Gekkonoidea - Geckos - sex - Unsex

Arboreal Lizard Keeping: Crested Geckos and Day Geckos as Ideal Tropical Terrarium Inhabitants

• Temperament and Handling: Crested Geckos are renowned for their docile and gentle nature. They are ideal lizards for occasional handling—they walk deliberately across your fingers or make short, controlled hops. They are active during dusk and nighttime, sleeping quietly in their hides throughout the day.
• Caudal Autotomy (Tail Loss): An important fact to note is that under severe stress or mechanical pulling, a Crested Gecko may drop its tail. Unlike many other lizards, their tail will never regenerate. In the wild, most adult specimens are tailless, and it does not affect their quality of life.
• Simple Diet Without Live Insects: A major advantage of Crested Geckos is their dietary regime. In the wild, they feed on overripe fruit and insects. In captivity, specialized powdered meal replacements (such as Repashy or Pangea) mixed with water serve as their staple diet, containing all necessary vitamins. Live insects (crickets, roaches) are an excellent growth supplement, but they can be raised entirely on high-quality powdered diets.
• Climate Conditions: Crested Geckos do not require specialized UV lighting or high temperatures. They thrive at standard room temperatures between 22–25 °C. Temperatures exceeding 28 °C are dangerous for them, as they overheat easily. Misting the enclosure in the evening is sufficient to boost humidity and allow the gecko to drink water droplets from leaves.

• Diurnal Activity and Observation: Unlike the Crested Gecko, the Day Gecko is exclusively active during the day. It constantly climbs the enclosure, basks under heat lamps, and hunts insects. It is a perfect display animal that you cannot miss due to its brilliant coloration.
• Strictly a Display Pet: Day Geckos have extremely fragile skin. When threatened, they can slough off patches of skin in sheets to escape predators. While the skin heals over time, it is painful and highly stressful for the animal. Therefore, Day Geckos are strictly display pets, not meant for handling.
• Lighting and Heating Requirements: As diurnal lizards, Day Geckos require a substantial amount of heat and light. A high-quality basking bulb providing a localized hotspot of up to 35 °C is mandatory, along with dedicated UVB lighting. UVB radiation is vital for Day Geckos—without it, they cannot synthesize calcium, leading to metabolic bone disease (MBD).
• Feeding: Day Geckos love motion. Their primary diet consists of live insects dusted with calcium and vitamins. As a treat and source of energy, they love fruit pastes or mashed sweet fruits.

• Interior Configuration: These lizards need to utilize the full height of the enclosure. Sturdy branches, bamboo poles (which Day Geckos especially love for their smooth surface), and ample live or artificial broad-leafed plants (such as Sansevieria or Scindapsus) are required. Plants provide security and act as a water reservoir after misting.
• Substrate: An absorbent base that retains moisture well without molding is ideal for the floor—such as a blend of peat, coconut fiber, and fir bark.