Madagascan Giant Day Gecko Care Sheet

Scientific Name

Phelsuma Madagascariensis

Size

9 - 11 inches

Lifespan

8 - 15years

Natural Distribution

Madagascar

Day Geckos like to eat adult brown crickets. In the wild they regularly feed on these insects.

From £Loading price

Ensure your gecko home reaches the right temperatures with a Wooden Vivarium.

From £Loading Price

Your Gecko needs UVB lighting as it is essential for them to grow with stong bones.

From £Loading price

Give your geckos some natural wood and branches to climb around on.
They will love it!

From £Loading price

Day geckos are arboreal so a tall wooden vivariums vivarium is required; the smallest size suitable is 60x60x90cm (24" x 24" x 36"). It is important that the vivarium has suitable ventilation as the air can become stagnant when the vivarium is being sprayed daily.

Beech woodchip is a good substrate as the Day geckos generally do not swallow it whilst feeding on live insects. Day geckos are not shy and will be out basking during the day. Wooden Branches and artificial plantsshould be used to create a forest habitat with foliage to hide in. Artificial backgrounds can be used to create a more natural effect.

Day Geckos require a daytime of 26 - 29 C (80 - 85 ºF) with a basking area of 32 C (90 ºF). This is best achieved with the use of a spot bulb. Remember all spot bulbs must be securely guarded. We also use a small heat mat on the back or side of the terrarium to keep your pet warm At night. The temperature can be allowed to drop to 26C (80oF). Temperatures should always be checked by a reliable thermometer.

Uromastyx require U.V.B lighting weather it be a U.V.B. tube, compact U.V.B lamp or a mercury vapour lamp. U.V.B is essential for your Day geckos bone growth and general health. If this lighting is not available it could be extremely detrimental to the animals health, resulting in weak or deformed bones and ultimately death. These lights need to be on for between 10 and 12 hours a day. It is essential lights are turned off at night so the animal gets a day/night photo period.

Day geckos are omnivorous meaning they eat live food and vegetation their diet is high in small soft fruit (non citrus), along with whatever invertebrates that happen within striking distance. In captivity, fresh soft fruits (and baby food) like Banana, Peach, and Apricot, are relished by Day Geckos, as well as Crickets and as a treat small locusts, mealworms and wax worms. Your pet deserves the best foods possible so look after your live foods. Keep your crickets and locusts fresh, plump and full of vitamins by feeding them with Bug Grub and fresh vegetation. Remember, your Day Gecko also eats whatever is in your live food's stomach. Also, don't allow your live food to dehydrate, you don't want to give your animals dried up half dead insects for dinner! Hydrate them with Bug Gel to keep them alive longer and mouth wateringly juicy. Care for your live food in their own enclosure, such as a Cricket Keeper. Live foods should be coated in a vitamin and mineral supplement such as Nutrobal to ensure the Day Gecko is getting the best nutrition possible. A special Day Gecko diet food is now also available, mix this with water and pour into their food dish. Drinking water should always be made available to the Day Gecko from a water bowl. Although they will drink from standing water Day geckos also lick the morning dew from rocks and plants for hydration, it is therefore important to mist the vivarium once daily using a water sprayer .

Day geckos are NOT Handle able. They natural get around by jumping from branch to branch and they move very quick .Never grab or pick up a Day gecko as their skin is very delicate and they will shed the tail. If the Day gecko needs to be moved, try and use a box and shepherd the Gecko into it.

Males do not get on with each other as adults and will fight so only keep one per enclosure. Males can be kept with a harem of females providing the terrarium is large enough to accommodate them. Females are ok to be kept as a colony.

Regular spot cleaning of the terrarium should be performed to keep it hygienic for both the animal and the keeper. Dead live foods and the Day Gecko's faeces should be removed when noticed. Change the substrate once a month or as required and clean the terrarium with a reptile disinfectant.

Want to know if we have any Madagascar giant day geckos currently in store?

Click here to see our stock list