Mediterranean house gecko

European half- finger ( Hemidactylus turcicus ) on wall

The European half- finger, half finger also Turkish Gecko ( Hemidactylus turcicus ), often referred to as the "House Gecko", is one of the most common geckos. He lives hidden in houses and feeds on insects. Adult Half Finger geckos can reach a head -body length of eight and a total length of 15 cm. As a hidden survivor, crepuscular and nocturnal hunters of the Turkish half gecko has large lidless eyes. The skin looks beige yellowish depending on the base and light, reddish to dark brown, has dark, almost black spots and bright Tuberkelschuppen opposite the underground resolve the shape of the geckos and offer an almost perfect camouflage on wood and stone. Like all half- finger Geckos also has the Turkish half gecko toe adhesion in addition also claws and can run both on smooth and on rough ground.

Dissemination

Synanthropic and neozoon the European Halffinger is highly invasive. The first wave was triggered widespread in antiquity by Greek and Phoenician sailors and extended the area of ​​distribution to the entire Mediterranean region. A second thrust distribution at the beginning of the modern period led to the colonization of the Spanish and Portuguese colonies. By air and sea transport, the animal is found on every continent and almost every island in tropical or Mediterranean climates since the Second World War. Females can store sperm for a year on stock and thus produce about 6 nests with 2 eggs. It is expected that arise more populations by modern airport tourism and international trade indoors.

Species protection

The European Halffinger is protected by the Federal Species Protection Ordinance. The keeping of captive-bred animals is allowed, but requires a notification to the competent national authorities.

Due to the wide distribution Hemidactylus turcicus is not protected in most countries. This means that wild-caught eg brookii as Hemidactylus or imported under fancy names and are sold in pet shops as "feed geckos ".

Behavior

The European Halffinger lives in colonies in which the males defend their territories against other males and Different type of food competitors, such as other geckos, but also against spiders. In most cases, the entire colony uses a Gemeinschaftsklo where it just comes like the sun places rarely dispute.

In the literature of the mid -toed Gecko is called nocturnal. But you can describe the behavior as shy and hides alive. Increases the population density by the lack of predators, such as dogs or cats, at which hunting habits in an apartment can be bolder. For example, is then also hunted in lamps or near candles. In the geckos terrarium usually remain averse than in apartments.

The floor or top open areas are usually avoided. Rather, find the geckos under tables, shelves under the leaves of indoor plants or other hiding places. The sun places are usually only on the angle of the sun and logs, but often is the Gemeinschaftsklo in a hidden corner at the bottom or near the bottom.

For sleeping, the European Halffinger need a column that offers both abdominal and back contact. During the day the place for passive thermoregulation is changed several times. At night, the gecko room temperature remains active until about 15 ° C. The day after the feeding may be observed, an indirect (eg, a sheet ) or direct sun at 25 to 30 ° C, which is necessary to achieve the digestion temperature. At high temperatures, the day geckos retreat to deeper, moister or shadier corners. When hunting or other agitation a hectic air pumps with the throat can be observed.

Diseases and life expectancy

In diseases a reptile expert veterinarian should be consulted.

Eimeria turcicus is one for Hemidactylus turcicus normal Coccidienart. This single-celled organisms should not be treated, but on the contrary young animals should be given the opportunity to visit the loo of the parents to get a normal intestinal flora. In other reptiles but Eimeria turcicus can affect the bile. Such an infection can lead to death, so European Light fingers should not be associated with other reptiles or even fed as feed geckos. Eimeria can be determined by a trivial examination of a stool sample, but the exact species identification of Eimeria is only possible in the laboratory.

The normal life expectancy with good care in captivity is about 10 years. At this time, often uses a blindness which prevents independent hunting. Feed Tame animals can be twice as old.