In the first of our 4-part series about housing Hemidactylus turcicus, we discuss picking the right enclosures and substrates.
Housing is, without a doubt, one of the most important parts of successful turcicus keeping and so it is well worth discussing in depth; for this reason, I've decided to span this article out over 4 posts. This way, I can fit in as much detail as I want on each subject. Today, we'll be starting with selecting the right enclosure (picking a size, material etc) and discussing the suitability of different substrates in turcicus terrariums.
The enclosure: Selecting the right enclosure is one of the most important parts of housing this species. The majority of turcicus keepers use aquariums with screen covers, and it is true that these work wonders. The one big problem is that when you lift the lid off, you've left a very large space open for a speedy, 4-inch long gecko to run out of. There is a solution to this; simply invest in a screen lid with a smaller door you can fit your hand through without having to take the whole lid off. Glass reptile terrariums, with front-opening doors and screen lids, are not actually as suitable for the species as one might think. The problem is similar to that in the aqquarium; opening doors leaves the majority of the front of the terrarium open; not a good idea when your keeping turcicus! The same applies to wooden reptile terrariums as well.
So what size enclosure should you use? Young turcicus may stress in larger enclosures and will be very hard to find; for this reason, smaller accommodation is recommended. A standard 2.5 gallon aquarium measuring 12in/30cm long x 6in/15cm wide x 8in/20cm high would work. When the gecko matures, a standard 10-gallon aquarium measuring 20in/50cm long x 10in/25cm wide x 12in/30cm high is adequate for a pair.
The susbtrate: A substrate that holds humidity and cannot be accidentally eaten/is safe if eaten is recommended. Sand can cause blockages within the gecko's intestines so is not recommended; although a sand/soil mixture can work. Very chunky wood chips have also been used successfully. Paper towels/newspapers, although ugly, are a great choice. But perhaps my favourite is coco fiber (e.g. bed-a-beast, eco-earth, etc). It is safe if ingested, looks natural and holds moisture well. It is also readily available. Cypress mulch is another good choice.
Friday 31 July 2009
Wednesday 29 July 2009
A Different Approach To Housing
While reading this caresheet, I noticed a picture of a house gecko on a wad of newspaper. It was labelled "House gecko shippers use wadded up paper to give them lots of surfaces to crawl on." This got me thinking. Lots of scrunched-up newspapers would provide a house gecko with places to hide (in between the wads, under the wads, under newspaper sheets, and in folds), places to climb (on taller wads), places to run (open sheets of newspaper), and water (if a small water dish was provided). Could a suitably sized aquarium with nothing but newspapers be a fantastic cheap way to provide your gecko with everything he needs?
First, you could place down several sheets of newspapers, under which the geckos can easily scurry. Next, lightly scrunch (not so it's a ball, just so that it has lots of folds and creases and stuff) a few more, and place them on top of the flat newspapers, leaving a large area free. Then, scrunch and wad up a few bundles of sheets to make balls and shapes with lots of creases that the geckos can slip into. Simply strew them into the enclsoure, leaving that big space you had free originally empty. Then throw in another layer (possibly another couple of layers), and on one side of the viv, build up a large stack of newspaper wads, glued together with aquarium silicone. You'd end up with a large structure a bit like one of those rock stacks they have in desert enclosures on one side. In the large space you left open, put a water dish, but keep the rest free; this will be a running area.
So what do you guys think? Could this be an alright enclosure if it was humid and warm???
Please comment!!!
What do you lot think? If it was sprayed regularly to keep humidity
First, you could place down several sheets of newspapers, under which the geckos can easily scurry. Next, lightly scrunch (not so it's a ball, just so that it has lots of folds and creases and stuff) a few more, and place them on top of the flat newspapers, leaving a large area free. Then, scrunch and wad up a few bundles of sheets to make balls and shapes with lots of creases that the geckos can slip into. Simply strew them into the enclsoure, leaving that big space you had free originally empty. Then throw in another layer (possibly another couple of layers), and on one side of the viv, build up a large stack of newspaper wads, glued together with aquarium silicone. You'd end up with a large structure a bit like one of those rock stacks they have in desert enclosures on one side. In the large space you left open, put a water dish, but keep the rest free; this will be a running area.
So what do you guys think? Could this be an alright enclosure if it was humid and warm???
Please comment!!!
What do you lot think? If it was sprayed regularly to keep humidity
Hemidactylus turcicus-natural history
Hemidactylus turcicus(Linnaeus 1758), the Turkish gecko, is also known as the house gecko, Mediterranean house gecko, Mediterranean gecko or Med Gecko. It is one of the most successful geckos of all time, being found throughout much of Europe and also into other continents. It is small and cute, so it is also gaining popularity as a pet.
