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Mediterranean house gecko
Hemidactylus turcicus
The Mediterranean house gecko is highly adaptable and widely introduced globally. Nocturnal and primarily arboreal, it is easily kept in a vertical setup with climbing surfaces.
Class:Squamata
Order:Squamata
Family:Gekkonidae
Subfamily:Gekkoninae
Genus:Hemidactylus
Species:Hemidactylus turcicus
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Environment
Terrestrial
Humidity
40 - 60 %
Day temperature
28 - 32 °C
Ambient temperature
17 °C
Night temperature
18 - 20 °C
Basking spot
22 - 24 °C
Adult size
6.47 cm
Minimum enclosure
>= 45 L
UVB
Basso
Species description
Geographical Origin and Habitat: The Mediterranean house gecko (Hemidactylus turcicus) is native to the Mediterranean Basin, southern Europe, northern Africa, and the Middle East. However, due to accidental transport, it has successfully established introduced populations in many subtropical regions worldwide, including the southern United States, Mexico, and parts of Central America. It naturally occurs in rocky habitats and cliffs, but is highly synanthropic, commonly found on building walls, ceilings, and near urban light sources.
Taxonomy and Genetics: Belongs to the family Gekkonidae and the genus Hemidactylus. It was described by Carl Linnaeus in 1758. The species displays remarkable genetic plasticity, allowing it to adapt to diverse climates and urban ecosystems. No distinct subspecies are currently recognized, though genetic divergence exists between ancestral and introduced lines.
Behavior and Habits: Strictly nocturnal and arboreal. During the day, it shelters in dark crevices, under bark, or behind shutters. At night, it emerges to hunt insects, often congregating near artificial lights. It is a highly active climber using specialized subdigital lamellae. Males are vocal and territorial, emitting squeaks or clicking sounds to defend their territory or court females.
Morphology: A small gecko, with adults reaching a total length of 10 to 13 cm, including the tail. The skin color is light pinkish-grey or tan with irregular dark blotches, and the ventral surface is translucent. The dorsal skin is covered in prominent warty tubercles. They have large, lidless eyes with vertical pupils and expanded toe pads with divided lamellae for climbing.
Care, breeding and tankmates
Terrarium Setup: A vertically oriented terrarium of at least 45x45x60 cm is suitable for a pair or small group. Use a moisture-retaining substrate such as coconut fiber or cypress mulch. Provide climbing branches, vertically oriented cork bark flats, and live or silk plants to create a complex network of hides. Ensure the enclosure is completely escape-proof.
Lighting and Heating: While nocturnal, a low-level (2-5%) UVB bulb is highly recommended to promote natural synthesis of vitamin D3. Establish a daytime thermal gradient with a basking spot of 28-30 °C using a low-wattage basking lamp, and a cool side of 22-24 °C. Allow a nighttime drop to 18-20 °C.
Humidity and Hydration: Maintain relative humidity around 50% to 60%. Mist the enclosure lightly once every evening, as these geckos prefer to drink water droplets off leaves and glass rather than from a bowl. Keep a shallow water dish filled with fresh, clean water in the enclosure at all times.
Feeding and Supplementation: Insectivorous. Feed a variety of small live insects such as crickets, roaches, and mealworms, ensuring the prey size is appropriate. Dust insects with pure calcium carbonate at every feeding for juveniles and twice a week for adults, adding a calcium + D3 supplement once a week.
Compatibility: Can be kept singly, in pairs, or in a harem of one male and multiple females. Never house multiple males together, as they will fight aggressively over territory. Do not house with other reptile or amphibian species to prevent stress, disease transmission, and potential predation.
Health and Common Diseases: Susceptible to Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD) due to lack of calcium/UVB, respiratory infections from cold drafts, and dysecdysis (retained shed) around the toes or eyes if humidity is too low. Avoid unnecessary handling, as their skin is delicate and they can easily drop their tails (autotomy).
Geographic Origin and Distribution
The Mediterranean house gecko (Hemidactylus turcicus) is native to the Mediterranean Basin, southern Europe, northern Africa, and the Middle East. However, due to accidental transport, it has successfully established introduced populations in many subtropical regions worldwide, including the southern United States, Mexico, and parts of Central America. It naturally occurs in rocky habitats and cliffs, but is highly synanthropic, commonly found on building walls, ceilings, and near urban light sources.
Origin
Cosmopolitan or introducedCentral America and CaribbeanNorth AmericaAfrica and MadagascarEurope, Mediterranean, and West Asia
Reptile profile
- Diet
- No verified data available
- Life expectancy
- No verified data available
- Adult size
- 6.47 cm
- Lifestyle/Microhabitat
- No verified data available
- Activity cycle
- No verified data available
- Sociality
- No verified data available
- Reproduction
- No verified data available
- Handling tolerance
- No verified data available
- Brumation
- No verified data available
- Molting
- No verified data available
The catalog's scalar value is 6.47 cm. The ReptTraits v1.2 source reports a maximum adult measurement of 6.47 cm for this species, recorded as snout–vent length (SVL). These figures are not interchangeable: the first is the profile's editorial reference, whereas the second is a published maximum under a specific measurement convention; differences among sources can reflect sex, population, life stage and measuring method.
Image gallery
Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.
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