[smitty9257]

Hello everyone!
I'm new to this forum and joined because i noticed this section on banded geckos. Let me tell ya, finding info and knowledgable people on these geckos is kinda tough.. so anyways, i work at a small but wonderful shop filled with exotic fish, reptiles, amphibians, and we also currently have a couple tarantulas. All of our people have kept the animals we specialize in for like 10+ years and are very knowledgable in them. Our customers are extremely pleased with the care we give our animals and the health they are in. I take my job very personally because i absolutely love herps. So at the shop we received a pair of banded geckos but the male unexpectedly passed away during quarantine by then, i had fallen in love with the little girl and couldn't resist her adorable little face and personality. so when my boss decided to sell her, i bought her the shop received them as central american banded geckos.. is this the same as C. mitratus? or can anyone confirm what species she is? my boss has kept them in the past and is offering me help with info but i like getting a variety of opinions.. I want to breed her when i can get a male and hopefully a couple more females. She is currently in a temporary tank until i get her viv set up. Any information is much appreciated!
Thanks!

[smitty9257]

Ok, I've actually answered some of my own questions
1. Yes, Coleonyx mitratus is the scientific name for the Central American Banded Gecko.
2. Yes, the little girl i have is a C. mitratus.. unless, for any reason, anyone else thinks otherwise..?

If anyone has any breeding tips, care tips, or random info about things that they've found to work best or that have been helpful to them, please don't hesitate to comment! I know basic care and breeding info for these geckos but would very much appreciate any additional input from people who also care for them. Thanks!

[gekkoterra]

Yep, you're right, you have a female C. mitratus. They took a couple seasons before breeding in my experience, but you may be lucky. In the second to last pic here, she seems to be carrying an egg or two. If she's not laid yet, good luck. Great geckos with a ton of personality and the attitude of an alligator.
Ashton
Vivarium Essentials

[smitty9257]

Thanks Ashton, for your reply and input! I agree that it appears she is carrying an egg or two but she has not yet laid. Does this mean problems? Or just that the eggs may be fertile? And I agree, she is great and has a ton of personality! These geckos are definitely a new favorite of mine
Angie

[Sinosauropteryx]

You might want to make sure she isn't egg-bound. Other than that, she looks fine. Wow these geckos are cute

[gekkoterra]

The eggs take around two weeks before they are laid. They can retain sperm like other geckos, so it is possible these eggs are fertile. it may help to bury a small box containing 3/4" of moistened organic peat moss or coconut peat, or a mixture of both. The state of being egg-bound is due greatly in part to a female lacking a suitable place to deposit her eggs. She will carry them until they become bound in her oviducts. I believe it is pretty unlikely that she is egg-bound. These guys aren't that picky, plus she appears to be full adult size (young females are the other case of being egg-bound). The substrate
she is on in the photos is a perfect egg-laying medium for this species. I see no reason why she would be egg-bound.

Ashton
Vivarium Essentials

[Sinosauropteryx]

She could have already been egg-bound and may now be unable to lay due to the eggs being stuck in the oviduct after being calcified and no longer able to come out. I agree, it is a slim chance and probably an unlikely occurance but it might still happen. Maybe the store smitty typed of did not have anywhere for the gecko to lay her eggs in time? Just a thought.

That is my experience talking, though, (and unfortunately I have none ) so you may be right. In any case, good luck to smitty with his new geckos!