A reef gecko is the smallest lizard in the United States. You will often see their tiny, speckled bodies running across the ground between piles of leaves and debris. They live at the southernmost edge of Florida where they are most at risk of sea level rise.
There are 17 types of geckos in Florida, but the reef gecko is the only gecko native to the state. It is also the only native gecko that lives east of the Mississippi River.
What Is A Reef Gecko?
Florida reef geckos are miniscule lizards, reaching lengths of just 2 in (5 cm) from head to tail. Their bodies are so tiny and frail that it’s difficult for people to handle them. While studying them, researchers found that simply handling them was enough to tear their paper-thin skin.
They have round bodies with large, overlapping scales across their backs. They have keeled scales which make them appear somewhat spikey.
Both males and females have three distinct stripes on their heads that make it difficult to determine sex. The skin of their body and tail is medium brown with dark spots. Some female geckos also have a large white spot on either shoulder surrounded by a dark edge.
These geckos have binocular vision, meaning that they can move their eyes independently of one another. Having such an ability allows them to use one eye to spot prey while keeping the other eye alert for predators.
Their toes are round and sticky, which gives them good grip for climbing.
- Common Names: Reef Gecko, Florida Reef Gecko, Brown-Speckled Sphaero
- Scientific Name: Sphaerodactylus notatus
- Origin: Florida
- Size (Length): 2 in (5 cm)
- Lifespan: 10-20 years
- Enclosure Size: 8x8x12 in (20.3-30.5 cm) +
- Temperament: Shy & peaceful
- Ease of Care: Easy
Habitat
Reef geckos are the only geckos native to Florida. Geckoweb.org says they are:
“The only native gecko found east of the Mississippi River, Florida Reef Geckos are known from the Dry Tortugas, Florida Keys and extreme southeastern mainland Florida. Other subspecies are known from Cuba and the Bahamas. They are found in pinelands, hammocks and vacant lots.”
Small, and easy targets, reef geckos spend most of their time in the leaf litter on the ground. They also hide themselves within small holes in the ground.
The Florida gecko is versatile and hardy. It can adapt to almost any type of habitat imaginable.
Behavior & Temperament
Reef geckos are crepuscular, which means they are most active at dawn and dusk. These periods of low light are when it’s safest for the lizards to hunt for their food. It’s still light enough for them to see, but dark enough that it’s difficult for predators to see them.
What Do Florida Geckos Eat?
Reef geckos are insectivores who eat tiny insects and spiders.
Reproduction
Unlike most lizards who lay multiple eggs, reef geckos lay a single, large egg. The massive egg they produce may be the size of one third of their entire body weight. They lay several eggs over a single season.
Just as the eggs are huge, the hatchlings are massive when compared to their adult counterparts. Hatchlings emerge from their eggs at about 1 in (2.54 cm) long, sometimes longer.
Despite only producing a single egg at a time, there are large numbers of these geckos throughout Florida.
Mother geckos often nest together, so there are several eggs in a single nest. Reef geckos may even combine their nest with the nests of other gecko species. Researchers have seen nests with a combination of reef gecko, Cuban ashy gecko, and house gecko eggs together.
Predators
Because of their tiny size, reef geckos are in danger from virtually every predator that can get a hold of them. They are constantly in danger from birds, snakes, other lizards, and even large centipedes. Many of their predators are invasive species. Brown anoles, for instance, are one of the most common invasive lizard species in Florida.
Population Status & Conservation
These Florida geckos are in great danger from climate change and habitat destruction.
Emily Powell is an evolutionary biology doctoral candidate, and Stephanie Clements is a doctoral student at the University of Miami. They are the first to assess the status of the reef geckos in Florida. After comparing reef geckos to other at-risk reptiles in the United States, the authors found that reef geckos are in more danger from sea level rise than any other reptile species in the United States.
If the sea were to rise by 7.2 ft (2.2 m), 85% of the reef gecko’s suitable habitat would be underwater.
Marlowe Starling of the Mongabay News says that:
“The Florida reef gecko may be a master at surviving periodic flooding, according to researchers. It displays habitat versatility and its eggs are more salt-tolerant than adults. The geckos have also been found taking refuge in trees and urban structures, such as parking lots and buildings.”
Still, Powell and Clements are concerned for their future because sea level rise is a permanent change. Reef geckos may not be able to handle it.
