Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi there,
I was unexpectedly given some beautiful (although tailess) gold dust geckos. I didn't have time to research them, and now I can't find the extra info I need. I can find basic stuff, but not their behavior.

I have three of them. I think they are all adults, since they don't seem to have gotten any longer. They have all put on a little weight though, and somehow look happier, if it's not my imagination!

First, I need to know how to sex them. They have been living happily together for a month now, suddenly one seems to be chasing another. Is it love or antagonism? Before, they have all stayed pretty much separate, but they move around. If they get close, one waves it's tail at another, and one moves away. I haven't seen any signs of biting behavior. The one being chased seems to be spending much more time on the branches. Before, they all stuck to sides except for forays for food. If I have 2 girls and a boy, can they all live together?

Second, I have a 25 gal. upright vivarium. I've had it set up before with a waterfall and lots of plants. The water kept it nice and moist, and I heated the water so it kept the temperature nice too. The crickets bred right in there, so the herps could eat when they wanted. The crickets eat monkey biscuits, so they are pretty nutritious. Calcium can go on their fruit, right? I like to give the lizzies as close as I can to a natural environment.

These guys poop on the glass. I won't be able to take apart and clean the big vivarium on a weekly basis, it disturbs the environment and it's too heavy. Any suggestions on how to clean on the regular basis? It pretty much stayed clean before, but the gold dusters seem a bit messier. There is a bottom pool of water, above that is a layer of charcoal, and above that a layer of gravel, then whatever substratum is approriate & lots of plants. Should I forget the waterfall? They would still like to be misted, wouldn't they? The vivarium has a screen top, so it doen't get muggy. What kind of plants do they like the best?

It's hard to get mangos and papaya here. What other kind of fruit would they like? They don't eat it, but they love to lick apples (the crickets eat what's left).

When you have to remove them to clean their cage, how do you do it to cause them the least stress? All but one of them has a full tail now, and I'd like to keep them that way.

I keep these guys where I can watch them from my computer. Since my computer is slow loading, I watch them ALOT! I've noticed that instead of being shy, after I sit down they get more active and go hunting, or just moving around the cage. I love my golden gecko, but these little guys are sure more entertaining!

Thanks for the info.

Sparky13

>>>>>>>First, I need to know how to sex them. They have been living happily together for a month now, suddenly one seems to be chasing another. Is it love or antagonism? Before, they have all stayed pretty much separate, but they move around. If they get close, one waves it's tail at another, and one moves away. I haven't seen any signs of biting behavior. The one being chased seems to be spending much more time on the branches. Before, they all stuck to sides except for forays for food. If I have 2 girls and a boy, can they all live together?

Im a bit confused =) You say you need to know how to sex them, though later on you said you hav 1.2.

Anyway, males have a row of bulges on the base of the tail; thats the easiest way to tell. And females may have calcium deposits onn their ckeeks. Here are some pics of P. Grandis sex; they are not laticauda, though follow the same structure for sexing.

Male: www.geckopage.de/Bilder/Phelsuma/GeschlechtMaennchengross.jpg

Female: www.geckopage.de/Bilder/Phelsuma/GeschlechtWeibchengross.jpg

It isnt the best idea to house trios of phelsuma, unless they are klemmerii (etc) though you should be fine with 1.2 for now.

>>>>>>>Second, I have a 25 gal. upright vivarium. I've had it set up before with a waterfall and lots of plants. The water kept it nice and moist, and I heated the water so it kept the temperature nice too. The crickets bred right in there, so the herps could eat when they wanted. The crickets eat monkey biscuits, so they are pretty nutritious. Calcium can go on their fruit, right? I like to give the lizzies as close as I can to a natural environment.

Yes, but you should be dusting the crickets with calcium aswell.

>>>>>>>>>These guys poop on the glass. I won't be able to take apart and clean the big vivarium on a weekly basis, it disturbs the environment and it's too heavy. Any suggestions on how to clean on the regular basis? It pretty much stayed clean before, but the gold dusters seem a bit messier. There is a bottom pool of water, above that is a layer of charcoal, and above that a layer of gravel, then whatever substratum is approriate & lots of plants. Should I forget the waterfall? They would still like to be misted, wouldn't they? The vivarium has a screen top, so it doen't get muggy. What kind of plants do they like the best?

Phelsuma are pretty messy creatures. If you have adjustable misting nozzle; you should be able to 'jet spray' the poop off the glass. Weekly maintenance is required in the taerrarium too.

For plants, they prefere strong and sturdy suck as snake plants (mother in-laws tongue) and bromeliads.

>>>>>>>>>>>>It's hard to get mangos and papaya here. What other kind of fruit would they like? They don't eat it, but they love to lick apples (the crickets eat what's left).

You can just use babyfood or bananas for their fruit diet; and leave it inside a bottle lid.

>>>>>>When you have to remove them to clean their cage, how do you do it to cause them the least stress? All but one of them has a full tail now, and I'd like to keep them that way.

Its best not to remove them from the cage. They can get frightened pretty easily, and are very skittish. In a natuiralistic and established terrarium, you shouldnt be doing alot of cleaning. Instead, the microfauna would do it for you. (such as springtails)

Hope thid helps. Good luck with them, hopefully youll get some eggs.

M.N

Ok, my computer seems to have eaten my last post, so I appologize if two of them turn up here.

Thank you for the great information. I can't believe those male/female pictures, how great! I can hardly wait for them to climb on the glass so I can see what I have. Too bad I can't keep all three of them though, I'll hate to give any up.

Thanks again,

Sparky13