Day Gecko
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Day Gecko
Phelsuma sp.
Lifespan: Up to 11 years.
Size: Regular species grow 4 to 6 inches; dwarfs grow 2 to 4 inches and giants grow up to 13 inches.
Sexing: Males have fairly visible bulges just below the tail.
Enclosure: Dwarfs can easily be housed in a 10-gallon all glass tank but a 20-gallon tank or larger is required for the larger species. Pisces recommends: Exo-Terra reptile tanks.
Hiding/Climbing Spots: Day Geckos love to climb. Provide a lot of plants and vines for them to climb on and hide in.
Humidity: The enclosure should be well ventilated and misted well to keep the humidity high (60% to 80%) and to aid the process of shedding and prevent health problems. Use a hygrometer to maintain a constant humidity level.
Substrate: Loose, moist forest substrate with Sphagnum Moss in parts to help with humidity. Pisces recommends: Exo-terra Plantation Soil.
Heat: Maintain a temperature as low as 24 °C at night to as high as 29 °C during the day (75 °F to 85 °F). Use a heat bulb on one portion of the tank so the animal can escape the warm area if they need to. Pisces recommends: ExoTerra bulbs and fixtures.
UV Lighting: Use of a full spectrum 5.0 bulb for 12 hours per day is required. Fluorescent bulbs lose effectiveness and need to be replaced every 6-8 months.
Feeding: Offer food everyday, you can skip a day without causing any harm, but do not make a habit of it. Day geckos feed on appropriately sized crickets and worms as well as mashed fruit or fruit baby food. Too much sugar can be harmful and fruit should not be their entire diet.
Vitamins & Supplements: Dust crickets with calcium supplement every third feeding. Be sure to use a calcium supplement with Vitamin D3. Pisces recommends: Rep-Cal Herptivite Multi-Vitamin.
Handling: Day Geckos should be held in a loose fist when they must be handled. Day Geckos are better left alone because they are very fast and can loose their tails when put under stress.
Other: Geckos turn dark colors when they are cold or stressed.
Salmonella: Day Geckos are low-risk carriers but precautions should still be taken.
Always:
Infants, children under 5 years of age, pregnant women, the elderly and those with a compromised immune system have a greater risk of infection. Extra caution should be taken when they are in contact with any animal.
Recommended Books: Pisces recommends Day Gecko - A Reptile Keepers Guide (Barron's Books).
Recommended Supplies:
Your New Pet: It is the responsibility of any pet owner to provide their pet with regular veterinary care to maintain their pet's health and to prevent illness.
Should you experience any problems with your new pet, contact Pisces Pet Emporium. we will make every effort to assist you but we may refer you to a qualified veterinarian if the problem is beyond out ability to treat.
A pet is a large responsibility and should not be purchased without due consideration. Pets should never be released into the wild.
Reprint of this handout only with permission of and full credit to Pisces Pet Emporium
Day Gecko
Phelsuma sp.
Lifespan: Up to 11 years.
Size: Regular species grow 4 to 6 inches; dwarfs grow 2 to 4 inches and giants grow up to 13 inches.
Sexing: Males have fairly visible bulges just below the tail.
Enclosure: Dwarfs can easily be housed in a 10-gallon all glass tank but a 20-gallon tank or larger is required for the larger species. Pisces recommends: Exo-Terra reptile tanks.
Hiding/Climbing Spots: Day Geckos love to climb. Provide a lot of plants and vines for them to climb on and hide in.
Humidity: The enclosure should be well ventilated and misted well to keep the humidity high (60% to 80%) and to aid the process of shedding and prevent health problems. Use a hygrometer to maintain a constant humidity level.
Substrate: Loose, moist forest substrate with Sphagnum Moss in parts to help with humidity. Pisces recommends: Exo-terra Plantation Soil.
Heat: Maintain a temperature as low as 24 °C at night to as high as 29 °C during the day (75 °F to 85 °F). Use a heat bulb on one portion of the tank so the animal can escape the warm area if they need to. Pisces recommends: ExoTerra bulbs and fixtures.
UV Lighting: Use of a full spectrum 5.0 bulb for 12 hours per day is required. Fluorescent bulbs lose effectiveness and need to be replaced every 6-8 months.
Feeding: Offer food everyday, you can skip a day without causing any harm, but do not make a habit of it. Day geckos feed on appropriately sized crickets and worms as well as mashed fruit or fruit baby food. Too much sugar can be harmful and fruit should not be their entire diet.
Vitamins & Supplements: Dust crickets with calcium supplement every third feeding. Be sure to use a calcium supplement with Vitamin D3. Pisces recommends: Rep-Cal Herptivite Multi-Vitamin.
Handling: Day Geckos should be held in a loose fist when they must be handled. Day Geckos are better left alone because they are very fast and can loose their tails when put under stress.
Other: Geckos turn dark colors when they are cold or stressed.
Salmonella: Day Geckos are low-risk carriers but precautions should still be taken.
Always:
- Wash your hands after handling your Gecko or any item in its enclosure.
- Keep your Gecko off any surface on which you would prepare or serve your own food (i.e. kitchen counters, tables etc.).
- Wash their dishes separate from your own.
Infants, children under 5 years of age, pregnant women, the elderly and those with a compromised immune system have a greater risk of infection. Extra caution should be taken when they are in contact with any animal.
Recommended Books: Pisces recommends Day Gecko - A Reptile Keepers Guide (Barron's Books).
Recommended Supplies:
- Screen Terrarium
- Branches for climbing
- Plants
- Misting bottle
- Water dish
- Pet Moss/Sphagnum Moss
- Heat Bulb & Fixture
- Fluorescent Light & Fixture
- Infrared Heat Bulb
- Rep-Cal Herptivite Multi-Vitamin
- Rep-Cal Calcium Supplement
- Crickets
- Thermometer
- Hygrometer
Your New Pet: It is the responsibility of any pet owner to provide their pet with regular veterinary care to maintain their pet's health and to prevent illness.
Should you experience any problems with your new pet, contact Pisces Pet Emporium. we will make every effort to assist you but we may refer you to a qualified veterinarian if the problem is beyond out ability to treat.
A pet is a large responsibility and should not be purchased without due consideration. Pets should never be released into the wild.
Reprint of this handout only with permission of and full credit to Pisces Pet Emporium
