White-spotted wall gecko care is a good next step for keepers who have kept other geckos. The white-spotted wall gecko, also called the ringed wall gecko (Tarentola annularis), is a large, robust, night-active gecko native to Egypt and much of northern Africa. It was first described in 1827 from Egypt, in the zoology volumes of the Description de l’Égypte. This guide covers identification, housing, heat, feeding and handling.
White-spotted Wall Gecko (Tarentola annularis) at a Glance
- Scientific name: Tarentola annularis, family Phyllodactylidae
- Common names: white-spotted wall gecko, ringed wall gecko, Egyptian white-spot gecko
- Native range: Egypt and a broad belt of northern Africa from Mauritania and Senegal east to Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti and northern Somalia; introduced populations exist in Florida, California and Israel
- Subspecies: T. a. annularis (including Egypt) and T. a. relicta (South Sudan, Uganda, Cameroon)
- Size: one of the largest wall geckos; adults commonly reach around 15 cm in total length
- Activity: mainly nocturnal; climbs walls, rocks and tree trunks
- Reproduction: egg-laying
- Conservation: IUCN Least Concern; not listed in CITES
How to Identify It
This is a heavy-bodied, flat-headed gecko covered in rows of rough, raised scales. Its colour ranges from grey to sandy brown. The best field mark is two pairs of white spots on the shoulders, which separate it from the similar Moorish or common wall gecko (Tarentola mauritanica). Like other wall geckos it has broad, undivided toe pads. In Egypt it is often seen at night on walls and buildings near lights, hunting insects.
Is It a Good Pet?
For an intermediate keeper, yes. It is hardy and interesting to watch at night, but it is fast, can bite firmly and does not enjoy being handled. Males are territorial, so do not house two males together.
Enclosure Size and Setup
- Size: a tall enclosure of about 60 × 45 × 60 cm for one adult; larger for a pair
- Climbing: a cork or rock back wall, stacked flat stones and sturdy branches, with tight crevices to hide in
- Substrate: a dry sand and soil mix
- Hides: at least one warm and one cool hiding place
- Water: a shallow water dish plus a light evening misting of the décor; keep the enclosure mostly dry
For a step-by-step desert setup, see our desert reptile terrarium guide.
Temperature and Lighting
These ranges are general guidance used by keepers of North African wall geckos; watch your gecko’s behaviour and adjust.
- Basking spot: about 32–35 °C
- Warm side air: about 28–30 °C
- Cool side: about 24–26 °C
- Night: heat off, with a drop to normal room temperature
- UVB: low-level UVB with plenty of shade is beneficial even for night-active geckos
Diet and Feeding
In the wild the white-spotted wall gecko eats insects and other arthropods, and large adults have even been recorded taking small vertebrates. In captivity, feed a varied mix of gut-loaded crickets, roaches, locusts and similar insects, sized no larger than the space between the gecko’s eyes. Dust food with calcium at most meals and with a multivitamin about once a week. Do not rely on mealworms as the main food.
Handling
- Keep handling to a minimum; this species is fast and may bite
- Never grab it by the tail: like most geckos it can drop the tail to escape
- Wash your hands after cleaning or handling, as with any reptile
Legal Status and Buying
Tarentola annularis is assessed as Least Concern by the IUCN and is not listed in CITES. Exports from Egypt still need official permits and veterinary paperwork, and your own country’s import rules apply. See the full reptiles of Egypt list, browse our lizards, or contact us by email to ask about availability.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the scientific name of the white-spotted wall gecko?
It is Tarentola annularis. Older names include Gecko annularis and Tarentola aegyptiaca.
How do you tell it from the common wall gecko?
Look for two pairs of white spots on the shoulders. The common or Moorish wall gecko (Tarentola mauritanica) does not have them.
Is the white-spotted wall gecko nocturnal?
Yes, it is mainly active at night, which is why it is often seen around outdoor lights.
