Which to get?

[pono]

Hi guys, I am thinking of getting into phelsuma. I was wondering whether to get a giant day gecko (Ph. madagascariensis) or standings day gecko as my first phelsuma (Ive kept cresties and a panther cham before). How much harder than cresties are phelsuma to keep, and could i keep a pair of standingii togeather all year round in an exo terra 45x45x60? Also could i feed these species only on day gecko diet, with some crickets occaisionaly as treats?

Thanks,

Ed

 

[pono]

Also, are gold dust day geckos just as easy to keep as giants and standings?

thanks,

Ed

 

[acpart]

I don't have extensive experience with phelsum, but have found the tropical, planted tanks, once set up, and once you make the decisions about food and lighting, are very easy to maintain. I have a gold dust and a klemmeri (in a different cage) and am a little frustrated with a gold dust because I just about never see her.

Aliza

 

[pono]

Why do you not see much of the gold dust? I thoght they were quite active. Do you have a pic of you gold dusts set up by any chance so i can get an idea of what to expect? Thanks,

Ed

 

[PassPort]

standingi are my preference out of the 2. they are not quite as pretty, but have tons of character, and are far less shy than grandis, also more tolerant of heat and cold. they like it a bit drier as well.

 

[pono]

Could I keep a pair of standingii togeather all year round as the are sociable?

Ed

 

[PassPort]

yes, if they're compatible you can keep them together year round. in fact, if a pair is compatible there's really no reason to ever separate them.

 

[pono]

so will they naturally stop breeding in the winter? Also, could i let the eggs hatch in situ and would a 45x45x60 exo be big enough for a pair?

Thanks sooooooooooo much, ::biggrin:

Ed

 

[acpart]

Why do you not see much of the gold dust? I thoght they were quite active. Do you have a pic of you gold dusts set up by any chance so i can get an idea of what to expect? Thanks,

Ed

The densest foliage is lower in the tank and she spends most of her time (probably) snugged up under the bromiliad. I'll try to post a picture of her enclosure when I get to my other computer, although it's been hard to get photos small enough, even with photoshop, to look decent here. She has always been pretty shy and reclusive. I have to get into the tank in the next few days and make sure she's OK. I've been feeling she's fine because the nectar is disappearing on schedule. I just got a new plant that will wind up and give higher foliage, though it will take a few weeks.

ALiza

 

[PassPort]

so will they naturally stop breeding in the winter? Also, could i let the eggs hatch in situ and would a 45x45x60 exo be big enough for a pair?

eggs can and will hatch in situ if temps are right. with standingi the parents will even guard the eggs and protect the babies.

 

[pono]

Ok, thanks people

I think I have narrowed it down to gold dust or a standings. Both have there plusses and minuses

Gold dust advantages - small (so less food costs), pretty, active
disadvantages - abit too illusive (possibly), some people say they're less tollerant of temp differences or humidity differerences

standings advantages - big (easy to see), friendly, hardy
diasadvantages - not as visually appealing, bigger food costs, more expensive to buy.

Do you guys think i should get a standings or a gold dust?

Ed

 

[pono]

Ok a few questions. ;-)

Can the standings day geckos breed and live happily on souly day gecko diet and also the occaisional crickets?

Also is a 45x45x60 exo terra viv big enough to breed these geckos in?

How often should i mist standings day geckos, and can i have real plants in the viv (because ive read that the humidity shouldn't be very high for them)?

Thanks, :biggrin:

Ed

 

[PassPort]

gold dust advantages - small (so less food costs)
standingi disadvantages - bigger food costs

the size of the animal doesn't necessarily dictate total food costs, just food size. a large standingi will eat 3-4 large crickets every other day, whereas an adult laticauda (gold dust) will eat 3-4 small crickets every other day. the price difference between the 2 sizes of crickets is negligible if at all.

standingi are rewarding to keep, but so are laticauda. the choice is up to you. in my opinion though, standingi are far easier to keep and the large size of the offspring is a plus, as opposed to the 1" hatchling size of the lads

and yes, the 18x18x24 exo should be fine for a pair of standingi

 

[pono]

Thanks guys.

Its sorted. I am now going to start setting up a tank and reading up on standings day geckos (hopefully ill get 2 ).

Thanks for all your help.

Ed

 

[pono]

Sorry, just one more question :blushing:

Someone near me is selling a 2yr old male standings day gecko. They say he is kept in an exo with clingfilm over some of the top to increase humidity, and he is misted once a day. I thought this sounded a bit too humid with not enough ventillation. I may purchase this gecko, and was wondering if he is likely to be ok as he looks very healthy in the pics?

Thanks,

Ed :biggrin:

 

[PassPort]

they're tolerant of higher humidity, they just prefer it a bit drier. mine get sprayed every other day and sometimes every day, all depends on my mood

during the summer when they're breeding and the temps are high I give them a nice light spraying every day as well as a good "rain" every few days or so.

And just for a tank size reference, I've kept compatible pairs in 10gallon tanks stodd on end with out any issues, but as always, bigger is better.

 

[pono]

He is being kept in a 30x30x45 exo at the mo, but i hope to move him into a 45x45x60 exo, and move my crestie into the 30x30x45 he comes with (only for the time being as the crestie is going in a large aquarium on its side) :biggrin:

Ed

 

[PassPort]

sounds good. I've kept loan cresteds in 30x30x45 zoo meds before without any problems, in fact, I've bred crested in that size tank and everything was fine, I just prefer my herps to have a bit more room for the long term.

 

[Phelsuma04]

Yeah go for standingi. Great geckos. Gold dust are ok but not as interesting in terms of behaviours, etc as standingi. I had several pair of laticauda (gold dust) and mine were quite active but not as interesting as standingi. I have even read that standingi can be vocal (although mine are not).
Good luck,

 

[pono]

the person selling the gecko said that over the winter he has been cooled. He has been kept in the 30x30x45 being heated by a compact uv bulb and a heat mat. If i move him into my 45x45x60 exo, when should i start heating him up, and give him a hot spot?

Thanks,

Ed