Today I became the proud owner of a leopard gecko. Actually I rescued it. You see my parents are the superintendents of a building and a former tenant left this little girl behind. My sister Michele was over last night when my father tells her there is some sort of lizard in the apartment for almost a month. She made him bring it down and it was living in a 15 gallon tupperware blue bin. It had a water dish and a hallow rock and nothing else. My dad threw in whatever bugs that were in the food bin and she sat in the basement for the night.
I got home last night just a tad drunk and saw this little creature and was sort of freaked out because hey it eats bugs and bugs are creepy. My sister wasn't sure what it was so I looked it up online and sure enough found that it looked a lot like a leopard gecko. I read up as much as I could about the lizard to see if it needed anything for the night. The main thing is to keep the gecko in a warm environment (at least 80 degrees). I turned on the lamp that they had on it and went to bed. I woke up and did some more research before I went to the pet store to get some stuff for her. My father had an old 10 gallon fish tank so I had a good start.
I still was unsure what I needed as basic gecko care and maintenance but I went hoping the store clerk would help me out. I picked up this kit that included sand, a water dish, crickets, vitamins, some other food supplement thing, a thermometer and a care for book. I also got a screen for the top of the tank. Then I went to look for some help to make sure I had the basics and the clerk said nothing but just started piling up items. She gave me some mealworms, a heat light, a bulb, a heating pad, another tank light and additional special reptile bulb. By the time she was finished I spent a WHOPPING $174 on stuff for this little lizard. I break open the basic kit to read the care for book on my ride home. I realize that I really didn't need the extra tank lamp and bulb so I can take that back which is $74 right there! I have a feeling that the tank itself is plastic (not glass) even though my dad says it's glass it just doesn't feel like glass so I don't think I can use the heating pad I got so that can go back too.
So I get home and start setting up the tank when my sister gets back and we move Godzilla into her new home. She is loving it running around the tank checking it out. I am a little worried cause I haven't seen her eat yet and her old home I couldn't tell if she had pooped. I continue to read up on the gecko and realize I also have to make a moist area for her to shed in. Did you know that the leopard gecko eats its own shredded skin? Wouldn't that be fun to watch? So I will do that tomorrow night when I return some of this other stuff and get some moss for her shed house.
I am not so sure I want to keep Godzilla. I was thinking I could give her to my sister Kathy but her kids might be too old for a lizard and my sister Patti's kids are too young. Michele really doesn't have space for another pet, besides all her pet love goes to her dog Frankie Boy.
The last time I had a pet was when I was 12. I had a cat that my sister Kathy brought home one night after seeing a concert at the Ritz. She became my cat and her name was Ritz. My last memory of her was me carrying her to the vet and she looks so sick and she was breathing funny. I have had failed attempts at having a pet after that with a frog I once caught upstate and a turtle I am can't even remember where I got. I know I am not a good pet owner - I am an excellent pet sitter. I think I have been so traumatized by letting Ritz go that I can not own another pet. I mean I have a 55 gallon fish tank that is just sitting here empty for the past 4 years - does that say something? So maybe what I really need to do is give this little girl to anyone that wants her. I am serious if you are reading this and live in the NY area and want a leopard gecko please contact me through the comment box. I will love to see her live in a pet loving home. I'll also throw in the basics - I mean I really don't have any use for mealworms now do I. My only request is that you call her Godzilla ok!
