Day Gecko
Difficulty
Beginner
Size
2 to 12 inches (dependant on species)
Life Span
Up to 15 years
Diet
Insects & Specialist Gecko Food
Temperament
Friendly
Temp
22-27C (72-80F)
HOT Spot
28C-30C (82F -86F)
Humidity
60-80%
Introduction
Buying any pet is a big decision but there are several things you may want to consider first to make sure that a Day Gecko (Phelsuma) is the pet for you:
• Are all of the people in your household happy with a gecko coming to live there? • Can you guarantee that you will have a regular supply of live insects to feed to your gecko? • Are you happy to keep live insects in your home? • Are you prepared to look after an animal that can live up to 15 years? • Is there someone that you can ask to look after your gecko if you are away.
Equipment Needed
Housing
Glass Terrarium
Heating
Heat-Bulb
Lighting
UV Tube (12 hours on/off cycle)
Substrate
HabiStat Coir & Moss, HabiStat Jungle Bio
Water
Water via an elevated feeding platform, and Misting
Types
There are many species in the Phelsuma genus: Giant Day Gecko, Lined Day Gecko, Gold Dust Day Gecko to name just a few.
Buying Day Gecko
- Check before buying:
- The Day Gecko is feeding well.
- The Day Gecko is healthy.
- 5 point animal health check:
- Make sure that the animal is alert and responsive.
- The mouth should be clear of any thick mucus and should not smell bad.
- The underside of the Day Gecko should be clean, free from sores or raw skin and have a clean vent.
- The Day Gecko should be able climb the glass and enclosure décor without any problems.
- The Day Gecko should be a keen feeder.
Top tips
Ensure temperatures are not allowed to get too hot as these geckos do not like too much heat.A tall vivarium is the best option for this arboreal gecko.Allow some open spaces in the vivarium so that the gecko can jump from branch to branch. 9 Try using an elevated feeding platform to offer a specialist gecko diet and water.Day Gecko prefer to drink water droplets after the tank has been sprayed.Housing
A relevant sized Terrarium is the perfect housing solution for a Day Gecko throughout its whole life. A Glass Terrarium measuring 45cm x 45cm x 60cm (18x18x24”)
Heating
Day Gecko are diurnal animals and will thrive with a suitable background temperature and a warmer area towards the top of the terrarium, to replicate conditions in the wild. A heat bulb run on a HabiStat Dimming Thermostat is the ideal solution for providing this overhead heat. Dimming thermostats are designed to regulate temperatures using a thermostat probe (also known as a sensor). Correct placement of the probe is critical to avoid overheating and injury to the Day Gecko.
Insert the probe through the lid of the terrarium and attach directly to a branch or similar in the top quarter of the enclosure ensuring this area has a range of 26-290C (78.884.20F)
Temperature and Monitoring
Providing a warmer area towards the top of the enclosure offers a heat gradient for the Day Gecko. This area, supplied by the overhead heat bulb, should not exceed 300C (860F leaving a cooler temperature range throughout the rest of the enclosure of between 22-26.50C (72-800F). Night-time temperatures should be 20-260C (68-78.80F) with both overhead heat bulb and UV off. If night-time temperatures are dropping too low, a Heat Mat can be used when run through the HabiStat Mat Stat to provide the stable heat. Make sure temperatures are checked regularly to ensure that there are no extreme fluctuations.
Lighting
In captivity, a UV light should be used to provide health and wellbeing. We recommend using a UV tube which has been specifically designed for forest/tree dwelling reptiles such as the Arcadia ShadeDweller. Make sure the UV light is fitted correctly and the Day Gecko is not able to get too close.
Substrates and Decoration
Personal choice will dictate how you decorate your enclosure, but we recommend the following as a guide:
Day Geckos can be housed on Coir with Moss added to the mix or HabiStat Jungle Bio. This will retain moisture and help maintain humidity.
Wood/branches for climbing, hiding and sleeping on.
Live or artificial plant decoration will provide darker areas for the Day Gecko to shelter.
Feeding Dish on an elevated feeding platform will be of great benefit to these arboreal geckos.
Diet and Water
Babies through to adults should be offered appropriately sized insects and a specially formulated Gecko food. The Day Gecko will be most active during the day, so it is best to feed during this time period. Day Gecko are keen fruit and nectar drinkers so should be offered specially formulated Gecko Food once a week. Always provide a source of fresh water, ideally in an arboreal feeding platform. Mist the enclosure to allow the Day Gecko to drink droplets which form on the enclosure walls and leaves.
Supplementation
Day Gecko need additional supplementation to help them to flourish and maintain healthy and productive lives. We recommend using a calcium and multi-vitamin powder. Please follow the product instructions.
Health & Hygiene
We recommend the following cleaning routine to keep your Day Gecko healthy and happy:
| Water | Substrate | Enclosure | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily | Change old water for fresh water | Spot clean | Check vents on enclosure are not blocked and allow air to pass through freely |
| Weekly | Disinfect water bowl or dish | Agitate substrate to prevent any bacterial build up and to allow any dirty bedding to be removed | Wipe down glass and walls with a reptile safe disinfectant |
| Monthly | Take out old substrate and replace with new substrate | Wipe down inside the enclosure and disinfect décor with a reptile safe disinfectant |
Always wash your hands, surfaces and equipment with warm water and disinfectant immediately before and after handling your Day Gecko, their food, enclosure, and any other equipment.
Additional Information
A Day Gecko can drop its tail if it feels threatened or under attack. The tail will grow back but it may well not look the same as before in size or colouration. When a Day Gecko sheds it rubs its face against an object to loosen the skin around its face. Then the Day Gecko will take the loose skin in its mouth and eat the skin as it is shed. It will normally shed its skin in one piece and eat it all. Check the Day Gecko’s toes to ensure that all the old skin has been shed as if any is left it will begin to constrict the blood supply to the toes and will eventually cause problems. Day Geckos have a prehensile tail, which allows the tail to be used for gripping on to branches as well as providing stability when moving amongst the tree canopy.
FAQs
Depending on the species 2 to 12 inches.
It is best to feed a varied range of insects and specially formulated gecko diet. Variety not only helps with nutritional diversity, but offers visual, mental, and physical enrichment. It also ensures there is less chance of your Day Gecko refusing certain food types.
As a species, Day Geckos do not like being handled unless it’s absolutely necessary (like a vet visit).
Day Gecko can live up to 15 years in captivity, if cared for correctly.
We recommend watching our demonstration video on how to sex your Day Gecko as well as carry out a general health check. You can find this under the News and Info section on our website.
01353 655 794
info@elyexotics.co.uk