Международный Клуб Террариумистов "Моя Рептилия"

Description: An attractive gecko with soft, velvety skin. Don’t be too quick to pet one though, most will bite viciously! From Tropical Madagascar where they inhabit wet or dry forests. They can be found hiding under the bark and in the crevasses of trees. Mostly nocturnal but it may also be somewhat active during the day. The body shape is rather stout and the toes have both adhesive pads and claws. Overall color ranges through greens, grays and browns with a variable pattern down the back. They grow to 8" - 9".

Temperature: 76° to 82°F daytime with a 5° to 10°F drop at night. A daytime hot spot is beneficial, using a 10 or 20 watt halogen light works well.

Humidity: Moderate to high, 60 to 70%, with a gradient between one side of the enclosure and the other. This can be accomplished well by keeping the side where the water dish is located a bit cooler and spraying that area down daily.

Lighting: Use plant grow lights on a timer to simulate the tropics, 12 hours on/ 12 hours off. Seasonal day length fluctuations are not needed but could help to stimulate breeding. A dim night light is required for viewing nocturnal activities.

Feeding: Crickets are the main staple diet along with mealworms and various other insects when available. Dusting food items with a supplement (twice a week for adults and more often for young geckos) will help to keep them healthy. Excess calcium will puff out their neck pouches. A bowl of clean water must be available at all times but some will only drink water droplets. Be sure to mist the enclosure daily.

Habitat: A 15-gallon will work for a pair but a taller tank would be better. Set it up as an arboreal forest habitat with climbing branches, sturdy plants, hiding places and a warm area or basking spot.

Sexing: Males have hemipenal bulges at the base of the tail. Males also have pre-anal pores/scales just above the cloacal opening that the females lack.

Breeding: Egg laying may occur during the winter in the Northern Hemisphere. Multiple clutches of 2 eggs each may be laid during the breeding season. The hard-shelled eggs are laid under loose bark, in crevasses or buried in a slightly moist spot. They should be removed for incubation at around 82°F.

Источник. (http://www.petlifeforms.com/geckovelvetmad.htm)