Classification
The first part of the scientific name of the Med Gecko-Hemidactylus-gives away that it is a member of the Hemidactylus genus, also known as the house geckos. These are geckos that have done very well, partly because they have adapted to the spread of humans over their native lands and thus are often found in urban environments; in fact, the reason that the genus is called the house geckos is because they are often found on the walls of houses.
The Hemidactylus genus is part of the gecko family-Gekkonidae. This is one of the largest lizard families, comprising of over 1,070 species, of which only a few are found in Europe. The geckos have done extremely well, because although they seem to do best in tropical or subtropical zones they can be found wherever it is warm enough. It is not just the Hemidactylus genus that have adapted to living around humans; several species of gecko, such as Gekko gecko, are welcome around or even in houses because they get rid of insect pests.
The geckos are just one of the families that make up the sub-order Sauria-the lizards, which is part of the Squamata order (lizards and snakes) in the class Reptilia and the phylum Chordata.
Identification and appearance
The Med Gecko can be very hard to distinguish from other similar geckos, especially several species of Tarentola which are also found in similar habitats and have ranges that overlap with the Med Gecko's. Examples of similar species include the Moorish gecko Tarentola mauritanica and Kotschy's gecko, Mediodactylus kotschyi.
It can be distinguished from the former becasue it is signifigantly skinnier and more delicate in appearance; the Moorish is more muscular in its bodily build. Med Geckos reach an overall length of 12cm, with a SVL (Snout-to-Vent Length) of 5-5.3cm. They vary in colouration; some scientists devide them into dark morphs and light morphs, with the dark morphs usually being a darker shade of brown and the lighter morphs are usually a shade of light brown, almost white, or almost white with a sort of pink colouration mixed in. The tail often has dark bands. Like most geckos, they have toe pads that allow them to climb up vertical surfaces and tails that can break off as a defense mechanism.
Habitat and behaviour
Med Geckos are usually found near human habitation. The walls and gardens of houses offer plenty of places to run around, hunt, sleep and hide. Look for them on walls, tree trunks, barns, and rocky landscapes. Sometimes they even manage to get inside houses and can be hard to catch!
These are nocturnal or crepuscular animals, hiding during the day and coming out at sunset. However, they are occasionally seen out in the daytime, benefitting from the UVA and UVB rays that the sun provides. At night, they often hang around under lights on walls, snatching up the moths and bugs that are attracted to the bulb's rays.
Trying to catch a Med Gecko is extremely hard. They are fast, skittish and nervous, and because they have so many predators they usually spot you before you spot them. Of the three or four med geckos I found in Portugal, the only time I ever managed to catch one was one that had fell into the swimming pool. Because it was cold it needed to warm up and so it sat on my hand for ages.
Range in Europe and elsewhere
These geckos are found in warm places. Portugal, Spain, France, Italy (including Lampedusa island), Albania, Greece, (including Kalymnos, Paros, Antiparos, Despotiko, Lesbos, Chios, Limnos, Samos, Samothraki, Milos, Tinos), Malta, Yugoslavia: costal Croatia (except west Istria), Adriatic islands, Turkey, north Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Israel, north Yemen (Socotra Archipelago), Somalia, Eritrea, Kenya, south Iran, Iraq, Oman, Pakistan, India, Balearic Islands (Island Addaya Grande), Mediterranean Sea, Canary Islands (introduced to Gran Canaria and Tenerife), Red Sea; introduced to Panama, Puerto Rico, Belize, Mexico, Cuba, and theUSA (Lousiana, Alabama, Texas, Arizona, Florida, Arkansas, Mississippi, South Carolina, Georgia, Oklahoma, Virginia, Maryland, California, Nevada, New Mexico) are all places you may find them.
Diet and hunting behaviour
Becasue they are quite small, Med geckos catch and devour invertebrates that will easily fit into their mouths. Nocturnal insects feature predominantly in thsi gecko's diet, but larvae of invertebrates and small, non-dangerous spiders are also eaten.
Breeding
Hemidactylus turcicus breeds between April and July. It lays soft-shelled eggs 8-9mm x up to 1.1 centimetres in crevices in walls or other secure places. The temperature of the egg's surroundings has an important role on how long they take to incubate; it could be anywhere between forty days if the weather is good to a couple of months or even more if the weather is bad.
Classification
The first part of the scientific name of the Med Gecko-Hemidactylus-gives away that it is a member of the Hemidactylus genus, also known as the house geckos. These are geckos that have done very well, partly because they have adapted to the spread of humans over their native lands and thus are often found in urban environments; in fact, the reason that the genus is called the house geckos is because they are often found on the walls of houses.
