grass lizard and house gecko

Question
QUESTION: Hello. I recently rescued a wild gecko...I BELIEVE it is a house gecko. I've housed her with my long tail as there was nowhere to go with her. They seem to be quite content living together. I believe the gecko is a female....(one of them recently laid eggs!) Not sure about the gender of the grass lizard. I will be honest that I am very little knowledged in lizards, but felt the little gecko stood a better chance with me then outdoors. If they are fine now, will they remain that way? They are often even laying side by side. I've never even seen them fight!! I feel like a bad pet owner now!! Help!!

ANSWER: Hello Amber,

Well, normally it is not a good idea to house different species together or mix species due to non compatability of husbandry or zoonotic problems.  
I realize that they are probably fairly close in size, but the grass lizard will end up much larger than the gecko.
The grass lizard needs UVB exposure & a basking temp of around 90-95, whereas the house gecko does not.  So, long term no, they cannot really be housed together real well.  If you want to divide the tank & have each end a different setup you could do that.  
How large is your tank?

Tracie

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: 10 gallon. Its small. We weren't planning on getting lizards. Gepetto (the gecko) came in on a shipment of boston ferns at the store i work in. Gargamel was purchased for company. Gepetto was terrified for the first week. So we tried to get another one like her, but there wasn't anything. So we got Gar. They seem to be quite content. Soooooo the tank is at 85 degrees. Too much for Gepetto?

ANSWER: Hello Amber,

Oh well, that might be large enough for now, but the grass lizard will get longer though.  
The overall temps are ok but it might be a little much for the house gecko.
Remember, their husbandry is different.  The grass lizard needs UVB & the gecko doesn't.  If the grass lizard doesn't get regular exposure to UVB, he or she will eventually get metabolic bone disease & become ill.  
So, in the long run, I don't think it will be the best idea to house them together unless you provide UVB on one side along with the proper basking temperature & the give the gecko his own space.   
That is hard with a 10 gallon tank though.  
You also need to keep in mind that when the grass lizard gets bigger he might become aggressive it is just hard to tell what they will do.  
Can you get a smaller terrarium, like a 5 gallon, for your gecko?

Tracie


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Haha. It is very possible to get Gepetto her own tank. However her ridiculous speeds and little sticky feet would make it nearly impossible for returnng and removing. She's already escaped once!! What tank size do you recommend or should i just forget it and get her her own? I hate to seperate them now that they seem to have buddied up!

Answer
Hello Amber,

GREAT if you could put the little house gecko in her own tank.  Their feet are sticky aren't they?  LOL  She has already escaped?  A 5 gallon is probably fine for her, she will not get very large.
It is entirely up to you but as I had said, the grass lizard does need a higher basking temperature & UVB lighting whereas the gecko doesn't.  
So they do need specific care which is different from each other.  The best thing is to provide the individual care for them, otherwise, they will not do very well long term.

Tracie