[MrsDC]

We have two basic varieties of gecko in our house (running rampant, but I don't have a problem with that). I love their chattering and chirping and I love the fact that the more of them I see, the fewer bugs I have! I don't have a clue which varieties they are, though!

The one is the common "gecko of the southwest" -- very cute and personable. The other, though, has the reputation in our area of being venomous. Not knowing any better when we first moved down here, I tended to shy away from all geckos so that I wouldn't end up messing with a poisonous one, until someone recently told me that horny toads were venomous, too. Sorry, I don't buy it. I'm sure I'm dealing with another Mexican wives' tale.

So, here's a photo of my reportedly poisonous gecko. I still think he's cute. This guy is missing part of his tail, but still seems to get around just fine! This photo was taken last week downstairs in the kitchen and last night I found him crawling across the ceiling upstairs in the living room.

The distinguishing mark for these geckos is the dot of red on their toes. This little guy is about 3" long (would be longer if he had all his tail!). Anyone recognize him?


Thanks in advance for your help!!!
-- Rebecca

[Riverside Reptiles]

It's a very venomous Gekko killyaquickus.

[Hilde]

There are no known poisonous or venomous geckos, though there are a few species of lizard that are poisonous or venomous. Dr. Bryan Fry has more info about the lizards (and snakes) on his website if you want to read more about it: Dr. Bryan Grieg Fry - Venomdoc - Homepage

[giglamesh]

lol have a look at the scientific name again.

[Elizabeth Freer]

This pictured gecko appears to have been in a bad fight where s/he came out the looser: tail and left side issues...or is it just the photo Rebecca?

Originally Posted by MrsDC

We have two basic varieties of gecko in our house (running rampant, but I don't have a problem with that). I love their chattering and chirping and I love the fact that the more of them I see, the fewer bugs I have! I don't have a clue which varieties they are, though!

The one is the common "gecko of the southwest" -- very cute and personable. The other, though, has the reputation in our area of being venomous. Not knowing any better when we first moved down here, I tended to shy away from all geckos so that I wouldn't end up messing with a poisonous one, until someone recently told me that horny toads were venomous, too. Sorry, I don't buy it. I'm sure I'm dealing with another Mexican wives' tale.

So, here's a photo of my reportedly poisonous gecko. I still think he's cute. This guy is missing part of his tail, but still seems to get around just fine! This photo was taken last week downstairs in the kitchen and last night I found him crawling across the ceiling upstairs in the living room.

The distinguishing mark for these geckos is the dot of red on their toes. This little guy is about 3" long (would be longer if he had all his tail!). Anyone recognize him?


Thanks in advance for your help!!!
-- Rebecca

[MrsDC]

Ethan -- HOOT! You'd have to hear all the horror stories they spread around here about this poor critter! Then the latin name would make sense!!!

Elizabeth -- That's what I thought, too. I saw him again yesterday. He's holed up behind our keyboard amp (I guess he likes loud music!) and seems to be doing fine. There's no shortage of food around for him, and he's still quick enough that I couldn't possibly catch him without doing him further harm. I think he's probably safer here than outside where the cats lurk. Since I know next to nothing about gecko growth habits/molting, I wasn't sure if he was in molt or if he had a bit of a scrape on one side. It looked a bit severe to be molt, though.

Hilde -- thanks for the link. I'll go check it out.


I was trying to explain yesterday to a couple of the guys who are working around here that there are only two known species of lizard in the world that are truly venomous. They still looked doubtful. I mean, if you'd been told your whole life that the lizards with the red claws are so poisonous that even touching their claws will send you into convulsions or if it crawls across the counter where you're preparing food, it makes the food toxic and causes ulcers, it would take a lot to change your mind.

It's taken the locals a while to get used to the various critters that roam around our house -- they all know we're weird now! Hopefully they'll begin to believe me if none of us die from handling the dreaded red-clawed gecko.

Thanks for the responses, everyone!!!

Iguanas are our family's area of expertise, but we're friends with all reptiles (I do draw the line at rattlesnakes and ball pythons over 7 feet long. Sorry. I'll stick with non-deadly reptiles.):

-- Rebecca

[Elizabeth Freer]

Do you think your wee gecko buddy could have been burned on his left side? Just wondering about his wound.