Fearful the same fate might befall her would-be pet, Liew, a trade marketing executive, turned her eyes to smaller reptiles, particularly geckos.
“I was very curious about geckos after I watched some videos on Tik Tok. I thought, ‘they’re so small, they must be easy to take care of’. So during the Chinese New Year season last year, I went to a pet store to get one,” Liew told FMT Lifestyle.
What Liew did not know was that the festive season would play a big role in her first gecko selection.
She recalled fixing her eyes on a yellowish-orange Leopard Gecko with brown markings. It immediately reminded her of pineapples, called “ong lai” in Hokkien, which is also a common Chinese New Year greeting for good fortune.
“I just went, ‘oh wow, this is so nice’. The pet shop owner said he could sell it to me for a cheaper price. I immediately grabbed the chance, got my gecko and called her Ong Lai!” Liew laughed.
She described Ong Lai as calm and collected, making the gecko a favourite among her friends.
“When you hold her, she will be steady and won’t simply bite you. And most of the time, she stays so still, people think she’s a doll,” said Liew.
The gecko also formed an unlikely bond with Liew’s three feline companions, dispelling the stereotype of cats as natural predators of lizards. They would play catch around the house, a game of scales and whiskers.
Liew’s reptilian menagerie grew to four other geckos, each new one adding a distinct personality to the mix. From the shy and retiring to the feisty and inquisitive, each gecko exhibits its own quirks and preferences.
Catering to their finicky appetites, Liew provides a diverse menu of live mealworms, crickets, and dubia roaches, ensuring their nutritional needs are met.
Each gecko resides in a meticulously designed tank, offering a comfortable and enriching environment outside her room. This dedication didn’t go unnoticed – her parents, initially hesitant about her growing collection, have become staunch supporters, witnessing first-hand the love and care Liew lavishes on her reptilian companions.
Interestingly, Liew said her geckos listen in when she plays her violin. She brings them along to her classes where they enjoy classical numbers. And the moment she plays a wrong note, “they will look around and wonder what happened”.
Among her collection, Armani holds a special place in Liew’s heart. His white skin and intricate leopard-print markings earned him his namesake, a tribute to the renowned fashion brand. Fancy name aside, Liew said Armani is a foodie.
“When I feed him, I need to be careful. The moment my fingers move, he thinks they’re worms and he’ll lunge to bite them,” she said.
Armani is the biggest gecko Liew owns. She had tried to cut down his food intake to manage his weight but to no avail.
“This has made him very lazy! When my cats play with Ong Lai, she sprints so fast the moment they touch her. Armani, on the other hand, moves just three steps, then gives up. Even when my cats egg him on to run, he doesn’t move a muscle!” Liew exclaimed.
She said the responsibility of caring for these fascinating creatures adds a calming dimension to her busy life, reminding her of the simple joys and quiet moments that exist beyond the hustle and bustle of professional pursuits.
“They’re like my friends … I talk to them. Sometimes, I think getting along with them is easier than getting along with people. You feel better because you know exactly what you’re getting from them, unlike people,” Liew concluded.
This article was written by Dinesh Kumar Maganathan @ FMT Lifestyle. Read more pet stories here.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR PET: FMT Lifestyle readers are invited to send in pictures (landscape format) and a short video (if any) of their furry, scaly or feathery friends to [email protected]. Don’t forget to include details like your pet’s name, age, breed and a short story about them.