Gargoyle Gecko!

[Vephriel]

There was a reptile show in the city this weekend, and naturally I came home with something from it.

Here's the newest addition to my family, a baby gargoyle gecko! <3 He's absolutely adorable. His name is Ziggy!

Unfortunately I just have these crummy camera phone photos at the moment, but once I find a nice camera I'll get some better quality ones up. I just finished feeding him tonight, he licks the food off my finger. ^_^

[cowmuflage]

Maybe a name from the Gargoyle cartoon? He's very pretty.

[Wain]

Aww, he's gorgeous!

[Silivren]

Galio! Hes the gargoyle from LoL and hes fun to play. Plus thats just the first thing that popped into my mind. Grats on your new baby, hes cute!!

[Kalliope]

Squeeeeeeeeee! So cute! <3 And I hate to say it, but he looks like a real life minipet! He's like a mini-mini-mini Aleister.

[Chimera]

o.o

i know what reptile im going to get when i become steady enough to learn and take on such a commitment. EEEEEEEEE SO FRIGGIN CUTE

[Vephriel]

I'm completely in love with him, he stole my heart at the expo.

My friend and I went to the reptile show together, and it was really just supposed to be for her to bring home a new friend. She knew a guy that was with the gecko breeders, so at their table we were looking at all the crested geckos. There was one cute little orange guy that was practically doing backflips and handstands in his tub, so she chose him for his energetic personality.

I hadn't been planning on getting another reptile honestly, but then as we were standing there looking at all of the geckos, I saw this grey one that stood out from the brightly coloured cresties. He was the only gargoyle gecko there, and he tilted his head and looked up at me when I leaned in closer...and I knew he had to be mine.

I really adore the gargoyle geckos. They're named after the little bumps on their head that look like tiny horns, and for their granite-like colouration and appearance. They'll often change colour depending on the time of day/temperature as well, sometimes sporting bright orange colours during the day and going back to pale stone hues at night.

I love their eyes too! Just like a cat, they can contract and expand their pupils. As you can see in my photos, the little guy was really excited while he was eating so his pupils were big and round, but they can be tiny slivers like the other photos. ^^

[Wain]

When I was a kid I always wanted either a Jackson's Chameleon or a Draco (gliding lizard). Of course you never see anything like that in Australia. Exotic reptiles are very rare here. Do you see stuff like that at the shows?

[cowmuflage]

I have skinks that live in the rocks outside of my bedroom :/ Your bound to not see those at a show Well not legally anyway!

Wain you have more chances there than I do here! Unless I want a blue tounge lizard or a bearded dragon XD


Can you tell I'm jealous of everyone? XD

[Vephriel]

I haven't seen the gliding lizards myself, but I see lots of chameleons at shows, including the Jackson's.

Aww, I love skinks, they're a common one to see at the shows as well. I had a northern blue tongue myself until he passed away a few years ago.

Anyways, this morning I was listening to David Bowie and the name hit me: Ziggy! Fits his spunky personality and the way he hops and zig-zags around when he's on my arm. ^^

[Wain]

Haha, sounds appropriate

I've never heard of dracos being kept as pets, but they're truly amazing to look at and have some really beautiful colours as well.

How big will Ziggy grow?

[zedxrgal]

Oh mah gosh! Totally adorable. Cute lil button!

I've been to some of the largest reptile shows in the world and you'd never find a gliding lizard. I think it's because they're a protected species. I don't even think CITES permits can be obtained.

My jealousy knows no bounds where you are Sir Wain. You have some amazing goannas out there I swoon after.

[Vephriel]

Agreed Zed. I've always wanted to visit Australia and New Zealand to see the native reptiles. <3 Some day I'll get there for a trip.

How big will Ziggy grow?

He'll probably get to around 8 inches in length or so, including the tail. Lifespan is average 10-15 years.

[cowmuflage]

Ziggy is a nice name 20 cm? Thats huge!


Well if you do come here I know of a reptile park about 2 hours from Auckland that has every reptile found in New zealand apart from Tuataras (So basicly Skinks and Geckos! but they have a bunch of aussie things too). I think they have done it up since last I was there.

[Wain]

My jealousy knows no bounds where you are Sir Wain. You have some amazing goannas out there I swoon after.

Very true. Our quarantine and import laws mean it's very hard to get exotic creatures in, but our native wildlife definitely makes up for it. We have loads of cool reptiles, and goannas are really pretty cool. We also have loads of venomous ones (but they try to stay away from you as long as you stay away from them), and bitey ones (that like to eat American tourists who go swimming despite the "Crocodiles - no swimming" signs)

[Miacoda]

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee so CUTE!! Like, ogod the adorableness. I squee.

Man, my mother and I used to go to a reptile show every year but the hotel it was at stopped hosting it and it hasn't started back up.

[Rhyela]

Aw Veph, he is precious!!! I absolutely love the eyes, those are wicked-looking! I think Ziggy is a perfect name for him. ^_^ Once he gets bigger, will he start eating pinkie mice? I have no idea what their diets are like.

[Vephriel]

He can pretty much be fully sustained on a specialized gecko diet powder that contains all of the nutrients he needs to survive - you basically mix it with water and you get a smoothie-like substance that they'll lap up. He'll get a dusted cricket about once a week or so, and as an adult he could definitely have a pinkie mouse as an occasional treat, along with other desserts such as real fruit, wax worms, etc. Mostly everything he needs is in the meal replacement powder though.

[Snowbird]

awww!! its soo damn cute!! me want one!!!! those eyes! omg!awesome!

[Vephriel]

Photo spam! Got my nice camera charged so I managed to take some good photos of little Ziggy just now. He was hard to keep in focus in some since he kept walking up my arm. xD The cardboard you see is his little temporary hide I made till I pick up some fancier stuff on the weekend. ;3