Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am going to attempt to raise my new P. laticauda laticauda hatchling indoors and need some help with the lighting. I would like to house it in a 20 gallon high aquarium with the following equipment. Any suggestions/recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

24" Combo Light, Fluorescent/Incandescent Strip Light - ESU Reptile
- 24" fixture holds (1) 20 Watt, 24" fluorescent bulb, and 2 incandescent.

Digital Power Center, 8-Outlet Day/Night Timer - ESU Reptile

Repti Glo 5.0 24in 20watt Tropical Terrarium Fluorescent

And

BrightLight Slimline Incandescent, 25 Watt - ESU Reptile

Or

Day-Glo Neodymium Daylight Bulb - 25 Watt Slimline (T10), Hagen

And

NightLight Slimline Incandescent, 25 Watt - ESU Reptile

Or

Night-Glo Moonlight Bulb - 25 Watt Slimline (T10), Hagen

I'm very new to lighting so I'm not sure what wattage is necessary to provide sufficient lighting and heat to the 20H aquarium. I will be providing D3 supplementation when dusting the crickets with calcium as well as using it in the baby food mixture.
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Aloha,
Sean

0.2.2 - Gold Dust Day Gecko (Phelsuma laticauda laticauda)

that tank sounds kinda big for baby gold dusts. i would be hesitant to raise two babies in a 5 gal.

The 20 gallon high aquarium will be used to raise the hatchling into an adult.
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Aloha,
Sean

0.2.2 - Gold Dust Day Gecko (Phelsuma laticauda laticauda)

Laticauda in my experience get very territorial even at a young age. I currently have 9 juvies and keep them in individual large delicups with bamboo and fake plants and modified lids with screen for light. But I would not recommend keeping them together as I have learned they do have the ability to kill each other. One will become dominant and does not allow the other to get as much light or as much food and at the very least one will usually have stunted growth. At least that is what I have seen in my experience. Hope this helps a bit -Dan

Well, since no one chimed in on their recommendations and suggestions, other than the people at WER who have always been helpful offline via e-mail and instant messages, I went ahead and ordered the following items through HerpSupplies.com

Enclosure:
Tough Top Screen Cover w/ Center Hinge - 24"x12" Medium Mesh (1/8"/ 15G-20H Aquarium size
Tough Top "Spring-style" (G-shaped) Clips for Screen Covers - Small 2 pk

Lighting:
24" Combo Light, Fluorescent/Incandescent Strip Light - ESU Reptile
Zoo Med ReptiSun 5.0, 24" Fluorescent (20 watt, T-12)
BrightLight Incandescent, 60 Watt - ESU Reptile
BrightLight Slimline Incandescent, 40 Watt - ESU Reptile
NightLight Slimline Incandescent, 15 Watt - ESU Reptile

Timer:
Digital Power Center, 8-Outlet Day/Night Timer - ESU Reptile

Gauges:
Analog Hygrometer (Humidity Gauge), Exo-Terra
Analog Thermometer, Exo-Terra

Supplements:
Rep-Cal Phosphorus-Free Calcium w/Vitamin D3, Ultrafine - 4.1 Oz
Miner-All I Miner-All Mineral Supplement - Indoor, 6 oz

This will all be used in my first attempt to raise my P. laticauda laticauda hatchling indoors. If all works well with this and I'm able to get other hatchlings through my WC females, I will raise them using regular fluorescents and supplementation as other veteran Phelsuma keepers have been doing so far. I now need to go out and get the 20 gallon high aquarium, bamboo poles, plants and some substrate.
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Aloha,
Sean

0.2.2 - Gold Dust Day Gecko (Phelsuma laticauda laticauda)