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I have been lurking in the background on this forum for almost a year now. We are planning a move to the puna area within the next six months. We have followed the advice of the posters on punaweb and have decided to put almost everything in storage here on the mainland and rent a place in puna till we are sure it is for us. Our only problem now is that I have a terrible phobia of reptiles, that includes lizards and gekos.
Are they really as prevalent as some of the posts indicate. I have visions of lizards all over my walls or even worse in my bed. (OMG!) [:0]. Just need some views on this subject, as silly as it is,
Thanks
Deborah Lee
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Geckos & lizards are Hawaii, not just Puna
We have never had any lizards in the bed, I think that would give the willys to most people!
Some of the very little ones do get in our house (less than an inch) all by themselves
Have an idiot cat that has brought tail free lizards of good size in and let them go (the tails are fun play toys) (he is mostly indoor, as he is an ex-feral, and only goes out fairly supervised)
Hubby leaves doors open much of the time & very little comes in, very few bugs, very little of anything....
But we have made sure we have door sweeps, vegetation away from the house, screens that fit snugly, caulked any holes AND have stops on the metal roof...
Perhaps you can get some work for your phobia before you come? Self-hypnosis or other therapy?
Geckos are extremely prevalent, yes. Yes, they will be on your walls, not in droves, just one or two at a time, and they will poo on the windowsills. Lizards (chameleons) are mostly outside, and fairly common, although a cat will reduce the population.
There is no way to get away from living with geckos except possibly in the coldest areas. I have never lived in Volcano or Waimea, so canÔt say if they live there. You cannot keep them out either. Our houses here are not that tightly constructed.
All I can suggest is you work on the phobia. Geckos are completely harmless. [  ]
lol, OK, CareyÔs house is tighter sealed than any I have had. [8D]
True that cats bring the lizards in to play with them.
The geckos arenÔt interested in the bed. They like walls and window headers and corners where they lurk for bugs.
My other concern for you is how you will deal with centipedes. Google Hawaii centipedes and images and you will see what we deal with here. They are not lizards, but their bite is nasty and you may want to have a pest management contract to keep them down.
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They are everywhere unless you keep your house sealed up tight, I find them in our ohana unit which is rarely used, whenever I go in there. Baby geckos can get through the tiny gaps in the frames of windows or under doors, and houses here aren't designed to be all that weather tight because most people don't pay for heat or AC. My dad is staying with us and has a real phobia about snakes, but not lizards or geckos, so he does OK. We've never had them come into our bed or shoes, but they love windows, walls, and ceilings, I'd rather have lizards than bugs any day.
Carol
Carol
Every time you feel yourself getting pulled into other people's nonsense, repeat these words: Not my circus, not my monkeys.
Polish Proverb
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they eat bugs - not a bad trade off - you will see them on your screen windows lurking for a bug or two
I have one that hides under the dog dish (outside) fun to watch as the gecko has figured out to stay (and) move on the side of the dish away from the dog - after a few run ins - bold little guys
if I am late feeding the gecko waits and paces on the lanai..... as soon as the food is gone - so is the gecko .....
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Thanks for the info folks. I am checking into hypnosis as this stupid phobia is limiting me in what I want to do. Hope it works. Saw a few geckos on our visits to the area and they don't seem to bother me as much as lizards do, I guess they are just cuter. I have read about the centipedes but will google for images.
Mahalo everyone.
Deborah Lee
Best of luck to you. I realize that a true phobia cannot be talked away; if it were only a prejudice you could read posts and realize the are OK, but I doubt that will work for you.
Guess the good news is the geckos did not bother you terribly!
I have not seen one of the lizards in the house unless a cat dragged it in. They are outside dwellers, and most of the time they blend in to whatever plant they are on.
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When you see a gecko just repeat to yourself, "I'm a lot bigger than they are, I'm a lot bigger than they are".*
Even lizards recognize this fact, and it will cause them to run away from you first, as well as keep them out of your bed.
*not applicable to centipedes, one or two species of spider, certain chihuahuas & terriers.
"I'm at that stage in life where I stay out of discussions. Even if you say 1+1=5, you're right - have fun." - Keanu Reeves
My 2 younger sons who are 1 and 3 in age catch all kinds of lizards all day. They have their bug cages in hand every morning in hopes I will open the door and let them out(cute). They catch plenty of those black salamander looking ones, then they go after all the chameleons. Anything that moves stands to get caught from these two boys, they catch lots of those little tree frogs, grass hoppers, moths, worms, centipedes, and even the spiders and bees. At the end of the day most are set free that did at least survive their run in with my sons. We use plenty of wipe's and hand sanitizer's throughout the day. I have noticed their eye-hand-coordination improving, they both recognize movements and colors better now too. Anyway a couple friends of mine have already hired them to come catch at their house too. (funny cause they also have that phobia about lizards).
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