How to Care for White Lined Geckos

The white-lined, or skunk, gecko is characterized by the white stripe that runs along both sides of its head, down its back and to its tail. The white-lined gecko is a rather calm reptile that requires a specific environment, but other than that it is a low-maintenance pet. With proper care, the white-lined gecko can live up to 10 years.

Things You'll Need

  • 20-gallon or larger terrarium
  • Terrarium substrates (flooring)
  • Branches, logs, fake or real plants
  • Screen cover
  • Low-wattage lightbulbs
  • Red or night lightbulb
  • Calcium-dusted insects such as fruit flies, crickets, mealworms and waxworms
  • Misting bottle
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Instructions

    • 1

      Provide a 20-gallon or larger terrarium for the gecko to live in. Place substrate (flooring) on the bottom of the tank. Good choices for flooring include reptile carpet or shredded coconut husks. Equip the terrarium with branches and logs as well as fake or real plants for climbing, basking and hiding. Cover the tank with a screen cover.

    • 2

      Place LED or low-wattage lightbulbs at least 18 inches away from the gecko. Do not place the light on top of the tank as a cover or inside the tank. Otherwise, the light could burn the gecko. Geckos are nocturnal and benefit from a 12-hour day-and-night lighting cycle. Set a timer to ensure the schedule is followed. At night, use a red or night bulb so that you can see the gecko.

    • 3

      Place a heat pad under one side of the tank to keep a warm side and a cool side. Ideal temperatures in the tank are 80 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and 74 to 80 degrees at night. Mist the tank and habitat daily to help with humidity.

    • 4

      Feed adult geckos three or four times a week and juveniles twice a day. Give them calcium-dusted insects like fruit flies, small crickets, mealworms and waxworms. Geckos can also eat fruit baby food and prepared foods. Remove any uneaten soft foods after four to six hours.

    • 5

      Keep a small, shallow bowl of water in the tank for the gecko to drink from and bask in. Change the water daily.

    • 6

      Remove fecal matter from the tank on a daily basis. Clean and replace the substrate on a monthly basis.

    • 7

      Limit handling of the gecko. Geckos have sensitive skin that is easily damaged. When bringing a new gecko home, give it time to get used to its environment before handling it.