Crested Geckos in Captivity (+photos!) - Charlotte Lin

Every year, I try to attend the NARBC (North American Reptile Breeders Conference) in Tinley Park. It’s the largest reptile/amphibian conference in the country and conveniently close, considering many attendees drive or fly for hours in order to be there. I have always had a passion for and felt drawn to animals ever since I was little. My dad unfortunately passed his allergies onto me though, so I had to stay away from any furry or feathery pets. I started doing research on animals that I wouldn’t be allergic to, and so began my journey with reptiles. I currently have two African fat tailed geckos (shown in photos) and I love them!

At last year’s conference, I was lucky to meet and chat with Robbie Hamper. She is a knowledgeable reptile enthusiast, breeder, and publisher of Crested Geckos in Captivity.  This book is packed with information on the origins of this species, how to properly keep them in captivity, as well as the breeding process and growth cycle from hatchlings to adults. I purchased this book directly from her at the conference and read it all the way home. Although I've never kept any (this is a different geckos species than the ones I keep), I've always been interested in Crested geckos, one of the most commonly kept reptiles in the country. As a minor still living with my parents, certain limits have been set as to having pets in the house. But rereading Hamper’s book over and over again, getting the information to really sink in gets me excited for when I have more freedom in the future. I plan to keep pets when I’ve moved out, settled down, and am ready to take care of them. I love researching a variety of animals I have interest in keeping and envisioning a possible future with them. It's fun for me to absorb knowledge and gain a wider understanding of how much life there is in our world. 

Just loads of text and information can get a bit boring or tedious to read, and hard for me to comprehend. However, Hamper's book is extremely inclusive of helpful photos that are often labeled to correspond to certain sections, and really helps to visualize what she is talking about. While I understand that this genre of literature isn't for everybody, if you are interested in reptiles (especially in captivity) I would recommend checking this one out. It's not the most flashy or exciting book, but it contains a ton of interesting and important information presented in a way that's easy to understand and remember.