False Start.
In 2022, I bought my first leopard gecko at a local pet show. The seller smiled and said, “They’re easy—just feed them some crickets.”
What no one told me was:
- It needs a precisely controlled heating pad—not just a warm bulb.
- Without enough calcium, it can develop metabolic bone disease. (Mine did. His legs slowly deformed.)
- Left alone too often, it can become chronically stressed. (I thought he was just “quiet.”)
Three months later, my gecko got sick.
The vet looked at me and said, “It’s very common. A lot of first-time owners go through this.”
That moment hit me hard.
I realized the exotic pet world is full of passion—but sorely lacking reliable guidance.
A Frantic Search.
I dove headfirst into research, hoping to do better. What I found was frustrating:
- Conflicting advice on forums (“Use sand!” “Sand is deadly!”)
- Youtube content focused on cuteness, not the real challenges
- Scientific papers too scattered, technical, or hidden behind paywalls
I was tired of piecing together half-truths. So I decided to build what I wish I had from day one.
My Principle: An Uncompromising Scientific View of Feeding
ExoticPetGuides exists for one reason: to give you real, trustworthy guidance in a world full of conflicting noise.
1️⃣Every article must be rooted in credible sources—vet manuals, scientific research, not hearsay.
2️⃣I don’t hide the tough parts—yes, that includes real photos of feeding, illnesses, or housing mistakes.
3️⃣I never recommend a product I haven’t personally tested and trusted.
Because once trust is lost, it’s nearly impossible to regain.
If you’re here, it means you care—not just about collecting creatures, but about caring for them with intention, compassion, and responsibility. That’s the kind of keeper I write for.
Welcome to ExoticPetGuides.
Let’s do right by the geckos we choose to bring into our lives.