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House Gecko Care Guide
Did You Know?
- Scientific name: Hemidactylus frenatus
- House Geckos originate from Southeast Asia but have established themselves in many parts of the world.
- They have a distinct alarm/contact call that sounds like a gravely chirp.
- When it comes to shedding, House Geckos will usually eat their own shed.
- The pads of their feet are made up of thousands of tiny, microscopic hairs that allow them to climb smooth surfaces.
Species Information
LIFE SPAN
5-10 years
AVERAGE SIZE
3-5 inches long
NORMAL BEHAVIOR & INTERACTION
Nocturnal (most active at night). House Geckos are very fast-moving, agile lizards. Handling is not recommended. They will drop and lose their tails when trying to escape a predator, either because of stress or from constriction from un-shed skin (their tails do not grow back). They can be housed together, but NEVER two males in the same cage.
CAGE TEMPERATURE
Daytime: 75°-90° F
Nighttime: 65°-75° F
HUMIDITY
60-75% humidity levels
FEEDING
Insectivorous – live prey. Offer protein sources such as gut-loaded crickets, small mealworms, wax worms and small roaches multiple times a week.
SUPPLEMENTS
Dust foods with calcium and vitamin supplements as recommended by your veterinarian. As a general rule, juvenile animals require less calcium and supplements than adults.
WATER
A bowl of fresh chlorine-free water must always be available and changed daily.
BRANCHES & PLANTS
House Geckos love to climb, so choose branches that your lizard can climb on safely and lie on comfortably. Live or artificial plants should be added for hide spots and cover.
UVB LIGHT
Exposure to UVB (ultraviolet B) light is CRITICAL in allowing an animal to synthesize vitamin D3 in their skin and metabolize calcium in their body.
ENCLOSURE SIZE
House Geckos need a 20 gallon or larger reptile tank with very secure mesh top and clips.
SUBSTRATE
We recommend a loose coconut fiber substrate or reptile soil-based substrate.
DAY/NIGHT CYCLES & HEATING
All reptiles must have distinct day and night periods in their enclosure to maintain their biological rhythms. House Geckos need 8-12 hours of daytime and 8-12 hours of nighttime.
HABITAT MAINTENANCE
Daily maintenance should consist of spot cleaning by removing soiled substrate, cleaning water bowl thoroughly and wiping glass/ sides clean. The entire tank should be cleaned thoroughly at least once every couple of months.
RECOMMENDED SUPPLIES
- 20 Gal (or larger) reptile tank with clipped secure mesh top
- Appropriately sized dome & heat light
- Fluorescent UVB bulb & housing
- Temperature/humidity gauge
- Coconut fiber substrate (moistened)
- Live or artificial plants, branches or wood perches (reptile-safe)
- Water bowl + Live food
- Calcium & vitamin supplements
- Water dechlorinate drops
- Spray bottle
Vet Approved
Our Care Guides are designed to assist in general knowledge and requirements for the care of your new family member. We strongly encourage further research and consultation with your veterinarian on the complete and proper care of any new pet.
For more information visit petsuppliesplus.com, cdc.gov/healthypets or contact your veterinarian.
Always wash your hands before and after handling your pet or cleaning its habitat, and remember that any pet can scratch, bite or transmit disease to humans.
For pregnant women, persons with compromised immune systems, or if you have children under the age of 5, we strongly recommend contacting your physician prior to purchasing or caring for a new pet.
Please see the Centers for Disease Control website at www.cdc.gov/healthypets for more information.
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