Mediterranean house gecko · Hemidactylus turcicus
A moment with the mediterranean house gecko.
A Mediterranean house gecko is a translucent little wall hunter, pearly by day and almost luminous at night, with bumpy skin.
It is often discovered rather than deliberately purchased.
See what they needBefore you decide
Could a mediterranean house gecko thrive in your home?
Picture the full-grown animal, the permanent enclosure, and the ordinary care you would still be happy to give years from now.
The honest fit
Would their everyday rhythm suit you?
Think about an ordinary week, including the days when you are tired, busy, or away from home.
Life together may suit you if…
- You enjoy a tiny nocturnal display gecko
- You can secure every small gap
- You maintain several tiny feeder cultures
- You are comfortable observing rather than holding
Pause if…
- You found a healthy native or established wild gecko outdoors
- You want a daytime display
- You need a reptile that tolerates handling
- Your enclosure has coarse mesh or open cable ports
A comfortable home
Build the home around their choices.
Provide a tall escape-proof home with narrow cork crevices, textured vertical surfaces, thin branches, dense foliage, a small water dish, gentle misting, guarded overhead heat, and hatchling-tight ventilation.
Measure where the animal actually rests
A real retreat from the warm side
Use a digital hygrometer and watch ventilation
Build light and shade as a gradient
The rhythm
What an ordinary week asks of you.
Check the crevices
Read upper and lower probes, refresh water, scan for waste and shed, and leave the sleeping gecko tucked away.
Light the wall softly
Mist leaves, offer a measured mix of tiny feeders, and watch the gecko hunt across bark and stone.
Use a cup, never a chase
Close the room, guide the gecko into a ventilated clear container, and keep every movement close to a surface.
Care with tenderness
Learn what is normal for your mediterranean house gecko.
A found gecko is not automatically a pet
Ask a local wildlife rehabilitator or animal authority whether release is legal and appropriate before keeping one.
Tiny gaps are real doors
Toe pads carry this gecko over glass and through surprising seams. Seal ports and test doors before arrival.
No grabbing
The skin and tail are delicate, and a frightened gecko can vanish in seconds. Use a catch cup only when necessary.
Call for warning signs
Weight loss, weak grip, swelling, stuck shed, wounds, poor coordination, or repeated refusal need a reptile veterinarian.
Good to know
Common questions, answered.
Open any question for a short, practical answer.
Life together
Could a mediterranean house gecko suit a first-time keeper?
Maybe. Picture the full-grown animal and the care that fills an ordinary week. Would you still enjoy that life years from now?
How large do mediterranean house geckos get?
Usually 10–13 cm (4–5 in)
How long do mediterranean house geckos live?
Often 5–10 years; some live longer. Individual lifespan varies, so plan around the longer end.
When are mediterranean house geckos active?
A quick nocturnal wall and crevice hunter
Do mediterranean house geckos enjoy handling?
Do not handle; use a catch cup. Watch the animal's posture and movement, support the whole body, and stop before calm turns into endurance.
Can two mediterranean house geckos live together?
House alone
What do mediterranean house geckos eat?
Varied tiny gut-loaded live insects
How large should a mediterranean house gecko's enclosure be?
Start with at least 45 × 45 × 60 cm for one adult. More usable room is valuable when it creates better gradients, cover, and movement choices.
Home and health
What temperatures does a mediterranean house gecko need?
Provide an upper branch around 26–29°C (79–84°F), with lower shade around 21–24°C (70–75°F). Measure both where the animal actually spends time and control every heater appropriately.
Does a mediterranean house gecko need UVB?
The reviewed plan calls for low-level UVB over the upper zone, with deep crevices. Fixture, reflector, mesh, distance, lamp age, and shade all change what reaches the animal.
What humidity does a mediterranean house gecko need?
A daily cycle averaging about 60–80%, with good drying and airflow. Check it with a digital hygrometer. Keep fresh air moving through the enclosure, and let the animal choose between damp shelter and dry ground.
What should be inside the enclosure?
Provide a tall escape-proof home with narrow cork crevices, textured vertical surfaces, thin branches, dense foliage, a small water dish, gentle misting, guarded overhead heat, and hatchling-tight ventilation.
What substrate works for a mediterranean house gecko?
A clean planted soil system with drainage and leaf litter
What does ordinary cleaning involve?
Remove waste and uneaten insects daily, refresh water, wipe glass selectively, and count the gecko before opening service ports.
What should I arrange before bringing a mediterranean house gecko home?
Build and test the complete adult habitat, verify the readings over several days, identify a reptile veterinarian, check local and rental rules, and choose a responsible captive source or rescue.
Can a healthy-looking mediterranean house gecko carry Salmonella?
Yes. Reptiles can carry Salmonella without looking ill, so handwashing and keeping habitat water, food, and cleaning equipment away from kitchens are part of ordinary care.
Still thinking about mediterranean house geckos?
Put this animal beside the others on your shortlist. Then build and test the complete adult habitat before anyone comes home.
Compare reptilesSources and care boundaries
Exact targets depend on the measured location, equipment, animal, and veterinary context. This profile keeps source disagreements visible instead of blending them into one number.