Uromastyx maliensis

Ever since I first laid eyes on a Uromastyx in a Charlotte, NC pet shop, I’ve wanted one. From the tortoise-like head to the dinosaur-like, menacing, spiky tail that reminded me of a Stegosaurus’ defensive whip, I craved to  have one and to create my own mini Jurassic Park at home.

Yes, I know that this feisty 6″ long desert reptile is not even remotely closely related to those 20′ long, 10 ton behemoths which lived 200 million years ago, but darn it, it’s almost certain it’ll be as close as I’ll ever get to one – and The Flintstones for that matter – and being the animal lover I am, I wanted one dammit!

Actually, the Uromastyx (Uros, as they are known) and Stegosaurus are really not all that different. Both are herbivores, meaning that they eat mainly plant matter (salads and the like), both live in semi-arid climates and both use their muscular, spiky tails as their primary defense against predators. Well, I suppose the similarities end right about there.

Nonetheless, boy do they look cool!

Tim Buk Tu

At the time, my reptile raising resume’ was rather limited with only a few anoles, a couple box turtles I unearthed as a kid in Ohio, and a handful of those silver-dollar sized dimestore turtles that are illegal now to own (since small children were known to have put them in their curious mouths and contracted diseases) to my credit. I went home and did some research on the care for a Uromastyx and soon realized with my experience, I’d be much better off right now to settle for a gecko. Which I did…thank you very much…and learned what a joy geckos are to own! (See my post of Leopard Gecko keeping HERE)

Well, after a couple years of healthy gecko rearing and continued Uro yearning, my loving wife urged me to go ahead and get one if I was ready. (Thanks, honey!) I am so glad I did.

While the gecko is nocturnal and lounges around all day – and most of the night, too, I might add – my 9 month old Uro (Tim Buk Tu, named after his native land in Mali, West Africa) is up at the break of dawn prowling and canvassing his territory, that is, when he hasn’t suddenly napped off as he is prone to do on occasion.

Tim suddenly napping

Tim suddenly awake

He’s unbelievably tame and loves to take a bath – which I had to give him after he devoured two blackberries and flung berry juice all over creation. He needs no water per se as he gets all the H2O he requires from the vegetation he eats. It’s a good thing, he’s not the cleanest eater – rather messy, actually – he scampers through his food trough and scatters veggies everywhere. He goes back and cleans up though, so at least he’s polite.

He absolutely loves flowers! No, I don’t decorate his enclosure with bouquets – He’d EAT them! Honeysuckle, dandelions, lilies, roses…just the sight of me bringing them to him from across the room makes him jump and try to climb the glass.

During his berry feast

His species, Uromastyx maliensis, will grow to 12″-14″ and can live upwards of 35 years, maybe more, so I hope my son likes him as he’ll most likely inherit him.

Uros, for the most part, have not been kept in captivity for very long (since the early 90′s, I believe) so not a whole lot is known about them. I have read and researched all I can on these wonderful little beasts but would like to hear about what other keepers have experienced with their Uros. I know there’s much to learn and I’m sure it’s going to be an interesting journey.

Just checkin' the temp

One thing is for sure…they like it HOT!

Have questions or want to share your thoughts? Please send a comment.

As far as my experiences with Tim, I’ll keep you posted…

©dbhewitt

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Edit

You know what the worst part of a disability is? It’s not the actual disability itself whatever it may be. At least that’s it in my case. It’s the complete loss of the person you once were not only to yourself, but more importantly (again, at least in my case) to others.

You see, I can handle what I’ve been faced with. OK, I can’t walk or talk right anymore. I can’t write my name very well. Simple things like brushing my teeth, holding a fork, writing a check and even speaking are difficult tasks. I struggle to do what I’m able and being a former athlete and respected business man as well as a human man, facing these realities is the hardest thing I’ve ever faced. What’s worse is how I’m seen by the world and the people around me. Because of my need for a wheelchair, and the fact that it’s hard for people to understand what I’m saying and therefore, hold a discussion, people tend to avoid me. It’s easier for them.

