How I Fell In Love With Geckos

As a child, I was allowed to have most any pet I wanted, so long as I saved up the money for it. It led to having a lot of reptiles. In my childhood years, the internet was not what it was today - a wonderful tree of knowledge (granted, each branch of the tree tends to bear some sort of pornographic fruit, but I just don't put it in my mouth and I'm fine). Since I didn't have this vital tool on hand, I had to take care of my animals by following the care advice given by years-old books, used magazines, and the generally vague guidelines of pet store owners. This unfortunately led to many pets not living as long as they should have. (George, George II, George III, George IV, and Gumby the anoles, you are not forgotten, and I'm sorry.)

The passing of my last reptile pet some years ago led me to swear off reptiles. Cats and dogs, everyone knows how to care for those.

I had a pretty nasty year last year, though, and little things gnaw at my weak spots. I don't remember when I first came across a picture of a crested gecko, or Rhacodactylus ciliatus - but I stared at it for a few minutes and then closed the browser window and didn't think about it for a week. At which point I started doing a ton of research, now all at my fingertips on this computer. I researched for months on their care, their temperament, and where I could get one. At the encouragement of my housemate, who I think saw a light in my eyes he hadn't seen in a while, I looked up a place to visit some.

I went to a reptile show "just to look." There, I got to hold a crested gecko for the first time. And it wasn't his gorgeous, eyelashed, unblinking eyes that hooked me. It wasn't his stunning markings, and it wasn't his monkey-like prehensile tail. All right, it was partly his disc-ended tongue that cleaned his eyes, but that wasn't quite it.

It was his feet.

Terribly, almost unbearably soft. With tiny little tickles where the claws protruded to hang on a little better. A reptile should not feel this soft. It was exactly as I'd always imagined a dragon's feet to feel like. Just, in miniature.

The tiny little feet were absolutely perfect.

I smiled.

I think it was my first genuine smile in months.



More info on these guys is available here: [link]



Edit:
Also people keep asking, so let me get this out here for all to read: I do not want people using my lizard images in their own published projects, whether it be for traced sketches you post up here, or a 3D rendering you turn in at school, or as a painting you've highly referenced one of my pictures from, or even for your own website.

My pictures are not meant to be used for your own personal gain. I appreciate those who ask first, but please understand that "no" means "no," and stop asking after you receive your answer.