Mary Allen
Their diurnal nature, attractive color dress, and handy size make dwarf geckos popular pets for reptile lovers. The small-scale lizards are a lot of fun to watch. Read more about the talented climbers and their appropriate attitude in the following guide.
Dwarf Geckos: These Species are Particularly Popular
They are no more than ten centimeters tall, come in many bright colors, and delight terrarium fans with their climbing skills and elegant movements: dwarf geckos offer reptile-loving animal lovers a lot of variety. The scale lizards, scientifically called Lygodactylus, are represented in over 60 species. In general, dwarf geckos are good for beginners if a few issues related to housing, care, and nutrition are considered.
Since dwarf geckos are diurnal animals, they are great to watch during the day. Thanks to the adhesive lamellas on the toes and on the underside of the tip of the tail, the animals can climb excellently – and do this extensively.
The Dwarf Gecko Attitude: this is How the Little Lizard Feels at Home
You should keep dwarf geckos in the company, i.e. at least in pairs – one male and one female. The ideal combination, however, is in the harem, which means that a male is accompanied by several females.
The Right Terrarium for the Little Geckos
Climbing, hunting, hiding – the little lizards are extremely active during the day and need an environment in which they can let off steam. A terrarium size of at least 40 x 40 x 60 centimeters (length times width times height) is recommended as suitable accommodation for two dwarf geckos. As the animals love to climb, a sufficient height is particularly important.
Dwarf geckos are cold-blooded animals, which is why they need areas in the terrarium where they can warm-up and cool down.
Depending on the type of gecko, a temperature of around 30 degrees is optimal in places to warm up, in shady areas it should be a little cooler. At night you lower the temperature to around 20 degrees.
To ensure sufficient UV radiation, cover the top of the terrarium with a fine-meshed, translucent net. If the container is completely glazed and does not let UV radiation through, you can attach a UV lamp inside. A protective cage ensures that the gecko cannot burn itself on it. However, the terrarium should be very large here – small containers could heat up too much from the UV lamp.
The humidity should be 60 to 80 percent, so a spray bottle with water is part of the equipment for the gecko owner.
How do You Feed Your Dwarf Gecko Appropriately?
Appropriate feeding is essential for the health of the dwarf gecko. Insects, which should be correspondingly small, can be used as a food
- Wax moths,
- Locusts,
- House crickets and bean beetles.
So that the dwarf geckos can catch their prey well, there should be little or no hiding places for the food insects on the ground. It is best to cover the terrarium floor with a mixture of earth and sand.
Fresh fruit or fruit puree, for example in the form of peaches or overripe bananas, are additional delicacies.
In addition to ready-made food for geckos, you will also find various food supplements in pet shops that provide your pet with important vitamins or trace elements.
The life expectancy of pet dwarf geckos is around five to ten years. With species-appropriate husbandry, a balanced diet, and a suitably equipped environment, the lovable little lizards will accompany you as cute and exciting pets for many years.