How Long Can A Gecko Live In Your House?

Geckos are fascinating little lizards that have recently become quite popular as house pets. If you’ve spotted one of these cute critters crawling around your home, you may be wondering just how long they can survive indoors.

If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer: House geckos typically live between 1-2 years when kept as pets inside human homes.

Typical Lifespan of Pet House Geckos

1-2 Years for Common Species

The average lifespan for most common pet gecko species kept as house pets is sadly only 1-2 years. This includes popular starters like leopard geckos and crested geckos. Their short lifespans are due to a variety of factors relating to captive care and their natural life cycles.

With optimal husbandry, supplementation, habitat, and handling, some geckos can live 3-5 years or more.

Leopard geckos (Eublepharis macularius), one of the most popular lizards for beginners, live 2-4 years on average as pets. Other common species kept as house pets include:

• Crested geckos (Correlophus ciliatus) – 3-4 years
• African fat-tailed geckos (Hemitheconyx caudicinctus) – 4-6 years
• Mourning geckos (Lepidodactylus lugubris) – 3-5 years

Factors That Influence Lifespan

Several key factors impact a gecko’s health and longevity when kept as house pets:

• Enclosure size & setup – Small, improper habitats raise stress.
• Temperature & humidity – Incorrect ranges affect immune health.
• Lighting & photoperiods – Abnormal light cycles disrupt breeding & brumation.
• Diet & supplementation – Poor nutrition causes deficiencies & disease.
• Health issues – Parasites, mouth rot, obesity, etc. left untreated.
• Genetics & inbreeding – Weak bloodlines succumb to illness.
• Handling & taming – Excessive stress lowers immune defenses.

As shown in the table above, a 4 year old leopard gecko is roughly equal to a 47 year old human in terms of comparative age. With attentive care taking into account their specialized needs, expert sources state it’s possible for leopard geckos to exceed 5-7 years and even 10+ years in rare cases!

Caring for Your House Gecko

Proper Enclosure

Geckos are arboreal lizards, meaning they like to climb. Their enclosure should be tall rather than wide, with plenty of climbing branches, fake plants, and hiding spots. The minimum size is a 20-gallon tank for one or two geckos. The tank should have a screen lid for ventilation.

Good substrates are paper towels, reptile carpet, or bioactive substrates with live plants.

Heating and Lighting

House geckos do best at temperatures between 75-85°F during the day, with a basking spot of 90°F. At night temperatures can drop to 65-75°F. Provide an incandescent bulb or ceramic heat emitter for daytime heat.

For visible light, use a low wattage incandescent or a fluorescent bulb for 10-12 hours a day. Turn off lights at night to allow a natural photoperiod.

Feeding Your Gecko

House geckos eat small insects like

Crickets

Mealworms

Waxworms

Roaches

. Juveniles should be fed daily, while adults can eat every other day. Dust insects with calcium + D3 and vitamin supplements. Provide a shallow water bowl, but monitor humidity levels so the tank doesn’t get too damp.

Humidity and Hydration

Mist the tank daily, provide a humid hide, and monitor humidity with a hygrometer. Low humidity can cause health issues like respiratory infections or stuck shed. Provide a water bowl for drinking and soaking.

Common Health Issues for House Geckos

Metabolic Bone Disease

Metabolic bone disease (MBD) is a common affliction in captive geckos. It occurs when they cannot properly metabolize calcium and vitamin D3, leading to soft, brittle bones and deformities. MBD is usually caused by poor diet and lack of UVB exposure.

Without enough calcium or vitamin D3, geckos cannot properly mineralize their bones. According to the ReptiFiles care guide, early signs of MBD include weakness, rubbery legs, and trouble shedding. As it progresses, swollen limbs, fractures, and spinal curvatures can occur.

Providing a calcium supplement, multivitamins with D3, and access to UVB lighting helps prevent this condition.

Respiratory Infections

House geckos may develop respiratory infections from bacteria, fungi, or parasites. Stressed, injured, or malnourished geckos are most at risk. According to Reptile.Guide, symptoms include mucus bubbles around nostrils, heavy breathing, wheezing, and lethargy.

In severe cases, geckos keep their mouths open constantly to aid breathing. Without antibiotics from a vet, respiratory infections can be fatal. To help avoid them, maintain proper temperatures and humidity in the terrarium, avoid overcrowding, and eliminate exposure to tobacco smoke.

External Parasites

Mites, ticks, and tiny worms can infest house geckos and feed on their blood. According to veterinarian Dr. Laurie Hess on the LafeberVet site, common symptoms include small black “dirt specks”, irritated skin, and excessive scratching. A vet exam can identify the type of parasite involved.

