning
Spot clean the enclosure daily and mist about twice a day. Replace loose substrates every 2-3 months and paper substrates when soiled.

Breeding
To breed these geckos, make sure both the male and the female are fully grown. Only keep the two geckos together as long as they need to breed because the male will eventually injure the female. The geckos need a 40-gallon enclosure, and will breed within a week or two.

During the breeding process, feed the female extra food so she is nice and fat for egg laying. Dust all of her food items with calcium. Once she is in her own cage again, provide a lay box filled with 4-6 inches of vermiculite or potting soil. The females should be able to fit inside of the box comfortably.

Once the eggs are laid, place them in an incubator at 75°F until they hatch. Once they hatch, place the baby geckos in a 10-gallon enclosure.

Hatchling Care
Hatchlings can live in a 10-gallon enclosure for the first couple months of their lives. They need to be fed small crickets daily and the humidity should be maintained at 70% because they dehydrate easily. Most of the care of hatchling golden geckos is the same as the adults, just smaller.

Conclusion
Golden geckos are fun, easy to care for geckos that will live for 15 years. They can be tamed and it is entertaining to watch them hunt down crickets. Remember, do your research before buying any pet so that it can live happily and healthily.