Fun Common House Gecko Facts For Kids

The common house gecko, or Asian house gecko, is a species of gecko found in southeast Asia, Africa, Australia, and America. Unlike other species, they are more aggressive and might attack other geckos if they enter their territory. They are called an invasive species, which means that they are harmful to the environment and their surroundings. Despite this, they are kept as a pet by many people.

Cannibalism has also been spotted in these geckos as there have been reports of adults feeding on smaller geckos, mainly juveniles in their native areas. As they are an invasive species, they do not get along with other species of geckos like the robust velvet gecko. They are often mistaken as Mediterranean house geckos (Hemidactylus turcicus).

They can grow to a length of 2.95-5.91 in (7.5–15 cm) and have an average lifespan of about five years. They are not harmful to humans and are not venomous. They may sometimes bite if they feel threatened. As the name suggests, they have a strong preference for houses and urban environments. They emerge out in the nights and get back to hiding in the early mornings.

Let's take a look at these common house gecko facts, and if you enjoy these then, do read about other gecko species such as the crested gecko and the golden-tailed gecko for more amazing facts.
 

What type of animal is a common house gecko?

A common house gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus) is a lizard.

What class of animal does a common house gecko belong to?

The common house gecko belongs to the class Reptilia. It is a reptile found in homes and common households.

How many common house geckos are there in the world?

The total population of common house geckos is unknown as there are a lot of them around the world, and therefore it is hard to keep track of them as they live in common households.

Where does a common house gecko live?

The common house gecko is widely spread among southeast Asia, Africa, Australia, and America. It prefers terrestrial regions like common households and warm, humid areas. It is attracted to artificial lighting and is usually found in places with many insects and cracks and crevices for easy hiding.

What is a common house gecko's habitat?

A common house gecko is found in rain forests and in tropical and terrestrial regions. They are also found in savannas and scrub forests. Its native area includes houses or buildings. Their primary preference is urban environments.

Who do common house geckos live with?

Common house geckos live alone. They are pretty aggressive towards other members of their species. They often fight or bite when they see one, which often leads to the loss of their tail or causes 'battle' scars.

How long does a common house gecko live?

Unlike its cousin, the Mediterranean house gecko (Hemidactylus turcicus), which lives for around eight years, the common house gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus) can live only up to five years in your house. They might live up to eight years in captivity.

How do they reproduce?

The male keeps touching the female using his snout and may bite or hold her neck while performing a short courtship. Usually, breeding occurs throughout the year in the tropical area, but in cooler climates, it is seasonal. Females lay two hard-shelled eggs, which are incubated for around 46-62 days. Eggs are laid in crevices to keep them safe from predators. They produce eggs all year in their native habitat.

What is their conservation status?

Common house geckos have the conservation status of Least Concern. They are widespread and have a large population and are not under any threat.

What do common house geckos look like?

Common house geckos have a gray, light brown, or beige-colored body. They have vertical pupils and are nocturnal. Their sticky toe pads and big claws help them in climbing walls. They also have a prehensile tongue that helps them in catching their prey effectively.

How cute are they?

Common house geckos (Hemidactylus frenatus) are not very cute. However, some people find them cute and even keep them as pets.

How do they communicate?

Common house geckos (Hemidactylus frenatus) are vocal and use three to five-note calls: 'chuck, chuck, chuck'. Males commonly use this sound when they come out of their shelter while approaching females during courtship or after winning a fight with another male. This sound is usually used to preserve their native territory.

How big is a common house gecko?

Common house geckos (Hemidactylus frenatus) are not very big; they are only 2.95-5.91 in (7.5–15 cm) in length. They are big enough to catch hold of their prey. For example, a common wasp is only 1 in (2.54 cm) in length, which means that they are four to five times smaller than geckos.

How fast can a common house gecko move?

Though it has not been officially recorded how fast common house geckos can move, some reports say that normally geckos can move at 2.04 mph (3.28 kph). This indicates that they are fast lizards, for their size.

How much does a common house gecko weigh?

The weight of a common house gecko has not been measured, or even if it has been measured, there are no records that indicate their weight.

What are the male and female names of the species?

Males and females of the common house gecko species do not have separate names.

What would you call a baby common house gecko?

A baby common house gecko does not have a specific name. However, they hatch out of eggs, so they may be called hatchlings.

What do they eat?

Common house geckos (Hemidactylus frenatus) are carnivores, and their whole diet is made of insects. They feed on various insects like cockroaches, spiders, wasps, bees, and termites. They even choose their habitat based on how many insects are available in that area.

Are they poisonous?

It is a common misconception that common house geckos are venomous or poisonous lizards. This gecko species is not poisonous, like other gecko species, and is often kept as a pet by humans. However, their bite is powerful enough to pierce the skin and might cause some pain.

Would they make a good pet?

Common house geckos (Hemidactylus frenatus) are quite docile animals. They eat insects only and are not violent towards humans, only towards other geckos. They would make a good pet as they have adapted to live in urban areas. A lot of people keep them as a pet.

Did you know...

Common house gecko food is mainly insects such as wasps or spiders. Although their breeding method is seasonal during cooler climates, they lay eggs all around the year in their native habitat. They are also known as the Asian house gecko, the Pacific house gecko, or the moon lizard.

They are an invasive species and cause harm to the area or environment around them. They often show violence towards other males and are considered more violent than any other gecko species.

Porch lights are their favorite spot for a meal. They are nocturnal animals, which helps them feed on insects that are attracted to the porch lights during the night.

A gecko's life span is approximately 15-20 years and it can get as big as 6 in (15 cm) if you take good care of it.

If you're thinking, 'common house gecko: poisonous or not?', then the answer is no. They are not venomous or harmful to humans.

How to get rid of common house geckos?

Many people do not like the presence of common house geckos in their homes. There are various remedies to get rid of them. Gecko house lizards cannot tolerate the smell of onion or garlic, so you can place some in corners or use things such as a small table fan to spread its smell. You can use naphthalene balls as they drive lizards and other bugs crazy, but you have to be cautious as they are hazardous and should be kept out of reach of children. You should clean cabinets regularly, especially under the sink, and try to keep them dry using newspaper as geckos prefer humid areas and can come if it becomes humid.

Apart from the smell of onions or garlic, they also hate the smell of eggshells, so you can place eggshells in your house to keep them away.

Do not keep exposed food or leftovers in the house. Leftovers are one of their favorite things and also helps them to breed. Open food attracts flies and other bugs, which attract lizards. So, in order to keep unwanted flies and bugs, and geckos, out of your house, you should always get rid of exposed food.

Can common house geckos be pets?

Common house geckos can be kept as pets, but they require a lot of care. They require housing space, and for them, a medium-sized terrarium is enough. Males are aggressive, and so you should keep only one in a tank. On the other hand, females are less aggressive, and two can be kept in a tank, but they also need separate spaces.

They need a humid environment and adequate temperature. 75-90 F (23-32 C) during the daytime and during the night it should be 65-75 F (18-23 C). You can also use a red bulb to provide heat during the night.

They also need to be provided calcium supplements two or three times a week and multi-vitamins once a week. Crickets are a significant portion of their diet. You can powder these supplements on cricket or worms to feed them. Adults can be fed every day, but juveniles need their food daily. You can spray water on plants for water, and the droplets remaining after mist work as a source of water for them.

The water and their droppings should be cleaned daily, and the tank requires cleaning once a week. The tank should be rinsed and scrubbed thoroughly so that no odors remain.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other reptiles from our turtle facts and bullsnake facts pages.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable common house gecko coloring pages.