Starter Phelsuma?

[boybronco]

Hello,

First post on this website. I've become interested in Phelsuma and would like to start out with one. Preferably I'd like it to be one of the larger species, at least 6 inches but the larger the better. Nothing under six inches as an adult. I'd also like one that is personable ie: not REALLY flighty. I'm not really worried about the patterns/colorations.

I'm thinking about the Standings, does this sound like what I described? I also am thinking about the grandis but I hear they are very flighty. Is there a better species out there or does the standings sound like what I'm lookiing for?

 

[wax]

Standingi is a good choise to start with. They don't require high rv, are not shy and don't require strict housing.
Grandis are harder to start with.

 

[boybronco]

What's "RV"?

I've got experiance with herps just not Phelsuma.

Are there any other species that are worth looking into that are near my description?

 

[Palex134]

Id go with Grandis or Standings. I only have experience with grandis for larger Phelsuma, I prefer the smaller sp., but I would go with those 2 species if you want a larger Phelsuma.
The other species are not as common, and it will take a while to track down, and they will set you back a bit more, if you can even locate some. Plus, they are harder to care for then grandis and standingi. They are less forgiving of mistakes, unlike grandis and standingi.
Keeping Phelsuma is different from keeping most other herps. You could have bred leos or cresteds for 10 years, but you would most likely still not be ready to care for any of the harder species. Go with an easier species, and expand into more harder species.

 

[Joe Farah]

Either grandis or standings days would be a good first choice. If you get a grandis try to get a captive bred animal.

It's pretty much accepted that standings are the easiest to care for, but a person who is even a little intelligent and determined can care for grandis with no prior reptile experience. You just need to do your research, find the right animal, then tinker with the setup and diet until you have it just right.

Let us know what you decide to go with and we can probably help you find a good gecko...

For example, some friends of mine have some awesome sub-adult grandis that are about to go up for sale, but haven't been posted yet

 

[boybronco]

Between the two which is less flighty and shy? Is the disparity in this department large enough to warrant picking one over the other?

 

[Joe Farah]

I would say that standings are probably generally calmer as adults, thats kinda the consensus, but...

There is likely more personality variation between members of the same species than there is between the 2 species as a whole.

Some grandis I have are tame and will tolerate being held. Others are a bit more shy. I don't keep standings, but my friends do and they say that the adults are generally pretty calm.

Go with a grandis If you work with it you shouldnt have trouble calming it down. All of mine will eat from my hands and they never run and hide when I open the enclosure to feed them or clean up. They were born in captivity (here at my place) and they are all very accustomed to people. Its very fun to interact with them. But, if you get a wild-caught grandis it may be pretty nuts and nervous.

Its gonna be a crap shoot on the nervousness thing. It just depends on the individual personality of the gecko.