Are Geckos Poisonous?

Although there is some pervasive misinformation claiming otherwise, geckos are not poisonous. Some animals are poisonous, meaning they they contain toxins which can serious harm or even kill other animals. This occurs if the animal eats them or sometimes even if they touch them. The latter occurs if the animal can secrete toxins from their skin, such as certain species of poisonous frog.

Geckos are not poisonous, so we should not have any reaction if we touch their skin. This is particularly important if we have pets. If we see a dog, cat or other companion animal has killed and eaten a gecko, they are not naturally poisonous.

There is a key distinction between being poisonous or venomous. As explained above, a poisonous animal contains toxins which can be passed on passively when ingested or touched. Venomous animals are those which actively deliver their toxins, usually via a bite or sting. This requires specialized body parts such as a stinger and venom glands to carry out this behavior.

Geckos are not venomous. They do not have any specialized glands or stingers which can deliver toxins, nor do they create the toxins in the first place. A gecko may try to bite you if you pick them up or otherwise threaten them, but they will not envenomate you when doing so.

Learn about animals which do have this toxic adaptations with our article on the most venomous fish species.

If you encounter a gecko in the house where you are, don't be afraid. The first thing you should do is to stay calm. Geckos are living beings that deserves respect. Do not fall into the trap of thinking that you should kill everything that enters your home.

You can try to catch the gecko without causing harm or fear. Release it outside the house or in the garden. If you are in a house that has not been inhabited for some time, you can even let it continue living its life, since it will not interfere with yours. Unlike pests such as termites or even some birds, they are not likely to cause any structural damage to the property.

Like all animals that live in nature, the gecko has a purpose in the balance of its ecosystem. While there are roles it plays which we may not fully understand, it is well know that geckos feed on insects. Of greater importance is the fact that geckos feed on mosquitoes. These mosquitoes bite humans and animals, in some cases being vectors for a range of viruses and diseases. Ensuring we have enough geckos can help us to control harmful mosquito populations.

Learn about the different types of mosquito species in our related guide.

No we know that geckos are neither poisonous nor venomous, we may want to know some other characteristics of these small lizards:

• Geckos are a species of small reptile, very similar to anoles and skinks. They measure between 2-6" (5-15 cm) in length.
• It is very common for them to live in abandoned houses or buildings, especially in temperate climates.
• They have small cone-shaped bumps that protrude out of their skin, especially on their backs, legs and tails.
• They are very territorial and usually confront other species in order to protect their home.
• They tend to be solitary and only come close to each other to reproduce in spring and summer.

Although not a reptile, geckos are also often confused with salamanders. Check out our related guide to discover the differences between salamanders and geckos.

If you have encountered geckos before, you may want to know more about what to expect with them. In addition to knowing whether they are poisonous, here are some other frequently asked questions about geckos:

Do geckos bite?

Although they cannot envenomate you, a gecko will try to bite you if threatened. It is possible you might get a little nip, but their bite will not cause any significant harm. They also do not have any ability to sting. We should leave them alone all the same as we do not want to frighten them.

Do geckos make noise?

Geckos can make a wide range of sounds, although they are not considered particularly loud. They are known to make chirping noises or even some which sound a little like barking. These curious sounds are sometimes thought of as gecko song, similar to the sounds birds make.

Do geckos have healing properties?

While there are various medications which have animal origins, there are also many myths about the use of animals in healthcare. These often stem from their use in primitive forms of medicine, often with some sort of magical power. From a scientific perspective, geckos are unable to cure any disease.

Do geckos make you bald?

Another myth claims that if a gecko spits on you, you will go bald. That is not true. It will not cause any reaction such as hair loss on your person or anything similar, unless you have a particularly sensitivity to gecko saliva.

Do geckos enter your body?

It is said that very small geckos have the ability to enter our body through any of our orifices. This is another myth that has been used to scare young children. Even though you should be careful about your contact with all animals, a gecko will not try to enter a living human being.

Do geckos walk in fire and not burn?

Many people do this experiment by throwing geckos into a fire to see if they walk through it. The reality is that they burn like any other living being and it is an experiment that is considered animal abuse. Never do it.

If you have any other questions about different reptiles, you make want to check out our related article asking do snakes have backbones?

If you want to read similar articles to Are Geckos Poisonous?, we recommend you visit our Facts about animals category.