My Phelsuma nigristriata.

Phelsuma-Lygodactylus

Phelsuma-Lygodactylus

New member
Yesterday, and up till this afternoon, the Phelsuma nigristriata (female - from what I was told) was very skittish and liked to hide a lot.

The lighting I had was 1 - 26W ReptiGlo 5.0 UVB.

Then I decided that this light sucked for viewing, so I added another light fixture with 1 - 26 W ReptiGlo 2.0 UVB today.

I also added 3 pieces of wood that runs horizontally across the tank and a small division of Peperomia griseoargentea 'Silver Dollar' today.

After I installed the new light, she(?) came out.

I'm thinking the additional ReptiGlo 2.0 UVB light was the reason she(?) decided to come out more.

Could this be the case?

Are Phelsuma sensitive to dim lighting and have a tendency to remain shy in such a lighting regimen?

Btw, if it's really a female, I'm looking for a male for her.
 
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PassPort

PassPort

New member
If you got her yesterday from Julie @ the Gecko Ranch, then yes, she's a female. I was eyeballing her myself, but Julie only brought the lone female and I was in the market for a pair..... ended up with some trick newts instead.

Post up them pics already!!!!!!! :king:
 
Phelsuma-Lygodactylus

Phelsuma-Lygodactylus

New member
Yup, she's the one!

The lights just went out not too long ago, I'll do it sometime around Tuesday (Monday's a busy day for me, unless I get home in time to catch the lights on).

I got it 'cause the show was kind of far for me, and I didn't feel like just getting a 20 gal tank for the Dart Frogs I got coming.

I asked Julie if she had a male from a different line, but I think at first she said yes, then she said no a second time I asked her.

I know nothing about this species. I've never even heard of it until the show.

I know Phelsuma laticauda laticauda better. The Gold Dusts are much more easy-going and outgoing and behave like the reptilian version of dogs.
 
PassPort

PassPort

New member
nigristriata are cool little geckos, never kept them personally, but I've wanted to for a while now. Good luck with the little critter.
 
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hexentanz

New member
In my experience P. nigristriata like very brightly lit enclosures. Every time one of my bulbs die, they go right in to hiding.
 
Phelsuma-Lygodactylus

Phelsuma-Lygodactylus

New member
My little girl is still hiding a lot. She's still very skittish. Every time she sees me make too quick a move, she goes right into hiding. I've seen her come out every-now-and-then, but she hasn't been able to come out and stay out.

I put a couple of bottle caps full of Rephasy Superfoods mixed with water in the tank with her to see if she'll eat. I put some Drosophila melanogaster in with her on Sunday, but I don't think she could find them.

Will she always be like this? I'm a bit worried.

I can't get a good shot of her. It'll have to wait until she's comfortable (if that'll ever be the case at all).
 
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Phelsuma-Lygodactylus

Phelsuma-Lygodactylus

New member
:lol:

Nice try. ;)

Even if I was seriously considering selling her, I couldn't do that, she's too freaked out. Selling her would freak her out even more.

I got the entire tank covered with bath towels. She's coming out more often with the towels on the tank. However, she refuses to be outgoing when she can see me.

I think this particular species does poorly individually, it's just a hunch though.
 
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Phelsuma-Lygodactylus

Phelsuma-Lygodactylus

New member
Hey, Maureen, are you or any other European breeder, breeding these?

I need a young male for my baby girl.

I can try and see if I can arrange for safe and legal transport from Europe to the US.

In fact, if there's anyone in the world who has a young male of Phelsuma nigristriata, I'd be willing to find out how to get him here safely and legally.
 
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hexentanz

New member
Phelsuma-Lygodactylus said:
Hey, Maureen, are you or any other European breeder, breeding these?

I need a young male for my baby girl.

I can try and see if I can arrange for safe and legal transport from Europe to the US.

