How to evict Tokai geckos without demolishing house?

[cliveshep]

We have 3 or 4 Tokai geckos (the loud "Oh-Oh" ones) that have taken up residence in our ground floor ceiling void gaining entrance under the concrete tiled eaves of a little feature roof. The void is around 350mm but with concrete beams in a grid supporting the upper floor and walls. They had been quiet and no problem so we'd left them alone but the sound of lizard claws rattling across the ceiling has got our 4 large house dogs wound up and that keeps us awake at night with their howls and barking.

 

In the past we have had rats - easily trapped with a bit of oyster-sauce flavoured pork as bait - and snakes - evicted with a can of Chaindrite sprayed liberally into the void. This has also been seen to work with the Geckos as they came out under the tiled eaves. We do try to seal up holes but some are inaccessible above fragile roofs. I was nearly killed when a roof collapsed under me causing considerable injuries so no one is allowed up there now.

 

How can I drive these little buggers out? I read that it can be a chore, anyone else had success or is it a powerful torch job head and shoulders up the access hatches and target practice with a BB gun?

[Kwasaki]

House renovation work would be a start by the sounds of the buildings problems.

[cliveshep]

We've done pretty much all of that, extensions, re-wiring, all new windows, all new bathrooms (4) and redecorated. The little arched "bumps" in the tiles sitting on the fascia of the low-level feature roof projections are a design weak point, allowing small creatures to squeeze in. Unfortunately we have 1st floor roofs abutting just under the fascia line that are Sheera roof sheets which prevent safe access and although we had sealed up the sealing has been chewed away in places.

[fdsa]

15 minutes ago, cliveshep said:

the sound of lizard claws rattling across the ceiling has got our 4 large house dogs wound up and that keeps us awake at night with their howls and barking.

you have a problem with dogs, not lizards

[Dagfinnur Traustason]

15 minutes ago, cliveshep said:

We have 3 or 4 Tokai geckos (the loud "Oh-Oh" ones) that have taken up residence in our ground floor ceiling void gaining entrance under the concrete tiled eaves of a little feature roof. The void is around 350mm but with concrete beams in a grid supporting the upper floor and walls. They had been quiet and no problem so we'd left them alone but the sound of lizard claws rattling across the ceiling has got our 4 large house dogs wound up and that keeps us awake at night with their howls and barking.

 

In the past we have had rats - easily trapped with a bit of oyster-sauce flavoured pork as bait - and snakes - evicted with a can of Chaindrite sprayed liberally into the void. This has also been seen to work with the Geckos as they came out under the tiled eaves. We do try to seal up holes but some are inaccessible above fragile roofs. I was nearly killed when a roof collapsed under me causing considerable injuries so no one is allowed up there now.

 

How can I drive these little buggers out? I read that it can be a chore, anyone else had success or is it a powerful torch job head and shoulders up the access hatches and target practice with a BB gun?

Try 25 bottles of Baygon! ???? If only enough, it will kill everything.

[cliveshep]

Haha - no! Dogs are family, Tokai are interlopers, squatters, free to stay if they don't cause trouble.

 

[scammed]

they are still preferable to the bugs they eat,

keep them, unless your wife can take over their duty altogether

[cliveshep]

2 minutes ago, Dagfinnur Traustason said:

Try 25 bottles of Baygon! ???? If only enough, it will kill everything.

Chaindrite stinks worse than Baygon, it somehow filters down and the whole house stinks of it. We are coughing and spluttering and sneezing, just hoping it makes the geckos clear off, a whole large can in a shallow void must make the air pretty choking! What is in Baygon that is more effective than Chaindrite? I drove out snakes and Tokai before with Chaindrite but I'm open to offers. Shooting with BB will wound but not kill and both of us are adverse to that.

 

[Pilotman]

why try to get rid of them, they are a blessing in keeping other bugs at bay?   In the old Military days in Singapore if you didn't have them in your house, you went to a local village supplier and got some. I have a whole family in my place, except Dad, who stays outside and just cuddles with his Mrs in the night time when she decides to go out to see him. She is now so tame that she doesn't run away when I am in the kitchen, just watches me move around.  No other bugs in my house, none at all.  he is a very noisy lover and decides that outside our bedroom is a great place to show his Mrs Lizard his expertise. 

