Ways to Catch a Lost Gecko

Have you ever wondered how to catch a gecko inside a home if he were to get lost there? While these pet lizards are both interesting and appealing, they are also adept at escaping. Once loose, they will run across your floor and vanish from your sight in just a matter of seconds. These skills will serve your gecko well if he is living in the wild, but they will work against both of you if you're trying to catch him and put him back in his cage. Don't give up hope though. There are some simple techniques that will help you to recapture him.

What To Do With Your Other Pets

First of all, you need to get control over any other pet that may harm your gecko. Try putting them outside or have them stay with a friend or family member. If neither of these things are possible, you will need to keep a close eye on them because scratching and sniffing may tell you where your gecko is.

Stop Using Your Appliances

Immediately stop using any appliances that may be dangerous to your gecko (i.e. washers, dryers, ovens, microwaves, dishwashers, garbage disposals). You will also need to be careful whenever you open or shut a door. This is important because you never know when your gecko may be hiding in one of these areas.

See If Your Gecko Has Left Home

Make sure that you check any routes that would lead your gecko out of the house. This includes holes in caulking or insulation, any open windows and any screens that don't fit properly. If you think that everything is secure, you can restrict your search to the inside of your home; otherwise you should check the shrubs around your home.

Look For Good Hiding Places

Try to think as though you were a gecko. Look in places that your gecko may find appealing, such as under your bed, behind the dresser, behind or on top of a picture frame and inside the folds of your drapery. Many geckos enjoy hiding in closets, so make sure to check the pockets of your clothing and inside of any shoes.

Using A Flashlight To Find Your Gecko

At nighttime you can turn off all of the lights in your house and then use a flashlight to walk quickly between the rooms sweeping the walls and floors with the light. You may just get lucky enough to catch your gecko on his way to a new hiding place. Remember to also look in places where you have searched before, because you never know if your gecko has finally found these hiding spots.

Create A Trap

How do you catch a gecko inside a home? You can set up a trap. Simply place some of your gecko's favorite food treats, such as live mealworms into a large, plastic storage bin. Put the lid next to the bin at an angle to form a ramp between the floor and the container. Of course, this lid will need to be completely smooth so that the gecko won't be able to climb on it and the sides of the bin will need to be high enough to keep him from jumping out. Place this near your gecko's cage.

Another type of trap you can create is made by placing live crickets inside of plastic gumball machine capsules and taping them shut. Now loop a two foot piece of fishing line through the capsule and anchor it to your trap. The noise and motion of the rolling balls will attract your gecko.