Mediterranean house geckos are typically located in countries that border with the Mediterranean Sea such as Cyprus, Turkey, and Spain.
It is believed that this Gecko has been first discovered within America during 1915 and since then has become an invading species.
They are tiny with gray brown, pinkish, or gray skin, which is covered in dark mottle or spots.
The appearance of this species is like the Common Gecko However, it is easy to tell the difference due to the Mediterranean’s bumpy skin and a translucent underbelly.
Hardy and adaptable, they are the perfect pet reptile to start with.
Are you curious about this adorable reptile? Read on to find out more the details about their food habits, their habitat and their behavior…
Mediterranean House Gecko Overview
This Gecko originates from subtropical and tropical regions around that of Mediterranean Sea. They soon spread to the countries surrounding them, including Cyprus, Turkey, and Spain.
They aid in controlling the population of wild insects throughout Eastern Mediterranean countries so it is considered taboo to harm them.
This species eventually was introduced into eventually the United States and was first discovered at the Florida Keys in 1915.
They are an extremely adaptable reptile and has become an extinct specie in states like Florida in addition to Texas.
It is simple to recognize an Mediterranean House Gecko.
They can be gray or brown, and have violet or pink undertones as well as dark flecks. The skin of the cat is never smooth, and their eyes are not lidless! When they’re fully grown, they’ll weigh between 4 and 5 inches.
This kind of Gecko also has a transparent underbelly. If you have the right lighting, you can clearly see their heart beating or even an egg! They also have their tails and sticky toes
- Utilizing their tails as defense mechanisms, they detach their tails in case of stress or danger.
- Their sticky toes that can be used to climb virtually every surface.
Males are territorial, so they shouldn’t be living in a group However, females can happily coexist as long as they have enough space.
Where Do Mediterranean House Geckos Live?
They are most commonly seen within Eastern Mediterranean countries such as Cyprus, Turkey, and Spain. They also are an invading plant throughout Texas as well as Florida.
They love warm temperatures and high humidity.
The environments that offer lots of places to climb or to hide are their favourites.
Are Mediterranean Geckos Good Pets?
Yes. Their ability to adapt makes them tough. They also possess a gentle and sweet disposition which makes them easy to handle for beginners.
The “house” part of their name refers to the facts that they usually live in human-made homes & can easily adapt to the man-made environment.
Pros
- They are extremely tough and don’t suffer from numerous health issues.
- The species is small and adorable!
- They are easy to take care of and are priced between $5 and $20.
Cons
- They’re agile and swift, so are easily able to get away.
- The droppings of their pets can cause stains on fabrics.
- They are extremely prone to stress and require care when handling.
Species Appearance
The Mediterranean House Gecko is a small reptile with a rounded head and a the body is cylindrical.
After they have fully grown, they measure only about four-five inches ( 10 to 13 centimeters) from the snout down to the tail.
Males are born with heads that are slightly larger and weigh more than females. They may also have pores on their hind legs which are used for markers and chemical signals.
It can be difficult to distinguish between sexes. Both genders usually have identical in color.
Colors
Mediterranean Geckos typically light gray, white or tan to purple the coloration.
The skin is rough that has dark spots, and the same stripes on the tails of their dogs. The stomach skin is typically translucent.
The eyes of these people are big and lidless. They have vertical pupils.
Size
The hatchlings born are tiny and only .04 inches ( 0.1 cm) in length. Juveniles increase in size at the rate that is 0.1 inch every month until they are mature at the age of one year.
As adults, these geckos can weigh between four and five inches in size.
Mediterranean House Gecko Care Guide
What Do Mediterranean Geckos Eat?
Mediterranean House Geckos are insectivores. They consume a variety diverse insects.
In the wild, this reptile hunts toward their prey, then pouncing and slapping their head towards the insect to capture it. They typically hunt near lighting fixtures for porches or other man-made structures.
The gecko is able to feed on roaches and crickets and even worms.
Give your pet a feed at least three times per week. Each feeding session should contain up to five crickets.
