Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi,
Does anyone have any photos of this species? I am querying the species of the first day gecko that i purchased a number of years ago, i was told that it was a madagascan giant day gecko (p.m.Grandis) It is an adult male but its smaller than my 18month old p.m.Grandis geckos. i have read in the Day Geckos in Captivity book that they have a red line from the nose, through the eye to the ear. I know that markings on giant day geckos can vary individually but is the feature distinctive enough to identify species? He seems to be a much darker colour than the others and the red spots on his back are duller. I am almost convinced he is different but i have spoken to a breeder and i was told that these species are reasonably rare in captivity in the UK.

Attached is a photo of him, it was taken approx 1 year ago, i would like to compare photos if pos!

any advice and photos are more than welcome.

Thankyou
Julie

Indeed, you do have a P. madagascariensis madagascariensis and not a P. m. grandis. There have been so few "mad mads" around up to now that they are sometimes mistakenly called Giant Day Geckos.

You are right that the identifiers are mad mad: red line through eye and faint red dots along the spine.

You have a nice mad mad and I think that once he discovers female mad mads and gets under some good lights that you will find that he will add blue to that nice green back color and look like the one in Day Geckos In Captivity book.

Best regards.

Leann Christenson
Leaping Lizards Day Geckos
Day Geckos In Captivity
www.daygecko.com

Thanks, I was almost convinced he was different, i now have a problem though! I was told he was p.m.grandis and he is now in a tank with an adult female p.m.grandis. How safe is he in the short term? they are reasonably calm with each other at the moment although i will be spliting them up as soon as pos.

this is becoming a nightmare, i wish people were more informed when they decide to sell animals, it causes so many problems to other people! my boyfriend will get so angry that i have to get another vivarium!

Regards
Julie

As long as there is peace between the two then keeping them together temporarily is okay -- keep an eye out for signs of problems: hiding, injury, failure-to-thrive.

If you do have problems that arise before a second enclosure can be set up, pick up an inexpensive, larger Kritter Keeper. On a temporary basis this will work.

I think that you are right in learning all that you can, ultimely it is we the keepers who must decide who is right and who is wrong. I've always listened to the advice given (given in the best of intention) by others on listserves, pet shops etc., then I've taken that advice and compared it to the experts. When it comes to day geckos I have always gone back to look at what McKeown, de Vosjoli, Hallmann, Kruger, Trautmann, Forsberg and a few other say.

Leann Christenson
Leaping Lizards Day Geckos

Hi, thanks for all your advice.

I think my juvenile day gecko has escaped. Whats the best trap/way of catching an escaped gecko. I dont know where or when it escaped but its not there now!

Please help it seems to have vanished!!!

julie