GOLD DUST DAY GECKO
- A brilliantly colored, small species of day gecko only reaching 4.5 – 6 inches in length.
- Native to the island of Madagascar, but has recently been introduced to the islands of Hawaii.
- Day geckos are a beautiful lizard that should be kept as a visual pet only; they have very sensitive skin which can tear easily and tend to stress quickly during handling.
Diet
A staple diet for day geckos is small-medium sized crickets and small feeder roaches offered at least 3-4 times per week. Waxworms may also be offered once or twice a week as treats.
A calcium/vitamin D3 supplement should be dusted over the crickets at least twice a week to ensure proper vitamin intake for your gecko. Prey should also be gut loaded before feeding to your pet.
Though day geckos prefer to drink water droplets from plants and other decor, a dish of fresh water should still be available at all times.
Housing
A ten gallon tank or 12x12x18 or larger ExoTerra terrarium is sufficient for one adult day gecko, though bigger is always better to provide space to maneuver. These geckos are mostly arboreal and like to spend their time in trees and shrubbery so provide plenty of decorations such as plants, cork bark, drift wood, and rocks to give your house gecko areas to climb and hide. Day geckos can be quite territorial, smaller and weaker individuals may be subject to chasing and nipping, therefore if more than two adults are being housed together they will need a 20 gallon or larger tank to avoid disputes and injuries.
A basking spot of about 90 degrees should be provided on one side of the tank, with the ambient air temperature in the mid to high 70s. Misting will need to be done twice a day to maintain a 60-80% humidity level.
It is recommended to set up as natural a tank as possible for day geckos, they will be much happier and have brighter coloration if kept in a naturally and heavily planted aquarium with plenty of exposure to UVB bulbs. Lots of live plants and plenty of hiding holes will ensure you keep a happy and healthy day gecko!
Handling & Care
Gold dust day geckos have very sensitive skin that may tear easily if handled too roughly or too often, they also may drop their tails if stressed. Though their tails will regenerate, they will never look the same as the original, so extra care should be taken to keep your gecko in one piece! This species of gecko is recommended to be kept strictly for visual enjoyment and should be handled as infrequently as possible.
Spot cleaning by removing feces once a week will ensure a healthy, clean environment but bedding should be thrown away and the entire cage and decorations wiped clean once every month.
Wash your hands with anti-bacterial soap after handling any animal.
