Author, Michelle Raiford
Some pet owners want cute and cuddly but a growing number of people prefer small and scaly. One popular reptile, the gecko, has pierced the American consciousness as the face of a major insurance company. Geckos, like all pets, require specific care to support their health. Without proper lighting and diet, geckos can suffer serious, sometimes fatal complications. To find out more about gecko care, I consulted All Pets Animal Hospital veterinary assistant Parisa Azamghavami. Parisa is the proud owner of a New Caledonian Crested gecko named Stryker.
All geckos and reptiles, for that matter, need a calcium supplement as well as a well balanced diet and UVB light to convert calcium to vitamin D. Vitamin D is vital for bone development. Without it, geckos can develop metabolic bone disease, a serious condition that results in rubbery legs and easily broken bones. While a complete powder diet is sufficient, Parisa recommends owners supplement the diet with crickets. She advises owners to obtain their crickets from a reputable source to make sure they are healthy. Some people prefer to raise their own crickets, but many people purchase gut-loaded crickets. This simply means the crickets have been raised and fed a diet complete and beneficial for a gecko. Parisa cautions crickets must be the proper size for your gecko. An over-sized cricket can be difficult for gecko’s to digest and can lead to impaction—a serious condition in which the digestive track is blocked. If not treated, impaction will lead to death. Although lighting and diet are key for gecko health, other environmental conditions such as humidity, temperature and housing are factors potential owners should familiarize themselves. Care for geckos is breed-specific. A breed Parisa recommends for beginners is the leopard gecko.
No matter which breed you choose, there are many online resources you can consult; however, your best resource is one of the reptile-friendly veterinarian at All Pets.
Parisa Azamghavami holds a B.S. degree in Biology from Western Carolina University and has worked in the veterinary field for five years. Parisa has applied to veterinary school and is currently in the interview process with several veterinary colleges in the South East.