Hell

My opinions are disregarded. I’m no longer relevant. Shopkeepers and restaurateurs talk to me like I have lost my mental capacity as well. What I say is irrelevant, I have no mind of my own, I’m a pain to you so therefore just toss me aside. Family and friends do the same. Before my disability I was well-respected with a long line of people that I hired and mentored that became highly successful in their own right. I was sought out to speak at universities. I was put in charge of doing things others couldn’t – and succeeded. I faced – and confronted many huge obstacles – and succeeded and failed. I still face the same struggles as any man with a family that isn’t disabled like me. Now, it’s like pulling teeth to get anyone to listen and simply talk to me.

Hey people…I’m the SAME FUCKING PERSON I was before! But my legs just don’t fucking work like yours!

I’ve had to crawl on my hands and knees to get into a non-handicapped accessible restroom. How’s that for fucking degrading? Did I whine and bitch and throw a hissy fit? No, I did what I had to do – and got looked at as if I were the crazy one. If this all sounds like whining to you – so be it. I have to say this.

“Blind leading the blind” I was told by a supposed “family” member as I offered and watched over my father-in-law who is blind and two days short of major cancer surgery while my own wife lay in a hospital bed suffering from pneumonia. I did what I could…human instinct. I still have a mind. Maybe not to your standards anymore, but I still have all my wits. I know how to help and I know how to teach. I don’t know everything, but I know how to share my experiences and help those in need. I ask for no help – I’ll get along fine – I’m the same as you dammit, I just can’t walk or talk right anymore. Sometimes I’d rather stop living this stunted physical life than deal with how I’m perceived by the rest of the world, but no, my mind tells me, do what you know is right – as you have preached to others – and face the facts head-on. That’s what keeps me going. I have others who need guidance and the help I so desperately need and must give as the man I am so I continue – it’s all I have. Take it, berate it, laugh and dismiss it…but you’re also dismissing me as a person. That’s fine if it’s your wish -I’ll deal with it.

Please people, I beg of you, If you care, accept me and my struggles and the same for all others with disabilities. I’d love to be able to throw a curveball like I did before, I’d love to enunciate my words properly. I’d love to be able to take a shower, simply walk or swim in the ocean again, but these things won’t happen, however, I’d love to be respected again…and that is out of my control. That is up to you.

In the words of John Merrick, the Elephant Man, “I am NOT an animal!” I am still me, I have all my wits and I’m doing all I can…please, try to find a small amount of respect for me so that I may feel a wee little bit like some sort of man again.

I beg you.

You see, I realize now that this whole late night shenanigan plot of hiring Conan, firing Conan, moving Jay, moving Jay back etc., was merely a brilliant marketing ploy by NBC. They had us dimwits all along.

The Undisputed King Of Late Night

Let me lay it on you straight from this homeboy who knows connivery when he sees it. The NBC execs aren’t the fools we thought they were. They outsmarted everyone.

Think about it…several months ago weren’t you sick and tired of Jay Leno (if you were even one of his admirers…)? I’ve ALWAYS been a David Letterman fan even when Johnny was still on. For the past few years I’ve stuck by Dave even through his apparent humor loss and the repeated same jokes night after night. Come on, I watched Dave ’cause he’d have something new and even more stupid every night. Now, you can almost predict who will be his guests any given week. I swear he only has a lineup of a couple dozen chosen ones that he’ll have on to “interview” (that is, rehash their old jokes together). A new joke on Monday will be retold all week long until the rerun week starts (which are repeats that just aired less than 60 days ago). Every year the holiday shows themselves are simply replays of previous years. I’m not so sure marriage was the right thing for Dave – he’s gone downhill ever since.

NOT the King Of Late Night

And Conan? Come on, now…He’s a walking, talking, nipple-tweaking human cartoon. A joke if you will – a very, very bad one. I’d rather watch reruns of Peewee’s Playhouse.

As for Jimmy Fallon, he was good at SNL but I don’t think he can handle hosting his own show, but I’ll give him a chance. First week- He Flopped.

So Jay and Conan or Dave and Craig?

NBC thought the same…Jay’s old hat but Dave and Craig are worse. How can we generate interest again and get the CBS audience who are frustrated with Dave and Craig?