The Hemidactylus genus is part of the gecko family-Gekkonidae. This is one of the largest lizard families, comprising of over 1,070 species, of which only a few are found in Europe. The geckos have done extremely well, because although they seem to do best in tropical or subtropical zones they can be found wherever it is warm enough. It is not just the Hemidactylus genus that have adapted to living around humans; several species of gecko, such as Gekko gecko, are welcome around or even in houses because they get rid of insect pests.
The geckos are just one of the families that make up the sub-order Sauria-the lizards, which is part of the Squamata order (lizards and snakes) in the class Reptilia and the phylum Chordata.
Identification and appearance
The Med Gecko can be very hard to distinguish from other similar geckos, especially several species of Tarentola which are also found in similar habitats and have ranges that overlap with the Med Gecko's. Examples of similar species include the Moorish gecko Tarentola mauritanica and Kotschy's gecko, Mediodactylus kotschyi.
It can be distinguished from the former becasue it is signifigantly skinnier and more delicate in appearance; the Moorish is more muscular in its bodily build. Med Geckos reach an overall length of 12cm, with a SVL (Snout-to-Vent Length) of 5-5.3cm. They vary in colouration; some scientists devide them into dark morphs and light morphs, with the dark morphs usually being a darker shade of brown and the lighter morphs are usually a shade of light brown, almost white, or almost white with a sort of pink colouration mixed in. The tail often has dark bands. Like most geckos, they have toe pads that allow them to climb up vertical surfaces and tails that can break off as a defense mechanism.
Habitat and behaviour
Med Geckos are usually found near human habitation. The walls and gardens of houses offer plenty of places to run around, hunt, sleep and hide. Look for them on walls, tree trunks, barns, and rocky landscapes. Sometimes they even manage to get inside houses and can be hard to catch!
These are nocturnal or crepuscular animals, hiding during the day and coming out at sunset. However, they are occasionally seen out in the daytime, benefitting from the UVA and UVB rays that the sun provides. At night, they often hang around under lights on walls, snatching up the moths and bugs that are attracted to the bulb's rays.
Trying to catch a Med Gecko is extremely hard. They are fast, skittish and nervous, and because they have so many predators they usually spot you before you spot them. Of the three or four med geckos I found in Portugal, the only time I ever managed to catch one was one that had fell into the swimming pool. Because it was cold it needed to warm up and so it sat on my hand for ages.
Range in Europe and elsewhere
These geckos are found in warm places. Portugal, Spain, France, Italy (including Lampedusa island), Albania, Greece, (including Kalymnos, Paros, Antiparos, Despotiko, Lesbos, Chios, Limnos, Samos, Samothraki, Milos, Tinos), Malta, Yugoslavia: costal Croatia (except west Istria), Adriatic islands, Turkey, north Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Israel, north Yemen (Socotra Archipelago), Somalia, Eritrea, Kenya, south Iran, Iraq, Oman, Pakistan, India, Balearic Islands (Island Addaya Grande), Mediterranean Sea, Canary Islands (introduced to Gran Canaria and Tenerife), Red Sea; introduced to Panama, Puerto Rico, Belize, Mexico, Cuba, and theUSA (Lousiana, Alabama, Texas, Arizona, Florida, Arkansas, Mississippi, South Carolina, Georgia, Oklahoma, Virginia, Maryland, California, Nevada, New Mexico) are all places you may find them.
Diet and hunting behaviour
Becasue they are quite small, Med geckos catch and devour invertebrates that will easily fit into their mouths. Nocturnal insects feature predominantly in thsi gecko's diet, but larvae of invertebrates and small, non-dangerous spiders are also eaten.
Breeding
Hemidactylus turcicus breeds between April and July. It lays soft-shelled eggs 8-9mm x up to 1.1 centimetres in crevices in walls or other secure places. The temperature of the egg's surroundings has an important role on how long they take to incubate; it could be anywhere between forty days if the weather is good to a couple of months or even more if the weather is bad.
Welcome!
After much searching of the Internet I came to the conclusion that there is not one care sheet that contains enough detail to be any use on Hemidactylus turcicus. I found one useful page about house geckos in general and several people asking about their care on forums. And so now I'm sitting here, typing away, trying to provide a website which turcicus keepers will be able to refer to in times of need and new owners can turn to for some good, solid advice. Please feel free to comment with feedback!
To find posts on a certain topic, click on the subject you want in the "Subjects" section of the sidebar. It will take you to a list of posts on that particular subject. This way, you can find detailed information on whatever you want quickly and easily.
-Ian
To find posts on a certain topic, click on the subject you want in the "Subjects" section of the sidebar. It will take you to a list of posts on that particular subject. This way, you can find detailed information on whatever you want quickly and easily.
-Ian
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