Treatment typically consists of specialized antiparasitic medication applied topically or by injection. To help prevent infestations, thoroughly clean the habitat weekly, avoid transferring geckos between terrariums, and quarantine new geckos before introducing them.

According to the North American Pet Health Insurance Association, over 18% of pet gecko claims in 2021 were for metabolic bone disease, respiratory infections, or parasites. By understanding the common health issues house geckos face and how to prevent them, responsible owners can help their pets live longer, healthier lives.

Maximizing Your Gecko’s Lifespan

Choosing a Healthy Gecko

Selecting a robust, disease-free gecko from a reputable breeder or pet store is crucial for maximizing its lifespan. Examine the gecko’s eyes, nose, mouth, skin, tail, and limbs for any signs of discharge, lesions, or stuck shed. The gecko should be alert, active, and a healthy weight.

Juvenile geckos often live longer than adult geckos, so consider adopting a young gecko. With proper care, geckos can live 6-10 years or even longer!

Providing Proper Husbandry

To keep your gecko thriving, focus on these key elements of husbandry:

• Enclosure size – adult leopard geckos need a 20-gallon tank minimum.
• Substrate – use a naturalistic substrate like paper towels or reptile carpet.
• Temperature – offer a warm side of 88-92°F and a cool side of 70-75°F.
• Lighting – provide overhead heating and UVA/UVB light on a 12-14 hour cycle.
• Hides – give a minimum of three hides, one on the warm side, cool side, and humid hide.
• Diet – feed a variety of calcium-dusted insects like crickets along with meal replacements.
• Supplements – use calcium and vitamin D3 supplements as directed.
• Hydration – provide a water dish changed daily.

Keeping Stress Low

Stress is a huge factor impacting gecko health and lifespan. Here are tips for a low-stress environment:

• Limit handling to about 10-15 minutes per day max.
• Provide ample enclosure space and plenty of hides.
• Keep the enclosure away from high traffic areas.
• Maintain proper temperatures and a consistent day/night cycle.
• House geckos singly after maturity to prevent aggression.
• Clean the enclosure thoroughly but minimize disturbances.

With diligent care and minimal stress, your gecko can thrive and reach a long, healthy life of 10 years or more! Proper husbandry and close attention to your gecko’s behavior and health are key. 😊

Deciding if a Gecko is Right for You

Considering Costs and Care Requirements

Geckos can make great pets, but they do require some special care and expenses. Here are a few things to consider before bringing one home:

• Housing – Geckos need an enclosed terrarium or tank, plus accessories like hides, plants, etc. This can cost $100-300+ to set up properly.
• Food – Crested geckos eat a powdered fruit diet that costs around $25 for a few months’ supply. Other geckos eat live insects which can add up over time.
• Vet care – Exams, diagnostics and treatments from an exotic vet are recommended to keep geckos healthy. These services cost more for reptiles than traditional pets.
• Supplements & lighting – Geckos need calcium, vitamins and heat/UVB lighting for healthy bones and appetite. These recurring costs are essential for their care.

According to surveys from pet owners, the average lifetime cost of owning a gecko is estimated between $800 – $1,200. The initial setup and periodic vet visits represent the most expensive parts of owning one of these amazing lizards.

Ensuring You Have Time for Proper Care

In addition to the financial investment, prospective gecko owners should honestly gauge whether they can provide consistent care and handling time before welcoming one into their home.

Most species of gecko are quite low maintenance compared to dogs or cats, but they still rely on their owners to:

• Feed them an appropriate diet every 2-3 days
• Mist their terrarium for moisture 1-2 times per day
• Thoroughly clean the entire habitat once per month
• Handle them gently for 10-20 minutes a few times per week
• Keep an eye out for signs of illness and schedule vet appointments

Additionally, some gecko species like crested geckos live 15-20 years with proper care. This equals a long-term commitment – longer than the lifespan of a hamster or rabbit.

Geckos that don’t receive adequate care often suffer from stress, dehydration, malnutrition and life-threatening diseases. Their surprisingly complex needs should not be taken lightly. With realistic expectations of cost and effort however, these personable lizards can make wonderfully rewarding pets.

Conclusion

Caring for a pet gecko can be very rewarding, but requires research and commitment to meet their complex care needs. By educating yourself on their proper enclosure, nutrition, health issues and lifespan, you can maximize your gecko’s health and vitality.

If provided a well-designed habitat and conscientious care, house geckos can live happy, low-stress lives for 1-2 years in captivity.