Appropriate backgrounds for Phelsuma?

J

JJenkins

New member
Hi all:

I'm currently planning a P. laticauda terrarium (45 cm x 45 cm x 70 cm Exo Terra) and I need to know what a good background material is that I can use. I had planned on using a cork bark flat background with 1/2 cork rounds siliconed on for vertical hides. I was also planning on mounting some epiphytes on this background.
However, I've just read in another post that Phelsuma do not like rough or soft surfaces, so now I'm wondering if I need to select a different background media. Any suggestions?

Thanks
 
W

windeindoiel

New member
When my laticauda have escaped their tank I've had an opportunity to see them rest and climb all sorts of surfaces. Wood shelving, the screens on other tanks, the wall, the plastic over the LED lights, the metal heat lamp fixtures, and in their tank they tend to stick to the flat painted walls, the bamboo and the large plant leaves. The only pattern I've noticed is that they prefer surfaces they can spread out on. For example, I have vine plants in the tank and I've never seen them climb on those. These are just my observations of a single pair, but I doubt they're that picky.
 
the moof

the moof

New member
Phelsuma almost always are found on surfaces significantly broader than they are - very rarely will you ever see a Phelsuma in the wild climbing on a thinner branch - the only possible exceptions I can think of are P. mutabilis and P. antanosy, which I have seen on some very thin branches indeed (and little fence posts in rural areas).

The texture thing is interesting. There is a lot of variety in the typical textures used by different species. In the case of P. laticauda, very smooth surfaces such as bamboo and palms are most typical, again usually thicker stems than the width of the gecko's body. Personally, though I do not have any experience keeping P. laticauda in captivity, I would say that the cork walls would be fine - they will climb on the rough surfaces, but do not expect them to try to bask there, nor rest there for extended periods of time. I would definitely use bamboo for basking perches at the very least. You may also be able to use bamboo walling, as was recommended in the post you refer to. It's up to you.

In my own P. grandis enclosure, I have used cork for the walls to great effect.
 
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