Do Salamanders Eat Geckos?

Geckos are small to medium-sized lizards known for their sticky toe pads, vertical pupils, and nocturnal habit. Since salamanders and geckos sometimes share similar habitats, people often wonder: do salamanders eat geckos?

No, salamanders do not normally eat geckos. Most salamanders focus on insects, worms, and small aquatic animals. Geckos are generally too large, agile, and well-defended for a salamander to successfully catch or eat.

Salamanders’ Typical Diet

Salamanders are entirely carnivorous and rely on small, soft-bodied animals they can swallow whole.

• Insects such as beetles, ants, crickets, and flies
• Earthworms and insect larvae
• Slugs and snails
• Tiny crustaceans and aquatic invertebrates

Larger salamander species may eat small frogs, tadpoles, or even other salamanders. But in most cases, their prey is limited by the size of their mouths and digestive capabilities.

They lack strong teeth or chewing ability, so they depend on swallowing prey in one gulp.

Why Salamanders Don’t Eat Geckos

While both salamanders and geckos are carnivorous, they differ in size, agility, and behavior. There are several key reasons salamanders don’t typically prey on geckos:

1. Size difference: Most geckos, even smaller species like house geckos, are often larger or bulkier than a salamander’s preferred prey. Their limbs and tails make them harder to swallow.
2. Speed and agility: Geckos are fast climbers and can dart away quickly. Salamanders, by contrast, are generally slower and more methodical hunters. They’re unlikely to catch an active gecko.
3. Defensive adaptations: Many geckos can drop their tails (a process called autotomy) when grabbed. This distracts predators and helps the gecko escape. Some geckos also vocalize or bite if threatened.
4. Habitat separation: Geckos are typically arboreal (tree-dwelling) or wall climbers. Salamanders, especially terrestrial ones, spend more time on the ground or near water sources. This difference limits encounters.
5. Diet specialization: Research on amphibian feeding habits shows salamanders are adapted to consume prey that’s small and easy to digest. Geckos are not part of their evolutionary diet.

Could a Salamander Eat a Baby Gecko?

In theory, a very large salamander might be able to eat a very small gecko hatchling, especially if the gecko is weakened or already dead.

Some salamanders, like tiger salamanders or hellbenders, grow large enough to tackle small vertebrates.

However, there are no confirmed reports or scientific documentation of salamanders eating geckos in the wild or captivity.

Even with size on their side, salamanders rarely pursue prey that fights back or doesn’t fit in their mouth.

What About Aggressive Salamanders?

Some salamander species are more aggressive or territorial, such as tiger salamanders or the Japanese giant salamander.

These species might display dominant behavior in an enclosure but that doesn’t mean they actively hunt lizards. Even these powerful species target animals they can easily overpower (fish, frogs, insects, and other amphibians).

An aggressive salamander might lunge or bite if a small gecko came too close, but this behavior would be defensive or territorial rather than predatory.

Would a Gecko Eat a Salamander?

Interestingly, in some unusual setups, it’s more likely that a gecko could harm or eat a baby salamander than the other way around.

Larger gecko species, like tokay geckos or leopard geckos, are capable of overpowering small prey and can bite hard.

However, just like salamanders, geckos typically eat insects and avoid confrontation with other reptiles or amphibians unless food is scarce.

Can You Keep Salamanders and Geckos Together?

No. It’s not a good idea to house salamanders and geckos in the same enclosure. Even if they don’t eat one another, they have very different needs:

• Salamanders require high humidity, cooler temperatures, and often moist substrates.
• Geckos prefer dry or semi-dry habitats with warmer temperatures.

Trying to create an environment that supports both would result in stress or illness for one or both animals.

Additionally, cross-contamination, territorial stress, or injury from accidental bites can occur.

Different Pet Care Requirements

Salamanders and geckos require different care in captivity:

• Feeding: Salamanders eat live invertebrates like earthworms, blackworms, or crickets. Geckos may eat similar prey, but some species also consume fruit or commercial gecko diets.
• Habitat: Salamanders need moist enclosures, while geckos often need dry tanks with climbing branches and UVB lighting.
• Handling: Salamanders are sensitive to skin oils and should not be handled frequently. Geckos are more tolerant of human contact but can still get stressed easily.

Trying to meet both species’ needs in one tank would compromise their health. It’s always best to house them separately.

What If a Salamander and Gecko Encounter Each Other in the Wild?

In the wild, these animals are unlikely to interact for long. Their behaviors and habitat preferences mean they cross paths rarely. If they do encounter each other:

• The salamander might ignore the gecko entirely.
• The gecko would likely flee or climb out of reach.
• There is no evidence that salamanders try to hunt or chase geckos in natural conditions.

Documented Diet Studies

Scientific studies on salamander diets show no record of geckos or other lizards being eaten. Most diet analyses focus on invertebrates like insects, spiders, and worms.

Even studies on large aquatic salamanders like the hellbender show diets made up of crayfish, fish, and aquatic insects, not reptiles.

The same applies to captive care guides and zoo records. Zookeepers feed salamanders soft, manageable prey like:

• Mealworms
• Bloodworms
• Earthworms
• Feeder crickets

Geckos, being reptiles with tough skin and claws, simply do not fall into the salamander’s typical feeding niche.

What If a Salamander Mistook a Gecko for Prey?

In rare, high-stress situations or in overly small enclosures, a salamander might lunge at a moving gecko, especially if the gecko is tiny.

But this would not be intentional predation, it would be a case of mistaken identity, and the salamander would likely spit the gecko out or lose interest quickly.

This is another reason mixed-species tanks are not recommended.

Conclusion

Salamanders do not eat geckos. Geckos are too large, fast, and well-defended to be considered prey. Salamanders stick to small, soft-bodied animals like insects, worms, and aquatic invertebrates.

Even the largest salamander species focus on prey they can easily swallow.

In captivity and the wild, salamanders and geckos have little to no interaction. Housing them together is not advised due to differences in habitat, diet, and behavior.

For the health and safety of both animals, it’s best to keep them in separate environments and respect their unique needs.