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Moorish Gecko Rehoming Package

REHOMING REQUIREMENTS

Moorish Gecko

Scientific Name: Tarentola mauritanica
From: Native to the western Mediterranean area of North Africa and Europe.
Max Size: Up to 6 inches long

Range
Moorish geckoes are found in North Africa and Europe. Here they can be found in the following countries – Algeria; Croatia; Egypt; France; Greece; Italy; Libya; Morocco; Portugal; Slovenia; Spain; Tunisia and Western Sahara. Their presence in Morocco is currently uncertain.

They have been introduced to Argentina; Portugal; Spain (the Canary Is., Baleares); the United States in California and Florida and Uruguay.

Habitat
They make their home in dry and rocky areas and scrub. Most of their range is in coastal areas though in some areas they will live further inland.

These geckoes will often live alongside humans and enter their houses where they will cling to the walls. Much of their time is spent near a crevice in rock which they can wedge themselves in to, to keep safe from predators.

Handling Moorish Geckos and Why we choose bioactive enclosures for our stowaways

Moorish Geckos are not to be handled. The Moorish geckos we get here at the RSPCA Reptile Rescue are wild animals. They have accidentally come to us when hiding in peoples luggage when on returning from holidays.

Due to these geckos being wild animals we want to provide them a stress free life with the most up to date care.

We have chosen to rehome into Bioactive enclosures only when rehoming wild animals aka Stowaways. This type of enclosure can provide all the husbandry needs for your gecko and still allows an enriching environment without handling.

Non-Toxic Plants for Bioactive enclosures – Common Name / Scientific name

● ABELIA (Abelia grandiflora)
● AFRICAN VIOLET (Saintpaulia ionantha)
● SWEET ALYSSUM (Allyssum sp.)
● ASPERAGUS FERN (Asperagus setaceus plumosis)
● ASTER (Aster sp.)
● BABY TEARS (Helxine soleirolii)
● BIRD’S NEST FERN (Asplenium nidus)
● BOSTON FERN (Nephrolepsis exalta)
● BOTTLE BRUSH (Callistemom)
● BOUGANVILLEA (Bouganvillea)
● BRIDAL VEIL (Tripogandra multiflora)
● BROMELIADS (Aechmea; Bilbergia; Cryptanthus)
● CACTUS, SPINELESS (Astrophytum)
● CAMELLIA (Camellia japonica)
● COLEUS (Coleus)
● CORN PLANT (Dracaena fragrans)
● CREEPING CHARLIE (Pilea nummulariifolia)*
● CROTON (Codiaeum sp.)
● DRACAENA (Dracaena)
● EMERALD RIPPLE (Peperomia caperata)
● EUGENIA (Peperomia caperata)
● FUSCHIA (Fuschia)
● GERANIUM (Pelargonium sp.)
● HEN AND CHICKS SUCCULENT (Echeveria)
● HIBISCUS (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis)
● HOYA (Hoya exotica)
● ICEPLANT (Mesembryanthemum crystallinum)
● IMPATIENS (Impatiens)
● JADE PLANT (Crassula argentea)
● JAPANESE ARALIA (Fatsia japonica)
● JASMINE (Jasminum officinale: J. grandifloum)
● LAVENDER (Lavandula officinalis)
● MARIGOLD (Calendula officinalis)
● MONKEY PLANT (Ruellia makoyana)
● MOTHER OF PEARL (Graptopetalum paraguayen)
● NATAL PLUM (Carissa grandiflora)
● PAINTED NETTLE (Coleus)
● PALMS (Areca sp.)
● PAMPAS GRASS (Cortaderiaselloana)
● PARLOR PALM (Chamaedorea elegans)
● PEPEROMIA (Peperomia caperata)
● PETUNIA (Petunia)
● PHOENIX (Phoenix roebelenii)
● PIGGYBACK PLANT (Tolmiea menziesii)
● PILEA (Pilea sp.)
● PINK POLKA-DOT PLANT (H. ypoestes sang.)
● PONYTAIL PLANT (Beaucarnea recurvata)
● PRAYER PLANT (Maranta leuconeura)
● PURPLE PASSION: PURPLE VELVET (Gynura)
● SPIDER PLANT (Chlorophytum comosum)
● STAGHORN FERN (Platycerium bifurcatum)
● SWEDISH IVY (Plectranthus australis)
● TREE MALLOW (Lavatera assurgentiflora)
● UMBRELLA PLANT (Eriogonum umbrellum)**
● VELVET PLANT (Gynura aurantaca)
● WANDERING JEW (Tradescantia albiflora)
● WARNECKII (Dracaena deremensis)
● WAX PLANT (Hoya exotica)
● ZEBRA PLANTY (Calathea zebrina)
● ZINNIAS (Zinnia sp.)

Where to source reptile plants

Always wash roots of plants and quarantine before planting in enclosures.

Ensure you put plants that are safe for consumption as your bugs will eat the plants then your gecko eats the bugs.

Gecko Husbandry

Daily Chores
● Fresh water daily
● Spot clean daily
● Spray Daily (Full clean once a month)
● Use F10 Veterinary Disinfectant

F10 Disinfectant

Vets and Insurance
● Exotics Vets are not easy to find, here in Brighton we use Coastways in Kemptown as they have an exotic vet called Celine. It is essential you find an exotic vet.
● There is insurance you can get for your reptile through Exotic Direct.

ExoticDirect Insurance

Moorish Gecko Diet

You should feed young geckos every day and adults every other day. Moorish geckos are carnivores which primarily feed on insects but some small vertebrates such as frogs may also be consumed.

At night they will congregate near lights which will attract one of their favorite insects to feed on – moths.

In captivity food options would include locust, waxworms, moths, caliworms, black soldier flies. Ensure prey item is no bigger than the size of your gecko’s head.

You also want to ensure your feeder bugs have been gut loaded (fed) before offering to your gecko. We use Arcadia Reptiles
Insectfuel.

Supplementing your Geckos Diet

The use of high-quality reptile supplements in the correct amounts at the correct frequencies will help to ensure optimum bone health and skin health for your reptile, and help to avoid a plethora of nutrition-related illnesses such as metabolic bone disease.

Check out the feeding schedule using the link below
https://www.arcadiareptile.com/earthpro/feeding-programme/herbivores/

Minimum rehoming Requirements for Moorish Geckos

You can source all enclosures, equipment, electrics and decor from us as we run a shop.

  • Minimum 45x45x60
  • 45x45x60 Exo terra £180
  • Arcadia 2.4% Shadedweller arboreal UVB Kit £40
  • Arcadia deep heat projector £21
  • Arcadia Clamp Lamp holder £20
  • Habistat dimming thermostat £55
  • You may choose to add an LED plant light to help your bioactive enclosure flourish.
  • Substrate and decor is up to you. We advice a Sand X Soil mix as substrate and a minimum of 2 hides and a water dish.

Please note this enclosure must be bioactive.