Mary Allen
The Asian house gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus) is nocturnal and belongs to the genus of the half-toe. Many terrarium keepers who want to keep a gecko start with this species because the animal is quite undemanding in its keeping requirements. As Asian house geckos are extremely active and very good climbers, you can also observe them intensively during their activity and thus get to know the behavior and way of life of these animals a little better.
Distribution and Habitat of the Asian House Gecko
Originally, as the name suggests, the Asian house gecko was widespread in Asia. In the meantime, however, it can also be found on many archipelagos, such as on the Andaman, Nicobar, in front of India, on the Maldives, in the rear of India, in southern China, in Taiwan and Japan, on the Philippines, and on the Sulu and Indo-Australian archipelago, in New Guinea, Australia, Mexico, Madagascar, and Mauritius as well as South Africa. This is because these geckos have often sneaked into ships as stowaways and then made their home in the respective regions. Asian house geckos are pure forest dwellers and mostly live on trees.
Description and Characteristics of the Asian Domestic Gecko
Hemidactylus frenatus can reach a total length of approximately 13 cm. Half of this is due to the tail. The top of the body is brown in color with yellow-gray parts. During the night, the color becomes a little pale, in some cases, it even turns almost white. Directly behind the base of the tail, you can see six rows of conical and at the same time blunt scales. The belly is yellowish to white and almost transparent. This is why you can see the eggs very well in a pregnant female.
Likes to Climb and Hide
Asian house geckos are real climbing artists. You have mastered climbing perfectly and are also very nimble. Thanks to the adhesive lamellas on the toes, they can move around smoothly on smooth surfaces, ceilings, and walls. The Asian domestic gecko, like any other gecko species, can shed its tail when threatened. This grows back after a certain time and can then be thrown off again. Asian house geckos prefer to hide in small crevices, niches, and crevices. From there, they can safely keep an eye out for prey and then access it quickly.
In the Light is the Prey
The Hemidactylus frenatus is a crepuscular and nocturnal animal, but can often be seen in the vicinity of lamps. Since insects are attracted to light, they will often find what they are looking for here when hunting for prey. The Asian house gecko feeds on flies, house crickets, crickets, small worms, spiders, cockroaches, and other insects that it can manage according to its size.
Note on Species Protection
Many terrarium animals are under species protection because their populations in the wild are endangered or could be endangered in the future. Therefore the trade is partly regulated by law. However, there are already many animals from German offspring. Before buying animals, please inquire whether special legal provisions need to be observed.