[cliveshep]

As said we have 3 big Thai dogs and one medium UK dog. The biggest of the Thai dogs has the weight and build of a GSD and looks like a golden long-haired,  the other two look like Dobermans. They are house dogs, live in the house, not banished to the yard or garden like many Thai dogs or even left out on the street. They are brilliant house-dogs and anyone coming close to the gate evinces a frantic hysterical response. Imagine the reaction to a noise in THEIR house over their heads? I don't disagree about the insects but cockroaches are controlled with fat/flour/sugar/Borax balls in the manholes and are a rarity seen above ground, other insects are controlled by the little house geckos of which we have many pooping over the walls. It's the big ones in the ceiling causing the disturbances!

[Crossy]

Mothballs (naphthalene balls) seem to discourage most wildlife if you can get them into the space.

 

Get the big ones from makro and put them in cloth bags on fishing line so you can get them out again once the beasties have moved out.

[cliveshep]

We'll try that. My wife did chuck some small ones up there a while ago but they don't last too long. Maybe bigger ones will do better.

[Dagfinnur Traustason]

41 minutes ago, cliveshep said:

Chaindrite stinks worse than Baygon, it somehow filters down and the whole house stinks of it. We are coughing and spluttering and sneezing, just hoping it makes the geckos clear off, a whole large can in a shallow void must make the air pretty choking! What is in Baygon that is more effective than Chaindrite? I drove out snakes and Tokai before with Chaindrite but I'm open to offers. Shooting with BB will wound but not kill and both of us are adverse to that.

 

It was more of a joke. Baygon is the same as you kill all the bugs with, but I can imagine it can kill humans too in larger doses. ????

However, I salute you for not wanting to kill them. A very good thing. I guess you are doing what you can and Chaindrite might just work. ???? Good Luck!

[RichardColeman]

1 hour ago, cliveshep said:

Haha - no! Dogs are family, Tokai are interlopers, squatters, free to stay if they don't cause trouble.

 

Probably find the lizards were there before someone built a house on their land and now there are house interlopers from their point of view.

[pacovl46]

Well, I don’t think there’s a way to keep them permanently away as long as your house provides shelter and food. It might be easier to teach your dogs not to bark about them anymore. One way would be positive reinforcement. I know it sounds counterproductive, but every time the tokays make noise and your dogs go off feed your dogs some treats. After awhile they’ll associate the tokay noise with something positive - food - and they’ll stop barking. You could also go the old fashioned way and just correct their unwanted barking. YouTube is full with videos on how to stop dogs barking. 

[mickylongtime]

Hi I used the little white balls that you use for the mens toilets smells like moth ball or camphor ball you can buy them in the markets very cheap I just throw a handful into that roof space it gives of a vapour that put off rats, mice, and many other critters it's worth a try, it worked for me. I hope it helps

[mickylongtime]

16 hours ago, Crossy said:

Mothballs (naphthalene balls) seem to discourage most wildlife if you can get them into the space.

 

Get the big ones from makro and put them in cloth bags on fishing line so you can get them out again once the beasties have moved out.

Yes I tried this and worked for me I did the same but used old sock with the big ball in and again a little fishing line as I didn't fancy walking around up there, and like you said you can pull the socks or bags back to refill if you had to.

[Taco]

They are pretty fearless buggers, this is what I do. Wait till your least favorite neighbor is away on a meal or something.  Grab a kitchen towel and sneak up on them slowly. Again very slowly come from behind and grab the tookay in the torso. He will open his mouth and look scary but the don’t squirm much once grabbed. Quickly run out and put the tookay on your neighbors house. Repeat. Keep un screened windows closed next few nights. Problem solved.

[madisongy]

Understand your desire not to kill them, but you may not have a choice.  It would be different if they were endangered.  So I'll just offer up the solution that they used in Saudi Arabia....glue boards.     One other idea, how about that canned spray foam to fill the voids. 

You may not like either suggestion, but I figured you deserved at least one more non-flippant response.    ????

