11 Best Geckos to Have as Pets (With Info & Pictures)

Geckos are small lizards that are commonly found in tropical, mountainous, and even desert landscapes. They can also be found in captivity as pets in many households around the world. These reptiles are small and easy to care for, but special accessories like heating lamps are required to keep them happy and healthy.

There are many different types of pet geckos to choose from, so deciding which to bring home can be a challenge. We put together a list of the 11 best geckos to help make your search for the perfect pet easier. Hopefully, you will fall in love with one or more of these interesting types of lizards!

The 11 Best Types of Geckos to Have as Pets

1. Leopard Geckos

This is one of the most popular land geckos in the lizard world. They have interesting colorations that vary from one gecko to another. In the wild, they sleep in the burrows of Pakistan during the day and come out to hunt for food during the night. When in captivity, they still do a great deal of sleeping during the day, but they tend to make several appearances to greet their family members.

• You may also like: Super Snow (Mack) Leopard Gecko

2. Tokay Geckos

Originating from Asia, the tokay gecko features gorgeous orange spots on their bodies. When their mouths are closed, they look like they have big white teeth, like a human’s. These little reptiles are known for being a bit aggressive, so they are not the best choice for novice reptile owners. Once used to their environment in captivity, these geckos will warm up to their owners and start interacting regularly.

3. Crested Geckos

These little geckos don’t need extra heating, making them the perfect option for those who want to raise a pet in a bio-active terrarium. The crested gecko doesn’t mind being handled and will hang out on their owner’s arm all day if they have the opportunity. These geckos tend to come in colors of orange, beige, yellow, and red.

• See Also: How to Choose the Right Cage Size for a Crested Gecko

4. Lined Leaf-Tailed Geckos

These striking geckos look like wood when they remain still. Their eyes and body are designed to camouflage with trees found in Madagascan rainforests. Although their home habit is diminishing due to deforestation, they are still numerous in the wild and captivity. Therefore, they aren’t usually hard to find and are one of the more affordable pet reptile options on the market.

5. Satanic Leaf-Tailed Geckos

This is another gecko from Madagascar, and their true talent is camouflaging with their surroundings. They have an extraordinary penchant for turning just about any color necessary to become part of the terrain so predators won’t find them. They can also flatten their bodies on various surfaces and show off their red mouths to try to scare predators away.

6. Giant Day Geckos

The giant day gecko is a brightly colored species that is lively and friendly. These lizards typically have bright green skin with yellow or orange markings. They are fast and will try to run away from prying hands until they become tame. Once tame, they will typically allow their owner to handle them. They are never aggressive but can become shy when too much action is happening around them.

• You might also be interested in: Giant Leaf-Tailed Gecko

7. Fat-Tailed Geckos

These are among the rarer types of geckos on this list, yet they are popular pet options around the country. They look like leopard geckos but have larger eyes and shorter tails. The fat-tailed gecko is easy to care for but needs a moss box in their terrarium to help create humidity and comfort. These smart reptiles aren’t highly active, which makes them easy to observe during their waking hours.

8. Turquoise Dwarf Geckos

These gorgeously colored geckos are on the endangered species list because they naturally live in an area of Tanzania that is aggressively logged by humans, and they are extremely popular on the pet trade market. The turquoise dwarf gecko is sleek, active, and prey driven, which makes them an interesting pet to observe throughout the day.

• See Also: Golden Gecko

9. Frog-Eyed Geckos

These are great pets for a household in cool-weather climates, but they do enjoy a humid habitat to live in. They aren’t as hardy as many of the other reptiles on our list, so they need consistent monitoring and daily maintenance to thrive. These aren’t the geckos to own if handling is desired, as they would prefer to be seen rather than touched.

10. Gargoyle Geckos

These interesting-looking geckos look serious but are more playful than many other types of geckos on the market. They tolerate handling and attention well, but they sleep during the day, which can make it tough for the average person to observe them. They come in many different colors, including pink and yellow, but they most commonly have brown bodies.

11. Namib Sand Geckos

These geckos have extremely large eyes and limber legs that enable them to dart back and forth throughout their environments. They love to hunt for beetles and termites in their natural habitat and would prefer live prey but will accept processed food in captivity. They have a body of translucent skin that looks pink and sometimes orange in the sunlight.

• Related Read: What Do Geckos Eat in the Wild & as Pets?

Final Thoughts: What Are the Best Types of Geckos to Have as Pets?

There are many lovable geckos on this list to choose from! Most don’t want to be bothered with other reptiles in their habitats, so if you plan to own more than one gecko, make sure you have a different habitat available for each. They all require different levels of care too, so do your homework before deciding which of these exciting reptiles to adopt.

This guide is a starting point to help you decide which types of geckos might be the best fit for your household, so you don’t have to spend hours researching the ones that make good pets in general. Which geckos on this list are you most interested in?

Related Articles:

• William’s Dwarf Gecko
• Crested Geckos vs Leopard Geckos
• Best Gargoyle Gecko Breeders in US, UK & Canada

Featured Image Credit: BLFootage, Shutterstock