[LLDG]

Keepers get pretty excited about these guys. Thought I would share with everyone just about how much I see these guys.

Below are two lucky pictures I caught.

As for keeping them, they have been a HUGE challenge. Worse than P ornata, P cepediana, and P guimbeaui.

I've gotten more eggs this year than ever before which is good because the original breeders are getting old.

Just like with the P. cepediana co-op, I hope to someday get other people involved. Maybe there needs to be a husbandry skill test. These geckos need to be in the right hands.

[daggekko]

Awesome photos! What challenges have you gone through with these?

[Hannibal]

Nice photos! Really like the first one, awesome shot!

[mkschaefer]

Very nice!

[colinmelsom]

They are truly a lovely gecko,when you see them!!Of all the Phelsumas that I have kept they are the fastest,like lightening.
I havent found them to be any more of a challenge than the other species that you have mentioned,perhaps I have been lucky?Its the usual thing though as they seem to produce way more females than males in captivity.Onn the plus side the neotenates are a nice size when they hatch.

[LLDG]

This last year I produced all males using the same cepediana temps of day high 85, night drop. This year I am incubating day 82 high, night drop and expect mostly females. Try that.

Super, insanely, dangerously fast. yep. You can catch them because they eventually turn black from stress and pass out (they act like it)

Neonates/hatchlings are hardy.

Problem: is getting them on a regular schedule for breeding.
Problem: they like to shred each other up, unpredictably.
Problem: can't see them to monitor health.
Problem: they fear/hate/would rather die than be around humans.

Originally Posted by colinmelsom

I havent found them to be any more of a challenge than the other species that you have mentioned,perhaps I have been lucky?Its the usual thing though as they seem to produce way more females than males in captivity.Onn the plus side the neotenates are a nice size when they hatch.

[colinmelsom]

Problem: is getting them on a regular schedule for breeding.
Problem: they like to shred each other up, unpredictably.
Problem: can't see them to monitor health.
Problem: they fear/hate/would rather die than be around humans.[/quote]
Thanks for the tips regarding incubation,my incubation temperatures do fluctuate due to the eggs being laid and incubated in situ and not in an incubator.

I havent found them a problem to breed.They are in the same room as my other Phelsuma and are subject to the same lighting/heating schedules.Roughly fourteen hours in the summer and eight hours in the winter for apprioximately twelve weeks. Summer temperatures reach the early 30s during the day and low twenties at night.In the winter it reaches the mid twenties during the day and high teens at night.

I have not had any problems with incompatability,well not any more or less than most other Phelsuma,you get the odd aggressive individual.Many of the Europeans keep theirs in 1.2 trios so the male does not always pick on one female.I have found that this sometimes works but at other times the females pick on each other.Otherwise in means moving your stud males between vivaria in order to get more eggs from all females and all the stress that that involves( both for you and the male)

I agree with you on the monitoring side as they always disappear with the slightest movement and its not best to keep disturbing them.I usually find them in a piece of bamboo .

[LLDG]

The original breeders, 4.5, were all adult when I got them. I had no idea how old they were but they were a bit ragged from several shipping (one to US, one to original Keepers, then to me). Right off they had difficulty breeding. I put them into a good solid winter (reduce photo period, reduce temperature, separate from mates) and I still had little results.

This is the first year I've had good numbered results.

I have 3 groups of 1.1 on a moveable rack. When I really need to see what it going on, find eggs, monitor health, I move the rack out, plant myself on a chair with a computer on lap and wait. Eventually they come out. That is how I got those remarkable pictures. The males like to "chit chat" and show off to each other.

They can't resist peach baby food. Add supplements and it waits until I leave the room.

I am hoping that the offspring I produce will breed more readily than the original group.

[jadrig]

I dont have this species, but I like to use mirrors to look for eggs.

[Wanderer]

truly stunning ... makes me consider using my american citizenship and living down south for awhile. the drought of challenging species is unbearable here in Canada.