Next Question
RSS
I did find that the Mediterranean House Gecko is "highly territorial" and the male geckos will defend their favorite feeding spots.
This Gecko is common in southern Alabama but does not look like the little guy you've got there.
Your Gecko looks like a Indo-Pacific Gecko, common in your area, also known for its territoriality.
Careful..., Geckos like to use "foul smelling material" as a defense with regards to territory.
Source(s):
http://www.outdooralabama.com/watchable-wildlife/what/Reptiles/Lizards/mhg....
http://www.uga.edu/srelherp/lizards/hemgar.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gecko
Tags: animals, geckos
Helpful Answer?
(2)
(0)
Permalink |
Report
Increased territoriality for wild Geckos occurs during breeding season. If a female has hidden a cache of eggs on your porch that would explain everything. It could even be one of them is a female and two males are fighting over the territory where her eggs are.
This is mostly speculation. The first question is the sexes involved. If not all the Geckos are Anole this may not apply.
From the link below:
If you want to get more than one anole make sure it is two females (two males will fight and a male and a female might have babies). When younger, it is sometimes difficult to determine the sex of your lizards. Males always have a flap underneath their throat that inflates into a red frill for mating/territory display on occasion. When older, males are typically larger and have longer snouts than females. (Remember that anoles are solitary creatures unless it's breeding season, so having a container with more than one is highly stressful for them, and not natural at all.)
Source(s):
http://www.wikihow.com/Care-for-Green-Anole-Lizards
Permalink | Report
The common geckos (not the newly imported and colorful Madagascar one) in Hawaii "bark". Hawaiian lore says that if someone is talking and a gecko barks, it means that what the person is saying is the truth.
http://www.naturesongs.com/gecko1.wav
Permalink | Report
Source(s):
http://geckoinformation.info/index.shtml
Permalink | Report
Answered Question
M$2.10
August 20, 2009 02:25 PM
Are Geckos territorial? How much room does one gecko need?
Welcome to the 3rd chapter of Bunnyphuphu's Wild Kingdom.
As you know I've dealt with a Banana spider living on my back deck. Yes, she's still there weaving her master web. The back deck is big enough for us both so I leave her alone.
I still see Little Man, the cute Anole that comes on the front porch every few days.
(thanks @sarabond for giving him the cutest name!)
On the same front porch I have a few more visitors. When the sun goes down and Little Man goes to sleep, I have three Geckos that come out to play. It's a large antebellum covered porch and they all live in their own little holes on the inside ceiling.
It's been lovely to come out on the porch in the moonlight and sip a cool drink and watch these guys, but just the other night they started fighting with each other! My guess would be that they are fighting over territory, but how much room does one little Albino Gecko need?
Will it ever go back to being peaceful, or do I have a Gecko war on my hands?
As you know I've dealt with a Banana spider living on my back deck. Yes, she's still there weaving her master web. The back deck is big enough for us both so I leave her alone.
I still see Little Man, the cute Anole that comes on the front porch every few days.
(thanks @sarabond for giving him the cutest name!)
On the same front porch I have a few more visitors. When the sun goes down and Little Man goes to sleep, I have three Geckos that come out to play. It's a large antebellum covered porch and they all live in their own little holes on the inside ceiling.
It's been lovely to come out on the porch in the moonlight and sip a cool drink and watch these guys, but just the other night they started fighting with each other! My guess would be that they are fighting over territory, but how much room does one little Albino Gecko need?
Will it ever go back to being peaceful, or do I have a Gecko war on my hands?
RSS
Best Answer Chosen by Asker
| August 20, 2009 02:54 PM |
This Gecko is common in southern Alabama but does not look like the little guy you've got there.
Your Gecko looks like a Indo-Pacific Gecko, common in your area, also known for its territoriality.
Careful..., Geckos like to use "foul smelling material" as a defense with regards to territory.
Source(s):
http://www.outdooralabama.com/watchable-wildlife/what/Reptiles/Lizards/mhg....
http://www.uga.edu/srelherp/lizards/hemgar.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gecko
| Asker's Rating: |
• Thanks again to @buddawiggi, the Zoologist!
Tags: animals, geckos
Helpful Answer?
(2)
(0)
Helpful: krysstel, bunnyphuphu
Tip buddawiggi for this answer
Reply
Other Answers (3)
August 20, 2009 02:56 PM
Geckos do tend to be territorial, and the care sheet for pet Geckos below doesn't recommend housing two males or females together. That doesn't really say why some peaceful Geckos would become aggressive, and if they will change back. Increased territoriality for wild Geckos occurs during breeding season. If a female has hidden a cache of eggs on your porch that would explain everything. It could even be one of them is a female and two males are fighting over the territory where her eggs are.
This is mostly speculation. The first question is the sexes involved. If not all the Geckos are Anole this may not apply.
From the link below:
If you want to get more than one anole make sure it is two females (two males will fight and a male and a female might have babies). When younger, it is sometimes difficult to determine the sex of your lizards. Males always have a flap underneath their throat that inflates into a red frill for mating/territory display on occasion. When older, males are typically larger and have longer snouts than females. (Remember that anoles are solitary creatures unless it's breeding season, so having a container with more than one is highly stressful for them, and not natural at all.)
Source(s):
http://www.wikihow.com/Care-for-Green-Anole-Lizards
Permalink | Report
Reply
August 20, 2009 04:00 PM
I never thought about breeding season, and since I don't know the sex of these critters, it could just be that. Thanks!
Report
August 20, 2009 04:59 PM
Not an answer to your question, but just a "fun fact" since I'm pretty connected to geckos... The common geckos (not the newly imported and colorful Madagascar one) in Hawaii "bark". Hawaiian lore says that if someone is talking and a gecko barks, it means that what the person is saying is the truth.
http://www.naturesongs.com/gecko1.wav
Permalink | Report
Reply
August 20, 2009 05:34 PM
When I saw your message, I went and looked for Alabama geckos.
http://www.outdooralabama.com/watchable-wildlife/what/Reptiles/Lizards/mhg.cfm
It says on the site...
"They have a distinct voice, similar to a bird chirping or a high pitched squeak, which is thought to be a territorial message."
Wow! I guess I'll keep my ears open for some chirping barks tonight!
Thanks @drmatt!
Report
http://www.outdooralabama.com/watchable-wildlife/what/Reptiles/Lizards/mhg.cfm
It says on the site...
"They have a distinct voice, similar to a bird chirping or a high pitched squeak, which is thought to be a territorial message."
Wow! I guess I'll keep my ears open for some chirping barks tonight!
Thanks @drmatt!
August 20, 2009 05:25 PM
They are territorial and may fight each other. Some signs of "bullying" would be marks on one of the geckos, one getting more food than the other, or one of the geckos getting a good bit larger than the other. As for your question if it will ever be peaceful again that depends on the gecko. They all have different personalities like we do. They might be fighting with each other or they could be just playing. I think only time will tell what you have on your hands. Source(s):
http://geckoinformation.info/index.shtml
Permalink | Report
Reply
Answer this Question
Related Questions
Ask a Question
Buy Mahalo Dollars with Credit Card or PayPal
Top Members
Most Popular Tags
Categories
- Anonymous
-
Arts & Design
-
Beauty & Style
-
Books & Authors
-
Business
-
Cars & Transportation
-
Consumer Electronics
- Coupons Deals
-
Education
-
Entertainment
-
Environment
-
Fitness
-
Food & Drink
- From Email
- From Iphone
- From Twitter
-
Health
-
History
-
Hobbies
-
Home & Garden
-
How Tos
-
Humor
-
Jobs
-
Legal
-
Local
-
Love & Relationships
-
Mahalo Answers Community
-
Money
-
Music
-
News
-
NSFW
-
Parenting
-
Pets
-
Science & Mathematics
-
Services
-
Shopping
-
Social Science
-
Society & Culture
-
Sports
-
Technology & Internet
-
Travel
-
Video Games
Welcome New Members
- hessloves969, November 24, 2009 01:35 PM
- ponderr, November 24, 2009 01:34 PM
- phantomcameron, November 24, 2009 01:33 PM
- zenphsoundinnov..., November 24, 2009 01:31 PM
- nicholas0085, November 24, 2009 01:22 PM
Mahalo Dollars are the currency of Mahalo Answers.
Each Mahalo Dollar costs $1.
Once you earn more than 40 Mahalo Dollars, you can request to be paid via PayPal. Each Mahalo Dollar is currently worth $0.75 when paid out via PayPal. Learn More
They pretty much ignore me when I watch them at night, but if I smell something stinky, I'll keep my distance!