Nipple-Tweaking Monkey

Answer: CREATE A MEDIA CIRCUS! We’ll make this wild, off-the-wall decision to move Jay to prime time (which will generate a frenzy in itself – who won’t watch just to see what the hell is going on?) Play like we think Conan has what it takes to take over The Tonight Show (which is actually a brilliant guise to bag a reason to fire Conan – which will itself be another media circus – which in turn creates more viewers). THEN, move Jay back once the viewers are there and make The Tonight Show good again.

Fast Forward: OK, let’s see now, we got the CBS crowd, got rid of the dimwit red-headed monkey-boy and got people to watch Jimmy Fallon! While over at the Dave and Craig camp things are same ol’ same ol’ (I wouldn’t know, haven’t watched either since Jay came back, but I’ll take an educated guess).

Never thought I’d say it, but I am…”I’m in the Leno camp now…I’m sick of Dave.”

To you execs at NBC, kudos for making your well-played out scheme work albeit a very expensive and exhaustive one – to Dave: Might be high time to call it quits – to Craig: Consider divorcing Worldwide Pants – to Conan: Maybe Nickelodeon would be interested in an adult show of your mindless pap (um…maybe not) – and to Jay: Congrats! You ARE the King Of Late Night!

And to Jimmy: Good luck – enjoy it while it lasts.

©dbhewitt.2010.

GASTONIA, NC – If you’re a pizza fanatic and have traveled down Franklin Blvd. in Gastonia recently you surely have noticed that Gastonia’s best pizza parlor – Fuel Pizza (located at Franklin Square) – has changed names. Several weeks ago my disbelieving eyes read the horrifying sign which now hung where the so-familiar Fuel Pizza signboard once stood: GASHOUSE GRILL NOW OPEN.

Instantaneously, I erupted into a cold sweat and commenced to tremble and quake in terror.
“What the #&%@!?”
Shock and panic were the first reactions I recall as I slowly began to regain some sense of consciousness. Impulsively, I began to experience a strong sense of dismay and trepidation about the reality of what this ominous, foreboding omen was revealing to me.

“F-F-Fuel P-P-P-Pizza is gone,” I somehow eventually managed to stammer to my wife.
“Where?” she replied.
I couldn’t answer. Heck, I couldn’t speak (still can’t but that’s another story) so I pointed my palpitating finger in the direction of this demonic harbinger of doom.

“Fuel Pizza’s gone,” she exclaimed.
I nodded albeit in a rather befuddled and mystified state.

She instinctively knew the next step – we pulled in to the parking lot and went in to get the scoop.

Everything pretty much looked the same – automotive motif still prevalent, gas pump intact and stabilized…bar in the same location. Okay, but what about the PIZZA?

Not having the time as we were on our way to an appointment which we were running late for anyway, we couldn’t stay to sample a slice of pie but were determined to figure out just what the #&%@! was going on. So, the wifey (the most coherent, congenial and stable one of us at the time) began to interrogate the first hireling she could corner.

After a nice, calm consultation we were enlightened and subsequently – for the time being – cautiously soothed by the fact that the proprietorship had not changed, only the name and some of the menu items.
Okay, but what about the PIZZA?

We were advised that the Fuel Pizza recipe we had become so enamored with was indeed the same recipe that Gashouse Grill would be using in their menu.

“It’s the same recipe – we’re not changing anything,” we were told.
Hmmm, I thought, sounds fishy to me. We’ll have to wait and see.

So, after paying late dues for my tardy engagement appearance we decided to scrape together the last funds we had and go get us our favorite Whole Engine (green pepper, onion, mushroom, sausage, meatball, pepperoni, mozzarella) and make our verdict.

After a couple nice tall draft beers and 8 slices later the verdict came in.
It wasn’t the same.
Similar, but different. Very similar, actually. What was missing? The dough was the same, the toppings were the same, the red sauce the same, still fresh mozzarella…
Something wasn’t right we both agreed as we went home perplexed.

