[fastfoward5k]

I'm getting a grandis soon, but I have an empty tank, and I want to get one of two Day Geckos: P. laticauda or P. quadricellata. Which do you think is hardier, cheaper, and more active/better to watch?

And please post pics of yours if you have some!

[GeckoMuppet]

my experiance is thata the laticauda is cheaper. however i dont see a big differance in their behavior. i would still go with the quadrocellata, cuz its so f*cking beutiful^^

[Happygecko]

in my opinion Phelsuma lat lat is easier to keep and breed, bc of the needed cooling for the Phelsuma quad quad in the wintertime. They are also easier to get and less expensive, at least here in germany. But both are beautiful creatures, and we keep and breed both. Phelsuma quad quad is always visible and not shy at all, whereas lat lat is way "shyer" (-> more shy)
But if you have some experience with reptiles both species can be kept quite easily.

[Phelsuma04]

I agree that quad is more attractive, lat is cheaper. As far as activity goes, I have seen way more from my lats than my quads. The quads are out a lot but they don't display as much as a pair of lats will (again in my experience). My lats would stick their tongues out, raise their hands at one another and wave their heads back and forth. My quads will display but not as much.

Personally, I think lineata are the most attractive of the Phelsuma which are still imported. And they are just as inexpensive as quads and a little bit hardier.

[Happygecko]

but why would you buy imports? Aren't there enough healthy CBs you could buy for some dollars more but letting those in madagascar that belong there?! Buy some healthy animals, with no mites and other diseases and not beeing dragged hours and hours overseas for some guys who want to save some money by buying wildcaughts ?

Kind regards with lack of understanding why people would buy imports....

[Phelsuma04]

Imports are not preferred of course. They are often cheaper and they will always be imported until they are in trouble. I know lineata is in pretty good shape in wild Madagascar, I read a paper a few months ago that found lineata in a secondary stand of forest in Central Madagascar, an area that was originally thought to be devoid of Phelsuma. I think lineata would be considered an edge species (outcompeting the species that need dense stands of primary forest). Because it does so well in disturbed or secondary forests there may be an overabundance of lineata, putting stress on populations of other species and causing them to decline. It happens in the U.S. with the cowbirds.

In general though, I would suggest CB for all animals which are widely available.

Although there is also the whole idea of what's happening to the San Francisco garter snake. Perhaps if a predetermined amount of those snakes were allowed to be extracted there would be less poaching. There would need to be research done to see if it is better to allow supervised collection or just outright banning is best.