[Sanskrit]

Hello! I wasn't sure quite where this might fit but I am looking to set up a naturalistic vivarium so I thought I'd inquire about potential inhabitants here. I'm open to any eco-type as long as the inhabitant(s) will thrive on diet consisting entirely of melanogaster and hydei fruit flies, springtails, isopods, bean beetles, and field plankton (when in season). Of course these insects will be dusted with the appropriate supplements. I already keep dart frogs (hence the tiny feeders) and I'm not willing to do crickets or roaches based on past experience with both. I've looked into Sphaerodactylus and one or two species of Gonatodes, which are fascinating, but I just want to explore my options entirely. Just to be clear, suggestions need not be limited to geckos, or even herps! Thanks in advance for any recommendations .

[Airedale]

Lygodactylus williamsi. I love the little buggers!

[Sanskrit]

lol I was just searching these... How often do they need a fruit/nectar mix? What I'm reading from some people is that an MRP should be a staple and someone else suggested no more than once a month... I could handle doing a nectar-like mix every 1-2 weeks but I've done the MRP thing and surprisingly I found it to be more of a pain than culturing small feeders.

[kaikara]

what I can suggest about the MRP and other mixes is that if you only have one gecko or a couple to feed you might want to mix up a large batch once a month and then portion it into single portions in a ice cube tray (rubber flexible ones work best) You can then thaw out the portions as needed and you are not mixing up single batches all the time.

For my day gecko I always have the mix available to them. It usually lasts a couple of days before it dries out. I then just serve up another portion. Everyone has a different way of doing it but this way the gecko can choose what it wants if the mix is always in there. I don't keep williamsi though so their requirements might be different and someone else might be better to comment. You might want to put a thread in the day gecko part of the forum asking.

[Sanskrit]

Thanks so much for the info kaikara .

So far I have the following list of potential inhabitants (for a single species enclosure):
Sphaerodactylus species
Melanophryniscus stelzneri
Mantellas
Dendrobatids
Holaspis guentheri

-with added fruit/nectar to the diet
Phelsuma klemmeri
Phelsuma kely
Lygodactylus williamsi
Lygodactylus klemmeri

I know that there are many inverts and nocturnal reptiles and amphibians as well but I'm not an insect/arachnid fan and only interested in diurnal species.

[zohariels]

Phelsuma kely?
For the williamsii and klemmeri you should feed them the fruit mixture 2-3 times a week. I keep all my day geckos in naturalistic vivariums and they seem to love it. Good luck!