“I liked it – it was good,” I moped as I tried to convince myself all is not lost. “But something is missing.”
Little Miss Wifey agreed.
“We’ll have to go back and try it again.”

For the next several days and nights I pondered our query. Perhaps it was the name – Fuel Pizza - that was missing. Was it that?
One evening while chopping broccoli it hit me -

“Veggies!” I blurted out from above the chopping block startling the dog and awakening the wife who was asleep on the couch watching Ghost Whisperer. “It’s the vegetables – they’re sliced smaller!” I declared. “Remember before there were large slices of onion that fell off the pizza and we had to eat ‘em with our fingers?”
“Forks, my dear…forks.”
“But yes, I think you’re r..i…g…h…..t,” her words trailed off as she resumed watching with her eyes closed before nodding back off.

So that was it. I’ve solved the case. Now it was high time to go check my hypothesis.

Again, the Whole Engine was ordered this time along with an appetizer and a Hawaiian pie to take home.

“Much better this time, huh?” I coaxed her.
“Yes, dear.”
I could tell she was sincere as we polished off the whole engine plus the appetizer and a couple beers.
The crust was cooked to perfection, the mozzarella was fresh, the leftovers heated up just grand the next day – and the veggies were of ample amplitude.

On appeal, the Gashouse Grill wins. The pizza is the same as it was.
Only the name has changed. Perhaps it was just the loss of a good friend – that rusty ol’ Fuel Pizza sign missing – that was lacking on that first visit.

Either that or we had a skimpy vegetable chopper that night.

Either way, we welcome Gashouse Grill as our new friend and will be re-FUEL-ing (hehe) there again next lap around.

Your favorite pizza? I want to know. Best restaurants around? Tell me…Please!

©dbhewitt.2009.

CHARLOTTE, NC – Fasten your seat belt, check both mirrors, put the cell phone in the glove compartment and now you are ready to commence driving. Get into the habit now because if you don’t, you may be setting yourself up for a ticket.

This past week, North Carolina Gov. Bev Perdue signed into law a bill which forbids drivers of vehicles in the state of North Carolina to text or e-mail while driving. As of December 1st, 2009 any driver caught texting or e-mailing while driving will face a fine of $100 plus court fees. The violation will not add points to your driving record however and an insurance surcharge will not be assessed.

The new law prohibits the use of any technology which provides cell phone access to a camera, e-mail, music, games and the Internet while driving – in other words: Put the cell phone away unless you need to make an emergency call.

READ THE ENTIRE LAW HERE

For once I am in total agreement with the Governor. I have seen too many of my personal friends and acquaintances have accidents and mishaps using a cell phone while driving after they had vowed their safety. One by one, all of them have had some sort of misfortune following a bout with the evil cell phone while operating a motor vehicle. As a matter of fact, one such compadre (a school superintendent who I will not name so as to conceal his identity and himself from any further embarrassment) actually drove off the rural road on which he was driving through a cotton field on his own property and into the side of his own barn where he was greeted no doubt by a herd of his chuckling bovines. Luckily, he escaped with no major physical harm but his ego was certainly damaged and he can’t look his cows straight in the eye anymore.

I want to see the law go another step further and forbid the use of cell phones while driving PERIOD. Put the cotton-pickin’ contraption in the glove compartment for Heaven’s sake and just wait a few minutes to get your cell phone fix. Yes, I hear y’all…What if there’s an emergency? Well, get the phone and call 911. My law would allow 911 calls if they can be proven via phone records.

Operating a motor vehicle is hard enough for most of us as it is much less adding more hazards like snapping phone pics of passersby, e-mailing the most recent viral YouTube video, skipping to Track 7 on the new Tyler Swift cd or simply talking…

A young buckaroo actually said to me the other evening, “I think it’s an okay law I guess…I wouldn’t want to hit a tree and wreck my truck.” No, youngin’, you wouldn’t I said. I guess he didn’t even thing about the possibility of hurting someone else, any stray farm animals, pedestrians, cyclists, hosts of wild animals, wayward hitchhikers…or HIMSELF!

