Day geckos are discovered on the islands within the southwest area of Indian Ocean. They belong to the Phelsuma genus, of which there are greater than 80 species. Energetic through the day, these geckos have toe pads that allow them to stroll on vertical and inverted surfaces. The toe pads have tiny lamellae which allow them to stroll on surfaces equivalent to bamboo and glass. Right here we current three day geckos, all of that are well-liked amongst reptile keepers and captive bred. The Standing’s day gecko (Phelsuma standingi), the gold mud day gecko (Phelsuma laticauda) and the Madagascar large day gecko (Phelsuma grandis) are all native to Madagascar, with the gold mud day gecko additionally discovered on the Comoro and Mascarene islands. These geckos are gaining in recognition due largely to their magnificence. For my part, they’re most likely probably the most hanging of the geckos within the pastime. Captive bred specimens can be found from breeders, although they don’t seem to be as well-liked as the opposite gecko species.
Standing’s Day Gecko (Phelsuma standingi)
The Standing’s day gecko, (Phelsuma standingi) is an arboreal gecko native to southwest Madagascar. It’s within the household Gekkonidae and is a diurnal species. It is without doubt one of the largest species of day gecko, rivaling the Madagascar day gecko in dimension. It could actually develop to eight to 10 inches in size, with distinctive people rising even longer. It’s present in arid areas of southwest Madagascar, notably across the Andranolaho, Sakaraha municipalities of Madagascar in addition to within the Zombitse-Vohibasia Nationwide Park. The juveniles are brightly coloured and might have a number of colorations and stripes, starting from inexperienced to brown to turquoise blue. Adults change into extra muted in coloration, however are nonetheless hanging. The Standing’s day gecko will not be as well-liked because the Madagascar large day gecko or the gold mud day gecko however they’re captive bred and are offered at reptile exhibits and from breeders who specialise in them.
Standing’s day gecko. Photograph by Vladislav T Jirousek/Shutterstock
Day Gecko Enclosure
Being an arboreal species that strikes about quite a bit, grownup Standing’s day geckos must be housed in a big vertical enclosure designed for arboreal reptiles. An enclosure dimension of no less than 4 toes excessive and 4 toes lengthy is good for this massive gecko species. A 4’x 2’x 4’ enclosure will present ample room to your gecko to maneuver about. Younger and juvenile day geckos will be housed in smaller enclosures of about 18” x 18” x 36.” Add loads of climbing equipment equivalent to tree branches and enormous logs all through the enclosure. Use a number of tree branches and logs which might be near the peak of the enclosure. It will give your Standing’s day gecko loads of room to maneuver vertically and provides them entry to UVB, which is important for his or her well being and well-being. A naturalistic or bioactive enclosure is the best enclosure answer for this species. They may use each inch of the enclosure, making it enjoyable to look at this species transfer about through the day.
Substrate
The aim for substrate in your Standing’s day gecko enclosure is extra to assist with humidity as this species is extremely arboreal and can spend most of its life above the substrate. A pleasant bioactive substrate will present vitamins for dwell vegetation and in addition your clean-up crew. This may also assist with humidity. You possibly can create a bioactive substrate with sphagnum moss, tree fern fiber, Orchid bark, peat moss and charcoal. Conversely you possibly can mix parts of the basic ABG combine with herp particular choices equivalent to Reptisoil and EcoEarth. If you’re constructing out a bioactive enclosure to your Standing’s day gecko, a minimal of 4 to six inches of substrate ought to suffice for many vegetation. If you’re going the naturalistic route with the enclosure, 2 to 4 inches of substrate is adequate.
Temperature/Lighting
The Standing’s day gecko must be housed in an enclosure with an ambient temperature of 75 to 85 levels Fahrenheit (23.9 to 29.4 levels Celsius) with a basking space of round 90 levels Fahrenheit (32.2 levels Celsius). Evening time temperatures mustn’t drop beneath 70 levels Fahrenheit (21.1 levels Celsius).
