This is a generalised care sheet for Day geckos, a genus titled (Phelsuma). For more in this femily see Category:Chamaeleonidae, or for a more detailed species care sheet see Category:Phelsuma.
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Introduction
All day geckos are in the genus Phelsuma, one of the many genera in the family Gekkonidae. There are over 68 known living species and subspecies of day geckos, most are from Madagascar and the surrounding islands of the Indian Ocean. Phelsuma andamanensis (Andaman Islands day gecko) is native to the Andaman Islands in the Bay of Bengal which is a considerable distance from the Western Indian Ocean habitat of other day geckos. Also one species occurs in South Africa, and another has been introduced to Tanzania.
| Pet Reptile (Phelsuma) Care Information | |
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nb. All of these can be purchased from an online pet store |
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Description
Phelsuma Day geckos have a clear, fixed plate covering their eyes and do not have eyelids. All day geckos have flattened toe pads that are covered on the bottom with dead, keratinized scales called lamellae. The lamellae scale surface is made up of long hair-like structures called setae, and each setae is divided and subdivided along its length making the setal tips very small. Because of the setae, day geckos are capable of climbing up glass walls and, across ceilings, making them great escape artists. Members of the genus Phelsuma are diurnal (active during the day), while most other members of the family Gekkonidae are active only at night (nocturnal).
Contents
Choosing a Day gecko
Preparing a home for a Day gecko
Housing size
This gecko species is an avid climber, so the terrarium should be vertically orientated. A 20 gallon enclosure should be a bare minimum (this is of course depending on what type of day gecko you have). This type of gecko can be anywhere from 3 inches to 1 foot in length, so choose size accordingly.
Substrates
For the substrate, you can use newspaper or paper towel. For a more naturalistic look a lot of people use coconut fiber -as it is much safer than using sand.
Hiding places
Drinking
Decor
Lighting
Day geckos need ultraviolet lighting in order to synthesize vitamin D3. Mesh screen is recommended under the lights because plastic and glass block a large percentage of the UV lighting from reaching the gecko.
Temperature
The majority of day gecko species require daytime temperatures in the range 27-31ºC with a night time drop of around 5ºC degrees. Ambient temperatures can be achieved by securing a heatmat to the rear of the tank, controlled by a suitable thermostat. This should be adequate for maintaining minimum night time temperatures. Daytime temperatures can best be achieved with monitored use of incandescent, or better still, halogen basking bulbs controlled by a dimming thermostat.
Humidity
The day gecko requires a relative humidity of between 50 – 80%. To successfully maintain the desired humidity conditions for your gecko you should use a hygrometer. A hygrometer is a device used to measure relative humidity within the enclosure.
Feeding
In the wild, day geckos feed on insects, other invertebrates, nectar and pollen. In captivity the most common foods are crickets, wax moths, houseflies, papaya and baby-food fruits. An important factor in nutrition is calcium and vitamin supplementation. Vitamin D3 is required for the effective absorption of calcium. Calcium and phosphorus, in correct ratio, are required for a number of metabolic functions.
A Day geckos diet consists mainly of insects. Bugs such as crickets feeder roaches and flightless fruit flies should be offered. Some owners provide fruit baby food, or mash up certain soft fruits manually. Their food should be dusted with a calcium supplement, the alternative is to constantly supply a dish with calcium dust in their cage. Some owners provide a very shallow bowl of water for drinking, while others spray mist the cage -and their day gecko- thus providing water.