The Mediterranean House Gecko is an increasingly popular pet reptile. Easy to care for and form strong bonds with their owner, these reptiles can form strong attachments but may become skittish if not handled often enough.
These geckos originate from Southern Europe and Northern Africa, but have since been brought into tropical areas worldwide, including Florida and Texas.
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Insects
Mediterranean house geckos usually eat an array of insects such as moths, flies, ants, crickets and pillbugs. Being visual feeders, they will select prey that is readily available; Rose and Barbour (1968) reported that 57% of an invasive house gecko population’s diet consisted of caterpillars while 25% was made up of earwigs, ants and leafhoppers.
House geckos typically seek shelter under bark or crevices during the day, waiting to catch passing insects, while at night they can often be found near porch lights eating moths attracted to light sources and eating any moths that land there. When threatened, these nocturnal lizards emit an alarm call with a high-pitched defense squeak.
House geckos kept as captive pets can benefit from eating a varied diet consisting of fruit, mealworms and Repashy CalciumPlus LoD powder supplement specially formulated for reptiles to correct their calcium-to-phosphorus ratio and provide them with extra vitamins and minerals at each feeding.
Mealworms
Mediterranean house geckos (Hemidactylus turcicus) have made themselves at home among people’s homes and are adept at adapting to living in human-altered habitats. Primarily insectivorous, Mediterranean house geckos feed on pillbugs, crickets and other insects drawn to porch lights while they will also consume non-flying arthropods or spiders that come near.
Mealworms provide your Mediterranean house gecko with protein, fats and vitamins in an easily digestible format. Feed them five or six times weekly with each feeding including multiple insects; make sure to supplement each feeding with vitamins and minerals prior to offering them to your gecko as part of a supplement program; for an additional boost, gut load them a few days in advance to increase their nutritional content and ensure more complete mealworm nutrition for them!
This species of house gecko can be quite territorial, and may nip or bite any house geckos who come too close. They typically live between five to ten years in captivity.
Fruits
The Mediterranean house gecko is a small reptile often seen hiding behind refrigerators or climbing walls for food. When stressed, its tail may drop temporarily but soon grows back.
This lizard is an insectivore, feeding on insects such as worms, roaches, crickets, moths, termites, earwigs and other bugs in captivity. For optimal nutrition its diet should also include fruit to provide essential vitamins.
Fruits should be blended with powdered gecko food to provide optimal nutrition. Incorporating foods high in phosphorus or oxalates may deplete bioavailable calcium stores and lead to metabolic bone disease in your gecko.
Misting their enclosure regularly is one way to maintain humidity between 60-75% in their tank. Keep a hygrometer handy to monitor conditions around-the-clock.
Vegetables
Mediterranean House Geckos are an increasingly common sight in homes across the U.S. These resilient reptiles make excellent first pets for beginners as their care requirements are easy and they thrive when kept in an enclosed environment with regular care – they have even been known to live for as long as nine years!
Mediterranean house geckos are insectivores in their natural environments, feeding on moths, worms, roaches and crickets. When kept captive they should be fed on mealworms or other insects from your garden – some pet stores also carry plant-based reptile food that may help provide their diet.
Your lizard should receive small insects to easily consume. Larger prey items can lead to intestinal impaction, which is potentially life-threatening. If your lizard displays symptoms of an intestinal impaction such as lethargy and vomiting, mist its cage with water to increase humidity levels and provide extra hydration for its comfort.
