African fat tailed geckos are small geckos from West Africa, from Senegal to Cameroon. Fat tails can be found in savannahs, rocky hillsides, river edges, and scrubland. Their habitat is dry and arid, though these geckos like to take refuge in humid hiding spots. Fat Tailed Geckos are related to Leopard Geckos, in that both species have true eyelids. Fat Tailed Geckos are shyer than their spotted cousins, and are somewhat slower paced than Leopard Geckos as well.
Diet at Exotic Edventures: Crickets, meal worms, and roaches Conservation Status: Stable Species
Interaction Level: Moderately Interactive Audience: Great for all ages
Crested Gecko
Crested geckos are originally from New Caledonia, a group of islands between Fiji and Australia. Crested Geckos are semi-arboreal, spending most of their time in small trees and low shrubs. They will however, seek out hiding places near the ground to sleep during the day. Crested geckos were thought to be extinct until 1994, when several relatively large, thriving populations were found on the islands of New Caledonia. They are now protected in the wild and are considered a vulnerable species.
The crested gecko has hair-like projections found above their eyes, resembling eyelashes. . It has a wedge-shaped head and a crest that runs from each eye to the tail. Crested geckos do not have eyelids and so they use their long tongues to moisten their eyes and remove debris. The toes and the tip of the semi-prehensile tail are covered in small hairs that help the gecko climb on most solid surfaces. The toes have small claws which aid in climbing surfaces to which their toes cannot cling. They possess a semi-prehensile tail which they use to assist in climbing. The tail can be dropped as a deterrent to predators but it does not grow back like some other gecko species.
Each of our crested geckos have their own enclosure, as cresties are solitary animals. They are fed a special fruit mix diet 2-3 times per week and occasionally insects as treats. Our cresties also get a special supplement on a weekly basis. These guys are extremely fun to watch and can live to be 15-20 years.
Interaction Level: Extremely Interactive Audience: Great for all ages
Conservation Status: Vulnerable Species
Gargoyle Gecko
Gargoyle geckos are indigenous to southern end of New Caledonia, a group of islands between Fiji and Australia. This gecko and its habitat are being threatened by deforestation. The gargoyle gecko was given its name from the cranial bumps on it's head that gives the appearance of having horns. They have a prehensile tail that drops off as a defense against predators that will then regenerate. Gargoyles can reach 7 to 9 inches in length and can come in a variety of colors. These geckos are nocturnal, being mostly active at night and are an arboreal species, making their home in trees.
Diet at Exotic Edventures: A special fruit based diet and insects Conservation Status: Vulnerable Species
Exotic Edventures currently has several gargoyle geckos that participate in our programs. These guys range in color and are very fun animal ambassadors to have at an event.
Interaction Level: Moderately Interactive Audience: Great for ages 6 and up
Leach's Giant Gecko (Rhacodactylus leachianus)
More information coming soon!
Diet at Exotic Edventures: A special fruit based diet and insects Conservation Status: Vulnerable Species
Interaction Level: Moderately Interactive Audience: Great for ages 6 and up
Leopard Gecko
Leopard geckos are nocturnal ground dwelling lizards found in desert environments in Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, and parts of India. Unlike most geckos, leopard geckos have movable eyelids and lack adhesive lamellae, meaning that they cannot walk up vertical surfaces. The leopard has a triangular head and a large tail where it stores fat.
Leopard geckos can also detach their tails to get away from danger. When a predator grabs its tail, a specialized muscle clenches up to prevent blood loss. They lose their energy reserve, but they survive the predator attack and can then grow another tail. Adults tend to grow to be 8-9 inches in length. The skin of the leopard gecko is bumpy and heavily patterned. The patterns are designed to camouflage and protect it from being seen by predators.
Diet at Exotic Edventures: Crickets, meal worms, and roaches Conservation Status: Stable Species
Interaction Level: Moderately Interactive Audience: Great for all ages