House geckos / lizards

Discussion in 'The Village Square' started by songlim18, Apr 22, 2009.

  1. songlim18

    songlim18 Seedling

    Joined:
    Jul 25, 2008
    Messages:
    184
    Likes Received:
    15
    I know they cause no harm and they keep flies, spiders, cockroach count down. Then again, I dislike the look and feel of it because it is cold.

    I bought a loaf of bread last night. Just this morning, as I was spreading jam on two of the slices, my daughter spotted something pinkish in the transparent plastic bag containing the bread. She screamed her lungs out! I backed off too not knowing what to do. I stood there almost 20 seconds hoping it would crawl out but it play dead instead! I refused to hold the bag as I was afraid it might jumped on me. Eventually, I had no choice but to pinch on the top corner of the bag and threw it on to other side of the table. The lizard ran for its life. I had to throw the bag of bread away.

    I think lizards are unaffected by insecticide, unlike cockroach. Do you have any idea how does one keep lizards away?
     
  2. Loading...


  3. Biita

    Biita Arctic-ally Challenged Forager

    Joined:
    Oct 31, 2007
    Messages:
    2,048
    Likes Received:
    17
    Location:
    Norway
    Do you mean like this little guy?

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    My daughter has these now and then running along the wall of the house. The only solution i seen was my 2 granddaughter trying to catch it. It would run for its life. lol. I know they won't hurt you, they are more afraid of you than you of it. When i lived in the south of America i had a cat who used to have that job of keeping the house clear of pest. Maybe get a cat.
     
  4. eileen

    eileen Resident Taxonomist Staff Member Moderator Plants Contributor

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2005
    Messages:
    29,088
    Likes Received:
    6,282
    Location:
    Scotland
    Strangely enough snakes and lizards don't bother me. I've even set up a section of my garden hoping they'll move in!! :D :D
     
  5. toni

    toni Mistress of Garden Junque Staff Member Moderator Plants Contributor

    Joined:
    Jan 7, 2006
    Messages:
    19,634
    Likes Received:
    5,065
    Location:
    North Central Texas, Zone 8a
    Here in the southern U.S. they come into the house looking for water during the heat and drought of summer.
    We used to have them inside a lot when Amanda was very young. She came into our bedroom during the middle of the night once when she was about 7, said there was a lizard on her wall. I knew we couldn't catch it so to keep her from being scared, I half jokingly told her to name it and tell it goodnight. She named it Charmander after her favorite Pokemon character and they lived happily together in her room for quite some time.
    Now that I have several birdbaths and water plant pots out back we don't see them inside anymore.

    Song, since you are in a highrise apartment building, I am thinking that one was probably already in the bread package when you bought it.
    Cockroaches used to be a problem in grocery stores in south Florida, they got into the bags of potatoes and traveled home with shoppers all the time.
     



    Advertisement
  6. songlim18

    songlim18 Seedling

    Joined:
    Jul 25, 2008
    Messages:
    184
    Likes Received:
    15
    Bitta, the one I saw this morning was smaller about 3" long (excluding the tail) and not as pretty as the one on your picture.

    Eileen, I wish I am as brave as you.

    Toni, we have spotted others. One of them is about 2" long. Husband also name it Bobby! I suspect the lizard found its way to the bag because it was not tighly sealed. When I came home earlier, I thought I saw the same lizard again.

    If any could tell me how to get rid of them would be great. It never fail to frighten me when it tries to wriggle away swiftly.
     
  7. Sjoerd

    Sjoerd Mighty Oak

    Joined:
    Apr 11, 2006
    Messages:
    21,179
    Likes Received:
    21,516
    You might try using one of those long-handled fish nets to catch it then take it downstairs and release it outside.
    On the otherhand, if you left it in your home it might bring you good luck. ;)
     
  8. kaseylib

    kaseylib Young Pine

    Joined:
    Dec 28, 2007
    Messages:
    1,084
    Likes Received:
    6
    Location:
    Wisconsin
    We don't have them here, and I don't suppose I'd like to find one in my loaf of bread either! As a kid I had a chameleon and thought it was kind of cool. I have to deal with ladybugs inside all winter long here...they get into everything, and love the warmth of our waterbed.
     
