Data sheet gold dust day gecko
Trade name:
Gold Dust Day Gecko, Gold Dust Day Gecko
Latin name:
Phelsuma laticauda, Pachydactylus laticauda
Order:
Scaled reptiles (Squamata)
Family:
Geckos (Gekkonidae)
Genus:
Day Geckos (Phelsuma)
Origin:
Comoros, northern Madagascar
Size (in cm:
12
Terrarium size length and width:
from 50 x 50 cm
Temperature:
25 to 30 °C during the day, 18 to 23 °C at night
Behave
Lining:
Omnivore, live food (insects), fruit, nectar, pollen
Behave:
Loner, aggressive, territorial
Number:
in pairs
Life expectancy:
8 to 10 years
Difficulty level:
Novice Thomas Shahan, Phelsuma laticauda, Oahu, CC BY 2.0
General introduction
The tree dwellers can be found on larger plants, deciduous trees, coconut palms, banana trees, sisal agaves and other types of palm trees. As culture follower the animals are often found in houses and near settlements.
The colorful geckos are popular in terrarium residents. Attractive and yet easy to care for they are often held by beginners.
Look
The geckos got their name from the golden yellow scales on the nape and on the front back. It looks like someone spilled gold dust on them.
are your base color different shades of green, from light green to yellow-green to blue-green, anything is possible. The belly is creamy white. Glow on the back back three red vertical stripes. They get narrower towards the base of the tail.
The Tail is about as long as body. It is slightly flattened and wide. On the upper side, the animals are covered with granular scales.
The body is supported by strong legs with toes and fingers that are not too wide. At the top of the eyes one falls turquoise blue stripe on. The pupils are round.
Behave
The diurnal geckos are constantly on the move. Her communication among themselves is interesting and exciting to watch. They use a to communicate wide range of gestures.
Your eyesight is excellent. As soon as something moves, they are immediately on alert. There could be food approaching, or danger approaching.
They start the day with extensive sunbathing. Once they have reached their comfortable temperature, they go in search of food. The climbing artist move skilfully through their habitat on branches, tendrils and tree trunks.
The Males vigorously defend their territory. Mainly other males are expelled. If there is a fight, the loser gives up and flees. Sometimes several females live together in one area. Then a hierarchy regulates living together.
In terrariums that are too small, it can happen that the female is constantly attacked by the male and possibly injured. There must be enough space for her to withdraw.
The pair should be purchased together and placed in their new home together. If the second animal arrives later, it is treated as an intruder.
They are fed two to three times a week. Two of these were insect food and one was mashed bananas or other fruit puree. The insects should be dusted with vitamin and mineral supplements. The animals feel more comfortable when their habitat is sprayed with water daily.
terrarium
The floor should Coconut soil or unfertilized potting soil be covered. The geckos need many climbing opportunities such as branches (bamboo), large-leaved plants (Sanseveria), a cork backing, etc.
One is absolutely necessary Wire gauze cover, otherwise the nimble climbers will quickly escape. so that they enough fresh air get, one or more side walls can also be made of gauze.
The geckos need enough UV light. Either by appropriate lamps or, if possible, by keeping them outdoors in summer. Are shady places under leaves or similar. available, the terrarium can stand in the sun. However, the temperature should not exceed 38 °C in the sunny areas.
Alternative to the sun selected places can be heated with spotlights. The Lighting should be 14 hours a day in summer and 12 hours in winter be on. The strength of the lamps (wattage) depends on the size of the terrarium. It must not get too warm.
At night the temperature can drop to 20 °C. Additional heaters are not required.
gender differences
Both Males have enlarged preanofemoral scales and more pronounced. Furthermore, their hemipenis pockets clearly visible.
breed
The Females need to get adequate calcium during the mating season. She needs it to form stable eggshells. If there is a lack of it in the food, it attacks the body’s own substances. This weakens the animal, in the worst case it can die.
Calcium storage organs are located on the right and left of the female’s head. If there is enough calcium, it is thick and round. 35 to 40 days after mating, the female lays 2 round eggs. You must in one incubator be hatched. The parents would eat the newly hatched hatchlings.
Temperatures in the incubator should be between 25 and 28 °C and humidity should be between 60 and 80%.
The young hatch after 40 to 45 days. They are then 4 to 5 cm long. The sex of the young geckos depends on the temperature in the incubator. At 25 to 26 °C mainly females hatch, at higher temperatures males. The animals mate up to five times a year. The female lays a total of 10 eggs each year.
rearing
Because the juveniles are already aggressive to conspecifics, they must be reared separately. Appropriate feed are fruit flies and crickets.
The young geckos become sexually mature at the age of 12 months, although they are not fully grown at this point.
socialization
In nature, gold dust day geckos live in the same habitat as Palm Day Geckos. In a correspondingly large terrarium with many hiding places, socialization should be possible.
You should pay attention to this when buying:
The animals should healthy act and from one species-appropriate attitude come. Make sure they lively and behave normally (rather shy towards strangers).
Let the proof of origin of the animals show. Dubious traders may bring illegally imported animals into circulation. When buying the geckos get the proof of origin. You should definitely not forget that.
Phelsuma laticauda does not need to be reported to the species protection authoritybut there is one obligation to provide evidence about the origin of the animals.
Gold dust day geckos are bred in large numbers. The animals that are in the trade are almost all German offspring.