geckos and lizards

Question
What are the perks and flaws of having a gecko or lizard? Which one is easier to care for?

Answer
Hi Bre,
I really can't give you a definite answer without knowing what species of both your are referring to.
Most, but not all geckos are nocturnal,which means they are active at night and don't need a source of special uvb lighting, although using a low uvb output tube is recommended by many.
Most geckos are smaller...most eat insects.
With lizards, they can be as small as a few inches to 6 feet.
If they are basking lizards, they need to have generally higher temperatures...a good source of uvb and depending on the species, may require huge cages such as an entire room, and some may eat insects, some nothing but dark, leafy greens and some need both in their diet.
Some geckos are pretty easy to care for such as the crested gecko and leopard gecko which are good starter pets.
With lizards, there are so many that are kept as pets but one of the more comon ones are the bearded dragon.  They rarely get larger than 2 ft but do require a mixed diet, high basking temperatures, special uvb lighting and at least a 50-60 gallon tank.
With each added care item a species needs, the cost of keeping the reptile goes up.
What I suggest is that you do some research on gecko species and lizard species to see if there is any species that appeals to you.
A good place to start your search to get an idea as to basic needs is at www.anapsid.org