  9. dooley

    dooley Super Garden Turtle

    Joined:
    Jul 3, 2005
    Messages:
    7,163
    Likes Received:
    1,294
    Location:
    Wisconain
    We bought these electronic things that you plug in a wall outlet. It keeps bugs and mice out of the house. I have one in every room and haven't seen a bug or a mouse anywhere in the last two years. Maybe they will work on lizards too. We got them at Lowe's and Home Depot. dooley
     
  10. Biita

    Biita Arctic-ally Challenged Forager

    Joined:
    Oct 31, 2007
    Messages:
    2,048
    Likes Received:
    17
    Location:
    Norway
    The one in that pic i put up is about 3 inches long. It was very very small. That was the 4th one i had seen at my daughters and was lucky to have the camera at that time handy.
     
  11. glendann

    glendann Official Garden Angel

    Joined:
    May 19, 2006
    Messages:
    9,512
    Likes Received:
    135
    Location:
    Texas
    I love the lizards in my yard.I have never had one in the house much less a loaf of bread .I would never try to kill one.The cats in my yard try to catch them.I wouldn't know how to get rid of them.
     
  12. songlim18

    songlim18 Seedling

    Joined:
    Jul 25, 2008
    Messages:
    184
    Likes Received:
    15
    I would not kill them either. Now, I ensure any new loaf of bread is kept in an air tight box instead of simply tying a loose knot to the bag. I also started to place a plate over a small garbage bin next to my kitchen basin. I did not see any yesterday morning but then, I found one in the balcony and on the wall of my living room including their black tiny poo-poo on the floor! Sigh ...
     
  13. Palm Tree

    Palm Tree Young Pine

    Joined:
    Sep 17, 2007
    Messages:
    1,450
    Likes Received:
    37
    Location:
    Cape Town
    Oh my

    Not nice when they get into the bread.

    We have geckoes and lizards as well as chameleons here and my small maltese poodle always tries to hunt them - however the little reptiles are just too quick for him. THey do not really bother us and we actualy get quite happy when the geckoes venture into the house.
    I have noticed that in the last year the small ones stay inside until they are big enough then they move out. (I suppose they are my new babies from now on.) 8)
    Man - here I go on and on - and I am supposed to help with a solution. I do not know how to get them out of the house permanently as they always just move out by themselves here.
     
  14. gardengater

    gardengater Young Pine

    Joined:
    May 30, 2008
    Messages:
    1,544
    Likes Received:
    6
    Location:
    NC
    I would just suggest inspecting everything brought into the house, Songlim. I have to put catfood, grains and other things in plastic covered containers. I love my green lizards on my porch and talk to them everyday. No, I don't think I've gone 'round the bend.
     
  15. Pricklypear

    Pricklypear Seedling

    Joined:
    Feb 19, 2009
    Messages:
    241
    Likes Received:
    18
    Location:
    Southern Arizona
    I have lizards in my house right now. I think there are three. They are welcome. But then I live in the desert. I don't think of them as pests. They go after bugs I don't see. There are several living in my garden. You should see what they can do when an ant walks by.

    Lizards aren't to hard to catch with a broom and a dustpan especially on a cold night. You can just dump them out in your garden.

    I've never had a lizard get into any food product. But I have been startled a time or two when they pop out of a drawer.

    Caution though: reptiles can carry salmonella. So if you or your children handle them, wash your hands well. I didn't know about this until my kids were all grown up. They played with lizards all the time when they were little. We never had a problem.
     
  16. Green_Numb

    Green_Numb In Flower

    Joined:
    Apr 8, 2009
    Messages:
    394
    Likes Received:
    93
    Location:
    North Carolina
    i just saw a small grey looking lizard yesterday as i was leaving my office at work. It was sitting on the floor. I tried to catch it in a box to release it like i had done with another a few weeks back but it ran behind a cabinet...

    i tried...
     

Share This Page