Mediterranean house geckos can live up to nine years when provided with proper care. As true insectivores, they won’t consume plant-based foods and instead prefer eating insects such as moths, crickets, grasshoppers, flies, cockroaches pillbugs and isopods from nature.
A 20-gallon glass terrarium would be an excellent home for this lizard. Make sure to mist its interior daily to maintain high levels of humidity, adding decorations as climbing and hiding spaces.
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Insects
House geckos are insectsivorous creatures, devouring an assortment of insects as part of their diet. In the wild they feast upon crickets, grasshoppers, flies, moths, caterpillars, isopods and more as prey items; depending on size and microhabitat this prey will vary – juveniles might eat leafhoppers while adults usually feed upon grasshoppers and pillbugs as their favorite meals.
Females typically lay two clutches of eggs annually in locations like stone crevices, spaces in tree trunks or moist soil, where these hard-shelled eggs incubate for approximately 50 days before hatching out.
Male and female Mediterranean geckos may cohabit together, although this is not recommended and requires a larger enclosure to prevent fighting and injuries from taking place. Males are known for being territorial and will defend their foraging areas from other males.
As much as possible, it is preferable to feed your gecko live food, in order for them to receive vital vitamins and minerals not available through dry diets. Supplementing their diet with gut loaded cricket drink or other sources such as vegetables may also be a great idea.
Mealworms
Mediterranean geckos (Hemidactylus turcicus) originate from Southern Europe and North Africa but have become common worldwide as hitchhikers on cargo ships, becoming one of the most successful invasive species ever. Common in Austin, you can often spot them hanging out at night on homes or apartments walls.
These birds are insectivores and hunt by slowly creeping toward their prey before jabbing forward their head to capture it. In captivity they will feed on crickets, mealworms, waxworms, dubia roaches and other insects as food sources.
Provide your gecko with several feedings a week of insects no larger than their head width, dusting each one with vitamin and mineral supplements before offering. This will provide extra nutritional support.
Mediterranean geckos may take to eating out of your hand once they feel safe enough with you, though to do this effectively you must first establish trust by gradually becoming part of their lives and only handling for short periods at a time.
Live Food
Mediterranean Geckos (Hemidactylus turcicus) are an exceptionally successful species of house gecko, widely adapting to living in human environments. These voracious insect eaters benefit gardeners and homeowners alike by eating unwanted pests like spider mites that plague gardens or homes alike. Mediterranean geckos feature large lidless eyes with vertical pupils, triangular heads covered in dark spots or blotches on the skin, typically beige to pale pink bodies with dark bands down their tail and semi-translucent bellies – qualities gardeners and homeowners alike will appreciate.
Nittany Lizards are nocturnal reptiles that hunt by slowly creeping towards their prey, before pouncing and jabbing their heads forward to catch it. When kept as pets, these lizards typically prefer crickets, roaches, and worms as prey items; make sure these insects are provided three to four times weekly in appropriate sizes; additionally provide fresh water as a dish, plus occasional doses of Repashy Calcium Plus LoD vitamin supplement powder to your pet for healthful consumption!
Vitamin Supplements
Mediterranean house geckos are popular pets due to their gentle disposition, hardiness, and adaptability to various habitats. Unfortunately, many new owners fail to comprehend their special needs and mistreat them; young geckos who don’t receive enough live insects or supplementation (including calcium-fortified with vitamin D3) risk metabolic bone disease, an incurable condition in which their bodies take in too much phosphorus without using it in bone formation processes.
Provide your lizard with five to six insect feedings each week, each consisting of several appropriately-sized insects (intended to be smaller than his head). Dust the insects twice or three times every week with a vitamin and mineral supplement without phosphorous for optimal growth.
Repashy Superfoods Crested Gecko Diet mixed with water may also help your lizard reduce its need for fresh insects by providing it as a regular meal in a shallow dish for up to 24 hours.
