Mediterranean house gecko (Hemidactylus turcicus)

Short answers

Mediterranean house gecko: How big does the enclosure need to be?

50×40×60 cm for one animal (a keen climber, use the height).

Mediterranean house gecko: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 24–28 °C, basking spot 30–32 °C (warm spot), at night 18–22 °C.

Mediterranean house gecko: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: UVB recommended (low dose, Ferguson zone 1–2, UV index 1–3) for D3 synthesis.

Mediterranean house gecko: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 5–10 years.

Mediterranean house gecko: Is it suitable for beginners?

Yes – it is considered suitable for beginners (difficulty: Beginner).

Climate

Daytime temperature

24–28 °C

Night temperature

18–22 °C

Basking spot

30–32 °C (warm spot)

Humidity

50–60 % (mist lightly in the evening)

UVB

UVB recommended (low dose, Ferguson zone 1–2, UV index 1–3) for D3 synthesis

Enclosure

Minimum size

50×40×60 cm for one animal (a keen climber, use the height)

Substrate

A sand-loam mix with cork, stones and pieces of bark

Feeding

Food

Insects (crickets, house crickets, small roaches)

Feeding interval

adults 2–3×/week, juveniles daily

Key facts

Adult size

10–15 cm total length

Life expectancy

5–10 years

Origin

The Mediterranean (North Africa, southern Europe, the Near East); introduced worldwide

Protection status

No CITES; Bern Convention Appendix III; not specially protected in Germany (not native) – no registration duty

Brumation

Recommended – a cooler overwintering of 2–3 months at ~12–16 °C benefits health and breeding

Cohabitation

In pairs or as a harem (one male with several females) — both are common, females generally get along. Two males must never be kept together; they are strongly territorial and fight over their patch. Keep juveniles separate from adults to avoid cannibalism, and provide enough visual barriers.

Notes

An undemanding, robust beginner's species. Nocturnal, often on walls. A common mistake is keeping it permanently too damp. Vocal (it chirps).

Do you keep this species?

Add your animal to Reptoria – Reptoria reminds you about feeding and shedding. Add your animal for free →

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Related species

• Common house gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus) – Beginner
• Termite hill gecko (Hemidactylus triedrus) – Intermediate
• Giant leaf-toed gecko (Hemidactylus giganteus) – Intermediate
• Tropical house gecko (Hemidactylus mabouia) – Beginner
• Arabian short-fingered gecko (Stenodactylus arabicus) – Beginner with some knowledge
• Bastard's big-headed gecko (Paroedura bastardi) – Beginner
• Common barking gecko (Ptenopus garrulus) – Intermediate
• Boettger's wall gecko (Tarentola boettgeri) – Beginner

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Mediterranean house gecko (Hemidactylus turcicus) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (50×40×60 cm for one animal (a keen climber, use the height)), substrate (A sand-loam mix with cork, stones and pieces of bark), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.