Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've had this guy for a few years now but have been unable to find much (if any) information on them. At the time of purchase I was told it was a Golden Gecko. I've found out that the Golden Gecko is a completely different species with drastically different looks.

The only info I can really find is that it is called a Malaysian Gold Gecko. Does anyone keep these or have any info?

Thanks.

That definitely is a male golden gecko, Gekko ulikovskii.
Lots of infor out everywhere on housing.
Less frequently bred, since females are rare in the pet trade. If you are lucky enough to get a female, breeding is as easy as for other members of the genus.

Hope that helps

Ingo

Thanks.
How can you tell it is male? Do the females look much different? This could be why I was confused about the species. What is the life expentancy for these guys?

Females are extremely rare in the pet trade. They lack the visible hemipenuis bulges and are of a much less "robust2 appearance. Also they are smaller, their heads are less broad, their green is more brownish and well supplemented specimens develop pronounced calcium cheeks.
Life expectancy of this species is not known, since some of the first imports from the early 90s still live. I´d guess about 20 years.
Hope that helps

Ingo

Thanks.
How can you tell it is male? Do the females look much different? This could be why I was confused about the species. What is the life exspentancy for these guys?

Thanks.
How can you tell it is male? Do the females look much different? This could be why I was confused about the species. What is the life expectancy for these guys?

The gecko you have pictured is Gekko ulikovskii known as the Malaysian Gold gecko, Yellow-backed gecko, or the most common name I have heard it under the Vietnamese Golden gecko. The specimen you have pictured is most certainly a male. Males have a bright yellow coloration on the dorsal area like yours is displaying, females tend to be a more brown natural color. I believe they have the color differnce for the same reason most waterfowl do. The males need to be bright and vibrant to attact the various female mates (kind of like male anoles use a dewlap display to attract females) and females need to be less vibrant and more earthy tones to avoid getting caught by predators keeping the eggs she carries safe. Just a theory... I have worked with Golden geckos for sometime mostly with imports as Captive bred specimens are rarely availible, mostly due to the fact they are availible from most importers as low as a couple dollars. Some people I know whom have worked with them say they have been able to get the relaxed enough to handle, not by my experiences. They tend to like a lot of non-citrus fruits like apricot, peach, banana and honey concoctions. I make a nice diet that Monte from Powergeckos once put up for Cresteds, it depends what I have in the kitchen but it works great. I take a peach, apricot, banana, and any othr non-citrus fruits with some calcium suplemnt and some honey in a blender, mix til pureed and spread on a cookie sheet with wax paper on it. Freeze it and break into chunks to use individually and let thaw before serving. Who wouldn't like that eh? hey also eat a variety of insects like crickets, waxies, and silks. Anyhow hope any and all this helps with you gecko.
Mother Gecko- Reptiles

Thanks for the replies. His favorite seems to be meal worms. I can handle him quite easily as long as I keep an eye on him, because he is definitely a "jumper", and very fast.