What day gecko species is easiest for beginners?

[Crestie_mommy]

Just wondering what species of day geckos are best for beginners? I really want an electric blue day gecko but it's hard to find captive bred ones. I've heard giant day geckos are the easiest but I don't have a lot of space. What size tank does an adult giant day gecko need? length, width and height? Other than giant day geckos what species is easiest for beginners who have never had this species? I have a crested gecko, my leopard gecko lived nearly 14 years, I've had tons of blue belly lizards, 2 garter snakes, a corn snake, a box turtle, about 11 frogs, a salamander, a fire belly newt, an axolotl, a rubber eel, an african land crab, a bird, hamster, mouse, hundreds of fish, dogs and cats.....i think that's everything. I've had herps since i was about 9 years old. So keeping them is nothing new to me. I like to research and get as much care info as possible before getting new pets. I honestly just need to know which day gecko species are easiest and the hardiest in captivity, what size tank they need, what kind of lighting, what the temps and humidity should be, if it's ok to have an enclosure with all artificial plants and decor, what the best diet is....i absolutely hate dealing with crickets. Are there any species that can thrive on a diet exclusively of repashy day gecko diet and pangea fruit mix complete and repashy grubs n fruit? If not can I feed tiny silkworms, phoenix worms and dubia roaches instead of crickets? How often do they need to be fed? How often do they get live food and how often should they get the powdered meal replacement diets?

 

[mkschaefer]

Hello,

Are you interested in keeping a single animal or male/ female pairs? If a single animal, there are many good species that will help you learn how to care for Phelsuma.

1. Phelsuma kochi-a bit smaller than Phelsuma grandis, less quarrelsome
2. Phelsuma standingi-like Phelsuma grandis, these get large, but are quite hardy and tolerate more arid conditions
3. Phelsuma laticauda-small size, hardy, hatchlings are very small but do well on Drosophilia, crickets (probably roaches) and Repashy
4. Phelsuma abbotti chekei
5. Phelsuma grandis-You can probably obtain these most easily. I would keep a lone adult in an 18"x18"x24" Exo Terra sized or similarly sized enclosure as a minimum....the same for P. kochi and P. standingi
6. There are many smaller species that would be better to acquire after gaining some experience. There are species I work with now that I'm glad I was not able to acquire when I first started working with Phelsuma as I needed to gain some skills, methodology, knowledge, patience, etc.

I would recommend that you research the natural history of the species you are interested in before googling for care sheets. There are a few good care sheets, but thinking about how you can replicate the animal's natural habitat in captivity will help you more, i.e what is the average/ seasonal humidity, ambient daytime temperature, ambient evening temperature, precipitation, etc.

I would not recommend feeding exclusively Repashy or other commercial diets, though I incorporate it into my feeding rotation and with more/ less frequency depending on the species. Some species have more nectar/ fruit in their diet than other species I work with, so there is a balance. Whole prey items (crickets, roaches, etc.) are invaluable as feeders and provide what a commercial diet in a cup or bottle cap cannot. Whole prey items must be fed well also!

I feed hatchlings and juveniles every day or every other day, depending on how much I fed the day before, how they are growing, and the amount of food available to them still. Adults I MAY feed with less frequency. The search engine in this forum is very helpful and I still consult it for other's perspectives on topics. Leann and Greg Christenson wrote a book that can give you a good introduction to Phelsuma. You are asking some great questions.

I prefer to light and heat my enclosures with 20-watt halogen puck lights and overhead fluorescent fixtures, coupled with the appropriate bulbs in a room with good lighting. Not all have the 20-watt lights as some species have different requirements.

 

[Crestie_mommy]

Thank you so much. I would only want one day gecko. When I get any herp, I almost always have just one in a tank with the exception of 3 tree frogs. I am not experienced for dealing with an accidental mating/breeding and there is always a risk of aggression between animals kept in the same cage. I live in southern, ca. So would want a species that doesn't require lower temps. I would want a species that would do fine with all artificial plants and decor with the exception of bamboo hides and sand blasted grapevine wood. I would also want a species that requires more fruit or gecko diet than others. I wouldn't want to feed crickets, I'd prefer dubia, silk worms, wax worms, possibly Phoenix worms. Also would it be ok to just feed one kind of insect if they are gut loaded and dusted with the proper supplements? What species are not as fast and jumpy, more slow moving? What species can you let walk on you, without having to grab them? I know most cannot be handled at all and that their skin is very fragile. I'm really not sure if day geckos are right for me.....need more info. But I've wanted one for a while. Do all species need a vertical enclosure?