So, please, for the sake of the poor stray canine wandering along the side of the road looking for a place to sleep for the night if not for the sake of someone else, while driving, put the cell phone somewhere within reach but do not use unless in an emergency. For those of you who yourself or a loved one have serious issues with not being able to stop talking while driving, I urge you to check out http://www.zoomsafer.com/, ZoomSafer is a software program that will recognize when your vehicle is moving and will not allow the cell phone to work. It is a highly acclaimed, simple piece of software that just may save your or a loved one’s life. It has been incorrectly referred to as ZoomSafety on national news broadcasts such as CNN and FOX, but is actually named ZoomSafer. Visit the site here.

Just think about it, how would you like to look up and see a herd of cackling cattle laughing at you?

©dbhewitt.2009.

For the better part of two weeks now, all news media – print and televised – has been focused on this Tiger Woods “story”. And now they ask the question to the public, Is your view of Tiger Woods tarnished after his incident on and after Thanksgiving night?

Well, of course! Thanks to no one else except the media! Yes, media, you did your faithful job of reporting the breaking news that someone in Florida hit a fire hydrant and a tree. Then you dwelled on allegations fueled by gossip and rumors which in turn drew all the bugs out from under the baseboard. Are we all enlightened now?

Sure,  this someone was in fact Tiger Woods – a celebrity and the most well-known and highest-paid athlete in the world so people must know all the details right? Wrong. The officials responsible for handling this “case” have already put it all to rest with a $165 fine. Even those in charge are finished. Still, for the media the story is not done. We, the viewers have a right to know more details and stay atop each developing and breaking tidbit of gossip, dirt, rumor and comment that comes along post-hydrant, right?

HERE’S WHAT TIGER SAYS

The gossip tabloids pretty much have that niche covered for those of us who need to know more. Every media outlet doesn’t need to cover all the crap, all the time, over and over. Personally, I don’t care to know. I don’t care to know what my neighbors’ opinion is on the case. Nor do I care about the opinion and comments made by the caller from Nebraska, the bar maid in New York, some disgruntled friend in California who has answering machine messages and wants to cash in, or anybody about anything remotely concerned with Tiger Woods and his alleged affairs be they true or not.

If Tiger had an affair or affairs, so be it. We do not know the details of who, when, why nor will we ever. We also don’t know if perhaps Tiger may have an open marriage, they are swingers, he has an uncontrollable sexual compulsion, or if his wife even knew about these relationships if they did in fact even occur. We’re asking to judge something we don’t know anything about – nor want to. I don’t want to judge Tiger. I just like watching him golf. I think he’s pretty good. I don’t care if he called a girl in California, and I care even less about whether she has the tapes to prove it. I tell you one thing, I do judge the person that makes her personal answering machine tapes available to the public for monetary gain. Hmmm, not much of a friend, I’d say.

So, what have we all learned in the past two weeks? Someone in Florida hit a fire hydrant and a tree – and may have had an affair. Oh, and Tiger Woods is a real human being.

The answer is yes, Tiger’s image is tarnished – he’s not the perfect human – he’s real.

dbhewitt.2009.

Adam Lambert on the cover of Rolling Stone

Actually, no I didn’t, in response to the most asked question of the last few days. I have now thanks to all the hubbub the media has created. I couldn’t help but NOT see it. He was on the CBS Morning Show, Late Show with David Letterman, CNN Headline News…I was afraid to click on The Weather Channel for fear of a Severe Adam Lambert Warning.

First of all, if it’s not clear yet, I’m not an Adam Lambert music fan. I am also not an Adam Lambert music hater. His music simply isn’t my taste and I’m certain he could care less about whether I like him or not. He probably wouldn’t like my type of music either.

What seems to be the issue here is his overtly sexually-charged stage show he exhibited on national television – the American Music Awards.

Madonna on stage c.1991

The market is – and always has been – and always will be – full of wannabes and artists who are willing to do anything to sell themselves to make a profit. It’s true: if you want to sell (in this instance, cds, and videos) then you must promote yourself. You, yourself must have the price you are willing to pay for that advertising. Some have more of an idea of what they wish to gain and what they are willing to offer up in exchange than others do. I see this trending downward. Take a so-so song, make a big, shocking theatre about it, add in some personal controversy and walla! You have attention. Attention/Publicity = Sales.