Until you might be housing your Standing’s day gecko outside in heat climates with loads of solar, equivalent to in South Florida, a UVB lamp is an absolute necessity. The Standing’s day gecko is a Ferguson Zone 3 reptile. It’s an open or partial solar basker, basking in full daylight within the morning and early afternoon and at mid day. Its common publicity index is 1.0 to 2.6. The UVB output depends on the space of the UVB lamp to the space of the reptile within the enclosure. This is the reason you must contemplate climbing branches so your gecko can transfer to the optimum location for UVB absorption. A T5 HO bulb, equivalent to Zoo Med’s Reptisun 5.0 with 5 p.c UVB will allow your gecko to synthesize Vitamin D3 extra naturally. Put money into a Photo voltaic Meter so you possibly can decide the place within the enclosure the reptile protected basking space is and alter the basking spot accordingly.
Phelsuma standingi. Photograph by Danny Ye/Shutterstock
Feeding
The Standing’s day gecko is an opportunistic eater. It feeds on bugs, nectar and rotting fruit within the wild. In captivity, you possibly can feed them industrial crested gecko meals from the foremost producers in addition to crickets, dubia roaches and mealworms which might be intestine loaded and dusted with nutritional vitamins and calcium. Juveniles must be fed dwell pinhead crickets/small dubia roaches each day. The mealworms will be left in a deli cup, enabling the lizard to forage. With the crickets, be sure that they’re eaten and take away any uneaten crickets. Give them entry to crested gecko meals each day on an elevated ledge connected to the enclosure wall or on one of many branches or giant logs. The important thing right here is to maintain the meals elevated. Adults will be fed two or three giant crickets/dubia roaches and mealworms two to 3 occasions every week. The crested gecko meals must be obtainable the times you aren’t feeding the dwell bugs.
Very best Keeper/Handler
The Standing’s day gecko is a shocking gecko species that’s preferrred for intermediate to superior keepers. They aren’t actually handleable and are finest stored as a show animal. They’re giant geckos just like the Madagascar large day gecko, so preserve this in thoughts when selecting the enclosure. They want the house to maneuver about. They don’t do effectively in teams until you have got a pair, however then you’ll have eggs to think about sooner or later and you’ll have to organize for that. Some of us preserve females collectively, given the enclosure is giant sufficient. If aggression is famous, you’ll have to separate them into particular person enclosures. With correct care, these geckos can dwell as much as 10 years and extra.
Madagascar Big Day Gecko (Phelsuma grandis)
The Madagascar large day gecko is the biggest and arguably the most well-liked gecko within the Phelsuma genus. They’re giant, rising to just about a foot in size, together with the tail and are an inquisitive and delightful gecko. Native to Madagascar’s northern and northwest areas, Phelsuma grandis has additionally been launched to Florida, Hawaii and the Reunion Islands. This species is extensively captive bred and vary in value from $100 to $1,000 on reptile public sale websites. Whereas wild caught Phelsuma grandis are additionally obtainable, captive bred are at all times one of the best selections for almost all of these interested by conserving this species.
Madagascar large day gecko. This particular person is about 10 inches in size. Photograph by John Virata
Enclosure
The times of conserving these geckos in small, cramped vertical enclosures are lengthy gone. I’ve noticed this species within the wild in my summer season house in Manoa Valley, Hawaii for the final 10 years and these geckos transfer about fairly a bit. I noticed one specimen who had torn pores and skin on its cheek, transfer through the course of two days, from the automotive port in entrance of the home, to the entrance porch on the bottom flooring after which into the yard on the lanai, which is well 200 toes of journey. As such, present the biggest enclosure you possibly can for a single male, feminine or pair.
You possibly can preserve a juvenile in smaller enclosures of 18” x 18” x 36” till it outgrows it. After this, improve the enclosure to a 4’x 2’x 4’ or perhaps a 4’x 2’x 6’ enclosure as this can present ample room to your gecko to maneuver and leap from department to department. The enclosure ought to embody climbing branches or bamboo standing vertically and criss-crossed so your gecko can transfer concerning the enclosure. Massive cork rounds standing vertically are additionally preferrred for shifting about and supply glorious hiding spots. As with many lizard species, don’t preserve two males in the identical enclosure, as these reptiles will combat.
Substrate
The Madagascar large day gecko’s enclosure requires reasonable to excessive humidity, so select a substrate that may assist promote a humidity vary of between 62 and 70 p.c. The substrate is extra to assist with humidity as this species is extremely arboreal and can spend most of its life above the substrate. A pleasant bioactive substrate will present vitamins for dwell vegetation and your clear up crew will eat the lifeless plant and gecko droppings. Create a mixture of substrate that features orchid bark with sphagnum moss, tree fern fiber, peat moss and charcoal. Layer this on prime of some BioBalls and a substrate display for drainage. If you’re constructing out a bioactive enclosure to your gecko, a minimal of 4 to six inches of substrate ought to suffice for many vegetation. If you’re going the naturalistic route with the enclosure, 2 to 4 inches of the identical mixture substrate works effectively. You may also use a mister to assist with humidity, simply don’t let the enclosure get soaking moist. You’ll have to alter the mister to coincide with the humidity necessities.
