Zander has a stuffed animal iguana that he has been carrying around for 2 years. He repeatedly says he wishes Stripe were real. When we were building out new house, he claimed the bottom of his closet would be the perfect place for a lizard or gecko. For the past school year, every book he brought home from the school library was about lizards, iguanas, geckos, etc. He really did his research and knew that the best type of pet would be either the Leopard Gecko or the African Fat Tailed Gecko.
When I picked Steve up from the store, the girl at the store said, "this one is an albino Leopard Gecko", but I thought she was talking about the other. Now I'm thinking it is Steve as we've had him for over a month, he was probably 2 months old when I got him and he has no dark markings at all, just the pink and orange. I googled that and yes, it seems that he is albino. Time will tell.
This video was taken Christmas day, when the boys first met Steve. Surprised doesn't even being to describe it. Notice as soon as Zander realizes what is in the aquarium and he runs to hug me (that part tears me up everything I watch it), he immediately sits down and puts Stripe the Iguana up to the glass and makes Stripe wave to Steve.
They love Steve!
Sweet little Steve under the heat lamp:
This is a mixture of multivitamin powder and additional Vitamin C powder that is essential for gecko health. Don't ask me why. It's not like someone is putting a dish out for them in the wild! I'm assuming the crickets and mealworms we feed them don't have enough nutritional value. But in the wild...?
Regardless, we dust the crickets with the powder before each feeding and he will also go and lick it right out of the dish when he wants to.
Little poser:
Look at his pretty colourings. He's pink and orangy.
This little house is filled with moss that must be kept moist at all times. The heat lamp is right over top of it, thus providing a humid hid for him. This is especially important when he is shedding.
Like I know what I'm talking about....
Here his is hunting down a meal worm. Click on the picture to enlarge it so you can see his funny angry eyes. He always gets that face when he hones in on his dinner. So cute!
Nom, Nom, Nom!
Yes! He is smiling!
Macro Steve:
