Wild albino gecko injured - bring as pet or leave outside?

[drcaradmd]

For the last several months I have noticed a group of 3 geckos on the front of my house near my light where many insects are during the night time. I don't know anything about geckos but have just admired them and we have peacefully coexisted. Last night, I was closing my screen door to my back porch and accidentally injured one of these geckos that I didn't see at the bottom. I first thought that it was dead after its head had gotten caught in the door, but to my surprise this afternoon, it is still on my back porch moving around and seems to be ok. My question is: Should I make it a pet and take care of it or would it be better served staying in its natural habitat even though injured? Any assistance would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

Cara

 

[geckogirl3]

do you have any pics of the gecko

 

[OnlineGeckos]

That's really cute, kinda like having a group of bunnies that live in your backyard or ducks that come around each season heh.

 

[SDCowboy]

You have wild leopard geckos by you?

 

[geckogirl3]

link on what they might be
http://www.californiaherps.com/lizards/pages/h.turcicus.html

 

[drcaradmd]

Pic of injured gecko outside my house

I have at least 2 more that are in the front of my house. This is the one I injured...they're blurry, but can give you an idea of what I actually have.

 

[drcaradmd]

Thanks! I posted some pics...I'm in north central Florida

 

[geckogirl3]

yep i was right. I have one that lost a tail and got infected. They don't eat a lot and are nocturnal.
they live every where in the south

 

[artes]

I would bring it in at least until the injury healed. If the gecko seems to be enjoying captivity, then keep it as a pet. If it seems restless and wanting to go, put it back on your back porch.

That's my opinion anyway.

 

[sausage]

awwwww help it

 

[OnlineGeckos]

Wow poor thing, that wound is nasty.

 

[artes]

Neosporin without the pain relievers would help the wound. Or I use Wally's Ear Oil with great success. I would put him/her on paper towels until the wound clears to keep dirt and gunk from getting in it.

 

[TokayKeeper]

As geckogirl pointed out it is a mediterranean gecko (Hemidactylus turcicus). They are an introduced species of gecko to the US, where they range from as far north as Baltimore, MD and then sweep across the southern US over to San Diego, CA.

The link geckogirl provided shows that they are capable of being lighter or dark in coloration, thus looking "albino". The photos you supplied are of a normally pigmented gecko and not an albino.

If you do opt to take it in, some form of anti-biotic ointment should work in helping to heal the wounds. I tend to use bacitracin.

Here's a couple animals I photographed outside my house when I lived in Las Cruces, NM.

 

[lillith]

Poor bug! If I could take it in without hurting it worse, I would.
At least you thought to try something...I hope it turns out healed up and healthy...

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

Everyone that knows me would agree that I would certainly take the poor little thing in and try to mend it. Keep in mind that these particular geckos drop their tails VERY easily, and you might wind up with two injuries to take care of.

 

[Adinar]

Aww, poor little guy!

I would help it if I could catch it safely without overly stressing it. Chances are it would not be leaving my house once inside. lol. I would feel awful. But when critters like that are out running around, unfortunate accidents can happen. Glad to hear it's ok and good luck if you decide to help it.

 

[gothra]

If its me, I probably won't take it inside. Catching it and housing it in a confined space will be very stressful for the animal that used to live freely in the wild. I would still want to help it though, but just by putting some crippled insects on the floor, so it can eat more easily.

 

[doublet74]

I think bringing it inside is amicable but a mistake. Not positive, but if you bring it inside: 1. Any other lizards you have could possibly get a disease from it. #2 Dont know about geckos but alot of outdoor animals will reject animals that have had human contact. #3 God protects his creatures if it isnt his/her time to go it wiill survive. If you are intent on helping the little fellow I suggest doing it outside your home. Unless you plan on keeping it forever. And in that case I wold quarintine it for at least 3 months in another room. Just so diseases dont spread to other animals. Tough decision. GOOD LUCK

 

[fuzzylogix]

if you catch enough of them you can sell them to some snake keepers as feeders...

 

[artes]

#1 - Lizard diseases aren't airborne. As long as this person doesn't go around mixing food dishes and water bowls across all the lizard tanks, they aren't going to catch anything. They would just need to wash their hands before and after when taking care of them, which is what you should be doing between lizards anyway.
#2 - You're thinking about bird eggs, not geckos.
#3 - That's a matter of opinion.