Hold on, don’t get ahead of me, I’m not done yet…

Everyone, in their own profession, must promote themselves in order to gain attention and stand out from the crowd otherwise they’ll remain a bystander or wannabe. This is not necessarily bad. What is bad is the depths some people go to get the attention/publicity – be it positive or negative. Some will hurt others, degrade others, use others or any other sort of scheme or tactic. This is bad. I, personally, do not tolerate nor respect anyone who would use negative tactics against others for personal gain. I don’t care if (say, a musical artist) has a good song, a bad song, or so-so song if he/she has detrimentally used others for publicity.

Janet Jackson on Rolling Stone c.1995

Now, back to Adam Lambert.

Was he promoting himself? Of course he was. He should! Did he hurt others by doing so? I didn’t see it. From what I could tell, those scantily-clad men and women simulating various peep-show scenarios were up there onstage by their own free will. I don’t see them as being hurt. Perhaps they were promoting themselves for a better, future position (pun not intended). Hey, it’s their choice – good or bad.

Parents are voicing their opinions about the soft porn scenes Mr. Lambert and his band of co-horts displayed on network television. To that I say it’s the nature of the business nowadays. We’re not going to see Perry Como or the likes of an Andy Williams crooning solo into a microphone on the AMAs anymore. If you have kids now, you know the nature of the business. Janet Jackson did it, Madonna did it…Elvis did it…the list goes on and as far back as music goes. It’s not going to change. For the times, it’s nothing different from what Elvis did on the Ed Sullivan Show. If parents don’t want their kids to see this, put them to bed and keep ‘em sheltered – don’t complain it was on the television. You should’ve figured it was coming. I’d rather my kids make up their own mind whether they value that type of performance or that kind of artist than me tell them what to watch or not.

The Tubes c.1982

I’m not big on theatrics with music. I prefer to let the music stand on its own. That’s not to say I dislike theatrical music acts. Queen – a very theatrical rock stage act in the 1970′s – was very good, not my favorite but I didn’t dislike them either. The Sensational Alex Harvey Band was another great band from the same time period and was also extremely theatrical as was (and is) Alice Cooper, Kiss and The Tubes. I went through phases where I liked all of these groups a lot. None of them hurt anyone in promoting themselves and I respect them and liked them. So far, I respect Adam Lambert but don’t care for the music.

As for the homosexually inspired gay kiss? Get over it. Homophobes I don’t respect.

To sum it all up, pop music is a rock show. A show. Either like it and watch it or don’t like it and don’t watch it. Don’t try to stop the ever-constant evolution.

I must say, it was a rather catchy song, though.

©dbhewitt.2009.

]]> http://dbhewitt.ideavant.com/2009/11/29/adam-lambert-perverted-sex-freak/feed/ 0 http://dbhewitt.ideavant.com/2009/11/23/aquart-aquatic-life-photography/ http://dbhewitt.ideavant.com/2009/11/23/aquart-aquatic-life-photography/#comments Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:36:39 +0000 dbhewitt http://dbhewitt.ideavant.com/?p=920

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Eublepharis macularius for your very own

Ever thought of having a pet gecko? You know, just a cute little lizard of your own that would talk Australian and try so politely to sell you insurance? I know you have, just like everyone else, however, let me guess…you’ve never had a reptile before and you haven’t the first clue as to how and what to do to keep, maintain and raise a mini-dinosaur. Am I correct?

Well, let me be the first to tell you…Nothing Could Be Simpler!

First answer this questionnaire:

(add one point for each yes answer)

1. Do you want a pet gecko?
2. Can you spare a few moments 3-4 times a week to feed a pet leopard gecko?
3. Do you operate an in-home shelter for stray cats?

OK. You’re done.

Now, grade yourself…
If you answered the first two questions “Yes”, then you’re a prime candidate and well on your way to being a master gecko keeper.

If you answered “yes” to question three, well, maybe a gecko is not for you.
Either way, let me tell you how easy it is to keep your own pet leopard gecko (Eublepharis macularius). First, I’ll cover some common concerns.