It is important to provide insects with a size that is no larger than the head of your Gecko. If the insects are appropriately measured, you can maintain an even feeding schedule that is nearly every day.
Clean the insects by applying mineral and vitamin supplements before eating. For adults , do this every week, and for a gecko that is growing do it three times a week. Take a supplement with calcium, but not Phosphorus.
You could also remove the insects from your gut several days prior to feeding to get more nutrients.
Set food in the cage for a few hours before taking it out of their cage.
Make sure you have a water dish for your reptile. However the reptiles prefer to drink water droplets. Sprinkle their cages with mist every day to ensure that the humidity is high and offer water droplets for drinking.
Lifespan and Health
Mediterranean House Geckos live for between three and nine years.
They’re a tough reptile however they can be susceptible to various health problems in the event that their grooming and care schedule isn’t properly followed.
Impaction can develop when people eat food that they can’t digest. The most frequent cause is the substrate. It is a serious risk in the absence of treatment, but it is very easily prevented by feeding insects only and using the right substrate (e.g. newspaper or paper towels).
Infections by parasites can affect you and your Mediterranean House Gecko through contact with food that is contaminated. The gecko may appear tired or vomit often.
Respiratory infections are often the result of due to an insufficient temperature or humidity within their enclosure. It is usually characterized by fatigue and a loss of appetite or breath that is open.
The problem of sheds could be the result of low levels of humidity. If your skin seems to be hanging on to your gecko, you must to increase the humidity inside the cage.
Metabolic bone disease may cause an unstable limb, curved limbs and trouble standing. Be sure to feed your lizard a sufficient amount of vitamins to ensure their bones are strong.
Do Mediterranean House Geckos Tails Grow Back?
Yes, it does grow back. The Mediterranean gecko can shed its tail if they feel threatened. Their tails contain important fat reserves , however, so make sure not to put too much stress on your Gecko. In the event that your animal does lose their tail, make sure they’ve got plenty of food available and are at ease as the tail grows back.
Signs They Are Healthy
- Skin tone even and uniform.
- Defecation and regular eating.
- Body is full and rounded.
- Eyes that are clear.
Sickness Symptoms
- Mouth or head drooping.
- The swelling or lumps.
- Release, either from the eyes, nose, or the mouth.
- Apathy, weakness and lethargy.
Mediterranean House Gecko Habitat
This kind of Gecko usually lives close to humans. They reside on, within and beneath homes. They are often hidden under roofing shingles, behind refrigerators and climbing up walls.
They are hardy and be found in subtropical and tropical environments starting from the Mediterranean all the way to east towards India.
- Tank Type: glass aquarium.
- Tank Size: 10 gallon.
- Lighting: UVB.
- Substrate Paper towel or newspaper.
Cage Set Up
They Geckos aren’t big, but they are a joy to live in large areas.
A glass aquarium of 10 gals with a an enclosure lid with screen will be able to work, however an “tall” 20-gallon enclosure is far superior. Tanks for hatchlings and juveniles can be slightly smaller than 5 Gallons.
You can add 5 gallons of water per female when you have at least three animals in one 20 gallon tank. It is not advised to house any reptiles other than of Common house geckos of this species.
Put the branches and leaves inside the tank. Be sure to have more than two hides for each gecko.
The use of a LED bulb that is UVB is suggested. They don’t require all spectrum lighting, however ensure they have a 12 hour night and day cycle.
The setting up of a designated area for basking will help to create a gradient of heat and also provides a warm area for sleeping geckos. Geckos are thermoregulated, therefore the presence of a cool and hot area of your tank vital.
To warm the enclosure, you can make use of the heat pad or an incandescent bulb. The temperature in the tank must be 75deg 90degF during the day and 65deg to 75degF at night. The heating elements should be placed only in one portion of the tank, this helps create an energy gradient.
The humidity should be in the range of 60-75 percent at any time.
To ensure that the humidity is high, mist their cages by spraying them with a bottle every day. Focus on the walls and not your Lizard. It is also possible to introduce live plants to boost the humidity, or move their drinking dish to their area where they can bask.
