Care Sheets at PhelsumaWeb.co.uk
Phelsuma laticauda laticauda (Gold Dust Day Gecko)
Common Name: Gold Dust Day Gecko
Scientific Name: Phelsuma laticauda (Boettger, 1880)
Description:
A medium-sized Phelsuma of about five inches total length. The back and upper surface of the tail are light green to yellowish. Over the shoulders and neck are gold speckles, a characteristic that gives it its common name. On the lower back are three red “teardrops”. The ventral surface is a pale cream color and the eyes are bordered by a blue ring. The tail is somewhat flattened in shape. A rare mutant of this gecko is overall blue in color.
Distribution:
P. laticauda is abundant in the humid regions of northern Madagascar, especially in the Sambirano region and the coastal north-east. It is also found on the offshore islands of Nosy Be and Nosy Mitsio. Additionally, it is reported from the Comoros and several islands of the Seychelles. Escaped animals have successfully colonised parts of the Hawaiian Islands.
Natural History:
As a Phelsuma this species is, of course, a day active gecko. In its home range it is found in a variety of habitats. It occurs in the primary forest of the Lokobe Reserve on Nosy Be, in cultivated areas such as banana plants and is also very much a follower of human occupation. It is common in houses, in gardens, on fences and walls etc. It is reported that this gecko can become quite tame in houses.
Housing in Captivity:
An ideal size of vivarium for a pair of P. laticauda is 45 x 45 x 60 cm (L x W x H). The enclosure should be well planted with tropical plants to create a naturalistic effect – Sansevaria are ideal for the purpose. These geckos love to climb so set up multiple slanting and horizontal branches using bamboo.
A basking spot should be available allowing a localised temperature of 90°-93°F. The remainder of the enclosure should be in the mid 80°F’s. A nightly reduction to the low 70°F’s should occur. Humidity levels need to be maintained at 60% - 75% by regular misting and, as with the enclosures for all geckos kept in humid conditions, good airflow is important. A good substrate is a perlite-free soil and orchid bark mixture.
Most Phelsuma keepers maintain their geckos under UV lights. We however have maintained all of our day geckos without the use of UV lighting since 1993. Likewise, our day geckos are not exposed to unfiltered natural sunlight. We simply provide optimum lighting (halogen lights for basking and fluorescent lights rated for light intensity and a high CRI), sufficient dietary calcium, vitamin D3 and other essential vitamin supplementation. Under these conditions, the day geckos that we have bred have been healthy and beautifully colored.
Food and Feeding:
Supply the usual assortment of available insect foods of the right size twice weekly. We feed two, three or four crickets per gecko per meal. It is important that all insects offered are themselves “gut-loaded” in order that they provide the optimal nutrition to your geckos. You can achieve this by feeding your insects items such as oranges, apples, broccoli, greens, dandelions, carrots etc. Do this between eight and twenty four hours before they are offered to your geckos. We never use mealworms as a part of our Phelsuma’s diet. Always remove uneaten insects from the enclosure.
Day geckos consume nectar and pollen in the wild. In captivity offer them a fruit baby food such as peach, apricot, banana or tropical fruit mix once a week. Always add calcium, vitamin D3 and vitamin supplementation. In the spring, we feed a bit more fruit baby food, adding one part plain yoghurt to five parts baby food (plus powder supplements) as an extra calcium and protein boost for our breeding females. We also retain a dish of calcium in the enclosure at all times.
Health:
The best way to deal with health problems is to prevent them before they occur. Always try to purchase captive-bred animals.
If maintained correctly P. laticauda is a hardy gecko. It can, however, be one of the more aggressive species of the genus and, as with all Phelsuma, never keep two males in the same enclosure. Equally, to avoid risk of injury, be on the lookout for aggression between animals of the same sex and between pairs. In view of their nature, keep P. laticauda in true pairs only.
Breeding:
Females lay one to two hard-shelled eggs per clutch. Around six clutches at intervals of three to eight weeks may be laid by a healthy female per breeding season. The eggs are not glued and are usually placed in the leaf axil of a plant, under bark or inside bamboo.
Remove the eggs for incubation. They will hatch in 40-45 days at a temperature of 82°F. It appears that higher incubation temperature leads to the appearance of more male offspring. The neonates are approximately 1.6 inches in length. It is best to raise the young individually to avoid competition and fighting. They become sexually mature in 10-12 months.
Recommended Reading:
Christenson, L. & G. 2003. Day Geckos in Captivity. Living Art Publishing, Oklahoma, U.S.A. 194pp.
Glaw, F. & M. Vences. 1994. A Fieldguide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Madagascar. Second Edition. Moos Druck, Leverkusen, Germany. 480pp.
Henkel, F.-W. & W. Schmidt. 2000. Amphibians and Reptiles of Madagascar and the Mascarene, Seychelles, and Comoro Islands. Krieger Publishing Company, Malabar, Florida, U.S.A. 316pp.
McKeown, S. 1993. The General Care and Maintenance of Day Geckos. Advanced Vivarium Systems, Lakeside, California, U.S.A. 143pp.
Seufer, H. 1991. Keeping and Breeding Geckos. T.F.H. Publications Inc. Neptune, U.S.A. 189pp.