An enormous day gecko on cork bark. Photograph by Scink /Shutterstock
Temperature/Lighting and UVB
Madagascar large day geckos are diurnal solar lovers. They’re a Zone 3 reptile on the Ferguson Zone scale, that means the gecko is a partial/open solar basker. Select a UVB gentle with a Zone vary UVI 1.0 to 2.6 with a most UVI 2.9 to 7.4. The UVB output depends on the space of the UVB lamp to the space of the reptile within the enclosure. This is the reason climbing branches are crucial contained in the enclosure so the gecko can transfer to the optimum location for UVB absorption.
A T5 HO bulb, equivalent to Zoo Med’s Reptisun 5.0 with 5 p.c UVB will allow your gecko to synthesize Vitamin D3 extra naturally. Put money into a Photo voltaic Meter so you possibly can decide the place within the enclosure the reptile protected basking space is and alter the basking spot accordingly. Preserve a temperature of about 75 to 80 levels Fahrenheit (23.9 to 29.4 levels Celsius) through the day with a basking gentle temperature of about 85 levels. You possibly can obtain this with a basking spot lamp through the day and an infrared warmth lamp at night time. Put money into a digital hygrometer. This offers you correct humidity and temperature readings at a look. In Hawaii the place I’ve noticed these geckos within the wild in the summertime months on Oahu, the common excessive temperature is 81 levels with 68 p.c humidity in Manoa Valley the place these geckos have change into established.
Feeding Day Geckos
Within the wild, Madagascar large day geckos are opportunistic omnivores that may feed on bugs and different invertebrates in addition to fruit matter. I watched an enormous day gecko take down a really giant centipede in Hawaii. It took the gecko your entire afternoon to swallow it down. I additionally watched a pair of large day geckos feed on papaya seeds I had put out on the lanai to dry out, so their diets are various. They need to be fed a wide range of dwell bugs and industrial fruit and insect-based gecko meals and recent fruits equivalent to smashed papaya and banana.
Hatchling and juvenile Madagascar large day geckos must be fed gut-loaded pinhead crickets now not than the width of the gecko’s head, dusted with reptile nutritional vitamins. You may also feed them mealworms. Feed them three to 5 bugs three days every week and alternate with industrial gecko meals and the recent fruits talked about. Take away any uneaten crickets. Grownup geckos must be fed grownup crickets or dubia roaches in addition to industrial fruit and insect-based gecko meals each different day. Don’t overfeed them or they will develop well being points. Use a magnetic elevated twin feeding platform for the industrial meals and the recent, mashed fruits. The opposite bowl will be for recent water.
Very best Keeper/Handler
The Madagascar large day gecko is good for many who have a number of years of expertise conserving reptiles and perceive the significance of humidity, lighting and UVB, as this species is particular in its wants with respect to those parts. They’re additionally extra of a palms off species, although folks do have success in hand feeding them and sometimes dealing with them. They only aren’t a hardy species dealing with clever like a leopard gecko or crested gecko. You probably have the room to accommodate this species in a pleasant sized enclosure and have the wherewithal to create a superbly scaped vivarium for these large day geckos, you’ll be rewarded with a few years of enjoyment conserving a Phelsuma grandis.
Gold Mud Day Gecko (Phelsuma laticauda)
The gold mud day gecko is the smallest species of the gecko trio, averaging simply 4-5 inches in complete size. Its stunning colorations, nonetheless greater than make up for its diminutive dimension, and that coloration makes it one of many extra well-liked day geckos amongst reptile keepers. The gold mud day gecko, just like the Madagascar large day gecko and the Standing’s day gecko, is from Madagascar. It is usually native to the Comoro Islands and the Mascarene Islands, and is an launched species within the Hawaiian Islands. Primarily arboreal, the gold mud day gecko feeds on small bugs in addition to nectar and comfortable fruit. On Oahu in Hawaii, you possibly can seen usually see a small military of those little lizards at shave ice shops across the island, feeding on the candy flavors of discarded shave ice containers. The gold mud day gecko is brilliant inexperienced in coloration and has pink markings on its head and three pink crayon scrawls and smaller pink spots simply above the rear legs. Smatterings of “gold mud” happen round and beneath the neck space to mid again. Energetic through the day, this species makes an ideal show animal in a bioactive or naturalistic terrarium.
