About Geckos

Average Length at Maturity: 23 inches to 0.9 inches (2.54 centimeters)
Gestation Period: 45- to 53 days
Maturity: 18 to 24 months
Estimated Lifespan: 15-20 years
Diet: Crickets, waxworms, earthworms, mealworms, fruit flies, moths, grasshoppers

General Characteristics

Geckos are mostly small, usually nocturnal reptiles with a soft skin. They also possess a short stout body, a large head, and typically well-developed limbs. The ends of each limb are often equipped with digits possessing adhesive pads. Most of the species are 3 to 15 cm (1.2 to 6 inches) long, including tail length (about half the total). They have adapted to habitats ranging from deserts to jungles.

Most geckos have feet modified for climbing. The pads of their long toes are covered with small plates that are in turn covered with numerous tiny hairlike processes that are forked at the end. These microscopic hooks cling to small surface irregularities, enabling geckos to climb smooth and vertical surfaces and even to run across smooth ceilings. Some geckos also have retractable claws.