The tropical house gecko bears particularly scaly lamellae on the underside of its toes, enabling it to grip onto vertical surfaces.

The diet of H. mabouia is varied, and includes animals such as isopods, centipedes,[6] spiders, scorpions, cockroaches, beetles,[6] moths, flies, mosquitoes,[7] snails, slugs, frogs, anoles, other geckos and blind snakes, with the most important element being Orthoptera species.

In some Caribbean cultures it is considered good luck to have a tropical house gecko residing in one's home, and eats household insect pests.

[9] Despite actually being harmless, the common house gecko or "wood slave" is considered by some in Trinidad and Tobago to be a bad omen, and to have a poisonous touch.

This is an old superstition, and in reality the house gecko is not only harmless, but also beneficial due to its hunting prey including mosquitos and cockroaches.