Gold mud day gecko. Photograph by John Virata
Enclosure
The gold mud day gecko is semi-arboreal. And adaptable. I’ve noticed them on the ground of the lanai in my yard in addition to within the lychee tree within the entrance. For a small lizard, they’re at house on the bottom and within the bushes. You possibly can home a younger male or feminine in a 12” x 12” x 18 vertical enclosure and transfer as much as an 18” x 18” x 36” when it reaches grownup dimension. Furnish the enclosure with climbing branches like bamboo and cork flats arrange vertically and dwell snake vegetation if attainable for them to perch on and transfer about.
Substrate
The gold mud day gecko’s enclosure requires reasonable humidity, so select a substrate that may assist promote a humidity vary between 60 and 70 p.c. The substrate and dwell vegetation must be used to assist with humidity. This species is semi-arboreal so use some good sturdy vegetation with broad climbable leaves for them to climb up. A pleasant bioactive substrate will present vitamins for the dwell vegetation and your clear up crew will eat the lifeless plant matter and gecko droppings. Create a mixture of substrate that features Orchid bark with sphagnum moss, tree fern fiber, peat moss and charcoal. Conversely you possibly can mix parts of the basic ABG combine with herp particular choices equivalent to Zoo Med’s Reptisoil and EcoEarth. Layer this on prime of some BioBalls and a substrate display for drainage. If you’re constructing out a bioactive enclosure to your gecko, a minimal of 4 to six inches of substrate ought to suffice for many vegetation. If you’re going the naturalistic route with the enclosure, 2 to 4 inches of the identical mixture substrate works effectively. You may also use a mister to assist with humidity, simply don’t let the enclosure get soaking moist. You’ll have to alter the mister to coincide with the humidity necessities.
Day Gecko Temperature/Lighting and UVB
Your gold mud day gecko is diurnal and spends a lot of its time within the solar. They’re a Zone 3 reptile on the Ferguson Zone scale, that means the gecko is a partial/open solar basker. Select a UVB gentle with a Zone vary UVI 1.0 to 2.6 with a most UVI 2.9 to 7.4. The UVB output depends on the space of the UVB lamp to the space of the reptile within the enclosure. This is the reason climbing branches are crucial contained in the enclosure so the gecko can transfer to the optimum location for UVB absorption. A T5 HO bulb, equivalent to Zoo Med’s Reptisun 5.0 with 5 p.c UVB will allow your gecko to synthesize Vitamin D3 extra naturally. Put money into a Photo voltaic Meter so you possibly can decide the place within the enclosure the reptile protected basking space is and alter the basking spot accordingly. Preserve a temperature of about 75 to 80 levels Fahrenheit (23.9 to 29.4 levels Celsius) through the day with a basking gentle temperature of about 85 levels. You possibly can obtain this with a basking spot lamp through the day and an infrared warmth lamp at night time. Put money into a digital hygrometer. This offers you correct humidity and temperature readings at a look.
Gold mud day gecko feasting on some dragonfruit. Photograph by The World Traveller/Shutterstock
Feeding
The gold mud day gecko is an omnivore and feeds on bugs and fruit nectars within the wild. In captivity, feed your hatchling and younger gold mud day geckos pinhead crickets or fruit flies dusted with a reptile vitamin and calcium. Once they develop you possibly can feed them gut-loaded 1/4 inch crickets. You may also feed them small dubia roaches and black soldier fly larva. You should utilize both an elevated platform feeding dish, or a feeding dish on the ground of the enclosure. They may eat from each areas. Alternate feeding the geckos dwell bugs and a industrial gecko weight loss plan for fruit loving geckos. It will guarantee a balanced weight loss plan.
Very best Keeper/Handler
The gold mud day gecko is a perfect first gecko from the Phelsuma genus and makes for a wonderful show animal in a bioactive or naturalistic enclosure. Follow minimal dealing with of this species. You possibly can attempt to “practice” them to eat out of your hand whereas your hand is within the enclosure.
