# Tropical House Gecko (*Hemidactylus mabouia*) The Tropical House Gecko is a small lizard that loves to live in warm places. They have soft skin and can change color a little to blend in with their surroundings. - **Category:** [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/reptile) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 8 - **Habitat:** Urban areas ![Tropical House Gecko](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Hemidactylus_mabouia_%28Dominica%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Hans Hillewaert, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hemidactylus_mabouia_%28Dominica%29.jpg) ## Appearance The Tropical House Gecko is a small, slender lizard, typically light gray to tan, often with darker spots or blotches. Its skin can appear almost translucent on the underside. Unlike many lizards, it has large, immovable eyes with vertical pupils. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Squamata - **Order:** Lacertilia - **Family:** Gekkonidae - **Genus:** Hemidactylus ## Interesting facts - Their skin is nearly see-through on their bellies, sometimes revealing organs! - These geckos shed their entire skin in one piece and often eat it afterwards! - They can change their skin color slightly to blend into different backgrounds! - They don't have eyelids; they lick their eyes to keep them clean! ## Special abilities - **Super Grippers:** Tropical House Gecko has specialized toe pads with millions of tiny hairs that help them stick to almost any surface, even upside down. - **Emergency Release:** Tropical House Gecko can voluntarily drop its tail if caught by a predator, that helps them escape while the tail wiggles to distract. - **Night Hunter Eyes:** Tropical House Gecko has excellent night vision because of specialized eye structures that help them spot insects in very low light. - **Chirping Chatter:** Tropical House Gecko can make chirping and clicking sounds that helps them communicate with other geckos for mating or territory. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 7.5-12.7 cm - **Weight:** 0.002-0.005 kg - **Lifespan:** 3-7 years - **Speed:** 5 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 1-2 - **Incubation:** 45-65 days ## Diet & Feeding These small geckos mostly eat tiny insects and spiders, helping to keep bug populations in check! - **Primary Foods:** moths, crickets, cockroaches, spiders, mosquitoes, flies - **Foraging Method:** Ambush ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Domestic Cat](https://www.snappit.app/explore/domestic-cat) (*Felis catus*) — Common predator in urban areas. - **Eaten by:** Brown Vine Snake (*Oxybelis aeneus*) — Snake species that preys on geckos. - **Eats:** Black and Yellow Garden Spider (*Argiope aurantia*) — Preys on various small insects. - **Eats:** House Fly (*Musca domestica*) — Common insect prey for geckos. ## Traits - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Arboreal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/arboreal): Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators. - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Regenerative](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/regenerative): Regenerative organisms possess the ability to regrow lost or damaged body parts, tissues, or organs. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. ## Collections - [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/reptiles) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch geckos from a distance and do not try to catch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Tropical House Gecko? Compare toes, scales, head shape, crests and tail proportions. Many lizards can drop and regrow their tails, so a short tail isn't always a species trait. Lizard Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Tropical House Gecko? 7.5-12.7 cm ### How much does Tropical House Gecko weigh? 0.002-0.005 kg ### How long does Tropical House Gecko live? 3-7 years ### How fast can Tropical House Gecko move? 5 km/h ### What does Tropical House Gecko eat? These small geckos mostly eat tiny insects and spiders, helping to keep bug populations in check! ### Where is Tropical House Gecko usually found? Urban areas ### How does Tropical House Gecko hunt? Ambush ## Where to spot - [St. Augustine Town Plan Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/st-augustine-town-plan-historic-district) — Florida, US · Historic District - [Fota Wildlife Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fota-wildlife-park) — Municipal District of Cobh, IE · Zoo - [Zoo Dortmund](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/zoo-dortmund) — North Rhine-Westphalia, DE · Zoo - [Newquay Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/newquay-zoo) — England, GB · Zoo - [Child of the Sun](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/child-of-the-sun) — Florida, US · Historic District - [Deerfield Beach Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/deerfield-beach-arboretum) — Florida, US · Botanical Garden [View all places to see Tropical House Gecko](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/tropical-house-gecko) ## More Reptiles - [Pond Slider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pond-slider) (*Trachemys scripta*) - [Western Fence Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-fence-lizard) (*Sceloporus occidentalis*) - [Common Five-lined Skink](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-five-lined-skink) (*Plestiodon fasciatus*) - [Desert Spiny Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/desert-spiny-lizard) (*Sceloporus magister*) --- Source: [Tropical House Gecko: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tropical-house-gecko)