About Wild Geckos & WhereThey Do to Live

Wild geckos are abundant reptiles, and as a result, they are classified into hundreds of species. To live, they find shelter, eat, breed and protect themselves just as most animals do. Although the majority of wild geckos live outdoors, many people capture them and take them home to live as house pets.

  1. Identification

    • Wild geckos are small to medium-sized lizards. The dwarf gecko is one of the smallest geckos inhabiting the earth, while species such as the great forest gecko are among the largest, growing to around 200mm. They come in a variety of colors, ranging from pale and dull to bright green, purple and orange.

    Habitat

    • Depending on the species, geckos can be found living in rain forests or extremely dry areas. The Sri Lankan golden gecko and Madagascar day gecko are two examples of wild geckos that can be found dwelling in hot and arid locations. Species such as the the spotted bow-finger gecko live in humid rain forests under dead leaves. Wild geckos also inhabit various locations in Sri Lanka, China, Northeastern India, South Africa and Asia.

    Diet

    • Wild geckos eat a variety of foods. Their daily diets consist of insects, including cockroaches and crickets, and vegetation. Species from the Cyrtodactylus line, such as the bridled bent-toed gecko, have been known to eat mice and small birds. The bark gecko and the Kandyan gecko, some of the largest geckos in Sri Lanka, prey on small snakes.

    Breeding

    • Wild geckos don't bear live offspring. The Geckoella species place their eggs, usually two, underneath large rocks. Tokay geckos stick their eggs onto surfaces that are upright, including walls and boulders, and provide no care for their offspring after they place the eggs. Sri Lankan golden geckos live in groups and share breeding nests among each other. Female scaly-fingered geckos can produce eggs without the help of males.

    Behavior

    • Wild geckos behave in various ways, depending on the species. Tokay geckos are aggressive and territorial, showing their tongues and throats when they feel threatened. Four-clawed geckos have been known to mutilate themselves if caught by a predator, allowing their skin to loosen in an attempt to appear dead. Wild geckos such as the scaly-fingered gecko and the Geckoella yakhuna move slowly and prefer to keep to themselves.