Anyone know what this is?

[Amazing_Reptiles]

Does anyone know what species this is? Its about 4 inches long, and is an arboreal gecko. It came from Madagascar in a shipment. Thanks in advance.

Thanks
-Steve

 

[JBReptiles]

It looks like a paroedura bastardi.

 

[Reptiluvr]

Yea, it definitely looks like Paroedura bastardi. It may be a subspecies.

 

[danscantle]

That is P. bastardi ibityensis. I actually had 2 hatch today.

This has been a problematic species for a few people I know, myself included. They need to be kept dry. Seriously, do not even think about anything other than washed play sand. The only eggs I have ever hatched (I'm up to 4 now) were all incubated on DRY sand. I recommend this setup for all southern Paroedura, excluding androyensis. Babies can be difficult to rear, but I think I'm starting to get the hang of things. They also look quite different from other P. bastardi babies.

They really seem to enjoy coarse branches (with a texture like sand paper) to climb on and rocks with crevices to hide in. I also keep another form of P. bastardi that is totally terrestrial, and can barely climb glass. Like you said, these guys are very arboreal.

 

[the moof]

yaay. one of the only reptiles that has ever bitten me.

Interesting, Dan, I would have kept them in humid conditions, having seen them in the wild in a rainforest... (well, in Madagascar it's considered dry forest, but with humidity of 87%, i call it wet). But, it's you with the experience here I shall remember that.

 

[danscantle]

Mark-

You found P. b. ibityensis, or another large, dark form of P. bastardi? I'm trying to track down as much info as I can about where they occur, what the habitat is, etc. I think there is a big difference between moist and humid conditions with this species. My adults will not produce when there is moisture, and other keepers I've spoken with have reported strange growths and sores under moist conditions. Also, babies perish. However, I give them a very light misting once or twice a month and a water dish is always present.

Dry really seems to be the way to go with the species I keep/kept. My P. picta produced faster (14 days, vs. 20-24 days) when kept dry. The other P. bastardi ssp. I keep produces like cockroaches under dry conditions (10-14 days between clutches).

 

[the moof]

hmm, that i cannot confirm. I know it was P. bastardi, but the subspecies, i have no idea. I'll see what i can do about pictures, i'm not sure i took many of them It is quite possible that these are found in much drier conditions in Madagascar; microclimates change drastically and suddenly. As far as i can recall, we found P. bastardi on both a VERY dry coast down south, and the very wet dry forest a bit further north. I don't know if they were different subspecies (or even different species altogether, unfortunatley they were not my forté at the time).

it sounds to me like your conditions are doing splendidly. I would not change them ,and suddenly I want some. haha.