Hi, I'm just starting out and really could use some advice. I'm looking at getting an aboreal lizard (in particular a gecko). I've spent the best part of a month researching but I keep being told all sorts of things, most of which contradict each other! I've been looking at two species mainly with the advice of a local reptile supplier and they're crested geckos and Koch's giant day gecko. I've found alot on cresties but nothing on koch's, any one help?

I've been told by one pet shop that cresties are very hard to keep, they then tried to sell me a snake! Another said that a good choice would be palm, golden, giant day and tokay geckos would be a good start. Having spent some time in southeast aids I know what they're like! They also said cresties eat only insects and can grow their tails back! I've pretty much guessed that's wrong but I'm even more lost!!

[Olivine]

Ah, the joy of pet shops! Cresties are actually one of the easiest herps to keep and make ideal geckos for beginners.

Just to clarify, they are omnivores not insectivores, though they do indeed like munching on a juicy locust / roach (or ten!) occasionally. The best food to give them is the specially formulated crested gecko diet (CGD); it's been designed to provide a balanced diet for them. This can be supplemented with insects a couple of times a week, plus small amounts of fruit occasionally as a treat (mango, kiwi etc).

In terms of vivarum, hatchlings can be housed in a large faunarium, before being moved up to a 45 x 45 x 60 viv when they are sub-adults (the exo terra glass ones are ideal for cresties).

Assuming that you live in a warm house, they can be kept at room temperatures (23C - 24C is ideal); the main problem with cresties is that they can suffer heat stress if it gets too hot (temperatures over about 28C can kill them). They also require humidity of 60% - 80%, so the viv needs misting daily, preferably in the evening (this will replicate their natural conditions in the wild).

And you're suspicions are correct; unlike most geckos, cresties do not regrow their tails if they shed them.

I've not got any experience with the other geckos that you mentioned, but I think that day geckos tend to be regarded as "display only"; unlike cresties, they're not really handleable. And as for tokays...how much do you value your fingers?? The majority of tokays available are wild caught specimens, so can be (and indeed are renowned for being) aggressive. I think you can get a tame, captive bred one occasionally, but these tend to be few and far between.

Hope this helps!

GO for a LEOPARD GECKO THEY ARE EASY TO KEEP,THEY LOOK GOOD AND THEY ARE EASY TO HAND TAME!

LEO LEO LEOH!