Day Geckos Giant Day Gecko

Phelsuma madagascariensis grandis

Gold Dust Day Gecko-Phelsuma laticauda
Lined Day Gecko-Phelsuma lineata
Peacock Day Gecko-Phelsuma quadriocellata
General Info:
Adult size for gold dust, lined and peacock day geckos: up to 5". Giant Day Geckos reach 11". Day geckos are some of the brightest vivarium pets available today. Although with patience these beautiful geckos can be tamed, excessive handling can cause undue stress and tear their sensitive skin. Children should not attempt to handle these fragile geckos without adult supervision.
Temperature/Humidity:
Ideal daytime temperature for day geckos should range between 75 and 85 degrees. Additionally, a basking area should maintain a local temperature of 85 to 95 degrees. Night time temperature should remain between 65 and 75 degrees. The humidity for day geckos should be kept at or near 80 percent.
Lighting:
All day geckos require ultraviolet lighting to maintain good health. Ultraviolet lighting is recommended for 12 hours per day. A timer should be used to maintain a stable lighting schedule.
Feeding/Watering:
Day geckos do well on a diet consisting of a variety of vitamin/calcium dusted insects such as crickets, mealworms and waxworms. Assorted flavors of fruit baby food should be available on a regular basis. Some day geckos have even been successfully hand tamed with the use of baby food. When baby food is offered, it should be removed 2 hours after it is offered to prevent spoilage. Fresh clean water should always be available as well as daily misting of the enclosure. Adult day geckos should be fed 3-4 times per week, juvenile geckos should be fed daily.
Habitat/Housing:
Several day geckos of similar size can be housed together successfully in a 20-30 gallon tall terrarium. However, males can be very territorial, therefore those interested in housing multiple pets may want to consider a larger enclosure. A screen lid is essential for proper air exchange. Giant day geckos should not be housed with smaller species due to the risk of cannibalism. All day geckos are excellent terrarium pets and live plants are highly recommended. Misting the habitat once or twice daily will help maintain proper humidity levels.
Substrate (Bedding):
2" to 3" inches of a potting soil and bark mixture is recommended for day gecko terrariums to maintain proper humidity levels. The substrate should be kept moist, but changed regularly to avoid bacterial growth.
Responsible pet ownership begins on the trip home!
For the best health and well being of your new pet, it is important to remember to take it directly home. If you have more shopping or errands to complete, consider picking up your pet last. This will ensure the animal encounters the least amount of stress possible. Have the new terrarium completely set up before bringing your new friend "home". Additionally, make sure your new family member is allowed enough time to adjust to its new home. Wait three or four days before attempting to handle your pet and always supervise children when they interact with pets.