Do they bite?

"My gecko bit me!"

No, geckos do not bite. It’s better described as an attempted oral grip. If your gecko does attempt a nip at you you’ll most likely just want to say, “Wow! My gecko just bit me!” Something to bring up to friends over a beer, but nothing more. Let your gecko chew on your fingertip a couple times and he’ll soon realize you aren’t a cricket nor a mealworm and he’ll remember in the future you aren’t a meal.
Which brings me to…

What in the heck do geckos eat?

Two things: Crickets and mealworms. OK, crickets, insects and mealworms. That’s three. But crickets and mealworms are insects so, actually it’s one.

…….. Eeeeeewwwww! I don’t like worms!

Don’t fear, mealworms are not worms, but the larvae form of a beetle (Tenebrio molitor). They (the mealworms, nor the beetle – or the gecko for that matter) are not slimy nor yucky. The just taste good to geckos (and are popular street fare for humans in Thailand).

Eeeeeewwwww! I don’t like beetles!

If your mealworms do metamorphosize (after several months of not being fed to your gecko) what you will have is one dumb beetle that can’t fly and if he tumbles over onto his back, he’ll most likely just lie there forever kicking his miniscule getaway sticks in the air in vain. An easy-to-hunt meal for your gecko.

Won’t my pet leopard gecko poop everywhere?

Absolutely not. As a matter of fact, leopard geckos may be the tidiest little homemakers in the animal kingdom. Once they move in and take occupancy of their new residence your leopard gecko will first take a long and thorough walk-through inspecting his/her new abode and then promptly designate one specific corner as its lavatory.

Excrement bundles in the designated poop corner

All bodily wastes will be packaged together in one small excrement bundle in the designated corner. This bundle (average 3-4 times per week) can easily be removed with tongs, or a mini scoop. They don’t have to be house-trained nor taken outside although shoulder harnesses are on the market if you desire to take your gecko out for a stroll. (The little poop bundles are dry, they do not smell, and once extracted they are wonderful fertilizer pellets for your houseplants.)

All in all, poop is not an issue.

c

How big do they get and how much space do they need?

A leopard gecko can attain a length (from tip of nose to end of tail) of about 7 inches. An adult leopard gecko will have more than enough room to live in a 20 gallon long aquarium.

What do I need to buy?

An aquarium with a screened top so the cats don’t get in, an overhead night light for heat, a sand substrate for reptiles, a water dish…and a gecko.

So, there you have it.

Adults will eat about 6-8 crickets/mealworms per feeding, only need access to a water dish for infrequent sips, needs no grooming (IE: haircuts or nail clippings, although periodic baths may be a good idea), they do not bark or beg for food, don’t shed (well, actually they do shed their skin every few weeks, but they eat it so there’s no clean-up), are happiest being solitary rather than with a mate, are inexpensive, live long (can live 20+ years), and are fascinating to watch for hours on end (when they are not sleeping).

Leopard geckos aren’t the most skilled of hunters and it is quite comical to watch them as they try to catch half a dozen rampant live crickets who are scared out of their wits after being dropped into The Gecko Den. However, they do win in the end as a hungry gecko always gets their cricket.

Hypo Tangerine Carrot-Tail

Pre-shed color fade

Leopard geckos have been bred into many different color patterns (morphs) over the past several years with the intensely orange-tailed “carrot-tail” being one of the most sought after. Leopard geckos (Leos as they are known in the trade) however will fade in color a day or two prior to their regular shedding – the next day you’ll awaken to a freshly-hued bright and shiny, happy Leo – and as I said, no shedded skin to clean up!

With the many varieties available, you will have no problem finding one who accents you home decor.
They are known as the consummate lounge lizard as they will lie sprawled out napping seemingly without a care in the world.
And you will be too, if you decide to get a pet leopard gecko of your very own.

Now, you aren’t skeptical about keeping a reptile anymore right?

Good.

…

(If you do plan on keeping a pet gecko do yourself and your future pet a favor and research the many leopard gecko care articles and websites. They are most helpful.)

©dbhewitt.2009.