A Set-up Guide for Golden Geckos or White-Line Geckos

Five things to know about your gecko

• Geckos can live up to 10 years
• They grow up to eight inches long
• White-line geckos are named for the stripe down their back
• Geckos are excellent climbers
• Geckos prefer not to be handled

How to set-up your gecko’s home

These two gecko species are solitary creatures that prefer to live alone. Choose a terrarium that’s a minimum of 20 gallons. Because geckos are climbers, the terrarium should be relatively tall with a screened lid.

What to put in your gecko's habitat

• Line the bottom the terrarium with two to three inches of coconut-fiber or bark bedding. Scoop the poop at least once a week and replace their bedding completely once a month.
• Add a rock or wooden place for hiding on one side of the terrarium (this will become the habitat’s cool side).
• Provide lots of branches, either live or artificial, for climbing.

Heat & lights

• Geckos need lighting that mimics day and night. If their habitat is in a dim room, light the terrarium for 12 hours a day with a fluorescent bulb.
• At night, switch to a night-specific bulb so you can watch your gecko with minimum disturbance.
• A gecko’s terrarium should have a warm side and a cool side. By day, the temperature should be between 85 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit on the warm side, and between 70 F and 85 F on the cooler side. At night the whole tank should be between 65 F and 75 F.
• A heat bulb or ceramic heat emitter will keep the warm side at the right temperature. A thermometer at each end can help you regulate the habitat temperature overall.
• Your gecko’s habitat humidity should range of between 50% and 80%. Use a hygrometer — a device that measures humidity — to keep track.

Help keep your gecko healthy

Geckos need an adequate supply of Vitamin D in their diet.

Try not to handle new geckos for three or four days to give them a chance to get acclimated to their new surroundings. Whether your gecko is new or settled-in, be sure to contact a vet if you notice any of these symptoms of illness or distress:

• More time spent hiding
• Eating or drinking less; weight loss
• Discolored skin
• Swollen joints
• Discharge from the eyes, nose or mouth
• Runny droppings for more than two days

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