Reptile carpet is a good choice as a flooring, however it should be cleaned often due to the fact that it could be a source of bacteria. The best option is newspapers or paper towels.
The paper-based substrates must be changed 3 times per week.
Cage Cleaning
The tank must be cleaned at least once per month using the use of soap ( or a 10 bleach solution of 10 percent) as well as water .
After you have cleaned the tank, be sure to check the gecko’s droppings!
The feces of the pig should appear long, and pale brown and have white tips. They must keep their shape. The presence of a crumbly or runny drop is typically a sign of illness.
Typical Behavior
Mediterranean House Geckos typically communicate via visual signals. Similar to the African Fat-Tailed Gecko that frequently is a twitcher..
Geckos that are submissive can retreat, or even freeze while an aggressor may open its tongue, lunge or bite. In shows of dominance two geckos can meet and squeak. this is common among males.
In captivity this lizard exhibits an amiable nature.
Females and males can live together, however males are territorial.
Common behavior in captivity is using their tongues and then smacking their nose against the floor to detect their surroundings.
They are usually seen on their hides in the morning but are at their most active in the evening.
This Gecko is known to brumate during colder months, however it’s not necessary in the wild.
Brumation is a risk and is not recommended for the first-time owners or young geckos.
Is The Mediterranean House Gecko Poisonous?
This Gecko isn’t poisonous and is totally harmless to humans! In contrast to certain reptiles they are completely safe and do not bite.
Handling Advice and Tips
The reptile is tolerant of handling however, it’s swift and is able to escape within a blink of an eye.
It is best to only interact with adults once they have had an opportunity to adjust to your.
When handling, don’t hold or hold them by their tails or underbelly. This can result in them dropping their tail in a panic, or create stress. Instead, take hold of their tail with a firm grasp from top and hold your underbelly with gentle.
Wash your hands thoroughly thoroughly prior to and after handling your reptile.
Mediterranean House Gecko Baby
Males court females with aggressive behavior as well as vocal acrobatics.
He will come up to the female, and then touch her by snout or bit her neck. He also yells during or after mating. Courtship is extremely short and the female will depart shortly thereafter to build an egg in a burrowing substrate. The majority of eggs be born between 45 and 60 days.
The reproduction season is between April and August.
Females are born with small broods that range from one to three eggs each time during the season.
The temperature of the incubation can influence the sex of hatchlings, and higher temperatures are more likely to produce females.
Price
Mediterranean House Geckos are very inexpensive. They usually cost $5 to $20 based on the size and the age.
The cage as well as the light and substrate will cost you $50.
The cost of recurring expenses (e.g. foods and supplements) are expected to be in the range of $150 per year.
While they are readily available in the wild, it’s best to purchase captive-bred animals by a breeder or pet retailer.
If you are buying a Mediterranean Home Gecko ensure their eyes are clean and that they are able to maintain a healthy appetite.
Avoid hatchlings that have rough patches of the skin or missing digits, or dropping tails. If the tail is large in relation to their body size , it is an indication that they’ve dropped it in the last few days.
Treat hatchlings as adults would and ensure that they get nutrition from the gut of insects.
| Mediterranean House Gecko Facts | |
|---|---|
| Common Name | Mediterranean House Gecko |
| Scientific Name | Hemidactylus turcicus |
| Price | $10 |
| Size | 4 to 5 inches (males are slightly larger) |
| Lifespan | 3 to 9 years old |
| Diet | Crickets, roaches and different Worms |
| Tank Size | A tall tank of 10 or 20-gallon capacity |
| Humidity & Temperature | Temperature: 65deg – 90degF Humidity: 60 – 75% |
| Popular Alternatives | Tokay Gecko African Fat-Tailed Gecko Crested Gecko |
Summary
Geckos are an extremely sought-after reptile for pet.
It is the Mediterranean House Gecko is very versatile, soft and docile and are perfect for new owners.
They can be handled as long as they’re not too young or unfamiliar with your. But, they may be a bit frightened and flee.
Always ensure that your Mediterranean gecko is comfortable and you’ll create a strong bond quickly.
Do you want to adopt this reptile? Tell us about it below.
