Geckos

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Geckos are the most varied group of lizards on the planet. Well over a thousand described species spread across several families.

Some stick to glass with toe pads built from thousands of microscopic hairs. Others have clawed feet, movable eyelids, and never touch a wall in their life.

That range is why “gecko” covers so many different pets. A leopard gecko and a crested gecko are both geckos.

But they eat differently, sleep differently, and need different enclosures. This guide sorts the major types of geckos kept as pets into real groups.

It explains what actually separates them. Then it points you toward the full species page for each one.

What Actually Makes a Lizard a Gecko

All geckos belong to the infraorder Gekkota. That group shares a set of traits, not a single look.

Most geckos have soft, thin skin, a short body, and a large head. Most also have no movable eyelids, just a clear scale over each eye.

Since they cannot blink, many geckos lick their own eyes clean with their tongue. Vocalizing is unusual among lizards, but many geckos do it.

That can mean a squeak, a click, or a hiss. It can also mean the loud “to kay” call that gives the tokay gecko its name.

The trait most people associate with geckos is sticky toe pads. That trait is not universal.

Researchers who study gecko toe pads have found that adhesive pads evolved independently about a dozen times across the group. Some lineages lost the pads again, and roughly 40 percent of gecko species have no working toe pads at all. That is why a tokay gecko can climb glass while a leopard gecko cannot.

Size also varies far more than most keepers expect. According to San Diego Zoo Wildlife Explorers, geckos range from under an inch long to more than a foot. That spread shows up directly in the pet trade, from a tiny viper gecko to a hefty leachianus gecko.

The Main Types of Geckos Kept as Pets

Most pet geckos fall into a handful of natural groups. Each group is based on family and lifestyle. Knowing which group a species belongs to tells you most of what you need before you even open a care sheet.

Eyelid Geckos: Clawed Feet, No Sticky Pads

Eyelid geckos are named for one clear trait. They have movable eyelids they can actually blink with.

They also lack toe pads entirely and rely on small claws to get around. This group includes some of the most popular pet lizards in the hobby.

The leopard gecko is the best known member. It is often the first lizard a new keeper ever owns.

The African fat tailed gecko shares a similar body plan. It has a calmer, more secretive temperament than the leopard gecko.

The viper gecko is a much smaller relative from Pakistan. The Hainan cave gecko is a nocturnal cave dweller with striking banded coloring.

New Caledonian Giants: Climbers With Grasping Tails

A separate group of geckos comes from the islands of New Caledonia. They grew large and developed prehensile tails.

Most have sticky toe pads on top of a grasping tail tip, giving them two ways to hold on. The crested gecko in particular will not regrow a dropped tail, which matters when handling.

The crested gecko is the flagship species here. It is prized for an easy diet and a huge range of colors. The gargoyle gecko is a close relative with a bumpier, more textured head.

The chahoua gecko and the giant leachianus gecko round out the group. Both are larger and less common in the pet trade.

Day Geckos: Bright Colors, Bright Light

Unlike most geckos, day geckos of the genus Phelsuma are active in daylight. They depend on that light to stay healthy.

Their vivid green, blue, and red coloring makes them some of the most photographed reptiles kept as pets. That same lifestyle also means they need strong UVB and warm daytime temperatures.

The giant day gecko is the largest and hardiest of the group. The gold dust day gecko and electric blue day gecko are smaller and more colorful. The neon day gecko and Standing’s day gecko fill out the range of sizes on offer.

Leaf Tailed Geckos: Living Camouflage

Few geckos take camouflage as far as the Uroplatus geckos of Madagascar. Their skin mimics bark, moss, or dead leaves.

In daylight they can be nearly invisible against a branch. These are specialist pets that need cool, humid, densely planted enclosures, not a starter setup.

The satanic leaf tailed gecko is the most famous member. Its body is shaped and colored like a curled dead leaf, down to fake vein lines and torn edges.

The mossy leaf tailed gecko mimics lichen covered bark instead. It stays flattened against a branch for most of the day.

House and Dwarf Geckos: Easy Going Climbers

A large, informal group of small to mid sized geckos shares sticky toe pads and an easy going temperament. Many of these species also thrive in colonies, unlike most geckos, which usually do best housed alone. This is where several of the more affordable and beginner friendly climbing geckos live.

