Slow Phelsuma growth

Jmeyer

Jmeyer

Member
I have a juvenile Phelsuma gecko that is growing very very slow. It is strange because the thing eats like a pig. I feed him, dusted small crickets, fruit flies and clarks diet. But in the last month has grown very little. And according to the person i received the gecko from the clutch mate is several times larger. So what can cause slow growth?
 
Jmeyer

Jmeyer

Member
Phelsuma Guimbeaui. i have a normal incandescent light bulb over it with a 38 watt bulb, its in a 5 gallon tank all alone. Also a T8 fluorescent sunlight bulb.
 
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adamkwas

New member
How old is your animal? When I eventually got a clutch of guimbeaui to hatch and I noticed substantial growth of the hatchlings until about two months of age; the next month (month three) was rather slow. At four months the growth picked up again, though soon after this I sold them. Are you supplementing with +D3 and regular calcium regularly? I would also suggest you dust with herpative two or three times a month. This regimen worked for me.

Remember, guimb's like it hot and humid :lol:. The only other thing I can think of is ambient temperature.

However, as long as he is eating, I would not be too concerned unless he is showing signs of calcium deficiency, ect.
 
Jmeyer

Jmeyer

Member
yeah i am dusting his food with reptivite. I may need to try some new supplements. Yeah i did notice a tiny bit of green on thetip of his snout so maybe it will start coloring up soon. Yeah he is alittle over 4 months of age. He is eating regularly as well. So we will see what happens
 
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colinmelsom

New member
In my experience guimbeaui is a slow growing species,the ones that I have raised have taken about eighteen months to become sexually mature.You may get dud eggs from females long before this but the females will not be fully grown.I have spoken to other keepers and it just seems the way with gumbeaui.
Having said that growth rates are also dependant on the amount of food consumed and the size of the enclosure.I dont know what 5 gallons equates to in feet and inches but it may be worth putting it in a larger vivarium.I have some six month old young individually in 8"x12"x15"[high] vivariums and I will be moving them into bigger quarters soon.
 
Jmeyer

Jmeyer

Member
Well the tank is about 6 inches tall 18 long and 5 deep. I do have an adult enclosure set up but i feel like it would be difficult for the gecko to find food if it was in there
 
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