[thaiowl]

I bought this repellent spray on Lazada, which seemed to do the trick. It smells of lemon grass so now I just buy the (cheaper) lemon grass mosquito repellent. Spray on where the lizard/gecko walks.

https://www.lazada.co.th/products/nogecko-200-gecko-lizard-chase-repellent-100-i2004574841-s6448446499.html?spm=a2o4m.searchlist.list.4.45d2449fm6A3E1&search=1&freeshipping=1

https://www.lazada.co.th/products/puregreen-120-mosquito-spray-puregreen-120ml-lemongrass-i1496476755-s3947570303.html?exlaz=d_1:mm_150050845_51350205_2010350205::12:1498579383!58089999096!!!pla-294682000766!c!294682000766!3947570303!256075268&gclid=Cj0KCQiA1KiBBhCcARIsAPWqoSq6J7_p7SYWI8CsEJ9jKUzLdpyXM_-tI_6fB0j33onJ_Chcd_vmId8aAiBsEALw_wcB

[sirocco]

eh! yes, madisongy, in saudi arabia they like to practice sharia law.
The more suffering there is, the more it amuses them.
Maybe you'd like to be glued to a panel, and wiggle around.
Geckos are active at night and only a flashlight surprises them.
Try patience, get a dip net, turn on the lamp and try to catch them.
They are very fond, too, of pieces of bread.

[tifino]

falling thru fragile potentially asbestos roof tiles is more of a problem than some little tokays! ????   Hope you've recovered from the fall with no lasting effects... 

[scammed]

i think the suggestion to train dogs to be quiet was the best solution,

google it

[RichardColeman]

37 minutes ago, scammed said:

i think the suggestion to train dogs to be quiet was the best solution,

google it

Sorted !

[digger70]

23 hours ago, cliveshep said:

We have 3 or 4 Tokai geckos (the loud "Oh-Oh" ones) that have taken up residence in our ground floor ceiling void gaining entrance under the concrete tiled eaves of a little feature roof. The void is around 350mm but with concrete beams in a grid supporting the upper floor and walls. They had been quiet and no problem so we'd left them alone but the sound of lizard claws rattling across the ceiling has got our 4 large house dogs wound up and that keeps us awake at night with their howls and barking.

 

In the past we have had rats - easily trapped with a bit of oyster-sauce flavoured pork as bait - and snakes - evicted with a can of Chaindrite sprayed liberally into the void. This has also been seen to work with the Geckos as they came out under the tiled eaves. We do try to seal up holes but some are inaccessible above fragile roofs. I was nearly killed when a roof collapsed under me causing considerable injuries so no one is allowed up there now.

 

How can I drive these little buggers out? I read that it can be a chore, anyone else had success or is it a powerful torch job head and shoulders up the access hatches and target practice with a BB gun?

I the past I have Made a Long extension on the vacuum cleaner Just Suck them up. 

What you with them is up to you, Let them go somewhere or Let the Lady of the house cook and eat them. 

[JimmyJ]

Become a responsible dog owner and a responsible neighbor -  - Train your dogs.

 

They are also driving your neighbors crazy -  if the sound of lizard claws gets 4 dogs barking, then many other things do also.

 

Train them before your neighbors figure out what they can feed your dogs to solve their problem.

 

And if you don't mind post your address so I can make sure I don't ever live within 500 yards of your residence.

[FlorC]

You chose the wrong pets .

Since I have cats here , no tokais . Thet catch them fearlessly.

Far less jingjoks too .

[condohope]

I heard vinegar is disliked by geckos. Good luck

[MarcIssan]

On 2/15/2021 at 1:49 PM, Crossy said:

Mothballs (naphthalene balls) seem to discourage most wildlife if you can get them into the space.

 

Get the big ones from makro and put them in cloth bags on fishing line so you can get them out again once the beasties have moved out.

I tried moth balls on the window sills to no avail.  The Geckos came in anyway and laid their eggs in the sliding window tracks.  My wife put them on the inside as well and the only thing they drove out was me!

[Thujone]

5 hours ago, sirocco said:

(snip)
They are very fond, too, of pieces of bread.

We sometimes get rats in our loft.

One of those rectangular mesh-box traps with as spring-loaded door, baited with a slice of apple, works wonderfully for catching them.

If tokays are fond of bread, you could try baiting traps with bread, and see if you catch some.

 

We had a tokay which used to hang on the wall outside our bedroom window and serenade us each night.

One night I went out and gave it a good whacking with a stick, and it decided to move elsewhere.

Maybe the fact that I'd forgotten to get dressed before going out had something to do with it's decision...