Origin
The Madagascar day Gecko belongs to the class Reptilia and the family Gekkonidae. It is one of the largest lizards of the species.
It can be found in the northern part of Madagascar and in Hawaii or Florida, where there are a small number of specimens that probably escaped from captivity adapted to the climate there and multiplied.
In the wild it lives in areas with high humidity all year round and high temperatures of Madagascar. It is an arboreal species that likes to climb on almost everything it can.
They can often be seen basking in the sun on the taller leaves of trees or on the walls of any house. Although not considered a sociable species, it ventures into areas with people and vegetation in search of insects.
Common name: it can also be found under one of the names: Madagascar day gecko, giant Madagascar day gecko.
Madagascar day Gecko food
If in the wild it feeds on insects and other miracles, in captivity things are quite different.
The day Gecko looks similar to the rest of the gecko lizards. Some small differences are that it needs a bigger cage because it is the largest lizard of its kind and the food must also contain a mixture of honey and fruit.
The fruit mix can contain soft and sweet fruits such as apples, pears, bananas, etc.to which nectar and honey are added.
In addition to fruits, insects and invertebrates are part of his diet. Before being given to the animal periodically must be powdered in calcium and vitamins (depending on the amount of food that is offered to him powder can be done once or twice a week).
Lately there are more and more on the Romanian market so you have a choice (Reptolife, Reptocal, JBL Terravit, etc).
Features Madagascar day Gecko
As we have already said madagascar's day gecko is the largest species of the genus Phelsuma. It can reach a length of over 30cm if properly cared for.
It is green in color, and on the back it shows red or brick spots. A characteristic feature of this species is the red line that connects the eye with the nostril. This feature is the shape of a strip of different shapes.
It may be thicker, thinner, or there are a few cases where it may be missing. The tines have more vivid colors, and with the passage of time they become more erased.
The handling of these animals must be done with great care because their skin is very fragile and can easily break. Once broken it heals hard and leaves visible scars.
Specimens in the wild show mostly scars due to fighting between members of the species. Those captured also injure themselves in attempts to escape.
If you want to buy a Madagascar day gecko it is best to buy one because the captive-bred specimens have adapted to the conditions over time.
You can prevent your pet's lack of calcium by checking this regularly. This is an advantage over other gecko reptiles. Adults have calcium deposits in their mouths in the form of balls. If these balls are small or missing, the animal lacks calcium and other minerals and vitamins.
Before purchasing a gecko, inform yourself about its food and life conditions. Because it is an arboreal animal most of it has to be on height.
Attention, it must also be wide enough for the animal to stand horizontally, at least twice its length. If you make him a" house " smaller than he can have problems. Imagine what it would be like to move into a 1m high house.
A terrarium for this reptile should be at least 1m tall with a base of 50x50cm. For two or more specimens the terrarium is enlarged.
Being a climbing species it will spend a lot of time on glass and on fruits and twigs. It prefers thick and wide leaves on which it can linger and warm like Zamioculcas or Sansevieria.
The temperature in the terrarium should not only vary, but also vary several times. It must grow and decrease both day and night and relative to the position in the terrarium. The animal must be given the opportunity to regulate its body temperature all the time.
Since Madagascar's day gecko is an arboreal species personally I do not recommend heating with electric cushion (heatpad) because many stick it on the bottom of the terrarium. The best heating for this type of terrarium is the bulb that can be moved from time to time simulating the seasons for example.
If the reptile does not" see " directly the sun's rays (I mean to have part of the sun not to be fried like an egg all day in the sun) you can supplement this sun's rays with bulbs that emit UVA and UVB rays.
The quality of light directly affects the reptile's color and reproductive cycle quality.
Pay attention to humidity. In the wild they live in areas with humidity above 70%, so it is important to provide them with water at all times and in monitoring humidity is critical.
It is good to provide him with a vessel with water, a substrate that absorbs and retains moisture. To be sure that the reptile drinks water spray water once or twice a day in the terrarium. It is common in the wild to drink water from leaves and plants.
Madagascar day Gecko breeding
Mating in the Wild takes place between October-November to May. The female will lay two eggs several times.
After laying the female will hold them between the hind legs until they harden. The incubation period lasts from 47 to 82 days. The Young will reach maturity after a year.
In captivity there are many factors that influence reproduction. Terrarium, humidity, light and Heat are just some of them.
If the male is aggressive it is good to stay alone in the terrarium so as not to hurt other specimens or the female during the mating period. Mating takes place with gestures of tenderness, slow movements and shakes of the tail.
After copulation and laying eggs it is good to intervene to put the eggs in the incubator at a constant temperature of 27-29 degrees celsius.
The little ones hatched from the eggs can be left in the incubator until the first Moult, then they can be housed in a separate terrarium from the males. After birth, the Cubs can be kept together for 5 weeks. After this period they must be separated.
Sex can be done after the first months of life. Dimorphism is evident, males show femoral pores.
The Magadavar day Gecko is sexually adult after one year of age.