The researcher’s findings also contradict what the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) states about the species. The IUCN Red List says that reef geckos are of “least concern” with stable populations. Powell and Clements hope that their research will help to change the IUCN’s status.
Invasive species also pose an enormous problem for these animals, but not only because they hunt reef geckos. Invasive plants like the Australian pine take over the areas it grows and kill off the native plants that reef geckos hide in. The invasive ashy gecko often out-competes the reef gecko for food.
How To Care For A Reef Gecko
The small Florida lizard is not a common household pet, but they can make a good pet if you don’t have a lot of space.
Enclosure
These tiny lizards only need an enclosure that is 8x8x12 in (20.3-30.5 cm), but if you can give them a larger tank, that’s even better.
They do best in glass enclosures because they have sticky toe pads that allow them to cling to smooth surfaces.
Because they are so small, they are master escape artists. Be careful to secure the tank, not leaving even the smallest crack exposed. This is especially important for hatchlings and juveniles.
Substrate
Sand and soil mixtures work well for geckos, as well as coconut fiber substrates. Keep the substrate moist at all times, but NOT wet.
Decorations
In the wild, reef geckos are most active at dawn and dusk, and they spend most of their time hiding. Provide them with lots of hiding spots, including leaves, rocks, and driftwood. They are mostly terrestrial, but it’s good to provide them with some branches to climb on as well.
Temperature & Lighting
The ambient tank temperature should be between 75-80°F (23.9-26.7°C). Because they are a tropical species, ensure that their enclosure doesn’t fall below 65°F (18.3°C) at night.
It is up to debate whether this species needs UV lighting. It is likely that they need a UVB bulb like other lizards to keep their bones healthy.
Choose a small bulb that is only 2.0 or 5.0. Set up a small basking spot for your lizard and make sure it doesn’t reach above 95°F (35°C).
Humidity
Reef geckos live in humid, tropical environments, so you need to replicate that in their tank. Keep the humidity between 60-70%.
Do not allow the enclosure to get overly wet. Make sure there is plenty of ventilation in the tank and allow it to dry out between mistings.
In a small, glass enclosure, misting once a day or every other day should be enough to maintain the proper humidity in the tank. You can also provide a shallow water dish to aid with humidity, but make sure it is shallow enough that your lizard(s) can get out.
Live plants can also help maintain humidity and provide your lizard with places to hide.
Tank Mates
Reef geckos will do okay housed singly or as a pair.
Diet
Reef geckos are insectivores. You’ll need to give them only the smallest insects so that they don’t choke. Their staple diet should comprise ⅛ in (3.2 mm) crickets for juveniles and ¼ in (6.35 mm) for adults.
Supplement juveniles with melanogaster fruit flies, springtails, and dwarf white isopods. Adults can receive supplements of small black soldier fly larvae, dwarf white isopods, hydei and melanogaster fruit flies, and bean beetles.
Breeding
Breeding may be difficult with these lizards because it’s hard to tell males from females. Females may have two eyespots behind their neck, but not always. To spot a male, you’ll have to check for femoral pores between their hind legs.
To entice your lizards to breed, you’ll need to increase the length of the day in summer, or encourage them to go into brumation over winter. As the female lays each egg, remove it and incubate it. Eggs hatch after about 65-75 days.
Conclusion
Reef geckos are the smallest lizard in the United States. They are the only gecko native to Florida and the entire eastern portion of the United States.
Because they are so small, they are difficult to see. They rarely climb, preferring to hide within debris and leaf litter. Their small, speckled bodies can be exciting to spot, darting back and forth between hiding places.
FAQs
Of the 17 species of geckos found in Florida, the reef gecko is the only species native to the state. The reef gecko is also the only gecko native to the rest of the eastern United States. Other gecko species that are not native to Florida include: Moorish, Ocellated, Mourning, Common house, Yellowhead
Reef geckos aren’t the most common pet lizard, but they can make a good pet if you don’t have a lot of space. They don’t like being handled, so only get one if you prefer having hands-off pets.
When scared, reef geckos are more likely to run away and seek shelter. It’s possible they may try to bite if you grab them, but as small as they are, it won’t hurt.
Reef geckos are not poisonous or venomous and are completely harmless to humans. They do not cause problems with other animals and even help to control the insect population.
