Day Gecko

Phelsuma sp.

Description

Most day geckos are predominantly brightly colored green, but hues of blue, purple and red are also usually present. Some are brown or dark colored, but they are not commonly experienced in the pet trade. As the name implies, they are a diurnal species, feeding during the day and hiding at night. Presently there are about 36 species described. They range in size from 3 to nearly a foot long (8 centimeters to over 30 centimeters). Their lifespan ranges from approximately 6 to more than 15 years.

Natural Habitat

Day geckos are one of the most ubiquitous reptiles of the Malagasy region. They are found on Madagascar and most of the neighboring islands in the Indian Ocean (e.g. Mauritius, the Seychelles, Mascarenes, and Comoros.) Nearly all day geckos are arboreal or semi-arboreal; only one, P. barbouri, seems at ease on the ground. Their preferred habitat seems to be heavy foliated, although within their range they have proven surprisingly adaptable and often follow civilization.

Artificial Habitat

Being a diurnal species, perhaps the most important requirement for day geckos is a source of UV light. An ideal enclosure would incorporate an active UV light which would provide both the necessary ultraviolet lighting as well as a heat source for basking. Ideally temperature should be around 90-95 degrees Fahrenheit, but providing a good basking spot at one end of the enclosure (being sure to allow enough room at the other end to escape its heat) will allow the geckos to do much of their own thermoregulation. Day geckos benefit from a heavily planted terrarium with a substrate of soil, leaf litter or other detritus. They prefer to spend their time on the sides of plants, sticks, grapevine, corkbark or the aquarium glass. They benefit from high levels of humidity (75%+) and should be misted regularly. Day geckos drink from dew or rain drops, so misting should take this fact into account. Bromeliads are an excellent plant choice as they can provide both shelter and shallow pools of water. Other plants with thick vertical leaves, such as Sansevieria or Dracena, are also good terrarium choices. Because day geckos are primarily arboreal, enclosures should be taller than wide. Four to five juvenile day geckos can be housed comfortably in a ten-gallon (38 liter) tall aquarium provided adequate foliage and shelter are provided.

Diet

Day geckos are insectivorous and nectarivorous, eating various insects and nectars. The are particularly fond of eating crickets, flies, termites and any other suitably sized insects. They can also be fed small waxworms, mealworms, roaches and fruit flies. As always, insects should be dusted with an approriate vitamin and mineral supplement. They also relish nectars, pollens, sap, honey and pureed fruit. They have also been known to lick from hummingbird feeders. Their "sweet tooth" is an important part of their diet and should not be overlooked.

Caveats

Adult male day geckos are fiercely territorial and therefore cannot be housed together. Day geckos have extraordinarily beautiful, but delicate skin. They should not be handled as their skin can tear very easily and when stressed they will also readily autotomize their tails. Furthermore, it should be noted that day geckos can be lightening-quick; care should be taken when opening their enclosures for any reason. Attention should be paid to the fact that day geckos do require nectars, fruits and/or pollen to remain healthy.