In fact, if there's anyone in the world who has a young male of Phelsuma nigristriata, I'd be willing to find out how to get him here safely and legally.
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I breed them, but none of the eggs have hatched yet. One will soon in a few days!! :cheer:

Males seem to be very rare here in Europe, I had to pay a nice hefty price for a 100% male. :/

Honestly with all the cost involved with importing plus long paperwork to go with it I would just buy from someone there in the states. You could probably even buy about 3-4 pairs for the price of import. Not that you need that amount, but heh would be cool since they are a very nice gecko. :D

How long have you had her now and how old is she? I have had mine for almost a year now. Sometimes if I walk too fast in the room she runs for cover, but comes right back out if I call her name. :coverlaugh:
 
Phelsuma-Lygodactylus

Phelsuma-Lygodactylus

New member
hexentanz said:
I breed them, but none of the eggs have hatched yet. One will soon in a few days!! :cheer:

Males seem to be very rare here in Europe, I had to pay a nice hefty price for a 100% male. :/

Honestly with all the cost involved with importing plus long paperwork to go with it I would just buy from someone there in the states. You could probably even buy about 3-4 pairs for the price of import. Not that you need that amount, but heh would be cool since they are a very nice gecko. :D

How long have you had her now and how old is she? I have had mine for almost a year now. Sometimes if I walk too fast in the room she runs for cover, but comes right back out if I call her name. :coverlaugh:
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:lol:

I got her on Saturday, January 8th, 2011. She hatched on July 22, 2010.

At least it's good to know that this species of Phelsuma is a little skittish.

Tell me if I'm wrong, but I'm guessing that species such as Phelsuma ornata is the same way.

Hopefully, someday I'll be able to call my girl's name and she'll come out wagging it's tail! :D
 
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hexentanz

New member
Phelsuma-Lygodactylus said:
:lol:

I got her on Saturday, January 8th, 2011. She hatched on July 22, 2010.

At least it's good to know that this species of Phelsuma is a little skittish.

Tell me if I'm wrong, but I'm guessing that species such as Phelsuma ornata is the same way.

Hopefully, someday I'll be able to call my girl's name and she'll come out wagging it's tail! :D
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Ah right I totally spaced in my reply when you purchased her. :blushing:

So that is the problem then, she is still warming up to you. Just give her some time and try not to mess with her too much. After 2-3 weeks of feedings (nigristriata love to eat) she should warm up to you. :)
 
PassPort

PassPort

New member
It took my sundbergi sundbergi over a month to really warm up to me. Where in the room do you have the nigristriata cage? The reason why I ask is if the cage is lower than eye level, then you are looking down on her like a predator, whereas if you're at eye level or lower they don't see you as much of a threat. Most of my Phelsuma cages are on top of other racks so I look up to see them. Since I started doing this my Phelsuma don't hide as much when I come into the room. My sund sunds were at floor level in temporary tanks for the first couple weeks I had them, but as soon as they were moved up higher they mellowed out a lot.
 
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hexentanz

New member
Personally I would skip the towels. You do not want to go changing too much around the first weeks she is with you. Also when you remove the towels, you will have to go through the same process of getting her used to you all over again.

Just add some more hides in the tank for her, a few extra bamboo or plants. But add these while she is still sleepy.

I have to agree about the eye level thing.
 
Phelsuma-Lygodactylus

Phelsuma-Lygodactylus

New member
The tank is in my bedroom. It's at my chest level.

I've been seeing her come out more often every-now-and-then, but when she spots me from a distance she slowly crawls into her hiding spot.

I just asked a seller here in the US for some of the smaller epiphytical ferns, so hopefully within a couple of months, I should be getting some for her.

In the meantime, I may have to place an order for some miniature orchids ($$$).

My Lygodactylus williamsi tank is filled primarily with orchids, and that was massively expensive.

I never realized how good the eyesight of Phelsuma were! She spotted me from 10 ft away!

She's also very aware of loud noises. She crawled into hiding when I had to yell across the hall from my room!
 
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hexentanz

New member
Phelsuma-Lygodactylus said:
The tank is in my bedroom. It's at my chest level.

I've been seeing her come out more often every-now-and-then, but when she spots me from a distance she slowly crawls into her hiding spot.

I just asked a seller here in the US for some of the smaller epiphytical ferns, so hopefully within a couple of months, I should be getting some for her.

In the meantime, I may have to place an order for some miniature orchids ($$$).

My Lygodactylus williamsi tank is filled primarily with orchids, and that was massively expensive.

I never realized how good the eyesight of Phelsuma were! She spotted me from 10 ft away!

She's also very aware of loud noises. She crawled into hiding when I had to yell across the hall from my room!
Click to expand...

Why not go with some philodendron in the meantime? It may not be a fancy plant to some, but it makes some nice cover.
 
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