The mourning gecko is unusual because it reproduces without a male at all. A single gecko can start a whole colony. The Mediterranean house gecko is a hardy species that has spread across warm climates worldwide.

The golden gecko, pictus gecko, white lined gecko, and crocodile gecko round out this group. Each offers a slightly different size, pattern, or personality.

Large, Vocal, and Unusual Geckos

A few gecko species do not fit neatly into the groups above. They are still worth knowing on their own terms.

The tokay gecko is one of the largest geckos kept as a pet. It is known for its loud call and a genuinely strong bite that new keepers often underestimate.

The barking gecko earns its name the same way, with a sharp bark it gives when threatened. The smooth knob tailed gecko is a small, ground dwelling Australian species with a short, blunt tail. Its desert habits sit closer to the eyelid geckos than to a climber.

The flying gecko takes the opposite approach. It uses flaps of skin along its body and tail to glide short distances between trees in the wild.

Types of Geckos Compared

How Care Differs Across Pet Geckos

The biggest split in gecko care is nocturnal versus diurnal. Nocturnal species like the leopard gecko or crested gecko need only low level lighting.

They can thrive without intense UVB, though most keepers still offer a low dose. Day geckos need strong UVB and bright daytime heat to stay active, closer to what a bearded dragon needs.

Diet is the second major divide. Insectivorous geckos, which is most of them, eat crickets and roaches dusted with calcium.

Crested and gargoyle geckos are an exception. Many keepers raise them mostly on a prepared fruit and protein powder, with insects offered only as an occasional extra.

Humidity needs also vary sharply by origin. Desert and savanna geckos like the leopard gecko and African fat tailed gecko need a dry enclosure with one humid hide.

Rainforest species like the crested gecko, day geckos, and Uroplatus leaf tailed geckos need regular misting. Their humidity needs to stay high for hours after each spray.

Temperament and handling risk differ by species too. A tokay gecko has a strong bite and a defensive personality.

Keepers who forget this often get bitten while cleaning the enclosure. Most eyelid geckos and New Caledonian species are calmer and better suited to gentle handling once settled in.

Choosing the Right Gecko for You

For a first gecko, the eyelid geckos and New Caledonian giants are the safest start. A leopard gecko or crested gecko forgives small mistakes. Both tolerate a simple setup and have decades of established care information behind them.

Day geckos and leaf tailed geckos reward more experience. They are usually more fragile and more prone to stress from handling.

They also need lighting and humidity control that a beginner enclosure often lacks. Save the giant day gecko or the satanic leaf tailed gecko for after you have kept a hardier species for at least a year.

Large or vocal geckos like the tokay gecko suit a different kind of keeper. They fit someone who wants a striking, high personality pet more than a handling pet. Whatever direction you choose, check the individual species page for exact enclosure size, temperature, humidity, and diet.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the easiest type of gecko to keep as a pet?

Leopard geckos and crested geckos are usually recommended first. Both tolerate a simple, dry to moderately humid setup and eat a straightforward diet. Both also have decades of established care information behind them.

Do all geckos stick to walls and glass?

No. Only geckos with adhesive toe pads, built from microscopic hair like structures, can climb smooth surfaces. Eyelid geckos, including the leopard gecko and African fat tailed gecko, have clawed feet instead and stay on the ground.

Are pet geckos nocturnal?

Most are, including popular species like the leopard gecko, crested gecko, and tokay gecko. Day geckos of the genus Phelsuma are the main exception. They are active and hunting during daylight hours.

How many types of geckos are there?

Geckos make up well over a thousand described species, with a recent peer reviewed count near 1,450 in 118 genera. That makes them the most diverse group of lizards. Only a small slice of that diversity, a few dozen species, is regularly kept as pets.

Can different types of geckos be housed together?

Almost never across species, and rarely even within a species. Most geckos are territorial and will fight or compete for food and heat. The mourning gecko is one of the few exceptions that can live in a colony.

Which pet gecko gets the biggest?

Among common pet species, the tokay gecko and the leachianus gecko are the largest. Adult male tokays run about 13 to 16 inches, and leachianus geckos can grow larger still. Most other popular pet geckos, like the leopard gecko and crested gecko, stay closer to six to ten inches.