Conservation translocations are an important tool for the recovery of threatened species, and clear goals and objectives are imperative for assessing their utility. We investigated the short-term (<2 years) success of the first reintroductions of the Extinct in the Wild blue-tailed skink (Cryptoblepharus egeriae) and Lister’s gecko (Lepidodactylus listeri) on Christmas Island, by evaluating success criteria considered important for the long-term establishment of species. These short-term criteria included maintain body weight post release, evidence of reproduction within 12 months and evidence of population growth within 12 months. On Christmas Island, we translocated from captivity 307 blue-tailed skinks in two (2017 and 2018) reintroductions and 160 Lister’s geckos in a single reintroduction (2019) into a 2600 m2 fenced site that excluded potential predators. In the initial trial for C. egeriae, the translocated population failed to establish, likely due to unsuccessful attempts to exclude an introduced predatory centipede. Centipedes were eliminated at the release site prior to the second trial for C. egeriae, and the skink population tripled by 18 months post-release. The reintroduction trial of L. listeri revealed a significant population decline over 12 months, although site-born individuals were identified. Both species favoured areas with rock and log cover and areas with extensive leaf litter. Our findings provide further evidence that while the reasons underpinning reintroduction success are complex, the use of short-term success stages allows us to identify factors to help refine ongoing reintroductions of these two species into the wild.