Owning a reptile is quite different from owning a dog or a cat. Some types of lizards, such as comodo dragons, require a lot of specific care and conditions and are therefore not ideal for a first-time reptile owner. A leopard gecko, on the other hand, is a great choice for someone who has never had reptiles before. Here's why.

Leopard geckos don't require a huge tank.

Leopard geckos are rather small lizards. Most are less than 10 inches long, including their tails, and females often stay even smaller. This small size means that your gecko will be just fine in a 20 or even 10-gallon tank. This will save you money, since larger tanks cost a lot more and require more accessories. You can outfit your tank with simple items like old cardboard boxes and small logs from outside. If you decide, after your first leopard gecko, that owning reptiles is not really for you, at least you won't have invested hundreds of dollars in your setup.

Leopard geckos aren't overly temperature sensitive.

Like all reptiles, leopard geckos are cold-blooded and cannot regulate their own body temperature. As such, they will need a heat source so they can warm their bodies as desired. However, leopard geckos are far less temperature-sensitive than many other lizards. You only really need to provide them with a single, incandescent light bulb for warming, rather than a more complex heating lamp like you might need for a larger lizard. 

Leopard geckos are vocal when hungry.

Some types of lizards only eat every few days, meaning it's easy to forget to feed them. Leopard geckos won't let you forget; they can be quite vocal when they are hungry. They make a chirping sound when hungry in an attempt to get your attention. Their diet is pretty simple to feed, too. They are insectivores, which means you can feed them a combination of mealworms and crickets, which are easy to come by at most pet stores. 

Leopard geckos are friendly and interactive.

If you get a leopard gecko when it is young, it will bond with you and you will get to know its personality. These lizards have more personality and are more friendly than most other breeds. They tend to develop a preference for the person who feeds them. If you want to feel bonded to your reptile, a leopard gecko is a really good choice.

Check out your local pet store to find leopard geckos for sale.

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