[Argent]

Hello everyone - I have found myself to be a new gecko wrangler in quite a odd fashion...

I live in Michigan - and last I checked we had no indigenous geckos

Monday, my co-workers claim they spotted a lizard in our server room and it just vanished under a cabinet (we thought they were crazy)

That is until.....yesterday, when I spotted a lizard scamper across the floor of our server room just before I left work. So I armed myself with a flashlight and I followed it.....and I caught the little guy! it's been identified as a Rough-tailed Gecko (Cyrtopodion scabrum)

so without further adieu I will dazzle you with photos.....









Now I just need to figure out what I need to supply him with in regards to food and shelter!

[Elizabeth Freer]

Hi Argent ~

Dazzled by your photos! Have you tried googling Cyrtopodion scabrum? Some hits came up when I just tried.

[Argent]

Thanks Elizabeth - I have tried web searching but haven't found much actual knowledge on the care and keeping of them. Seems like they are still being studied - which really makes me wonder where the heck the little guy came from.

[Argent]

new pic from tonight

[Elizabeth Freer]

Hi Argent ~

Just love your photos . Any computer stuff come from his native lands or any co-workers back from there that could have had luggage in which this guy took a free ride to Michigan?

I am glad that you have caught him and have befriended him.

Once in the mid-'90s a local Seattle florist shop called me with a Hemidactylus garnotti stowaway who arrived with some orchids. Raised him from a youngster.

[Argent]

thanks for the compliment Elizabeth - I'm a nature photographer in my free time

we haven't gotten any new computer stuff that he could have stowed away on - but I work for the local Caterpillar dealership - and it's possible he might have come in on some parts shipment or something - that's the only excuse we could think of - that or someone was keeping him as a pet and escaped (but everyone's heard about the gecko I found and no one's said they are missing one yet)

I've got him set up in a 10G tank with some sort of green lizard mat from the pet store, a small water bowl, a log to hide under, and a rock and a green netting to climb on. He's certainly colored up since I got him home and he's been eating quite well - feeding him crickets and mealworms so far (very entertaining to watch him eat) He's just a tiny guy at 3" nose to tip of his tail.

[Elizabeth Freer]

You are most welcome.

Yes, that's quite the story .

Nice to hear that he's a good eater. Since he is young be sure to dust his crickets several times a week with a phosphorous-free calcium powder with D3. I like the Rep-Cal brand. He needs this in order to develop strong bones. Otherwise, metabolic bone disease could strike.

You might want to get a spray bottle. Sometimes geckos like to lick water droplets on the glass, plants.

[Argent]

Thanks for the info Elizabeth - I'll see if I can find that Rep-Cal stuff and dust his food. I have a spray bottle, so I'll have to give him a lil mist and see if he likes it

[Elizabeth Freer]

Hi Paul ~

I would dust his crickets several times a week throughout his first year, then slow down a bit on the dusting.

Sometimes you might have to get the pink label (ultrafine--sticks better) Rep Cal at a reptile show. I know the Beanfarm in Washington State carries it.

[Argent]

Looks like PetSmart carries the pink stuff

Calcium with Vitamins from Rep Cal - Reptile - PetSmart

I'll have the GF see if they stock it in her store