Q&A for How to Catch a Gecko

Crickets and mealworms are the best food for a gecko.

Yes, but most geckos will run away from the light.

A male gecko will have bumps on its belly, near the tail. A female won't.

The male will attempt to breed with the female. The female may show aggression toward the male if she isn't ready to mate.

No. Picking it up by its belly may spook the gecko and cause it to run away.

No. Letting it run around the house may get it lost, and it may dry out, or try to eat bugs that may have diseases and cause your gecko to fall ill or die.

You can always buy one from a pet store. It's less time consuming. You could possibly find a rock outside that is cave-like. You can make it custom by using Plaster of Paris.

If you can't provide a home for the gecko, contact an animal rescue group in your area for help.

Cut a hole into the plastic, and cover the rest of it in rocks, sticks, and leaves so it looks like a cave. Most geckos will like the rocks, but some like sticks and leaves. Make sure to leave an opening and make it dark inside.

You can get a box and just poke holes for ventilation, but you will also need substrate and a heat lamp.

Yes, they will, as long as you give them the correct food.

Move your hand slowly toward the gecko so it can see your hand. Make sure it knows that it is just your hand. Move gently. Don't squeeze or it might bite or poop on you. Pick it up slowly and take it out of its cage. When holding it, just let it crawl around or sit on your arm or hand.

No, geckos are not venomous.

No. Reptiles need heat and light to survive.

You can find them in trees, bushes, and sheds. If you find them in the wild, I would advise leaving them alone, though.

Not really in the wild, but there are many other types of lizard in Oregon.

Not usually. They will only bite if they feel extremely threatened.

No, it could cause it to dry out and eat bugs that could make it Ill and die.

With a net and a flashlight. But many feel it is unsafe to catch a wild one, so I recommend you just go to Petco or PetSmart and buy one for $10-$20.

You can, but you'll have to do some research into the proper care for geckos first.

You could possibly crawl as low as you can and throw the lid on, or you could distract it by throwing something to the other side.

Not really. As long as they aren't in your food or digging in the drywall, they are only helpful quiet guests that keep the bug population down in your home.

They are not native to England. If you find one outside it probably escaped and won't survive the cold.

Geckos can be fast, so make sure you know how to identify one before you make the decision that it's a lizard. Look in the trees and under large rocks, that's where they like to hang out. Also look in shelters that a gecko could get inside, like a shed.

If you are talking about the island by Turkey, yes. There are two, Kotschy's gecko and the Mediterranean house gecko.

The best way would be to not catch them in the flat. Go somewhere where there is more space.

It is better to buy one from the store. It will be much tamer and not try to run away from you or bite you.

The smallest gecko would be the tiny dwarf gecko.

You can use mealworms or crickets in a small trap. To catch a gecko without hurting it you must either let it crawl on you or gently pick it up with three fingers. Two on the belly and one on the waist. Never squeeze, just grip very gently.

You can find geckos in Texas near creeks or streams, under moist logs and moss, or hiding in small cracks in rocks.