Smallest Madagascar day gecko
- Thread starter sschind
- Start date
JBReptiles
New member
Well to my knowledge the smallest species is P.kely.But its extreamly EXTREAMY rare in both captivity and the wild to my knowledge.Most species dont get very big.The lineata complex are fairly common and are relitivly small mazing out at about 3-4 inches.
Haroldo
New member
I keep one of the smallest phelsuma species--lineata bombetokensis, which also happens to be the smallest species in the lineata group. I'd say something the size of a 20g high would be perfect for a small group of these guys but you do have to watch out for aggression between females. If you want a day gecko that small, try looking at the lygodactylus genus.
Thanks for the tips guys. I guess I should have clarified it a bit. As JB pointed out, the smallest may not be readily available, and as Haraldo pointed out, the smallest day geckos might not be Phelsuma. I am looking for a small species of day gecko that typically stays under 4 inches ( I know I said 3 originally but in doing some research I have found that 4 might be more realistic) that I can keep a pair of in a 30X high. A few that I have found online are:
Phelsuma v-nigra v-nigra
Phelsuma pronki
Phelsuma pusilla pusilla
Phelsuma klemmeri
I think the Klemmeri are available, and I think the pusilla is part of the lineata complex you both mentioned. I'm not sure about the others.
The reason I am looking for small is becasue I also have dart frogs and I raise fruit flies for them. I don't want something so big that I can't use Fruit flies as the major part of the diet. I am not opposed to crickets occasionally but I don't want to be dependent on them.
Phelsuma v-nigra v-nigra
Phelsuma pronki
Phelsuma pusilla pusilla
Phelsuma klemmeri
I think the Klemmeri are available, and I think the pusilla is part of the lineata complex you both mentioned. I'm not sure about the others.
The reason I am looking for small is becasue I also have dart frogs and I raise fruit flies for them. I don't want something so big that I can't use Fruit flies as the major part of the diet. I am not opposed to crickets occasionally but I don't want to be dependent on them.
JBReptiles
New member
Klemmeri are the way to go then.You can stick some klemmeri in with your dart frog tanks.
danscantle
New member
Steve - P. klemmeri are the only species on your list you are likely to see anytime soon. P. v-nigra ssp. still pop up every now and then, but they are no longer imported and very few people took the time to keep breeding colonies going.
Another suggestion is P. quad parva and v-nigra comoraegrandensis or ornata. I have parva and they are small. I disagree with the lineata suggestion though. My P. lineata and lineata elanthana are quite large( lineata 6" elanthana 5.5"). The other subspecies I cannot speak about. P. quadriocellata parva averages about on inch shorter than bombos from what I have read, but like I said I have never kept bombos. Of coarse klemmeri are a great suggestion. They are small, beautiful and even more importantly curious. You get to see them all the time unlike the skittish species. No matter what species you decide to get as long as you put the effort into them you will get a reward out of them. Good luck.
Elizabeth Freer
Well-known member
Welcome to Geckos Unlimited, Darkling!
Have you checked out Phelsuma laticauda? They are small too & no doubt available in the USA.
Have you checked out Phelsuma laticauda? They are small too & no doubt available in the USA.